Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Episodes
Why a short hop from Newcastle to London Heathrow might involve going around in circles
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of my conversation with Martin Rolfe, chief executive of NATS – formerly National Air Traffic Services – we discuss the need to...
Keeping the skies safe – and open
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today and tomorrow I'm talking to Martin Rolfe, chief executive of NATS – formerly National Air Traffic Services – about the work air-traffic cont...
I'm on the train – and the wifi is superb
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Great Western Railway has just unveiled "Formula 1" high-speed internet connectivity on one of its intercity express trains, connecting London Padding...
Indian autumn: Sophie Dickinson is just back from her first trip to the world's most populous country
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travel Desk Tuesday, and The Independent's Deputy Travel Editor has top tips on travelling around by rail and road. Sophie's highlight: the Golden Tem...
Women are extremely under-represented in senior roles in aviation – how could that change?
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katherine Moloney is founder of Elevate(her) Aviation. She started flying at 18, and is licensed to fly both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Kath...
All along the watchtowers – with self-guided tourism where they lend you the key!
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Heilbronn is a small city in western Germany. It is notable for being selected as European Green Capital for 2027. But what I find rather more amazing...
"The jungle has everything you need to survive, but also things that can kill you"
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm finding out about how to survive in jungles and other wildernesses with Dr Joshua Allison, Medical Director at Unique Expeditions. All you need to...
Should premium passengers pay a £500 climate levy?
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the plan being discussed at COP30, the UN climate summit in Belem, Brazil. France, Spain and Kenya want to see business class, first class and ...
November 11th - Ryanair is about to insist that everyone uses a smartphone boarding pass*
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
(* Though, as Dara Brady, Chief Marketing Officer of Europe’s biggest budget airline has been telling me, if you need a boarding pass printed out at...
November 10th - Meet Byway – which harnesses tech to deliver slow travel across Europe
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Five years ago, Cat Jones created a start-up to use smart tech solutions (coupled, often, with Interrail passes) to deliver tailor-made journey by rai...
November 7th - 30th birthday – on Monday – of Britain's biggest budget airline
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am at London Gatwick airport, location of easyJet's biggest base, to celebrated the 30th birthday – on Monday – of Britain's biggest budget airl...
November 6th - Discover your inner scientist - on holiday
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm at World Travel Market, the UK's biggest travel trade event, and talking to Lara Paxton of New Scientist Discovery Tours about the prospects...
November 5th - Meet the new minister – Stephanie Peacock MP, promoting tourism to Britain
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Four weeks ago the MP for Barnsley South took over the tourism brief: a real challenge, in my view, with visitor numbers and spend last year lower tha...
November 4th - West Midlands to the West Highlands – by overnight train
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Caledonian Sleeper has long linked London Euston with Fort William in the West Highlands of Scotland, as well as Inverness and Aberdeen. From 15 J...
November 3rd - Horror on the 6.25pm from Doncaster to London King's Cross
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone's heart must go to the injured and their families, as well as passengers and train crew, after the appalling knife attack on an LNER train so...
October 31st - Eurostar gets competition from London to Paris and beyond from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Trains
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After airlines, domestic railways and a cruise line, the bearded billionaire is set to bring better service and lower fares on international trains to...
October 30th - Inside the world of Jack's Flight Club
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jack's Flight Club is an enterprise that specialises in finding exceptional deals on tickets to Europe and beyond. I've always been intrigued about ho...
October 29th - 'You'll feel like at home, only better': Chisinau tourist guide Irina Iacoban
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the Moldovan capital, deep set in autumn, I've been enjoying a walk and talk with Irina – who helps tourists make the most of a beautiful and int...
October 28th - Eastern Airways closes down – what happens next?
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest UK regional airline to closed down is Eastern Airways, which linked Aberdeen with Teesside, Humberside and Wick airports as well as flying ...
October 27th - How badly wrong can an Airbnb booking go?
