Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Episodes
July 4th - Passport Perils
04 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The passport perils of BrexitTravel industry's great and good demand freedomAnd new air routes possibly coming to an airport near you.Sign up to Simon...
July 3rd - Set Sights to Ukraine
03 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Why you should go to Ukraine.It’s a year today since the great unlocking of international travel: how different things are now.And more on the India...
July 2nd - Flights on the Rise
02 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Could an Indian vaccine scupper your planned trip?More on Spain’s tests for British travellers.And the number of flights is increasing – particula...
July 1st - Prove It!
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Spain spells out what tests you will need to visit.Malta makes a U-turn on how to prove you’ve been jabbed.And the next candidates for the red list?...
June 30th - Not All Roads
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today: not all roads lead to Rome for England fans.Malta seems to get tougher – but Portugal eases its restrictions.Who said travel was supposed to ...
June 29th - Gateway to the Highlands
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today: more on those Mediterranean restrictions.Labour wants the borders closed.And how to travel in Scotland during the Covid era.Sign up to Simon's ...
June 28th - It's the Small Things
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today: as Mediterranean Islands go green for travellers to the UK, the barriers go up for British visitors.A leading analyst says 22 more countries de...
June 27th - Elephants in Central London
27 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Could a new health secretary change the way that travel opens up?The Boeing 737 Max is back and starting operations for the summer.And the elephants h...
June 26th - Who Can Go to Malta?
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The new rules brought in by Malta just one day after they were put on the Green List.What happens to your insurance and points if you are to go agains...
June 25th - Who's Gone Green?
25 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Who’s gone green? Who hasn’t, and why not? And the red list arrivals.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters an...
June 24th - Passport Problems
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Holidays postponed: most travel bookings last week were for next year.The Foreign Office drops its warning against travel to China.And a reminder abou...
June 23rd - Travel Day of Action
24 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Travel Day of Action”: What the industry is demanding – and what it might get?“We won’t do anything to put public health at risk” – so ...
June 22nd - More Vaccines Less Travel
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The strange tale of vaccine contraction: the more British people are jabbed, the less travel there is.Will Matt Hancock ease quarantine?And Indiana Wa...
June 21st - Take a Chance on Malta?
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pilots’ union says UK is doing worst in Europe for flying.Should you take a chance on Malta going green?and Aer Lingus starts charging for cabin bag...
June 20th - What Could Go Green?
20 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the next “traffic light review” approaches, what “green list” additions might there be? Could British Airways abandon Gatwick?Seven ye...
June 19th - Turning Point in the Towel War
19 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Germany’s tabloid press mocks the UK’s travel restrictionsItaly makes arrivals from the UK quarantineAnd when will the UAE escape the UK’s red l...
June 18th - England Receives Red Card
18 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jersey gives England a red card – but allows vaccinated travellers to swerve quarantine.Rail passengers face disruption from London to Inverness as ...
June 17th - Airline Industry Take on Government
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Manchester airport and Ryanair take legal action against the government“We have the toughest border measures anywhere in the world,” says the prim...
June 16th - Boeing 737 Max
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Boeing 737 Max is on its way to Ryanair – would you step aboard?Manchester passengers lose the Irish connection to America for the su...
June 15th - Delay Day
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Delay day – what does the postponed reopening in England mean for travel?Ryanair’s Belarus diversion: new revelations to MPsAnd a new ferry link b...
June 14th - What a Difference a Month Makes?
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Four weeks since the Green List was created – what has changed since then?Cancelled flights: be sure of your rights.Faster trains promised from Edin...
June 13th - Stobart Air Takeover
13 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aer Lingus and British Airways take over from failed Stobart Air.easyJet cancelling flights in July.Lufthansa deploying its biggest planes.Sign up to ...
June 12th - Portugal Eases Testing Requirements
12 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stobart Air collapses: why, what it means and your rights.Postponement for 21st June domestic reopening looks bad for travellers.And in the unlikely e...
June 11th - The Mountain of Domestic Tourism
11 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Holiday prices collapse to Portugal – but soar to Jersey.Domestic tourism: a mountain to climb.And Heathrow numbers are down 90%, once again.Sign up...
June 10th - President in Cornwall
10 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As Joe Biden arrives in Cornwall … the UK gets another travel taskforce, this time looking at restarting transatlantic travel.British Airways and Ry...
June 9th - It's All Cancel Culture
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scottish cruise cancellation – more misery on the ocean wave.Another round of travel industry fury with the government’s “traffic light” polic...
June 8th - A Tale of Two Futures
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’ve spoken to two top travel chief executives: the boss of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and the CEO of Advantage Travel Partnership, a consortiu...
June 7th - The Cost of Travel Restrictions
07 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today leading travel boss reveals some business owners are losing their homes due to restrictions around coronavirus.Airline execs say there should be...
