The Top Travel Destinations with Kevin Flanagan

Travelling to the most dangerous airport in the world at Katmandu, under the shadow of Mount Everest, the day after a plane crashed. That was a trip that certainly took me out of my routine! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin says, “As I've grown older, I've come to think that travel is one of the best medicines we have. It gives us something to look forward to, keeps the mind active, and reminds us that wonder doesn't retire when we do. In fact, studies show that older adults who stay socially active and engaged in experiences such as travel have lower rates of depression and greater life satisfactio...

When Kuba discovered a long piece of abandoned wood and christened it ‘Bob’, no one could imagine the relationship that would develop as Kevin, Maya and Kuba took Bob on the oldest pilgrims' walk in the world! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin Flanagan finds the answer on a recent pilgrimage to Santiago di Compostela, walking the Camino with Kuba (11) and Maya (9). You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

On a sun drenched Bank Holiday Kevin & family are given  a guided tour  by one of his oldest friends Paul. They take in the sights and sounds that only this unique city can  give, and make memories for life. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin joins his son Ciaran, a lifelong Arsenal fan, and his grandkids Maya & Kuba to celebrate North London’s greatest football team winning the Premier Legaue! It’s a day out in London never to be forgotten! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

When Kevin posted an Instagram reel of the flying incense burner - the Botafumeiro - he had no idea of what would happen next. His usual a couple of hundred views from his 1500 followers EXPLODED into a number beyond his, or anyone elses imagination. By that evening 1.8 million people had watched it and days later the number is 2 million and growing. Kevin struggles to explain.“The number exceeds...

Kevin believes this is one of the great places to visit in the world. “It has everything: spirituality, culture, history and amazing Gaelician food and wine. And if my eleven and nine year old grandkids loved it - it truly is a city for everyone!”   You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin interviews his two grandkids Kuba & Maya as they stand on the beach at the end of the Camino at a place literally called the End of the World! Contact: followthecamino.com for more details You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin describes the surprising joy of doing the Camino and being surprised by joy at the end! Contact: followthecamino.com for more details You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

When I decided to take my grandkids on part of the Camino de Santiago, I had real doubts. Kuba was 11. Maya was 9. And they were used to the good life — Club Med ski trips, lakeside hotels in Limone sul Garda, city breaks in Ghent, Antwerp, and Venice. This was something else entirely. No screens. Long walks. Rain. Blisters. And a strange atmosphere — pilgrims from all over the world, each carryin...

Umberto from www.followthecamino.com tells Kevin all about how to experience one of the most special walks you can do in the world. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

“I was walking through Herbert Park in Dublin, saw the cherry blossom… and suddenly I was back in Tokyo. And with that flashback, I was deep into reliving the wonder of one of the world’s most fascinating destinations.” Kevin shares some of his top moments in Japan. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativek...

People often ask Kevin what his favourite travel destination is, and his answer often perplexes people. “I’m not sure what they think I’ll pick, but it definitely isn’t Hiroshima!” says Kevin, “I think people associate favourite places with beautiful places like Rome, Paris or Venice, and Hiroshima is indeed beautiful.   Some places—like the Killing Fields in Cambodia, or Auschwitz—they feel like...

As a travel writer Kevin more often travels solo than in company. But that actually reflects a growing trend even among those with families and in committed relationships. In this episode Kevin looks at the benefits of travelling solo whatever your relationship status and whatever the time of year.  You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptr...

In the sixties one of the biggest songs was We’re all going on a Summer Holiday and it marked the annual pilgrimage that all people took: the two week break. For Kevin and family it was Skegness (few people in the UK travelled abroad then) and it was as unmissable as Christmas. Fast forward to 2026 and the traditional two week summer holiday is becoming a thing of the past. In this episode Kevin l...

I haven’t been to Budapest for a while, and that wasn’t about flights or cost—it was about the political system. It just didn’t feel right to go. And now, with change, I can go back. That’s a great feeling. But it raises a bigger question we all face as travellers: when does a place stop being somewhere you want to visit, even if you still can? It’s not always about safety. Sometimes it’s about co...

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world… but in peak season, it’s unbearable. The heat, the crowds, the queues. So the question is—where do you go instead without losing the magic? Kevin has a great example this episode You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Kevin is planning to take his two grandkids on the Camino Way and in this episode he looks at the reasons we should all become pilgrims again.   You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

Is it possible for an inanimate object - especially one the size of a city - to actually love you? On a recent visit to Venice Kevin had the extraordinary sensation of being loved by a collection of bricks, mortar and water! Listen here to wonder and perhaps . . . feel the love You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠...

Kevin takes you by the hand and shows you how to get the most from a visit to one of the world’s greatest and most intimate art galleries. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativekev

A stone’s throw from the Peggy Guggenheim you will find one of the best (and cheapest) places to eat and drink in all of Venice. It is also the friendliest. Yes, I am talking about The Corner Pub in Dusodoro, where you can  start the day with fantastic coffee and end it caught up in an impromptu party. Listen to find out what really rocks in Venice! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations...

I am often asked where to go when you visit a fantastic destination like Venice - which, we have to admit, is coming down with tourist attractions. But when it comes to Venice I have no doubt in recommending one place: The Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Why? Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful - the view onto the Grand Canal will take anyone’s breath away. It is also inspiring. Peggy Guggenheim...

More and more travellers are swapping passive holidays for something richer — skillcations , trips where you return home with a new skill as well as memories.  The idea is simple: travel with purpose. Instead of just observing a culture, you participate in it. Skillcations are growing in popularity because they combine adventure, learning, and connection with local people — and they often create f...

One of my most memorable skillcation experiences happened just outside Bangkok, where I spent a morning learning how to cook Pad Thai in a floating market kitchen beside a mangrove swamp. Our teacher, a wonderfully charismatic Thai chef who had once cooked for the royal household, showed us the art of balancing sweet, sour, salty and spice. We chopped garlic and shallots, soaked rice noodles, toss...