Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Episodes
September 30th - A blockbuster exhibition at the British Museum
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at the British Museum in London where a blockbuster exhibition called Silk Roads has just opened – exploring the tangle of connections that link...
September 27th - There was a strange message on the Network Rail landing page
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at London Waterloo, home of Network Rail. But I am not using the public WiFi – the system has been taken down since the landing page was replace...
September 26th - Should we have a frequent flyer levy?
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anna Hughes, the distinguished director of FlightFree UK, has been telling me about how she believes a frequent-flyer levy could and should work to re...
September 25th - How far would you fly without any in-flight frills?
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's travel podcast: How far would you fly in no-frills (dis-) comfort? Natalie Wilson, travel writer for The Independent, says she would gladly go...
September 24th - The business of business class in Europe
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The all-knowing Rob Burgess, formidable founder of the Head for Points frequent-flyer website, explains the intricacies of business class flying withi...
September 23rd - Holiday horizons
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's all about booking horizons. How long in advance are people committing to holidays – and what "new" destination are in sight? Questions for Juli...
September 20th - From Poros with Love
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I have the good fortune to be on the Greek island of Poros in the company of Melanie and Andy McCreddie – Londoners who are in love with this place....
September 19th - The top ten most crowded trains list is out
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Commuting can be no fun if you happen to use the morning rush-hour trains from Bedford to London. Here's the top 10 most crowded trains in England and...
September 18th - A lawyer's take on airport drop off charges
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most UK airports now charge for drop-offs and pick-ups at the terminal. They enforce the rule by imposing heavy penalties on motorists who breach the ...
September 17th - Stretching the Limits
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wizz Air says it will fly the narrow-bodied Airbus A321XLR from London Gatwick to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. What's the future for "long, thin" routes fl...
September 16th - Here's the Not Hot List 2025
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
My guest is Hazel McGuire of Intrepid Travel, who has just unveiled the Not Hot List 2025 – countries off the beaten tourist track.This podcast is f...
September 13th - How many of us can get by without a car?
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you really enjoy life without a car? I'm talking to the transport guru Thomas Ableman, who also happens to be co-author – with his wife, Helen –...
September 12th - What new travel charges will mean for Northern Ireland
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The new ETA for visitors to the UK could cost Northern Ireland tourism £250m a year. I've been hearing why from Dr Joanne Stuart, chief executive of ...
September 11th - Are UK Airports soaring higher than ever?
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As Heathrow, Manchester, and Stansted airports announce record passenger numbers, I'm talking to Anna Hughes – director of Flight Free UK, who has a...
September 10th - Life under communism in Durres, Albania
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in Durres, Albania, the most historic city in the nation – finding out about life under communism with former student revolutionary, now tour gu...
September 9th - When will we see our "beautiful British -built busses"?
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's travel podcast is from the top of the 148 bus in west London. Four years after Boris Johnson promised to “level up across the country” wit...
September 6th - Is there a chronic problem with BA?
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in Hyères in southern France, at my usual breakfast spot, the Café Regence, but picking up news of dozens of flight cancellations on British Air...
September 5th - How to bring your pet overseas post Brexit
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have to be barking mad to take a dog from the UK to Continental Europe these days? I'm talking to Dr Julia Ferguson, who is in the south of Fra...
September 4th - Why you should travel all the way to Fiji
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talking to Jane West who represents Fiji, the South Pacific archipelago that's hard to reach but loads of fun when you get there. Hosted on Acast....
September 3rd - Waterloo Spoons: A Toast to the New Lion's Den!
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a railway pub different? Wetherspoon's The Lion & The Unicorn pub in London Waterloo is the company's biggest so far. I've visited on t...
September 2nd - Flightradar24 have a treat for aviation enthusiasts
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Where's my plane? That call has gone out thousands of times this summer with so many delays. Flightradar24 can usually supply the answer – bringing ...
August 30th - Gatwick's plan for a second runway: a game changer?
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gatwick Airport is planning to add a second runway to improve resilience and capacity. I discuss how this could benefit travelers and the London aviat...
August 29th - London's bike wars
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
London bike wars: the cycles you can pick up here, and leave there. In the green corner, Anthony Smith, transport supremo, is championing the Lime ele...
August 28th - Ryanair's Michael O'Leary talks air rage, cabin luggage and fares for the year
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talking to Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary about record amounts of air rage; European Union plans to standardise cabin baggage; and how he...
August 27th - From source to sea: Trekking the Thames path
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm sitting down with Tony Wheeler, the co-founder of Lonely Planet who revolutionised travel guides with his iconic 1970s journey, Across Asia on the...
