Destination Unlocked

Discover the "fiercely energetic" country of Vietnam through the experiences of guidebook writer Joshua Zukas, who moved to the country over twenty years ago. In this wide-ranging conversation, Joshua tells Daniel about his highlights of Vietnam - from North to South - food that you must try in each region, and also interesting museums and cultural highlights that help tell Vietnam's fascinating (...

Love the idea of a ski holiday, but less certain about all the drinking? Soberski founder Ben Coombes joins Daniel Edward to explore alcohol-free adventures in the French Alps and explain how to organise your first trip to the slopes. Daniel has never been skiing, so we start with the questions that experienced skiers sometimes forget need answering. What equipment should you hire? Is it worth hav...

Could you watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed? Jo Robertson, Managing Director of The Aurora Zone, joins Daniel Edward to unpack Northern Lights holidays, from choosing your destination and travel dates to the adventures waiting beneath those extraordinary skies. Jo remembers her first display on a frozen lake in Finland, when a hotel owner confidently predicted the sky would er...

Canada is big enough to make choosing where to go a holiday in itself. Sandra Potter, founder of Frontier Travel, returns to Destination Unlocked to help us find our way, from the lakes and mountains of the Rockies to Québec City’s historic streets and the icebergs off Newfoundland. Joining Daniel Edward for a coast-to-coast conversation, Sandra shares the places she loves, the journeys she recomm...

Jersey may sit just a short flight from Britain, but this tiny Channel Island has its own government, its own traditions and a character shaped by Norman history, wartime occupation and some of the largest tides in the world. Daniel is joined by Malcolm Lewis, owner of Longueville Manor, to unlock an island of medieval castles, sweeping beaches, exceptional seafood and wonderfully unexpected local...

What does Antarctica look like beyond the familiar cruise routes? Sam Bradley of Cookson Adventures joins Daniel to reveal a different side of the White Continent, reached by air from Cape Town and experienced from a remote camp deep within the Antarctic interior. Sam shares what happened when he travelled south to research an extraordinary family adventure. He takes us inside vivid blue ice caves...

Finland is often reduced to two images: stylish Helsinki in the south and Santa Claus in snowy Lapland. Between them lies a vast country of forested islands, immense lakes, summer cottages, festivals and wood-fired saunas. This week, Daniel is joined by writer and photographer Tim Bird, who first moved from Britain to Finland in 1982. More than four decades later, Tim is a Finnish citizen and the...

Guyana is one of South America’s least familiar destinations, yet it offers something increasingly rare: immense wilderness, extraordinary wildlife and travel experiences still rooted in small communities rather than mass tourism. Travel writer Becca Marsh joins Daniel to share what she discovered during six weeks travelling across Guyana while updating the fourth edition of the Bradt Guide to Guy...

French Waterways CEO Rosie Mansfield reveals how luxury hotel barges turn France's canals into intimate journeys through villages, vineyards and regional food. What if the best way to see France is not from a large river ship, but from a luxury hotel barge travelling slowly through its canals, vineyards and villages? In this episode of Destination Unlocked, Daniel Edward is joined by Rosie Mansfie...

Sicily is more than turquoise water, baroque towns and scenes from The White Lotus. Travel creator Danielle Nemesio joins Daniel to reveal the island beneath the postcard, from Palermo’s exuberant markets and Mount Etna’s volcanic vineyards to family rituals, fierce hospitality and the realities of making a life in Sicily. In this episode of Destination Unlocked, Danielle takes us beneath Sicily’s...

Travel journalist Richard Collett joins Daniel Edward to explore Devon and Cornwall through coast, food, tourism, regional identity and Britain’s internal borders. https://www.destinationunlocked.com Devon and Cornwall share England’s far south-west, but cross the River Tamar and the differences quickly become more than a line on the map. Travel journalist Richard Collett joins Daniel Edward to ex...

Tenerife is one of Europe’s great winter-sun escapes - but if your entire experience is limited to a pool, a buffet and a strip of imported bars, you may return home without really meeting the island at all. In this episode, Daniel Edward is joined by writer John Reid, whose family connections with Tenerife stretch back generations. John spent many years showing visitors around the island as a pri...

