You should have been there: Recent Episodes
Mick Webb and Simon Calder
Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent and former BBC producer, Mick Webb, discuss the world of travel and delight in travellers' tales.
We discuss the merits of visiting Australia in the wake of Mick's trip to the less fashionable West and North of this vast country. On the agenda: strange pronunciations, marvellous marsupials, loud and lovely birds and the very important distinction between Salties and Freshies, just in case you meet a crocodile.
We reveal some truths about the legendary Orient Express, including who was responsible for "murdering " it. Plus more travel miracles and updates for summer tourism. With Simon Calder and Mick Webb
We discuss the controversial new tax on day visitors to Venice and look ahead to the charms and challenges of this summer's travel, including the best month to make your get away.
We explore the contrasting attractions of dark tourism for eclipse chasers and disaster seekers, while Simon tries not to miss his flight from New York. The website mentioned is dark-tourism. com.
We delve into "Type 2 fun" and discuss some places that might be considered necessary evils on the way to more enjoyable destinations. Like the Central American city in the photo.
Our guest is Mike Mackay Richards, author of "The Travelling Ape." Mike has visited 155 countries and has a perhaps surprisingly upbeat view of people and most, if not all, places. He advises us to get out there and enjoy the world rather then "vegetating in a little corner of it." His book is available from Amazon.
We muse on the weeks travel headlines about Air Traffic Control chaos and plunging planes, while Simon reports from the vast Berlin Travel Show where the whole world of travel is revealed.
We talk to Jonny Bealby, founder of the adventure travel firm, Wild Frontiers, about his life as a traveller and businessman. On the agenda: his favourite countries, most terrifying experiences and the item that he won't travel without. Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com
Simon recounts the tale of his unbelievably cheap Irish journey and Dylan Harris of Lupine Travel reveals the rewards and challenges of running an adventure travel company.
We discuss listeners' thoughts on when their holiday really starts: as the front door closes, as you clear airport security, the train/plane/ferry begins to move.... ? With particular thanks to Cathy Adams of Times Travel and filmmaker, Ben Garfield
We showcase the strange restrictions encountered by listeners on their travels and compare our own recent visits to intriguing islands.
We hear listeners' tales of passport nightmares while Simon exposes a documentary faux-pas in a current Channel 4 drama series.
The final destination makes a fitting conclusion to the 12 part quiz. Find the place then work out what connects all the answers.
A lesser-known, UNESCO-recognised delight is the tenth destination of the quiz. Can you work it out?
Guess the destination one, a very popular European city, in the eighth of our mini podcasts.
Head for the Balkans to find this city, the sixth of our twelve destinations. Can you see a link emerging between these places?
Can you work out today's destination? A well-visited location with a well-loved building
The second mini podcast of the quiz. Guess the destination and try and work out the link between all 12 places.
We Talk to Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth about the new edition of her book, Staying Healthy When You Travel. Expect advice on what to pack, what to expect in different destinations and what to do if you fall ill abroad. The book is published by Fox Chapel Publishing.
We discuss the pros and cons of airport lounges and hear more from Pat Yale on the delights of slow travel to Turkey, including the unexpected charms of Belgrade. With many thanks to Nicola, Amanda, Laura, Nick, Gordon Stone and Pat Yale (@patyale on X)
We ask some of the questions that aren't being asked in Dubai at COP 28 and suggest one or two answers.
Travel meets football in our guide to the 2024 Euros. Discover where to go, when to book and what to see in Simon Calder's essential guide to next year's football feast across the length and breadth of Germany.
Chris Christou joins us from the lovely Mexican city of Oaxaca to discuss his podcast- "The End of Tourism" - and his ideas about "radical hospitality." We also feature listeners' tales of entertaining experiences of changing money. Chris' website iswww.theendoftourism.com
Simon visits two of the industry's major get togethers to take the pulse of travel. Amongst the delegates, he meets Iceland's First Lady and the man who aims to put Airbus 380's back in the skies.
Writer Pat Yale joins us to talk about the pleasures of travelling overland from the UK to Turkey as well as what it's been like to live in the country for the past twenty five years. Pat's new book, "Following Miss Bell: Travels around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell," has just been published by Trailblazer Publications.
