Truly Expat Travel

Episode 23:  Christmas in Tokyo: Blaise & Tanisha Share Why they love Japan This Week's Chat This week, I'm chatting with Blaise Barnes and Tanisha Hall about experiencing Christmas in Tokyo! We dive into what makes Tokyo shopping so special during the holidays, the best seasonal foods you absolutely need to try, and why their Disney experience didn't quite live up to expectatio...

Episode 22:  My New York Christmas: Lights, Magic, and Holiday Cheer This Week's Chat This week kicks off our Christmas Special! It's just me, and I'm taking you along on my unforgettable trip to New York City during the holidays. From the iconic Rockefeller Center tree to Madison Square Garden entertainment, discover why New York at Christmas is pure magic..." What I Discuss W...

Episode 21: Falling for Granada with Cassie Beardsly Join me as I chat with Cassie Beardsly about her beloved Granada, and discover why this stunning Spanish city has captured her heart with its rich history, vibrant culture, and unforgettable charm. In this episode, we chat about: - Must-see sights and hidden gems in Granada - Local flavours and where to find authentic Andalusian cuisine  - The b...

Episode 20: Tenerife Through Alexandra's Eyes: Join me as I chat with Alexandra Paucescu about her favourite holiday destination, Tenerife, and discover what keeps drawing her back to this captivating Canary Island year after year. In this episode, we chat about: 🍷 What to eat and drink in Tenerife 🗺️ The perfect 2-day itinerary for first-time visitors ☀️ Why the shoulder season is the best...

Episode 19 – Wandering Through Quebec City: A Solo Traveller’s Perspective Description: This week, it’s just me—and I’m taking you along on my recent solo trip to Quebec City . From chocolate-dipped everything at Chocolats Favoris to sipping Coureur des Bois (Canadian maple cream whisky) I’m spilling all the details from one of the most charming destinations I’ve visited this year. In this episode...

Episode 18: Tim Leffel- Peru This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Tim Leffel, an American expat living in Mexico who shares his absolute favourite holiday destination: Peru. We dive deep into what makes this place so special and why it's become his go-to escape. What We Discuss Tim's Expat Journey : Tim is an award-winning travel writer, Tim is author of The World’s Cheapest...

  Episode 17- Discovering Maria's birth place Zakynthos This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Maria an expat living in Singapore, who shares her absolute favourite holiday destination: Zakynthos. We dive deep into what makes this place so special and why it's become their go-to escape. What We Discuss Maria's Expat Journey : How she became an expat Discovering Zakynthos:...

Episode 16: Carm Gleeson - Mexico This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Carm Gleeson, an Aussie expat living in Singapore, who shares her absolute favourite holiday destination: Mexico. We dive deep into what makes this place so special and why it's become her go-to escape. What We Discuss Why Mexico is her favourite destination : How she ended up on the food tour Discovering Mexic...

Episode 15: Julie Talbot -A Modern Journey Along the Ancient Silk Road This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Julie Talbot, a British expat travelling the world, who shares her incredible journey along the legendary Silk Road. We dive deep into what makes this historic route so captivating and why it's become one of her most transformative travel experiences. About Julie: is an ex-e...

Episode 14: Paula's Solo Adventure - Nîmes Join me as I share my recent solo travel experience to Nîmes, the stunning Roman city in southern France. I'll take you through my latest trip to this incredible destination and explain why this ancient city has captured my heart. Episode Overview In this episode, I share my personal travel experience exploring Nîmes, from the spectacular Roman...

Episode 13: Amanda Dunbar on the Enchanting Town of Salemi This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Amanda Dunbar, an American expat living in Sicily, who shares their absolute favourite holiday destination: Salemi. We dive deep into what makes this place so special and why it's become their go-to escape. What We Discuss Amanda's Expat Journey : How she ended up in Salemi and her...

Episode 12: Gerrit Van den Berg - Amsterdam & The Netherlands This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Gerrit van den Berg, a Dutch local and founder of Hidden Holland, who shares his passion for showing travellers the authentic Netherlands beyond the tourist traps. We dive deep into what makes Amsterdam and the wider Netherlands so special and why authentic local experiences trump typ...