Alaska is so vast that even a 300-mile railway journey covers only a fraction of it. To experience more of the Last Frontier, rail guide Derek Mooneyham recommends combining the glaciers and coastal communities of an Alaska cruise with a journey inland to Anchorage, Talkeetna and Denali National Park. Derek joins Daniel to explain what makes Alaska unlike anywhere else in the United States. Their...

Lagos is loud, crowded and relentlessly energetic - but Vanessa Jev believes first-time visitors soon learn to move with it. In this episode, the director of the Lagos International Theatre Festival joins Daniel to explore the food, neighbourhoods and creative communities of her adopted home. For More: https://www.destinationunlocked.com Vanessa explains why Victoria Island and Lekki are convenien...

Croatia’s Adriatic coast may look made for effortless island-hopping, but choosing the right route can transform the trip. Travel writer Mary Novakovich joins Daniel to unlock the islands, ferry hubs, food and local customs of coastal Croatia, drawing on decades of travel and her own family ties to the country. Check our website for more >> https://www.destinationunlocked.com Mary begins in...

Travel journalist Kaye Holland joins Daniel Edward on Destination Unlocked to recap her inaugural sailing on Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world (up to 7,600 passengers). They discuss how the ship is designed as a “destination” with eight neighbourhoods, including the plant-filled Central Park, plus multiple pools and an adults-only hideaway to spread crowds...

Specialist travel agent Sandra Potter (Frontier Travel) joins Daniel to take a whistlestop tour of her favourite destinations in the United States of America, to celebrate the country's 250th Independence Day. https://www.destinationunlocked.com

We delve into the hidden treasures of Northern Greece, exploring the breathtaking regions of Epirus and Meteora. With Sofia Mastoridis from Natura Greca as our guide, we uncover the lush landscapes and rich cultural experiences that often go unnoticed by tourists who flock to the islands. From the stunning Vicos Gorge, home to an incredible array of flora and fauna, to the unique stone villages of...

Africa specialist and travel writer, Ian Packham, joins Daniel ahead of the updated Bradt Guide to Angola. Ian discusses first visiting during a 13-month, 31-country public-transport journey around Africa and returning to research guidebooks, describing Angola as a large, under-visited country often associated with civil war but rich in geographic diversity, coastline, wildlife, and culture. Highl...

In this episode, Vivian McCarthy of Acacia Adventure Tours, tells us all you need to know ahead of taking your first safari trip to Africa. Plus, he shares exciting news that teenagers (16+) can now join any of Acacia's safari trips for the first time. Ideal for a multi-generational family adventure. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable safari adventure as we dive into the enchanting world of A...

Juliet Rix - the go-to voice on Malta - shares her fascination for this small Mediterranean island nation to the south of Sicily. From prehistoric tombs to monumental cathedrals - Malta's story is one of conquest and defence. It has emerged as a wonderfully enriching destination to visit... plus it's rather beautifully sunny too.

Dylan Reynolds, the founder of Ride & Seek, unlocks the secrets to epic cycling adventures that go beyond just riding from point A to B. In our chat, we delve into his journey from childhood cycling escapades to leading epic tours like the Napoleon Tour, which retraces the historic march of Napoleon's army across Europe. We explore the blend of cycling with cultural immersion, discussing the i...

Accessible travel is a vital topic that transforms the way we think about exploring the world, and today, we dive deep into this subject with Matt Dennis from the Empowered Traveller. Matt shares his personal journey, highlighting how accessible tourism isn't just about wheelchair access; it's about creating opportunities for individuals with various abilities to enjoy the joy of travel. We discus...

Sarah Matilde Madiona joins Daniel to talk about the lesser-visited side of Tuscany. Yes, we've all heard of Florence and Pisa... but how about Maremma? The wilder side of Tuscany embraces nature and a slower pace of life. For an authentic visit to the Italian countryside, this is it.

Travel writer, Sam Baldwin, shares his love for Slovenia. Hot off the heels of heartbreak, Sam threw himself into a dream of renovating a mountain hut, where the snow would fall thick in the winter. In moving to Slovenia he found a country and culture that he intrinsically connected with and wrote the travel memoir Doormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia to capture his admiration of this le...