Simon and Mick conclude their walk across the Ariège in the French Pyrenees and ruminate on the challenges and the rewards of mountain walking
Simon and I share the audio diary of our trek across a remote area of the French Pyrenees, the wild and woolly Ariège - yes, it is famed for its sheep. On the agenda are physical challenges, human errors aplenty and entertaining encounters with humans and animals.
We continue our attempt to divine the future direction of travel, assisted by listeners.
We break out our crystal ball and hypothesise about the shape of travel in thirty years time. VTOL aircraft, jetpacks, autonomous vehicles, affordable rail travel ........ maybe.
We try to make sense of the mayhem endured by holidaymakers during this summer's busiest month for travel. Planes, boats and trains, all have been affected. Who is to blame, do we ever learn from previous mistakes and how bad is the UK, compared with other countries?
We discuss the many, very accessible charms of the small country that is becoming a surprise travel hit. With thanks to Vonne of Brasserie Vonne in Balham, South London, for joining us. brasserievonne.co.uk
We discuss "bustling" markets, "palm-fringed" beaches and "towering" peaks with professor of philosophy, Emily Thomas from Durham University. Do clichéd travel descriptions add to our understanding of other places or quite the reverse? Plus an interview with Eleanor Parker, the winner of last week's Trans-Europe Race to Istanbul by public transport.
Simon joins the competitors and organisers of Lupine Travel's Trans-European Race at the start line in London's Trafalgar's Square. It's a bizarre medley of mystery and travel challenges, all on public transport. So who on earth would spend their holidays doing this and what prizes are at stake?
We welcome to the show Michael Motamedi, chef, digital nomad and influencer, who tells us what it's like to entrust his family's travel plans to a digital guide called Guide Geek. And we compare AI's take on Mykonos with a human view of it as a holiday destination. You can follow Michael's experimental journey at michaelmotamedi.com. And thanks for the lovely photo of Mykonos are due to Dana Tentis at Pixabay.
Snow, leaves, sun, swans, even trampolines. We investigate delays to planes and trains and discuss the bizarre causes and often ludicrous excuses.
We delve into this delightful holiday activity and suggest some of the best places to try it out. You don't need to go as far as Panama's San Blas Islands as the UK has island hops that are sometimes much easier than you'd think.
Lyn Hughes of Wanderlust magazine joins us to discuss the endless allure of islands and what it is that makes them so attractive. Is there one perfect example among the world's million chunks of offshore land?
Simon and Mick discuss the role played by luck, miraculous interventions and the kindness of strangers in a fulfilling journey. And we reveal an odd connection between Brexit and Dexy's Midnight Runners
Simon and Mick are joined by walker and novelist, Stephen Marriot, to discuss the enduring appeal of the Caminos de Santiago (I bet you don't know how many there are!) Stephen explains how the first of his "pilgrimages" inspired him to write his Reluctant Pilgrim series, published by The Marsh Books while Mick completes his audio diary of the "Camino inglés"
We talk border towns and their unique features, in particular those curious places which are split by an international frontier. In Baarle Hertog, for instance, divided between Belgium and the Netherlands, the border runs through the middle of the council chamber while the main street of Le Perthus offers opportunities to shop in Spain on one side and France on the other.
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 Peckham : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzndKNV9HrE
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 and coach driver, Husain.
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? The websites we mentioned are at riskline.com and solotravelerworld.com/about/solo-travel-statistics-data/
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 athttps://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 www.suebryant.com, while the article by Jean Mcneil that we mentioned is on www.jeanmcneil.co.uk
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 "Around the World in 80 trains"
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.jeanmcneil.co.uk/
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.
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
We are joined, from her narrowboat home, by Anna Hughes, the director of Flight Free UK. On the agenda are ways of travelling more responsibly and sustainably and how to at least mitigate the effects on the planet of our constant need to move around it. The websites mentioned by Anna are flightfree.co.uk; byway.travel; raileurope.co.uk
We discuss our favourite travel conundrums and their enduring fascination. Whatever happened to.......? How did they get here... ? Why on earth...... ? Flight MH 370, Easter Island statues and the bewildering seat numbers in Portuguese trains all make it onto the agenda
Our audio guide includes where to go to find free transport and and when you can visit the world's great museums without putting your hand in your pocket. Plus, we evaluate listener's miracles-do they stand up to our rigorous testing?