Episode 11: Sri Lanka Adventures with Patsy Tranter In this episode, I chat with Patsy Tranter about our amazing group trip to Sri Lanka in January. We share our experiences exploring this incredible island nation and why it's a must-visit destination. What I Discuss Our Sri Lankan adventure highlights including visits to Sigiriya Rock Fortress, ancient temples, tea plantations, and stunning...

Episode 10: Malta's Hidden Treasures - A Mediterranean Gem In this episode, I'm sharing my recent adventure to Malta, Europe's best-kept secret that completely stole my heart. From ancient temples older than Stonehenge to crystal-clear lagoons that rival the Caribbean, Malta packs an incredible amount of history and beauty into just 316 square kilometres. What I Discuss Exploring Va...

Episode 9: Exploring Turkey with Kylie Tchebykin This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Kylie Tchebykin who shares her absolute favourite holiday destination: Turkey. We dive deep into what makes this place so special and why it's become their go-to escape. What We Discuss Kylie's Journey : How her love of travel brought her to Turkey (over and over again) Discovering Turkey: T...

Episode 8: Sue and Reggie visit Kaeng Krachan National Park, Thailand This Week's Chat Join me as I sit down with Sue and Reggie from Travel for Life now who share why they gave Thailand another go after a disappointing visit many years ago. This time, their destination was the spectacular Kaeng Krachan National Park during butterfly migration season - and it completely changed their perspect...

Episode 7: Exploring Bhutan: Insights from an Expat In this episode, we sit down with Linda Leaming, an expat who has spent nearly three decades in Bhutan. Linda, an accomplished author, shares her journey to Bhutan, her experiences living in this unique country, and her travel recommendations. What I Discuss Linda's Travel Philosophy and Experiences Living in Bhutan: Culture and Community Di...

Episode 6: From Marrakech to the Sahara: Jo Hunter’s Morocco Love Affair Join me as I sit down with the incredible Jo Hunter to explore her ultimate favourite destination: Morocco. From the bustling souks of Marrakech to the endless dunes of the Sahara Desert, Jo shares her most memorable moments and insider tips for experiencing the magic of Morocco. Key Highlights •Jo’s first Morocco moment that...

Episode 5: Vancouver Adventure - Flying Air Canada from Singapore Episode Overview In this episode, I share my recent travel experience flying Air Canada from Singapore to Vancouver, along with highlights from my time exploring this beautiful Canadian city. What I Discuss Discovering Vancouver: Why I recently visited Vancouver The Highlights :  Must-visit spots and hidden gems Local cuisine  Best...

Episode 4: Maldives Magic with Kiara Barnes In this special episode, I chat with Kiara Barnes about our incredible trip to the Maldives together! We share behind-the-scenes stories from our paradise adventure, from overwater bungalows to crystal-clear lagoons. Kiara and I dive into what it's really like traveling to one of the world's most stunning destinations, the highlights that took...

Paula and co-host Rachel Beausang sit down with Petros — a Melbourne-born Greek who moved to Athens and never looked back. Now running Blue and White Dream Tours , Petros has spent decades discovering what most tourists miss: the family taverna down the side street, the island the locals actually love, and why August is the worst time most people choose to visit. This one is packed with practical...

Most people hear 'Everest' and immediately rule it out. Troy Barnes is here to change your mind. A seasoned mountaineer on a mission to conquer the Seven Summits, Troy sat down with Paula to share what it's really like to trek to Everest Base Camp — from the world's most nerve-wracking airport landing to yaks delivering groceries at 5,000 metres, and why people in their late 60...

Welcome to the very first episode of Truly Expat Travel! Paula kicks things off with a solo month in Sicily — house hunting, road tripping and eating her weight in arancini. From the Sunday markets of Palermo to the medieval streets of Salemi, this is a love letter to slow travel done the Sicilian way. In this episode Why Paula drove herself solo across the entire island — and cried twice (only tw...

Welcome to Truly Expat Travel - Coming Soon! Get ready to pack your bags for the journey of a lifetime! Join host Paula Barnes as she introduces Truly Expat Travel, the podcast that takes you inside the minds of expats who've made the world their home. In this exciting trailer, Paula shares her vision for intimate conversations with fellow expats about the destinations that have captured thei...