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the weekend I was in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, to report on the finish of the latest Lupine Travel race across Europe. Chatting to past winne...
October 24th - Winter is coming ... on Sunday 26 October the northern hemisphere winter season begins for the world's airlines
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aviation analyst Sean Moulton tells me about some of the new routes, which include Pakistan International returning to the UK. Aberdeen to Paris and M...
October 23rd - Secret Maps: Unlocking a world in which travellers are not supposed to know where's where
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The British Library, right next door to London St Pancras International, has a new exhibition – opening tomorrow, Friday 24 October – about the wa...
October 22nd - Is there really a future in "Green Travel?"
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today is Richard Hammond, founder of Green Traveller – an organisation that aims to provide news and inspiration about lower-carbon holiday...
October 21st - Can Sweden enhance your mind and body in winter?
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travel desk Tuesday – and my colleague, senior travel writer Natalie Wilson, has been writing about a Visit Sweden initiative that seeks to promote ...
October 20th - Is Manchester really a key force in UK aviation?
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the claim from aviation analyst Sean Moulton, who I met in his home town, Manchester. We talked about the way Britain's third-biggest airport –...
October 17th - 25 years on: Kicheche Safari Camps – a model for wildlife tourism?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the year 2000, two travel professionals with experience across Africa teamed up to create a safari camp that brings together nature, community, ene...
October 16th - New trains for old on Chiltern Railways, linking London Marylebone with Banbury and Birmingham
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On a shiny 21st-century train with just one careful previous owner, I am talking to Richard Allan – managing director of Chiltern Railways – about...
October 15th - EU entry-exit system: UK borders minister on the new challenges for travellers
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At London St Pancras International, hub for Eurostar – and one of three locations in the UK where passport control is carried out before departing f...
October 14th - Inside the world of British Airways cabin crew
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My colleague, senior travel writer Natalie Wilson, has been telling me more about the making of a film about training to be cabin crew.This podcast is...
October 13th - Entry-exit system arrives – and I try it out
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in Prague, tackling the Kafkaesque bureaucracy of the new Schengen area digital borders scheme.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's we...
October 10th - Entry-exit system starts on Sunday – hear from Abta's EES expert
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This weekend it's not exact all change for British holidaymakers going to the European Union and wider Schengen area – but some of us will have our ...
October 9th - How to make the most of Mallorca
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm talking to Alex Smith – who has lived and worked in the travel industry in Mallorca for two decades. Five years ago she created the YouTub...
October 8th - How to start – and run – a successful travel business
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel and Internova Leisure, tells me that this chain of travel agencies grew from a single branch in a subu...
October 7th - "The universe is looking favourably on northern Spain"
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So says Jessica Harvey Taylor, head of press for the Spanish Tourist Office in the UK, who's been telling me about the increased appetite among Britis...
October 6th - The amazing city tour that invites rewards in the form of donations to charity
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meet Dr Nick Brown, resident of Palma in Mallorca. His day job is as data sleuth, but he also does all he can to help tourists make the most of the is...
October 3rd - Flight cancellations – what is the best way to deal with them?
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the discussion I've been having with my excellent colleague, global travel editor Annabel Grossman. In September we both had flight cancellatio...
October 2nd - The insider's guide to "status matching" with travel loyalty schemes
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rob Burgess, founder of the frequent flyer website Head for Points, explains how to benefit from this quirk: could status with one airline earn you th...
October 1st - Is the Airbus A321 XLR the biggest gamechanger in aviation?
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the belief of Rhys Jones of the frequent-flyer website Head for Points, who explains why the economics of the extra long range narrow-bodied tw...
September 30th - Play, a low-cost Icelandic airline, has shut down
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The carrier is telling passengers: “All flights have been cancelled.” Around 500 staff have lost their jobs. It follows former Icelandic carriers ...
September 29th - Entry-exit system: 'We're ready, so bring it on'
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the message from Yann Leriche, chief executive of Getlink – the company that runs Eurotunnel and LeShuttle car-carrying operation between Fol...