Taking our cue from the miracles sought by pilgrims to the French city of Lourdes, we try to track down some secular miracles for the modern traveller.
We delight in a key feature of travel-the u turn. Whether performed by hapless politicians, lost walkers or confused pilots, they are generally screeching and usually embarrassing.
The third and final part of our Pyrenean trek finds us on the homeward stretch, enjoying an off-grid mountain refuge, a convivial evening at a 'chambre d'hôtes' and a walk through the ever-surreal streets of Lourdes
Part two of Simon and Mick's trek through The High Pyrenees. It brings spectacular cols, "Dormitory Hell" and a brush with the French equivalent of Basil Fawlty
The audio diary of our 5-day trek in the French Pyrenees, South of Lourdes. As well as the terrain to contend with, we face battles against weight, time and unexpected crises.
We exchange playlists of our own favourite travel sounds and visit the Cotswold village of Adlestrop, the setting for Edward Thomas' evocative travel poem of the same name.
Basilicas with views, Bob Dylan's childhood home and the world's best London all featured on Simon's packed August itinerary. We discuss the experiences, the discoveries and the lessons of his busy trip
Our guest Raquel tells us all about an essential but often unsung job in the travel industry- the Tour Manager- revealing its upsides as well as its disadvantages. While Simon takes a trip back in time on the chrome-covered Amtrak express, The Wolverine, en route from Detroit to Chicago.
Can you avoid the summer crowds in Italy? How trustworthy are online travel agents? And last but not least, the real reason why we didn't win a UK Podcast Award. With thanks to James Hill, Rebecca Halpern, Helen P and Jonny N.
Simon wisely cycles to Dover's ferry port to report on the queues and the chaos that have beset holidaymakers. Who is to blame? Plus, the winners of our competition to find the UK's best city for a summer break.
Which UK city has most attractions for the visitor? Join us for a discussion of hills, lanes, beaches, museums, architecture and other key features. Vote for your favourite athttps://twitter.com/SimonCalder/status/1548983503190114305?s=20&t=WyCR1_M_9ElJ5nx98ayfaA
As the summer of chaos continues, with its many barriers to having an enjoyable holiday- flight cancellations, Covid concerns and Brexit effects, for starters- we discuss how to prepare for them and make your travels relatively relaxing.
Jean McNeil, writer and academic, joins us on the roof terrace of London's Barbican Centre to talk Psychogeography. Discover what it is, where it comes from and how it can help you get a bit more from your travels. Plus, more on the great Bielfeld conspiracy!
With the help of listeners' stories, we distil positivity from the unlikeliest of subjects- delayed flights at airports.
Follow Simon's week of travel reporting-from the chaos at UK's airports to the 9 euro deal of the century on German railways. And taking in the bizarre dangling tram of Wuppertal as well as plenty of technical challenges along the way. Many thanks to Hywel Jones and Linda WS for their contributions.
Our guest interviewee is airline pilot and travel writer, Mark Vanhoenacker. He talks about his new book, Imagine a City, recently published in the UK by Chatto and Windus and also shares some trade secrets. Would you have guessed that the first things he packs is a spork? Thanks to Mark for his photo of Cairo by night
Enjoy more of listener's photos of great dishes with spectacular views. Find out which country topped the polls as your favourite location and see the photos @ https://www.flickr.com/gp/190976368@N06/Dc61Tp. Thanks to all contributors for their photographs and to Scott Buckley for permission to his music track, Solstice
We discover listeners' rooms with views (with Greece clocking up a majority) and serve up the first helping of plates with views. With thanks to everyone who sent in pictures to our twitter account @ youshouldhave BT, and to Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail magazine, for sharing her favourite view from a train.
