The Top Travel Destinations with Kevin Flanagan

The Via Francigena is a medieval pilgrimage route stretching from Canterbury, England, to Rome , crossing France, Switzerland, and Italy. According to Kevin, it is one of the best alternatives to the Camino. It’s quieter, more varied, and has deeper medieval roots. If you want something meaningful without the crowds, it’s a standout. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media...

Australia is a place renowned for its wildlife and Kevin recounts how twice he had encounters with its deadly indigenous animal population that could have ended his trip to Oz before it had properly started! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativkev⁠

“Oz is a long way away,” says Kevin, reflecting on his trip there, “and I am very glad to have visited it and seen some of its wonders. Would I go again?” To find Kevin’s answer listen to this illuminating episode. You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativkev⁠

This week’s episode is about connection — and finding home in another country. Kevin visits his Polish in-laws, Babcia (BAHB-cha) and Dziadek (JAH-deck), with his grandchildren Kuba and Maya, and Daughter-in-law Maria. And discovering what it’s like to belong to two families and two cultures. From the quiet kindness of Polish hospitality to the joyful chaos of life - this is a tender reflection on...

Poland is booming — confident, creative, and full of surprises. In this episode, Kevin travels to Szczecin (pronounced SHCHEH-cheen), a city near Berlin that’s rich in history and alive with new energy. From its riverside walks and Gothic spires to its modern cafés and vibrant waterfront, Szczecin shows a side of Poland few Irish travelers have seen. Kevin also reflects on the warmth of Polish hos...

When Kevin first visited St Petersburg in 1993, St. Petersburg was caught between the ruins of the Soviet system and the chaos of a new capitalism. Perestroika had opened the door to freedom—but also to lawlessness and gunfire after dark was not unusual. For a visitor, the city felt raw and unpredictable—magnificent by day, dangerous by night—a place where beauty and decay walked arm in arm throug...

Kevin looks back at a time when we could all visit this incredible city - one of the true gems of world travel - without the shadow of war making journeys there impossible. And Kevin hopes to see that time come back soon. And when peace does return, people can again enjoy the wonder of the ballet, the White Nights, the music, the palaces and the museums. “I visited St Petersburg several times in t...

“Sharm El Sheikh is famous for one thing above all else: diving. At Ras Mohammed National Park, Kevin, his son Ciaran and friends John and Len found ‘The Abyss’ — a sheer wall that drops hundreds of meters straight down into blue nothingness. It was breathtaking — beautiful and something more . . .  You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptr...

Sharm El Sheikh is one of those places that stays with you. I remember looking up at the desert sky, a million stars overhead, and then sitting with the Bedouin, seeing a way of life that feels timeless. By day, it was dune buggies across the sand, diving into the depths of the Red Sea, and snorkeling straight from a beautiful hotel beach. The evenings? Markets buzzing with life, nightlife that ke...

Kevin spends three dizzy days enjoying the unique buzz of a Spanish end-of-season festival. As he says, “there is nothing quite like it in the world.” Join him as he celebrates life abroad! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativkev⁠

Some hotels actually do feel like home, and Kevin found the MiM Hotel in Sitges just such a place. What is it about some hotels that really do understand what a hotel guest really needs   MIM Hotel Sitges Av. Sofía, 12, 08870 Sitges, Barcelona, Spain Phone: +34 934 92 22 44 | +34 938 11 35 00 Email: reservas@hotelmimsitges.com www.mimhotels.com Eco-friendly boutique hotel owned by Lionel Messi, st...

Kevin decided to treat his son, Ciaran, and take him to see Arsenal play in the Final at the Stade de France in Paris. There was just one problem - they went without tickets! Join them on an adventure to find tickets in time to see the biggest match in the world! You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠ X: ⁠@becreativkev⁠

Kevin takes you by the hand and guides you around Paris, giving you a place to shop, eat, drink, sightsee and stay all in one day! Stay: Hotel Molière (boutique) 21 Rue Molière, 75001 Paris Phone: +33 1 42 96 22 01 www.hotel-moliere.fr Eat: Le Grand Véfour (classic Parisian restaurant) 17 Rue de Beaujolais, 75001 Paris Phone: +33 1 42 96 56 27 www.grand-vefour.com Shop: Carrousel du Louvre (underg...