June 6th - Cabinet Summer Bust-Up
06 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Revelations of a cabinet bust-up over the freedom to travel this summer – a battle that the transport secretary, the travel industry and the ho...
June 5th - Escape from Portugal
05 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Escape from Portugal – what are the options?As Portugal closes down, the Faroes open up.And how long does passport control at Heathrow actually take...
June 4th - The Shadow Over Travel
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Travel industry responses to the extraordinary downgrading of Portugal to the amber list – and your rights if you are booked to travel imminently to...
June 3rd - Despair in the Departure Lounge
03 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The travel industry is in utter despair at leaks from government that indicate no more countries are being added to the "green list" and that Portugal...
June 2nd - The Waiting Game
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We still don’t know when the green list will change.Gibraltar starts warning travellers of the consequences of a trip across the border to Spain.And...
June 1st - From the Rock of Gibraltar
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm looking at Heathrow's brand new Red List Terminal and what that means for airport operations and passengers.An on location report of the exp...
May 31st - Gibraltar's Success
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gibraltar is the tourism success of early summer – I’m at the airport to report for you.The public mood, though, seems to be anti-travel acco...
May 30th - Back in the Air
30 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Back in the air – how different is the flying experience from Heathrow?As Europe turns green, is the UK going red?And what is the outlook for Eurost...
May 29th - Ireland Opens
29 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ireland opens up – but with a Brexit bite.Could the green list additions be limited by the length of queues at Heathrow?And why it pays to book ahea...
May 28th - Update on Green List Announcement
28 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Update on green list announcement timing – I’ll bring you the latest.Bank holiday travel: what’s happening on the roads and railways?Jersey open...
May 27th - When's the new Green List?
27 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
France puts the UK on its version of the amber list.When will the new green list be announced – and which islands might make the cut?More on the rai...
May 26th - Airline Fury
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Airlines’ fury at green list.Green list won’t be changing dramatically.Every single train job saved in coronavirus pandemic. Please excuse ba...
May 25th - Diversionary Tactics
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Belarus: the travel repercussions continue.Diversions: in normal times why do they happen? And what are the consequences?Green/amber/red: did we get a...
May 24th - What are the Implications for Ryanair Forced Landing?
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Ryanair plane forced to land in Belarus: what are the implications?After the scare, how do the airlines stack up for safety?Race to Spain gets under w...
May 23rd - Answering Your Questions
23 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm tackling three questions:Why can unvaccinated people from Portugal come to the UK, but vaccinated visitors from the US cannot?How much notic...
May 22nd - Should You Stay or Should You Go?
22 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Stay or go? Why has Spain said it wants Brits, but Germany has placed arrivals from the UK on its own version of the amber/red list.Predictions for th...
May 21st - Canary Confusion
21 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Big news from Spain today: the prime minister in Madrid says welcome back Brits from Monday.But the government warns against travel to, say, the Canar...
May 20th - Railway Special
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It’s a railway special from Britain’s railway station, Clapham Junction. What the heck is Great British Railways, and what will it mean for passen...
May 19th - Government Say no to Travel Abroad?
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After recently opening travel restrictions in the UK, some government ministers now say do not travel abroad. Apart from those that say, do travel abr...
May 18th - View from the Balcony
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The travel experience in summer 2021 – worth it when you get here. But then there’s the getting back …What the European Union will decide on Wed...
May 17th - London to Faro
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
I’m speaking to you from a Ryanair Boeing 737 which is shortly landing at Faro airport in Portugal, after a two-and-a-half hour flight from London. ...
May 16th - Packing Day
16 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Portugal is the destination of the week – and I will talk you through the possibilities and the flights departing tomorrow. I’m packing for m...
May 15th - 5000 to Portugal
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m talking about the update finally announced yesterday afternoon by Portugal, which has had many of us rushing around today trying to find a...
May 14th - The Race to the Sun
14 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With three days remaining before the ban on international travel is listed, we still don’t know if Portugal – the only major, viable tourist desti...
May 13th - On the Beach
13 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
May 13th - Today, Simon Calder, travel correspondent with The Independent, discusses the plan by On the Beach to “minimise the number of holidays th...
May 12th - All Aboard!
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
May 12th - Today Simon Calder travel correspondent with the Independent reveals the possibility of a a direct ferry service from UK to Porto in Portug...
May 11th - Trains, Planes and Automobiles
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Travelling abroad is one thing, but currently getting from one end of the country to the other is a challenge, as Britains train networks are in chaos...
May 10th - What next for the Green List?
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Calder travel correspondent for the Independent begins his daily bulletins on the situation with travel and UK Government restrictions on Green,...
Green List Travel with Simon Calder
08 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Independent brings you a daily update on The Green List with our travel correspondent Simon Calder the UK's leading travel journalist. His daily i...