Hear from listeners about the views that have inspired them and created travel memories both happy and sad. With special thanks to Julia Lo Bue-Said of The Advantage Travel Partnership, James Beagrie of Meon Valley Travel, Mary Poulton, Rebecca Halpern and everyone else who got in touch to share their rooms and their views via our twitter account, @youshouldhave BT
Bats, birds and bones, not to mention churches and cheese. We enter the twilight zone of caverns and grottoes to discover much more than stalactites and stalagmites.
We discover ways of adding spice to your travels by undertaking special or unusual quests. The "route of the dovecotes" in southern France, the grounded solar system in Zagreb and the Shakespeare trail in Stratford-upon-Avon are all on the itinerary. Thanks to Norman Smith, Tim Neale and Gary Knapper for taking part.
Simon takes the temperature of travel in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, three small states in the menacing shadow of Russia and Belarus. Even so, he enjoys the scenery, the hospitality and a surreal cultural tour in the Estonian town of Sillamäe. With thanks to his guide, Valentina, and the anti-war protestors of Tallinn.
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 and Jim O'Donnell for taking part.
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 "the sociopath's camino de Santiago." Also, thanks to Syna-Max of Freesound for the recording of applause.
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/klankbeeld/
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.
We debate the pros and cons of visiting countries with dodgy regimes. Is it ever justifiable? And if so, under what circumstances? Fortunately, we are guided through the minefield of ethical dilemmas by the philosopher and traveller, Dr Emily Thomas, of Durham University. Thanks also to Luis Cuellar from Freeimages for the photo
Enjoy our latest head-to-head: Scottish Island versus Greek Island. Which is the better holiday destination? Simon is on location in Lerwick, while Zante's champion is Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive Officer of the Advantage Travel Partnership
We showcase listeners' suggestions for travelling situations that warrant inclusion in our TRAVEL OLYMPICS. Plus a head to head contest between Zimbabawe and Zambia for the "worth visiting" medal.
With Simon reporting live from sunny St Pancras station, we attempt to navigate the latest twists and turns in the government's controversial "traffic light" travel scheme. And it's Slovenia (colourful capital: Ljubljana ) versus Slovakia (world's most castles!) in our new Olympic travel competition.
This edition is all about listener's formative travel experiences- from a first distant view of the Himalayas to a wild camping trip to Pembrokeshire. Special thanks are due to Rebecca and to Dr John Mason.
Never mind those space billionaires, we are joined by a much more knowledgeable guest to talk about eclipses, meteor showers, Northern Lights and other heavenly phenomena. Dr John Mason MBE, astronomer extraordinaire, discusses what to look out for and and where best to see it. You can find out more about his work by searching online for the "South Downs Planetarium"
What was your first trip aboard like? Where did you go? Did anything amazing happen? Simon and Mick compare their first times and their memories, but we want to know about your experiences. Do get in touch by audio message on Anchor.fm/youshouldhavebeenthere or via Twitter: @youshouldhaveBt
We discuss the sometimes surprising delights of the world's underground railway systems and make a spurious case for claiming Gareth Southgate as one of our own.
We attempt to hack our way through the red tape and labyrinthine protocols surrounding foreign travel. Fortunately we are joined by an expert guide, Julia Lo Bue-Said, who is chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership-the UK's largest group of independent travel agents. Follow Julia on Twitter at @jlo_said
The heart of any self-respecting town or city is its square. So which is the world's best square, what are the essential ingredients for a good one and why are we in the UK so bad at them? Simon offers his opinions from the not very renowned Kings Cross Square in London though I thought the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa was a bit more photogenic!
Mick's prejudices about the world's largest country are robustly challenged by Simon and the travel writer and photographer, Frances Linzee Gordon. Enjoy her tales of smiling policemen, two-way mirrors and learning to fire a Kalashnikov.
Join Simon in Gibraltar as he meets the residents and tries to avoid the light-fingered macaque monkeys. The famous "Rock" is just one of the tiny states that dot the map of Europe. Cleo Paskal, Associate Fellow of Chatham House kindly shares her research passion for these Microstates and we revisit a journey to Andorra.