August 26th - Bank holiday chaos...How well we know thee
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's bank holiday Monday in England and Wales, which spells chaos on trains, planes and automobiles.I take you through the weekend's troubles and what...
August 23rd - Dover gears up for Bank Holiday and biometric future
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What will the entry-exit system mean for car drivers and coach passengers using the UK's busiest ferry port, Dover? I've been talking to Doug Banniste...
August 22nd - UK travellers to Europe: separating fact from fiction
22 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s podcast, I tackle the confusion surrounding new travel requirements for UK citizens heading to Europe. I clarify the timeline and facts a...
August 21st - It's Not Fare
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Once again I'm at London King's Cross station, a hub for the East Coast main line to Yorkshire, northeast England, and Scotland. Two significant fare ...
August 20th - A race to remember: Bram Houtenbos on the London to Tirana challenge
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I chat with Bram Houtenbos, who earned third place in the thrilling race from London to Tirana. We explore his race strategy, the challenge...
August 19th - Gatwick's global reach: how London stands tall in airport connectivity
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I’m at London Gatwick Airport in today's podcast, delving into an exclusive survey that ranks the world's best-connected airports. Gatwick impressiv...
August 16th - Rail Strikes resolved, but what’s next?
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, and I'm sharing insights on the end of the ASLEF rail strike from London Euston Station. While the pay dispute is settled, significa...
August 15th - Taylor Swift at Wembley: your travel game plan
15 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, and in this podcast, I guide Taylor Swift fans on the best ways to reach Wembley Stadium. You'll be well-prepared for the eras tour ...
August 14th - The final pandemic reopening
14 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The first country in the world to close at the start of Covid pandemic in January 2020 will finally open this winter. Simon Calder hears the latest fr...
August 13th - Hoping to leave your Greek holiday early?
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What's happening in Greece and what are travellers' rights if they are there and want to come home early or cancel a pre-booked holiday?This podcast i...
August 12th - The second Race Across Europe
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On Saturday 17 August, 180 competitors will set off from Trafalgar Square in London, destination Tirana in Albania, in the second Race Across Europe s...
August 9th - Taking off with Vision 2030: The future of Leeds Bradford Airport
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Leeds Bradford Airport has unveiled its Vision 2030 strategy, aiming for more flights and more passengers but a more gentle environmental footprint.Si...
August 8th - A tale of three stations
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
London Euston, London King's Cross and London St Pancras International. I've visited them all this morning to explain what will happen to intercity tr...
August 7th - Train fares to Paris are out of control
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at London St Pancras International, hub for Eurostar trains to Paris and Brussels. The lowest return fare from London to Paris, looking a day ahea...
August 6th - Why Jordan and Egypt should be on your travel list
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, and today I discuss why Jordan and Egypt are excellent travel destinations despite current travel advisories. With rich histories an...
August 5th - With tension rising in the Middle East, what are the implications for travellers?
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With tension rising in the Middle East, what are the implications for travellers? A range of airlines have suspended their operations to Tel Aviv alth...
August 2nd - A journey begins at Land’s End: Tips for hiking the Appalachian Trail
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I’m at Land’s End, but not the one you might expect. This is Cap Gaspé in Québec, Canada, the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula. It’s also the start...
August 1st - British Airways puts right its incorrect advice on passport validity
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On the first day of the peak travel month of the year, Simon Calder gives you the lowdown on BA’s misleading advice on passport validity - which it ...
July 31st - All about Play, the three year old airline based in Iceland
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Play is the latest Icelandic airline to join the fray between the UK and Keflavik International Airport near Reykjavik – with onward connections to ...
July 30th - Three airports in 24 hours
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the past 24 hours I have been to three different airports – Paris Orly, London City and Dublin. Here's what you need to know about the diffe...
July 29th - Why you need to visit Paris during the Olympics
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
France attracts more international visitors than any other country, and in summer its capital is usually rammed – particularly with big tour groups ...
July 26th - Olympics travel chaos as sabotage strikes Eurostar
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As planned, I am at London St Pancras International station, the UK hub for Eurostar trains to Paris. I had intended to report on the great getaway to...
July 25th - A nostalgic look back at the 1924 Winter Olympics (only don't call them that)
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I’m celebrating the Olympics – no, not Paris 2024 but Chamonix 1924, the first Winter Games. Skiing has had an intriguing history, as I’ve been ...
July 24th - What we can look forward to in aviation
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of aviation news this week, so a good moment to catch up with Paul Charles, chief executive of The PC Agency and former communications director f...
July 23rd - Interviewing one of the UK's foremost thinkers on transport
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in wonderful Walthamstow, northeast London, in the company of one of the UK's foremost thinkers on transport: Thomas Ableman, founder of innovativ...
