Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
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Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Simon Calder is the Independent’s travel correspondent, the UK’s leading travel journalist. From news updates to discussions with experts, Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast will bring you all you need to know from the world of travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...
Episodis Recents
1303 episodis
Video masterclass from award-winning cameraman Douglas Bolton
In the second half of our focus on the lens, this top cinematographer reveals the mistakes that people most often make when shooting video. Hoping you...
What will the current crisis mean for travellers in future?
In the first of a two part series, top cinematographer and photographer Douglas Bolton tells me how to take better stills – even if you are using your...
What will the current crisis mean for travellers in future?
“People will think, maybe I’ll fly Singapore Airlines next time.” So says Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler, in the last episode of a travel trilo...
US and Israel didn’t think Iran would respond by hitting Dubai
The attack on Iran that began on 28 February closed the nation’s airspace, as well as that of neighbouring Iraq. But within hours, the whole Gulf regi...
How does the current disruption in the Gulf compare with previous crises?
Perspective is important in travel. There is one person who can put the current chaos arising from the US Israeli attack against Iran into context: le...
Esther, Queen of the Desert
I am in Broken Hill, New South Wales: the Silver City. Besides being a classic Australian mining town, it has been the location for some cult movies –...
We've got to get out of this place!
I have been talking to stranded travellers in Sydney – probably the location with the highest number of people keen to get to the UK, but scuppered by...
Could you be tempted by a political tour?
My guest today is Nicholas Wood, founder and director of Political Tours: friend of the podcast, to whom I talked to last May. Since then a vast amoun...
Finland: In the far-from-bleak late winter
Travel desk Tuesday – and today's excellent colleague just back from a big trip is Global Travel Editor Annabel Grossman. She has returned from wintry...
Gulf crisis: my assessment of the aviation impact
Just before I boarded a flight to China, I set out the scale of the problem caused by the closure of the three biggest Middle East air hubs – And cons...
National Lottery Open Week is back from 7 to 15 March 2026
Each year, heritage venues and attractions funded by the National Lottery offer special deals for anyone who can demonstrate they have played the lott...
‘Heathrow’s third runway should have been built 10 years ago’
That's the message from Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of Europe's busiest airport, who is keen to build a third runway and opening it to flights wit...
Red tape gets even more tangled from today
For many British travellers who plan to travel to Ireland, or who happen to be dual nationals, red tape has become a lot more complicated from today....
First time in Africa for senior travel writer Natalie Wilson
Travel desk Tuesday – and the joy of working at The Independent is that my excellent colleagues are constantly returning from exciting places. Senior...
Mexico: UK Foreign Office issues urgent warning as flights are cancelled due to drug cartel violence
Many thousands of tourists are stranded in the resort of Puerto Vallarta after violence erupted following the killing of narcotics kingpin ‘El Mencho’...
"Huge, massive beautiful place" – welcome to Mongolia
Ulan Bator, the capital, is a busy, creative location, says Anna Butler – Tour Manager for Expat Adventure. She has lived in the vast land – six times...
Dual citizens may now be able to use expired passports to enter the UK
From Wednesday 25 February, people who are British but also citizens of another country were told they can travel to the UK only with a valid British...
Forget travel with family or partner – the trend is to explore with friends
Andrea Godfrey, head of the long-standing and highly innovative travel company Regent Holidays, tells me about the new Holidays with Friends portfolio...
Are you tempted to travel to the frozen north?
Greenland, Iceland, Lapland – their names alone might make you shiver. Then there's the geological instability of Iceland (remember the volcano?) and...
Egypt: new opportunities in an ancient land
The Grand Egyptian Museum is finally fully open on the edge of Cairo. It tells the story of this amazing nation in what has become one of the world's...
'Please, let's get on with expanding Heathrow'
That's the perhaps surprising message from Paul Griffiths, chief executive of the world's leading international airport: Dubai, whose code is DXB. Pau...
The expert's guide to the great cities of the world
What makes a great city? The man who knows is top geographer David Gilbert, Professor of Urban and Historical Geography at The Royal Holloway Centre f...
View from the flight deck
Captain David Sanders, who has a long and distinguished career in aviation, tells me how passengers could help themselves by turning up on time and no...
How does river cruising compare?
It's Travel Desk Tuesday, and cruise writer Marc Shoffman is bringing me up to speed on the joys of river cruising – in Europe and beyond.
This...
Insider’s guide to Portugal’s Algarve
Sharon Cleator has been travelling to the lovely south coast of Portugal for 40 years. She knows the Algarve like the back of her hand, and now offers...
Rome's most celebrated public space now costs €2 for admission
The Trevi fountain in the Italian capital has been overrun by tourists for many years, and now the Roman authorities are seeking to impose some order....
Your audio guide to Argentina
In the second part of my conversation with Buenos Aires local Stephen Melton, we discuss the highlights of Argentina beyond the capital.
This po...
Insider tips on Buenos Aires
In the beautiful wrought-iron market of San Telmo in Buenos Aires, British teacher and all-round Latin legend Stephen Melton has been telling me about...
Is flying really cheaper?
That’s the title of a challenging event being organised by campaigning group Flight Free UK. Director Anna Hughes talks to me about exploring Europe b...
China: 'Go before you get too old' – because so much walking is involved
The first UK tour operator to China in the 1970s was Regent Holidays. Neil Taylor, now a tour leader and travel guide writer, was the man behind the t...
China visa for UK holidaymakers could be dropped as early as Monday, says top tour operator
I am talking to Wendy Wu, founder of Wendy Wu Tours, a leading provider of holidays in the People's Republic. She believes red tape for China could be...
How do passengers feel about the luggage rules on budget airline?
Britain's biggest budget airline, easyJet, has had its knuckles rapped over its charges for larger pieces of cabin baggage. I have come to London Gatw...
What are the world’s most useful currencies for travellers?
Once again I am talking to Kaya Niedenthal of the Currency Online Group – but in unusual circumstances. He is a busy man so I could interview him only...
Skyscanner expands its price-comparison service to include package holidays
Travel desk Tuesday, and my excellent colleague Sophie Dickinson gives her thoughts on the highly popular airfare comparison site moving into the real...
It's Australia Day – but how to make the most of the vast and distant nation?
For insights and advice I've been talking to top expert Lauren McLeod, who heads up the Australia product portfolio for Trailfinders – the largest ind...
Liverpool John Lennon airport sets a new passenger record
The UK has a fabulously competitive bunch of airports as well as airlines. Today, I’m talking to John Vincent, chief executive of Liverpool John Lenno...
Michael O'Leary on Elon Musk, air traffic control and drinking at airports
In which the chief executive of Ryanair – Europe’s biggest budget airline – challenges the world's richest man to an arm-wrestling contest.
This...
If the earth is actually curved, we’ll be able to tell
Fifty years to the day since the first British Airways Concorde took off with passengers on board, a final interview with Blake Scholl, founder of Boo...
Who knows where the tourists go?
Patricia Yates does: she is chief executive of Visit Britain, which has just delivered a major survey on the value of inbound tourism to the UK.
...
Wish it could be Concorde every day? Hear what a leading environmental campaigner has to say
Back by popular demand: more on supersonic flying. But Anna Hughes, director of Flight Free UK, does not believe we should return to the era of breaki...