A gorilla mother and baby are among the most wonderful sights that a rainforest can provide. But there are also snakes, scorpions and mosquitoes that you would prefer not to come across. We get inside nature's miraculous but disappearing hot houses with the help of Joe Taylor and Silas Webb. Thanks are also due to Ernesto, the Colombian guide who helped Simon and me across a small part of the treacherous Darien Gap. The website with details of our very own UK temperate rainforests is https://lostrainforestsofengland.org/
....... and of course Simon was on it, taking the Covid tests and checking out sunny Algarve as the UK's oldest ally gets a green light from the government. But how complicated is it to get there and what kind of holiday experience awaits the intrepid visitor to Portugal? Many thanks to Paul Goldstein for joining in the Faro fun.
Taking our cue from the famous novel by Jules Verne, we hear travellers' tales of trials and tribulations with some unexpected bonuses. A free hotel stay in Antigua can't be bad, can it? Thanks to Carolyn Pearson, Dr Claire Corkhill and David Else for their stories and to everyone who kindly sent their tales of delay via Twitter.
We shed light on the government's forthcoming strategy for foreign travel with the help of Carolyn Pearson. Her company, Maiden Voyage, advises business travellers on safety and well-being (maiden-voyage.com). An unexpected accompaniment is provided by some dogs that Simon befriended outside Swindon Railway Station.
35 years since the melt-down of Chernobyl's nuclear reactor, the site of the catastrophe has become a top tourist attraction. Nuclear scientist, Dr Claire Corkhill, joins us to talk about "dark tourism" and the ethics of visiting places like this. Claire has recently taken part in the documentary "Russia versus the World" which you can see on My5.
We investigate the twinning movement, looking back at some of the more interesting and bizarre connections that it has thrown up. Did you know, for instance, that one English town has chosen Narnia as a partner? We'd love to receive your ideas for any new kinds of twinning via twitter, @youshouldhaveBt
As self-catering accommodation re-opens, we discuss the widespread problem of fake reviews with the guidebook writer and editor, David Else. He highlights some scams and reveals the tricks of the professional reviewer's trade. Find his work at www.davidelse.com
We hear from listeners about all the journeys that were planned but not made during the past 12 months, while Simon makes a "minimised" trip to the seaside. Many thanks to Poppy, Daisy and Jamie for their readings. Also to Christian Bjoerklund for his music track "Hallon"
Simon reports from the first bus to leave Manchester for London on the 29th March, the day that travel restrictions were cautiously relaxed. Many thanks to Dave the driver, fellow-passenger, Sam Serrano, as well as listener Mick for his message.
We talk about the best places to visit at this time of year and answer that perennial question. No, not when is Easter, but WHERE is Easter? Do get in touch with us on Twitter: @youshouldhaveBT
Cathy Adams of The Independent joins us to plot a route through the 68 page document that will lead us towards a day out in Brighton and the promise of far-off beaches. Or will it? We assess the obstacles that await on the road ahead. Cathy on twitter is Cathy@catman and we are @youshouldhaveBt. Many thanks, too, to Glyn Jones and to Poppy
We talk to Emily Thomas about her recent book, which explores most entertainingly what philosophers have said about travel. Descartes, for instance, claimed to have gained most of his knowledge from "the great book of the world". Emily's book, The Meaning of Travel, is published by Oxford University Press.
Find out what it's like to be a top cultural tour guide with our guest, James Hill. The highs, the lows and what goes on behind the scenes, plus some terms you might not have come across before-we certainly hadn't : "lollipops" and "shamrockisation". James' tours can be found at www.ciceroni.co.uk
As the prospect of a Spanish holiday draws a little closer Lola Culsán and John Weller reveal how to avoid the seaside crowds. Their new book, Hidden Beaches: Spain, is the fruit of an epic, covid-interrupted journey round the whole coast of Spain in a campervan. Get a 20% discount with the code, hiddenbeach21, from www.wildthingspublishing.com/product/hidden-beaches-spain-book/
Today we're talking about group travel with Joe Fallon, founder of the company TruTravels. From steamy Thailand he tells us how he set up his firm and about his hopes for it in an uncertain future. We also discuss what group travel can offer that independent travel can't! Joe's company website is trutravels.com. Contact us at twitter.com/YouShouldHaveBt
In honour of Valentine's Day, our subject is romantic destinations and locations. They range from heart-shaped islands to a windowless bar in Krakow. We'd love to hear your own stories of travel romance via Twitter- @you should have BT
Journalist Claire Wrathall helps us peek behind the plantation shutters of Mustique's exclusive villas and explains what it's like to visit this most exclusive of islands.