September 26th - Meet Linger, the company that wants to organise the ultimate career break for you
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve Wilson, founder of Linger, tells me that many legal and financial services firms are happy for their top people to take sabbatical – a break t...
September 25th - All change for British travellers to Europe from 12 October
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hi from London St Pancras International – most beautiful railway station in the world, and also the hub for Eurostar. I am talking to Simon Lejeune,...
September 24th - Gatwick – what will expansion mean, and when will passengers get to benefit?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest is Stewart Wingate, Vinci Airports Managing Director for United Kingdom, overseeing future development and strategic direction of London Gatw...
September 23rd - Check out this guide to the Czech Republic
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am in Brno in the Czech Republic, where I have come to meet Kevan Vogler – a Canadian who has been living in his adopted homeland of the Czech Rep...
September 22nd - Gatwick's second runway gets government go ahea
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've been covering airport expansion in south-east England for decades. Could this finally be the moment when an additional runway is pressed into ser...
September 19th - Should the retirement age for pilots be raised from 65 to 67?
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the recommendation of the International Air Transport Association (Iata). Opponents say the airlines see raising the age limit as an attempt to...
September 18th - What happens in the wake of an aviation tragedy?
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Flying is incredibly safe. But as we have seen over the past nine months, accidents happen with tragic consequences. I am talking to Elmarie Marais, t...
September 17th - Andorra in summer?
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I am still in southwest France, specifically at Toulouse airport departure lounge, where I am talking to Jackie Banfill and Frank Epstein – who have...
September 16th - What happens when your flight is cancelled at the airport?
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm just on the French side of the Pyrenees, but I reached here – with my hiking friend Mick – after some extreme stress, when our Vueling flight ...
September 15th - Checking in bags for a flight? Don't head for the airport without hearing from Steve Kelso from Gatwick
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steve is Head of Engineering at the UK's second-busiest airport, and responsible for the baggage systems. Almost all the time things work well for the...
September 12th - As the Tube strike ends – what was it all about, and will we see more?
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
All week I have been covering the strike by members of the RMT union working for London Underground, which has paralysed the capital. While some Tube ...
September 11th - What's happening in aviation? Jeremy Bowen is the man who knows
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The summer has actually been excellent in terms of coming out of the UK," says Jeremy. While the peak day for flights from the UK is still back before...
September 10th - Not Hot List – places off the tourism mainstream, from Nevada to Sierra Leone
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today is the day that Intrepid Travel has revealed its Not Hot List – places off the tourism mainstream, from Nevada to Sierra Leone. I've been spea...
September 9th - Walking from Scotland via England to Wales – what are the highlights?
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Paul Goldstein, adventurer and wildlife campaigner, successfully completed 25 Marathon-length walks from Tigerton in Scotland to Tiger Bay in Wales to...
September 8th - Autumn and winter in Austria: what awaits the traveller?
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talking to Martina Jamnig, director of the Austrian National Tourist Office in London, about the activities on offer in autumn and winter – whic...
September 5th - Today is National Travel Agent Day – and here's a top travel figure on a mission
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
5 September is the day to celebrate travel professionals, and therefore a good day to hear from Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, chief executive of the Advantag...
September 4th - The freedom of Europe – how to make the most of the current Interrail flash sale
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail, tells me the best places to make the most of all-you-can-travel rail.This podcast is free, as is Independe...
September 3rd - Dollar dives, euro strengthens, and the surprise third currency
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of the summer I'm talking to Kaya Niedenthal of Currency Online Group in London about trends in the currency markets: what's worth buying n...
September 2nd - Travel Desk Tuesday: the joys of St Lucia
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Caribbean is a mosaic of delectable isles - but what makes St Lucia distinctive? Senior travel writer Natalie Wilson was there in the summer and w...
