You should have been there

We swap tales of footwear malfunctions while shining a light on the neglected, important and richly comic topic of traveller's shoes.

Simon travels to Israel and Hong Kong, finding unexpected pleasures in harsh and politically volatile destinations. In particular, he enjoys the "friendly" Negev desert and the tranquil island of Tai O

Simon and Mick discuss the latter's experience of walking the "camino inglés", the 115 km pilgrims' route from Ferrol to Santiago. On the agenda: the weather, the kindness of strangers, fellow-pilgrims and the nature of the walk itself.

Jessica has visited every country world and is almost certainly the first black woman to do so. She shares her tales of favourite and not so favourite places, of inspiring encounters and lessons learnt along the way. You can follow Jessica's journeys on https://thecatchmeifyoucan.com . Her new WhatsApp docuseries, Crossing Cultures, is about the world's diasporas and starts in London's...

We report on recent journeys: Simon to the potentially controversial destination of Israel, Mick to the North of Spain, where the FEVE narrow-gauge railway takes you to some remote and intriguing mountain villages. Find FEVE information here https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve

We are joined by Sophie Griffiths from TTG Media to talk about gay-friendly destinations, oppressive and discriminatory laws and the improvements in attitudes towards LGBTQ+ travellers that Pride events are helping to bring about around the world

We compare and contrast Simon's happy-go-lucky approach to travel planning with Mick's meticulous preparations. Serendipity v serious forethought. And which is better when it all goes Pete Tong, as journeys often do? We also hear from listeners about the ideal length of time to allow for transits, layovers and stopovers. Thanks to all contributors, in particular traveller, Catherine Oldham...

We celebrate our 150th podcast at London's St Pancras station with highlights (and some lowlights) from our previous editions. On the agenda: crossing strange borders, psychogeography, Pyrenean slip-ups and strange brews.

We are joined by astronomer, traveller and tour group leader, Doctor John Mason. He talks eclipses, paths of totality, meteor showers and how best to see the Northern Lights. According to Doctor John: "Think of yourself as an insomniac Polar Bear"

We are joined by Claudia Gualdi, a travel data expert at the company Riskline. She talks us through a recent survey that reveals in a surge in post-pandemic travel by solo females. What are the rewards and, sadly, the risks? How best can they be mitigated? Websites: riskline.com and solotravelerworld.com/about/solo-travel-statistics-data And apps: Toilet finder: Flush Safety: Bsafe App

We hear the salutary tales of Debra's passport and of Mick's misplaced click, while continuing the hot topic of travelling with children- is there a best age? With many thanks to Debra Davis, Alec Webb and Charlotte Hindle. And do send us your own stories of travel errors to be avoided and childhood memories to be cherished.

We hear anecdotes and advice about travelling with young children, from TV producer Nicky Lessware, You Tuber Mark Wolters  and Charlotte Hindle, co-author of the Lonely Planet Guide to Travelling with Children.  On the agenda: which country is the best to visit with a baby, what dogs should be avoided in Georgia and where in Rome can you find Bugs Bunny's house?  

Our guest this week is the incredibly popular US  You-Tube traveller, Mark Wolters.  He tells us how and why he started Wolters' World and shares some frank tips on travel do's and don'ts.  When in the USA, for instance, don't touch Americans- unless they ask you to, of course!  Find Mark's 2000 plus videos at woltersworld.com  

Simon delves into his library and his memory bank to come up with ten tips for reducing holiday outgoings

We are joined by travel journalist and hotel guru, Lucy Thackray to talk about new-look hotels and their prices. On the agenda are pods, pillow sommeliers, hangover cures and awful guests.  Follow Lucy's travels at     https://www.lucythackray.com/  and Twitter:  @LucyintheSky22

Our guest this week is Sue Bryant, Cruise Editor of the Times and Sunday Times. As the cruise ships get even bigger and the booking numbers increase, we mull over the controversial subject of holiday cruises. Discover the many different facets of this branch of the travel industry, including the newly-minted concepts of "the retreat" and the  "pier runner" .  Sue's work can be found at w...

We reflect on the many charms of Belgium's star attraction- Brugge or Bruges.  Mick's  audio diary brings the city to life through its sounds while Simon generates the power for his own recording from the Eurostar terminal in Brussels- surely a first in podcasting history! 

We talk train journeys of all kinds with the guru of rail travel, Mark Smith, aka "The Man in Seat 61. "  Mark shares his own favourite journeys and experiences, particularly in the country where "the scenery inside the train is as enthralling as the landscape outside."  Mark's  hugely informative website is  at www.seat61.com.  Thanks as well to Monisha Rajesh, author of...

We discuss hot locations for this year's travellers and some of the new trends and buzzwords that are making a splash.  Find out, for instance whether you are a set-jetter?    The website we mentioned is www.tripfiction.com. And the photo is of Marseille

Simon and Mick go head to head over 8 rounds. Can you do better than they did?   The website mentioned during the quiz is  "The Man in Seat 61 " https://www.seat61.com

Our guest is Professor Jean Mcneil, who not only teaches writing but is an author of both novels and travel narratives.  Hear her thoughts on the differences between factual and fictional evocations of other places, but also her top tips for good travel reading. Amongst her favourites are the novels of Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga.  Discover Jean's own work at https://www.jeanmcn...

We match France with Argentina to discover which of these football greats is the better travel destination. It's a game of dodgy decisions and dirty tricks with a thrilling climax

Are they as bleak as the weather? Join Mick Webb and Simon Calder for a summary of the festive disruptions, a lively listener exchange about business flights and a look back at the original Christmas journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem- challenging, to put it mildly.  With thanks to Christian Bjoerklund for his electronic track, Hallon. 

We are joined by Cleo Paskal, journalist, academic researcher and a pioneering digital nomad. On the agenda: Cleo's own travels and her thoughts about the new wave of visa-assisted laptop-toting workers who are not universally welcomed in their constantly-changing homelands.  Find Cleo on Twitter @CleoPaskal ,   or online at       https://www.fdd.org/team/cl...

We take a peek behind the curtain that hides business class from economy to discover what life is like for that controversial traveller-the frequent flyer. Providing the low-down and behind-the-scenes gossip is Rob Burgess, founder and director of the website, headforpoints.com