Simon reveals his love of Quokkas, while Mick's sceptical view of Australia's charms is well and truly challenged by Oz aficionados, Charlotte Hindle and Peter Webb.
There's nothing quite like a mechanical breakdown to disrupt your travel plans. But sometimes it can make rather than break your holiday, as we hear from Steph Nelms and Alec Webb. Meanwhile the President of the AA, Edmund King gives some timely advice on how to avoid mechanical mayhem. Do send your travel tales to us via Twitter @youshould haveB1
To help draw up a shortlist of worthy contenders, we are joined by Sarah Baxter, Charlotte Hindle, Alec Webb and Tony Wheeler. Would you believe that someone proposed The Sound of Music? Do send us your own suggestions to our new Twitter destination, @youshouldhavebe1
What does this New Year have in store for tethered travellers? And If we are allowed to get away, how much of the travel industry will still be functioning? Our guest this week, having an educated guess at what might happen, is Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet guidebooks. Find out about Tony and his travels at www.tonywheeler.com.au
SImon goes head to head with Lyn Hughes, Editor in Chief of Wanderlust magazine, over ten mind-bending rounds. Can you outquiz them?
With acknowledgements to Kratftwerk, we preview the new European Rail Timetable in the expert company of Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries. Prepare for the light at the end of the tunnel with their top train tips. Find details of their publications at www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/
Where are the most enjoyable long walks and what's the best way to tackle them? Our guest this week is Sarah Baxter, travel writer, walker and author of " A History of the World in 500 Walks" . Her website is sarahbtravel.wordpress.com
We discuss how to travel healthily with Sascha Heeney. She 's not only a nurse but also a travel guide with Lupine travel (lupinetravel.co.uk) which specialises in tours to some of the world's hardest to reach destinations. Altitude sickness, malaria, air pollution water, food, insurance, it's all here!
Discover how the humble stinging nettle can help you find your way to a village pub with our guest, Tristan Gooley. He's an expert in the lost and often fascinating art of navigating by the sun, stars, clouds, trees, even satellite dishes. Details of his ideas and his books are available on naturalnavigator.com
It's not just what you photograph but the context in which you take it. Our guests today are travel writer and adventurer, Frances Linzee Gordon, and Mario Cavalli who is a film maker and photographer. Enjoy some of his work at https://mario-cavalli-images.squarespace.com/. And, https://mario-cavalli-images.squarespace.com/-jodhpur-the-blue-city-holi. See our photos at http://bit.ly/YouShouldHaveBeenThere
Helped by travel writer and adventurer, Frances Linzee Gordon, we discuss the contentious distinction between the words "traveller" and "tourist". Would you ever find a true traveller in an all-inclusive resort? Or a tourist on a dodgy local bus?
We recall, or at least try to, some of the oddest drinks we've encountered during our travels and attempt to describe their flavours and their effects!
Simon and Mick are joined by travel journalist, Helen Coffey to ponder some of quarantine's big questions. Where was it first practised, how do you cope with being quarantined and hardest of all, what are the UK's current restrictions?
Souvenirs come in all shapes and sizes and, of course, in various shades of naffness. We compare our own favourites and talk to Julia Ferguson, a Business Psychologist, about the value that we place on these symbols of abroad.
Simon and MIck are joined by Anna Hughes, Director of FlightFree UK, co-author of Peaky Climbers and a champion of cycling. They share the pleasures (and pains) of cycling and wonder what could be done to make getting on your bike an easier experience in the UK.
We hear from people who have walked the Camino de Santiago about the joy and pain they have experienced, and muse on the similarities between tourism and pilgrimages. Many thanks to Debra, Richard and Louise for their contributions
Simon and Mick compare notes about their respective attempts to enjoy some time off. But was it better to be scaling Holland's highest peak or to be walking through a road-free valley on the way to a pint of Sussex ale? Well, we'll let you decide!