July 22nd - If your weekend was a travel nightmare here are your rights
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the calamitous busiest weekend of the year so far for UK airline passengers, these are your rights if it all went wrong.Sign up here for our Tra...
July 19th and 20th - Your rights if caught up in the Crowdstrike IT meltdown
20 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder has explained what your rights are if your flight has been cancelled or delayed b...
July 18th - The summer rush begins for the UK's airports
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the summer rush gets fully under way, I'm at London Gatwick talking to Nick Williams, head of passenger operations at the world's busiest single-ru...
July 17th - My thoughts on Labour reforming the railways
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today's travel podcast, I'm at London Liverpool Street station – the busiest in Britain – ahead of the King's Speech, in which Labour's plans ...
July 16th - How to get a good exchange rate with your cash
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many people are organising holiday money. These days, paying with plastic or contactless is getting more and more universal – but cash can still be ...
July 15th - Where in Europe is cash still king?
15 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Natalie Wilson, Annabel Grossman and Ben Parker from The Independent's travel team who discuss where in Europe (if anywhere) cash is still king.T...
July 11th - How to beat the queues at Dover during the great summer exodus
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
New EU border checks and travel for the Olympics will make the Port of Dover “exceptionally busy” this summer, its boss has warned.In today's trav...
July 11th – A guide to Berlin for the Euro 2024 final
11 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the late, great Leonard Cohen so rightly predicted: "First we take the Netherlands – then we take Berlin."Want to be in the German capital on Sun...
July 10th – A walk (and a train) in the Black Forest of southern Germany
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I've been taking a walk – and a train – in the Black Forest of southern Germany. I visited the ticket office in the town of Triberg, where the per...
July 9th - Ryanair is announcing a big expansion in Morocco
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm with Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair DAC, the main operating division of Europe’s biggest budget airline. He's in Tangier, announ...
July 8th – Navigating flight cancellations
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yet more carnage of airline schedules on Sunday, with British Airways and easyJet both cancelling 32 flights in and out of their main hubs, London Hea...
July 5th - From road to rail: A brief briefing for the next Transport Secretary
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you in line to be the next transport secretary? You're in luck. In just 10 minutes, I’ll give you free advice on everything you need to tackle, ...
July 4th - Paris is calling as Olympics come into view
04 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Three weeks tomorrow, the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 takes place. Yet I think the French capital will be a bit of a ghost town. Air F...
July 3rd - Transforming Rail disruptions: The Great British Rail Replacement Initiative
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, and in today’s podcast, I speak with Ian Jeffrey, who leads Great British Rail Replacement. This new company aims to improve the o...
July 2nd - Easing the airline crisis: a look inside Avia Solutions Group
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, and today’s guest is Gediminas Ziemelis, chair of Avia Solutions Group. With peak holiday season underway, we discuss how his orga...
July 1st - Greener skies ahead: the promise of sustainable aviation fuel
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, and on today's podcast, Chris Hancock, CEO of Avioxx, discusses how his company is pioneering new methods to produce sustainable avi...
June 28th - A week to forget for air travel with major disruption at Gatwick
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What a miserable week it has been for air passengers. Monday saw Manchester airport hit by a power outage, train delays caused problems at Stansted an...
June 27th - Exploring new air routes
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The day began with an announcement by easyJet of new flights from Edinburgh and Liverpool to City of Derry in Northern Ireland. Also this week, Delta ...
June 26th - Aer Lingus pilots begin industrial action
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder. Today, Aer Lingus pilots start an indefinite work-to-rule and plan a strike on June 29th. I discuss the reasons behind this action a...
June 25th - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can you believe it's six months until Christmas Day? Never too early to plan your 25 December travels, and so today I have enlisted the support of Lyn...
June 24th - Why Venezuela is back on travellers' maps
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For many seasoned travellers, Venezuela was the first South American destination, thanks to Viasa's competitive fares from the UK to the wonder-filled...
June 21st - The Independent travel desk insider's guide to booking the best flight deals
21 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As summer approaches, we explore how to book international flights. Annabel Grossman and Ben Parker reveal their thorough processes, contrasting sharp...
June 20th - Train ticket tactics: the Independent’s travel desk shares their tips
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the summer travel season heats up, Simon Calder sits down with global travel editor Annabel Grossman and deputy travel editor Ben Parker to discuss...
June 19th - High-speed Rail revolution in France: meet Kevin Speed
19 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I talk with Claire Bonniol of Kevin Speed about their ambitious plans to bring competitive high-speed rail services to France by 2028. We discu...
June 18th - Why turbulence could be getting worse
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's four weeks today since Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 hit severe turbulence on a journey from London to Singapore. Tragically, one passenger los...
