You should have been there

We discuss the real value of travelling with the help of listeners' descriptions of their most expensive holidays. But were these the most enjoyable ones? With special thanks to Jan Morris and Susan Latham   

We discuss how drugs have influenced travel and tourism: Amsterdam, L.A, the Hippy Trail, the Green Tortoise and more recently, Breaking Bad and Ozark. Plus a health warning about medicines that are considered illegal drugs in some parts of the world. Many thanks to Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet publications, for his contribution. 

We unpack the perennial travel problem of the incredible shrinking baggage allowance, with the help of listeners, previous contributors and the surrealist maestro, Marcel Duchamp. Thanks also to Rebecca Halpern, Sascha Heeney, Sarah Baxter and Tristan Gooley.  

We ponder the possible consequences of Putin's brutal war for travel and tourism, helped by Russian travel expert, Neil Taylor. Are there any parallels to be drawn with apartheid South Africa or Franco's Spain? And Simon recalls his recent visit to Chernobyl when it was, hard to believe now , a tourist attraction

We discover what awaits visitors to the first truly post-modern World Cup. As stadiums rise from the desert, Doha's beautiful new museum opens its doors to Simon, if he can manage to find the way in!  With thanks to Samuel and Daniel for joining in. 

Simon goes to Sydney, newly-opened to the world and, of course, eager to welcome tourists. He gets free vegemite at the airport, roams the city to discover what is and isn't open yet and enjoys some of the city's simpler pleasures: a tram ride, a sunset walk across the iconic bridge and a trek through the Sydney Harbour National Park, where the suburbs, the sea and the outback meet. Thanks to Jane...

Join us in the room where travel fears and phobias are brutally revealed. There's talk of vertigo, malaria and, more controversially, the constant concern that your flight will actually arrive on time. Honestly!  And we continue the discussion of travel breakfasts by unravelling the mystery of the "Big Rolls" 

Unapologetic self congratulation is in order as we pick our favourite extracts from the 99 previous podcasts.  On the menu: the epitome of slow travel, Graham Greene's little known travelogue and Simon's embarrassing experience on the Balham train, along with the evocative sounds of Andean flutes and a choir of cicadas. Plus, some inspirational journeys involving the number 100, which include...

This essential kick-start to the day's adventures or relaxation is often undervalued. From avocado on sourdough to stale bread and undrinkable coffee, we reminisce about breakfasts on the road and try and draw up an identikit menu of the ideal start to the travelling day. 

As the world of museums expands, quirkily, intriguingly and bafflingly, we discuss how to sort the wheat from the chaff and how to avoid a hangover from excessive viewing. Does Zagreb's Hangover Museum provide the answer? And we're joined by Jill Tsai, the founder of the Travel Things Museum (https://www.travelthingsmuseum.com)

We're joined by The Independent's Lucy Thackray for a discussion of this year's hot destinations and travel trends.  On the agenda: vegan hotels, work and playcations, sweat lodges or just a simple, old-fashioned Costa Rican sunset. And as the "Marble Arch Mound" closes down, what other ludicrous, white elephant tourist attractions does the world have to offer? 

Expect festive cheer and testing questions as Simon @simoncalder takes on Wanderlust Magazine's founding editor, Lyn Hughes @Wanderlust. Lyn See how you measure up against our travel experts and help decide the worthy winner! 

We hear listeners' responses to the last few podcasts and try to answer their questions. On the varied menu: Covid testing, the ethics of elephant riding, the new European railway timetable, very wild swimming and learning to cook pasta dishes in Bologna. Many thanks to all contributors, not least our special guest, Doctor Silas. 

Simon goes to Florida and returns with tales of manatees, space missions and roseate spoonbills. There's more to the sunshine state than theme parks, although he did sample (and survive) the terrifying velociocoaster. With many thanks to Simon Veness, Susan Veness, Jenna Pierce from the Imperial Bar and former astronaut, Bruce Melnick. 

We hear from listeners about Christmases past and make plans for Christmases future, Omicron variant permitting.  Plus, expedition of the week and travel rants from the town of Morpeth. Many thanks to Lizzie and Norma for taking part. 

SImon makes a pioneering trip across the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Canada with the the newly opened USA. Mick, meanwhile journeys to the hilly county of Dorset and scales its mightiest peak, risking family unity on the way. We compare notes and tensions.  With thanks to Steph, Silas and Aruja for taking part. The recording of pheasants comes courtesy of http://www.freesound.org/people/kl...

The World Travel Market has just taken place in London. It provides a cornucopia of new travel ideas and destinations, a riot of daft marketing slogans and no shortage of blah blah blah. We discover how much attention was paid to the climate concerns voiced at COP 26 and reveal why the Gulf States should be renamed the Golf States. 

We take a whistle stop tour of five Latin American countries that have been freed from the shackles of Grant Shapps' red list. On the agenda: the world's best coffee, its highest waterfall and the place where longevity is a fact of life. Not to mention some truly romantic islands.

Simon discovers more of Saudi Arabia's ancient wonders and gets an early peek at their grandiose plans for developing tourism. Meanwhile, at South London's Selhurst Park, the Saudi takeover of Newcastle United attracts criticism as well as visual creativity. Many thanks to Najla Drees and to Paul Oliver for taking part.   

Simon of Arabia discovers whether the Desert Kingdom and the home of the Geordies have anything in common, apart from the ownership of a well-known football club. We weigh the relative merits of camel tongues and saveloy dips and hear what the respective locals know about one another's countries.  Thanks to Christine, Fahad, Janet and Michael for taking part and being such good sports.

As James Bond returns to the big screen, we map his journeys around the world and speculate on his favourite destination based on the 1000 locations that he has appeared in. How many are authentic? How many are location doubles? Simon joins us from one of these stand-ins- the Broadgate Tower in Bishopsgate, London.  

Listeners share their experiences of travel con-tricks, old and new, in situ or online. Simon reports from Rotterdam's genre-bending art museum while Deirdre Swann tells us about a surprise encounter and an opportunity missed on her 64th birthday walk. Thanks to Deirdre, to Alan and to Ina Klaassen of The Depot.

From the old "three cup trick" to internet-age "fake villa" villainy, we reveal the many traps that lie in wait for the unwary tourist. Beware the "something-nasty-on your-bag-mate,"  the petrol pump counter you can't see and the "Thanksgiving Upgrade," which is just one of the  dodgy practices that bedevil the car rental business.

The latest head-to head in our travel Olympics involves two mighty destinations from the Far East.  Which will prevail in events that feature capital cities, walls, snow monkeys, toilets and Simon's culinary take on the travel bug?  Many thanks to Dr Emily Thomas and Rebecca for their contributions and to the Terracotta Warriors for their unwitting participation.  

We embark on a magical mystery tour of places associated with the Fab Four, or named in their songs. As well as Penny Lane and Abbey Road, expect Blue Jays, paper bags and the windmill in East Sussex where Sir Paul has a recording studio.