A typing error leads Mick and Simon to wonder about the desirability of travelling in threes. When is three a better number of people than the standard two? The answer seems to be - when you're in a boat with a dog, when you're up a snowy mountain or when you're flying on a low-cost Spanish airline on Valentine's day!
Travelling and embarrassment seem to go hand in glove. Simon and Mick wonder whether it's an essential part of being a tourist and also, if we are often the authors of our own discomfort, not to mention that of our children. The tale of the false beards is a case in point. Thanks are due to Poppy and Daisy Calder for dishing the dirt on their dad!
Are you a responsible traveller? See if you measure up to the standards proposed by some of the movement's new gurus, and enjoy the poetic pledge created by the Tourist Office of Finland. Thanks to Anna Hughes of Flight Free UK for her interview and to Aaron Burden@unsplash for his photo.
What is that makes us stretch every sinew to get to the top of things? Simon and Mick's favourite high places include the Blackpool Tower, Buenos Aires' Barolo Tower, Mount Aconcagua, also in Argentina, and The Cirque de Gavarnie in the French Pyrenees. Joining them are Silas Webb, who scaled Mount Kilimanjaro and Ed Douglas, whose book, "Himalaya, a human history" is published on the 27th August by Vintage-price £25. Thanks are also due to Christian Bjoerklund for letting us use his musical track, Hallon.
The act of travelling from one place to another may seem a simple thing. But it has spawned a vast number of sayings and reflections. Simon and Mick discuss the wittiest, wisest, pithiest and most pathetic of them.
Mick and Simon relive some of the travel situations which they're only too pleased to have survived. Plus a visit to a pub in Southampton which is proud to carry the name of that ill-starred ship, The Titanic. Thanks to Martin and Michelle for their contributions and to www.fesliyanstudios.com, for the music.
What's in store for this summer's holidaymakers in the UK? What's open, what needs booking and when do you need to take your own toilet with you? Plus an insight into the mysteries of Romney Marshes and the challenge of cycling from London to Land's End. Thanks to Rob, Silas, Karen, Jan and Vanessa.
Simon unveils his five pillars of advice on how to avoid some of the nastier travel surprises that are emerging in the wake of the pandemic.
We're grateful to f_ilippo @Freesound for the casino recording
Reflections on the subject, a bit of advice on how to do it and a look back at what some eccentric travellers carried with them on their journeys. You can see the painting "Waiting for a train" @ https://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/collections/3243/objects/35106/waiting-for-the-train-willesden-junction
Mick and Simon try to make sense of the bewildering advice about where we can and can't go on our holidays. They also ponder the new pop-up enclaves created by Coronavirus, adding to the historical oddities like Llívia, a small piece of Spain entirely surrounded by France.
Simon and Mick discuss a tentative new dawn for camping, and swap tales of their own intense experiences under canvas.
Music: Solstice by Scott Buckley
Is slow travel something we should all strive for, or is it just an exercise in marketing? Simon and Mick investigate, helped by Gina Waggott, Anna Hughes, Alec Webb, Nicky Gardner, Graham Hoyland and James Hill.
Mick and Simon discuss travel risks and how to manage them. Diseases, snakes and hippos all feature, along with selfies, local police and rip tides. For information about these, go to bit.ly/RipSafe. Thanks to Charlotte for her wise words.
What makes a trip or a holiday into an expedition? Does it need a key objective, sponsorship or just some specialised kit? Simon and Mick talk machetes and mountain meals, as well as catching up on the latest Covid19 travel news
The search for the perfect, fleeting holiday experience takes in the Kentish North Downs, Kalingrad Oblast and Carnforth railway station. With the briefest of stops at Dublin airport and Newport Pagnell Motorway Services. The recording of the steam train leaving Moor Street station was made by Keith Burnett
What's the current guidance and what will await us, when and if we do get away? Simon unveils his five "tests " for prospective travellers while Mick continues his worldwide search for Gerald Bernstein. We'd like to thank Daisy and Poppy for their help. You can read the article from the New England Journal of Medicine at : https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa031349
Enjoy the best bits from our first 20 podcasts. Among the categories: best travel moment, best lock down story and best breakfast.