If you talk to the younger generation (anyone under 30 years of age) and mention The Troubles, they usually shrug their shoulders and look at you funny! But it was certainly no joke being in Ireland during that bloody, fractious period, as Kevin relates  Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram...

Join Kevin as he takes you on a tour of this historic city. He’ll show you where to eat, drink, sightsee, shop and stay all in a day! ( links to each below) Eat: The Muddlers Club – 1 Warehouse Lane, Belfast BT1 2DX. Tasting menu £80–120 👉 https://www.themuddlersclubbelfast.com Drink: Kelly’s Cellars – 30 Bank Street, Belfast BT1 1HL. Pint £5–10 👉 https://www.kellyscellars.com Do: Titanic Belfas...

Join Kevin as he takes you on a fascinating tour of this historic city. He’ll show you where to eat, drink, sightsee, shop and stay all in a day! ( links to each below) Eat: Petersham Nurseries La Goccia – 27 King Street, Covent Garden, London. Mains £25–35 👉 https://www.petershamnurseries.com/restaurants/la-goccia-covent-garden Drink: Cahoots – 13 Kingly Court, Soho, London. Cocktails £12–15 👉...

THE FONTEYN & NUREYEV YEARS from both inside and outside of the theatre Kevin discovered a career in ballet very late in life (he was 19 years old - relatively late for a budding ballet dancer), but this led to some outstanding moments and memories. Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram:...

Venice has played a big part in Kevin’s life, and here he shares a few key moments of the magic this unique city can weave!  Do visit our website at ⁠ www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com ⁠ You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: ⁠ @thetoptraveldestinations ⁠ X: ⁠ @becreativkev ⁠

VENICE IN A DAY! 5 THINGS TO DO  Join Kevin as he takes you on a fascinating tour of this unique city. He’ll show you where to eat, drink, sightsee, shop and stay all in a day! ( links to each below) Eat: Al Mercà – Campo Bella Vienna, Rialto Market area, Venice. Cicchetti €2–3 👉 https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187870-d1890952-Reviews-Al_Merca-Venice_Veneto.html Drink: Harry’s Bar...

Kevin and his school pal Spencer visited the catalan capital when both were 16 years old schoolboys with only one thing on their minds. And what did they get? Listen to this tragic tale of young love (or lust) gone unanswered! Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations...

Join Kevin as he takes you on a fascinating tour of this Catalan city. He’ll show you where to eat, drink, sightsee, shop and stay all in a day! ( links to each below) Eat: Disfrutar – Villarroel 163, 08036 Barcelona. Avg €200–250 pp 👉 https://www.disfrutarbarcelona.com Drink: Can Paixano (La Xampanyeria) – Carrer de la Reina Cristina 7, 08003 Barcelona. Cava from €1 👉 https://www.canpaixano.com...

Sitges may be the LGBTQ capital of the world, but it also has some of the best cultural events that you could wish for. In this episode, Kevin takes you by the hand and gives you a taste of a normal cultural night in Sitges that will live long in the memory. Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Insta...

It is known worldwide as a gay capital par excellence, but as Kevin found out, it is that and more. “Really, one of the most diverse and friendly cities I have ever visited. Join Kevin as he takes you on a tour of this Catalan gem. Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinat...

Join Kevin as he is blown away by what he describes as “the most beautiful and mystical space I have ever walked in outside nature!” Yes, we are visiting Antoni Gaudí’s  (1852–1926) visionary Basílica de la Sagrada Família in Barcelona. “Don’t die before you walk into this building, as it will give you a taste of heaven!”  Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also foll...

The city that has it all, and what better way to see it than from the top of a bus! Join Kevin as he takes a trip around the magnificent city that is the capital of the fiercely independent region of Spain. Do visit our website at www. TheTopTravelDestinations.com You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates:  Instagram: @thetoptraveldestinations X: @becreativkev