September 1st - How do you solve a problem like overtourism? The story from Dubrovnik
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"The pearl of the Adriatic" has been enticing millions of tourists every year, with its spectacular setting and mighty walls wrapping around the old c...
August 29th - Entry-exit system begins 12 October – and these could be the worst-affected European airports
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From 12 October, the EU's much-delayed entry-exit system (EES) will begin to be rolled out. Using some mathematical modelling, Oliver Ranson from Airl...
August 28th - The most successful and resilient figure in aviation? Meet Michael O'Leary
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since he took over as chief executive of Ryanair in 1994, Michael O'Leary has guided what was an ailing Irish regional airline to become Europe’s bi...
August 27th - Going solo: how travelling on your own can be a joy more than a challenge – especially for women
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
My guest is travel expert Gilly Bachelor, who is a champion of solo travel for women. Tomorrow (Thursday 28 August) she is organising a special evenin...
August 26th - "You feel like you’re giving back as much as you’re taking”
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Travel Desk Tuesday, and Global Travel Editor Annabel Grossman has been telling me about her experience in Bali – the Indonesian island that has bee...
August 25th - Cabin air quality: what’s the problem – and the solution?
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am talking to a campaigner on cabin air quality, Captain Tristan Loraine. He believes passengers and crew are often at risk because of engine ...
August 22nd - Beach safety thanks to public-spirited local volunteers
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the eve of the last bank holiday weekend before Christmas, I'm in Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire – at the home of Andrew Smith, part of the crew o...
August 21st - 10 Marathon-length walks down, 15 more to go
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adventurer, photographer and wildlife campaigner Paul Goldstein is walking, in a Bengal tiger suit, from Tigerton in northeast Scotland to Tiger Bay i...
August 20th - The American Way of Life
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Every time I visit the US, I am fascinated by the differences between British and American habits. To get the latest, I have been talking to top cinem...
August 19th - What is the ideal flight time for a trip from the UK to Europe – and coming back?
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natalie Wilson, senior travel writer, is back for Travel Desk Tuesday. We have sharply differing views on the best time to choose a flight – and I'v...
August 18th - Escape from Canada – two families tell their stories of being caught up in strike mayhem
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Dearing family and the Robinson family, from Beverley in East Yorkshire, enjoyed a dream holiday in Canada – until they reached Calgary the nigh...
August 15th - Meet the most upmarket travel company in the world
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in Aspen, Colorado – the mining town-turned-celebrity mountain resort. And I've been talking to Susan Farrugia, co-founder and chief operating o...
August 14th - How far would you go for 5 million frequent flyer points?
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Etihad, the airline based in Abu Dhabi, has launched the Extraordinary Challenge - a global competition promoting 15 new destinati...
August 13th - The total eclipse of the century
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The second half of our total solar eclipse special with the astronomer Dr John Mason, who for decades has been leading trips to see the light go out.I...
August 12th - Look ahead a year from now to the skies over Europe
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One year from now, on 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will sweep across the surface of the earth, from the Arctic across Greenland, Iceland and ...
August 11th - Is this the only defunct control tower tour in the world?
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Denver Stapleton Airport – then the fifth-busiest in the world – closed down in 1995. The last flight out was Continental 34 to London Gatwick. Yo...
August 8th - Race across Europe: a brutal challenge to get from London to Tallinn
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bram Houtenbos is a charming Dutch financial services executive living in south London. He also self-identifies as a travel nerd. He is one of the for...
August 7th - Could holiday roulette be the antidote to overtourism
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Booking.com chief executive Glenn Fogel believes so. He says a lottery arrangement could keep numbers down without disenfranchising less wealthy trave...
August 6th - What's happening with aviation security?
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many airports have state-of-the-art scanners now, but only some of them are able to drop the annoying 100ml limit for containers of liquids, aerosols ...
August 5th - Tall ship cruising around the Greek islands
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After my Explora I cruise that I reported on yesterday, I have today talked to my excellent colleague, cruise writer Marc Shoffman. He has just return...