Who would you most like to travel with on a long trip? Someone who get things organised, can carry most of the kit, tells a good joke..........? Thanks to Charlotte and Alec for their contributions.
What were your journeys to school like? Long, uneventful, exciting, dangerous.....? Enjoy the experiences of some of our listeners. We'd like to thank Steph, Camilla, Silas, Lynette, Carol, Daisy and Poppy for their contributions. And the website we mentioned is www.boredpanda.com/dangerous-journey-to-school
Travel and journeys have inspired some great lines and uplifting verses. But, how many of our chosen poems do you know ?
Which famous site has come out top in our twitter poll? Will it be a wonder of nature or an attraction created by us humans? We also discuss Robert Louis Stevenson's book: Travels with a donkey in the Cévennes
The musical fanfare, The Curtain Rises, was composed by Kevin Macleod (incompetcech.com)
Simon and I exchange ways of keeping the flame of travel alive, without going anywhere. Expect entertaining books, silly games and a brief appearance from the president of The AA, Edmund King. The book "Journey round my room" is available, free, at gutenberg.org.
We ponder the future direction of travel and suggest some ways of combatting cabin fever.
Simon and Mick make a few personal confessions and reveal some of travel's great fakes and fakers. They award the title of the greatest travel impostor to Georges Psalmanazar (not his real name), native of Formosa (well, not exactly) who hoodwinked London society in the eighteenth century.
All about the world's bays: the most beautiful, the saddest and those that have left their mark on history.
Some, like Montenegro's Bay of Kotor even have their own islands.
Discover the five mysterious and intriguing countries of Central Asia with names that all end in ........ stan.
Simon Calder and Mick Webb share views on working as travel writers- the rewards, the challenges and how to do it well.
The Great Green Wall, electric planes, vacuum trains.... Simon Calder and Mick Webb look forward to the next decade of travel and what it might bring. Electronic music is from the track "Hallon" by Christian Bjoerklund on the album Skapmat.
Every road, like every picture, has a story to tell. The A23, on its route between London and Brighton, has seen some of the best and worst of travel. Mick Webb and Simon Calder uncover tales of highwaymen, princely misdemeanours and old crocks (cars not them). They are joined by Rachel Birch and Beverley Keech
Simon Calder and Mick Webb visit the UK's Gatwick Airport to discuss the carbon impact of flying
Simon Calder and Mick Webb create an alternative bucket list of places they've glimpsed from cars, planes and buses, and which they would love to return to one day. Like this Greek village in the Peloponnese.
...............Is it better than arriving? SImon Calder and Mick Webb discuss Robert Louis Stevenson's famous quotation.
And they trek hopefully through the vast expanses of the World Travel Market, playing Crazy Golf, Abu Dhabi style, and collecting freebies, daft marketing slogans and inspirational ideas about tourism.
........ should you do as the Romans or behave like a tourist?
And how about in places like Dohar, Dubai or Australia's Ayres Rock?
Simon and Mick have made getting lost into an art form. They recall their most memorable experiences and discuss various ways to avoid losing the plot.
Do send us your own stories via the audio link
Crossing frontiers is a crucial part of the travelling experience. It can be time-consuming,worrying, frightening, often fascinating and sometimes downright entertaining .
In this Podcast, travel journalists, Simon Calder and Mick Webb, who have travelled far and wide, reflect on the borders they have crossed. Like the unforgettable night spent trying to convince the Panamanian soldiers on the frontier between Colombia and Panama that they were bona fide tourists. Far from any road, in the thick rainforest of the Darien Gap, where most travellers were smugglers, Colombian guerrillas or paramilitaries, it took some doing. The photo shows a border marker ( and Simon).
Some remote border crossings seem to have very little serious connection with monitoring comings and goings, others, ironically, have become tourist attractions in their own right: Simon discusses the origins of the name and his own experience of crossing during the Cold War. And sometimes you get the feeling that it’s the border-crossing travellers who are providing the entertainment for the frontier officials.
Do send us your own tales of frontier experiences- the good, the bad and the ugly.