June 17th - Exploring the joy of Rail travel in the Czech Republic
17 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I’m on a train adventure in the Czech Republic with Steven Ollive of the Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. Listen as we explore the region'...
June 2014 - Euro 2024 fever... In Prague
14 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in Prague, having flown in last night with a lot of Scotland football fans who were finding a roundabout route to reach Munich for the opening mat...
June 13th – Flight delays: Your rights when it all goes wrong
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at a very busy Manchester airport, studying the latest flight delay stats: on average each Wizz Air flight from a UK airport left 32 minutes late....
June 12th - Freudian trip: Inside Hampstead's Freud Museum
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's travel podcast comes to you from the garden of the Freud Museum in Hampstead, London. I'm talking to the director, Dr Giuseppe Albano, about t...
The aftermath of the liquid bomb plot
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm beneath the flightpath at London City airport in the Docklands area of the capital. And trying to make sense of the bizarre series of announcement...
June 10th - A plan for British railways at last, but will party manifestos support it?
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A manifesto at last! Not from Labour or the Conservatives, but from the Railway Industry Association. As many passengers see a rail network in chaos a...
June 7th - The future of hospitality with Dillip Rajakarier
07 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm with Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels and The Wolseley Hospitality Group. He's one of the top people globally in hospitality – with brands...
June 6th - Everest’s unsolved mystery: Did Mallory and Irvine Reach the Summit?
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s the centenary of one of the most celebrated mysteries in the history of mountaineering: did George Mallory and Andrew ‘Sandy’ Irvine reach ...
June 5th - Everything you need to know about Birmingham Airport's new security rules
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's podcast looks at aviation security, with Birmingham airport coming up with its own variant on rules for liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs).This...
June 4th - Back at passport control explaining the post-Brexit rules
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Unbelievably, I'm back at the boarding gate explaining post-Brexit passport rules. What they are, and how airlines should respond when they get them w...
June 3rd - Business jets and climate change: a new perspective
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I discuss with Kennedy Ricci how the business aviation sector is at the forefront of efforts to minimise climate impact. Learn about the la...
May 31st - Is this England's most scenic railway line?
31 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's travel podcast is brought to you from the line that runs across the Pennines – the Settle to Carlisle railway. It threads through mighty lan...
30th May - Cash to Ca$h
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is this the future of travel money? The UK's first "cash to cash" ATM has been installed at Waterloo station in central London. I've been testing out ...
May 28th - Taking The Risk with Hilary Bradt
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talking to Hilary Bradt, who is celebrating 50 years of publishing travel guides with her autobiography, Taking the Risk.This podcast is free, as ...
May 27th - How to handle allergies on planes
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody has the same rights to travel... don't they? For those with severe food allergies, travel risks being complicated, expensive and even deadly...
May 24th - Seoul-searching in linear parks
24 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm looking at linear parks – effectively, old road or rail lines that are now green vectors for hikers and bikers. Some, like my location tod...
May 23rd - Travelection!
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What effect will the general election have on travel? It's Thursday, the 23rd of May, meaning that we are six weeks away from the next general electio...
May 22nd - What could change following the tragic result of turbulence to Singapore Airlines flight SQ321?
22 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday, the world was shocked by the news that a passenger had died following extreme turbulence on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321. The very sad e...
March 21st - This Metro is good for the Seoul
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Clean, efficient, and amazing value for money. No, not me: the Seoul Metro system, which has some foibles but overall is an excellent and incredibly f...
May 20th - The long and winding route from Zagreb to Seoul
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When choosing the optimum flight path gets tangled with geo-politics, the results are never positive. My report on the long and winding route from Zag...
May 17th - A closer look at rail reform plans
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reporting from King's Cross, I explore the recent Commons debate on rail reliability. I offer my perspective on Labour's approach to rail reform and t...
May 16th - Celebrating 30 years at The Independent
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today's travel podcast, in which my excellent travel desk colleagues – Annabel Grossman, Benjamin Parker and Natalie Wilson – quiz me about 30 yea...
May 15th - Looking skyward with astronomer Dr John Mason
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Good heavens! Today I'm looking skyward with astronomer extraordinary Dr John Mason, who reports on the total eclipse last month, and the biggest disp...
May 14th - An open goal for Berlin with Euro 2024?
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
One month to go before Euro 2024 kicks off in Munich, and two months before the final (England v Scotland?) in Berlin. Today I speak to Charles Wilson...
May 13th - "I'm on the train" – but is the wifi any good?
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
South Western Railway is shortly to bring in ultra-fast wifi on trains between London and Hampshire. But almost everywhere else in the UK, connectivit...