August 4th - The joy of cruising, with Explora I's entertainment director
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I have just spent an expensive but excellent week aboard the cruise ship Explora I. I talked to Martyn Moss, who has 28 years experience in the busine...
August 1st - Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
That's the title of the latest series from the great historian Bettany Hughes – being broadcast starting Saturday 2 August on Five at 6.30pm. I caug...
July 31st - Another air-traffic control meltdown in the UK
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of airline passengers are waking up where they did not intend to be after the temporary shutdown of UK airspace on Wednesday. What are passe...
July 30th - Destination X
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talk to executive producer Dan Adamson about the new BBC series.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here t...
July 29th - Is Emirates premium economy worth the extra?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Global travel editor Annabel Grossman tells me: the slightly posher seats and service are excellent, shame about the inflight food.This podcast is fre...
July 28th - Europe hots up: what are your risks, and options?
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm overlooking the harbour in Mytilene on the Greek island of Lesbos. Even at 7.30pm, the heat is intense. Over the weekend we have seen more wildfir...
July 25th - 25 years on from the tragic Concorde crash, what are the prospects for supersonic travel?
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On 25 July 2000, all 109 passengers and crew aboard an Air France Concorde departing for New York JFK died when the supersonic plane crashed shortly a...
July 24th - Heathrow boss on why it will take 10 years to build a third runway
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've been talking to Thomas Woldbye, chief executive of London Heathrow – the busiest airport in Europe. He explains why there won't be another runw...
July 23rd - This weekend will be the busiest so far of the year at UK airports
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With figures from aviation analyst Cirium, this coming Friday, 25 July, will see 3,255 flights out of the UK with 585,189 seats on board. Paul Charles...
July 22nd - United business class – present and future
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's Travel Desk Tuesday, and joining me today is The Independent's US Travel Editor, Ted Thornhill. He's been to the US and back in business class on...
July 21st - Over from Dover in the busiest week of the year
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at the UK's busiest port, watching ferries zipping back and forth across the Channel while I talk to Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port o...
July 18th - 'Fuel prices on some motorways are extortionate'
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So says the president of the AA, Edmund King. He's urging motorists to plan their journeys with care in order to save on petrol or diesel.This podcast...
July 17th - Airport charges: Drop-off rip-off, says RAC
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some of the UK’s top airports now charge a fee of £7 for dropping off passengers at the airport. Only one, London City, has no charge. In contrast,...
July 16th - Ryanair: cheesed off about air-traffic control
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Europe’s biggest budget airline cancelled hundreds of flights earlier this month due to a strike by French air-traffic controllers. Most of those we...
July 15th - Those annoying extras...
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's Travel Desk Tuesday, in which one of my excellent colleagues fills us in on what's happening around the world – and, in this case, around the U...
July 14th - Wizz Air UK has a new boss
14 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Yvonne Moynihan has taken over running the British offshoot of one of Europe’s top three budget airlines (the other two being easyJet and Ryanair, w...
July 11th - Aviation security eases – but only at some UK airports
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rejoice! For the first summer since 2006, passengers at some UK airports can leave all electrical items and liquids inside their cabin baggage at the ...
July 10th - Just how affordable is Switzerland?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the key England v Wales match in the Women's Euros in St Gallen, Switzerland, I have been assessing the cost of being a tourist in the Alpine...
July 9th - Tourist taxes and a Lake District congestion charge?
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An entry fee for the Lake District on busy days, and the prospect of many more tourist taxes? I’ve been hearing from Henri Murison, chief executive ...
July 8th - Happy birthday, Ryanair: 40 years old today
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I've been back through the archive to bring you a report of the first departure from Waterford to London Gatwick – including an interview with chief...
July 7th - Why Napa Valley should be on every traveller's wish-list
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talking to Adam Lechmere, publishing director of the Academie du Vin Library – which has just brought out The Smart Traveller's Wine Guide to Na...