Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Episodes
December 21st - Storm Pia is causing chaos
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Travel pod here: How is Storm Pia affecting travel in this all-important week? I'm (once again) at London Waterloo.This podcast is free, as is my week...
December 20th - Navigating the maze of Krakow train station
20 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Krakow is difficult to leave. Partly that is because this extraordinary city in southern Poland is so rich in culture, history and gastronomy. But it ...
December 18th - Calder's Christmas Chaos
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A week before Christmas Day, and the strains in the UK’s transport industry are showing. I’m in a long security queue at Gatwick. With many t...
December 15th - How school closures create Christmas chaos for your holidays
15 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last year one in 25 children at school in England was taken out of school for a holiday – resulting in a £60 fine for parents. Clearly, some parent...
December 14th - Eurotunnel's vow for 2030
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cologne, Frankfurt, and Geneva should appear on the train departure screens from London by 2030, the boss of Eurotunnel has vowed.Yann Leriche, chief ...
December 13th - The Berlin to Paris sleeper train reawakens
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nine years to the day after German rail operator Deutsche Bahn scrapped the Paris-Berlin sleeper train, a revived overnight service rolled into Gare d...
December 12th - A look at Tirana and Albania Since My First Visit In The 1980s
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm today speaking from a cafe in Tirana, taking stock of what's changed in Albania since my first trip in the 1980s. Albania has almost completely ch...
December 11th - How to avoid 'Frenetic Friday' this Christmas
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With just two weeks to go to Christmas, I'm in Tirana airport giving you an update on how to avoid the dreaded 'Frenetic Friday' great getaway. In thi...
December 8th - How the UK is getting school travel groups back from the EU
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Brexit ban on tourists from the EU using ID cards has begun to be reversed. Insisting on passports almost obliterated school group travel to the U...
December 7th - How (un)reliable is the London Underground?
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On Wednesday, the day of a rail strike that wiped out almost all South Western Railway trains, London’s Northern Line shut down for an hour. With ma...
December 6th - Taking the temperature of the holiday industry
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Europe's biggest tour operator, Tui, is reporting souring profits and passenger numbers. Holiday bookings for the current winter are 11 per cent up fr...
December 5th - Something odd has been happening with Ryanair's boarding passes
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The great Ryanair boarding pass mystery. Has Ryanair come up with a new moneymaking scheme just in time for Christmas? That is the question that has b...
December 4th - Day Four in the 2023 advent calendar of travel misery
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a miserable weekend for travelers in large parts of the UK, the working week has begun with more disruption. Thousands of airline passengers wok...
December 1st - Simon Calder catches up with Mick Lynch following RMT pay deal
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m speaking exclusively to Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, just after members voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay deal. But, he wa...
November 30th -Navigating the Rail Chaos: A December of Disruption Ahead
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today's podcast, I'm stationed at Manchester Piccadilly, exploring the impending rail challenges this December. From driver strikes to altered sche...
November 29th - Downgauging is a sneaky airline trick you should know about
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Another bit of aviation jargon unravelled. Some listeners and readers have been in touch about “downgauging" – when an airline uses a smaller plan...
November 28th - Shai Weiss Unveils Virgin Atlantic's Sustainable Aviation Milestone
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, as I chat with Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, about their groundbreaking 100% sustainable fuel flight across the Atlantic....
November 27th - The only public transport you can use this Christmas Day
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Wish it could be Christmas every day? Probably not if you, like me, rely on public transport, because on 25 December all the UK trains close down. But...
November 24th - Eurostar's shock Amsterdam and Rotterdam service announcements
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
News has just broken that Eurostar trains from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will be canceled from June 2024 to January 2025. The Channel Tunnel p...
November 23rd - How train strikes could stop Santa Claus coming to town
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Traveling home for Christmas by rail? Good luck. Festive engineering works mean two key London stations, Paddington and King's Cross, are closed on Ch...
November 22nd - The future of Planes, Trains and Runways at Gatwick Airport
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at London Gatwick Airport talking to the chief executive, Stewart Wingate. He says that if a second runway gets the go-ahead, the Sussex airport w...
November 21st - Gatwick Airport gets easier to navigate to
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm on a rail route I've not done before today. That's right, I'm on the new course that's cost quarter of a billion pounds to build to transform the ...
November 20th - Tourism in Transition: Julia Lo Bue-Said's Expert Perspective
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, as I chat with Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, about current challenges in tourism, including Egypt...
November 17th - Navigating the UK Rail Crisis: Strikes, Shortages, and Engineering Woes
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I'm exploring the impending rail difficulties in the UK. As we brace for a difficult period, with strikes and operational challenges, rail jour...
November 16th - More rail strike action coming this December
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rail strikes will resume in early December – but with a difference. Train drivers belonging to the Aslef union will walk out during the co...
November 15th - Rediscovering Sharm El Sheikh: A Resort Town in the Spotlight
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm in Sharm El Sheikh, assessing the state of tourism during these turbulent times. Despite challenges, there's remarkable value and a chance to supp...
November 14th - Decoding Luxury Travel: Insights from Kuoni UK's Mark Duguid
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, in a captivating conversation with Kuoni UK's Mark Duguid. We're delving into what defines luxury travel today, how preferences...
November 13th - Southwest Iceland is seismically seething
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Southwest Iceland is seismically seething, causing some alarm for travellers. Is it safe to visit Iceland when the island is so geologically excitable...
November 10th - Volotea's UK Launch: A Fresh Path from Gatwick to Strasbourg
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, at Gatwick Airport, where I'm about to experience Volotea's first UK flight to Strasbourg. We'll uncover how Volotea is carving...
November 9th - Will the rail strikes be over by Christmas 2023?
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the long and bitter rail disputes between the rail unions and the train operators, a glimmer of hope has emerged – with the RMT for the first tim...
November 8th - Going global with Global Airlines
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s travel podcast features James Asquith, founder of Global Airlines – a start-up that aims to fly the Airbus A380 “SuperJumbo” across th...
November 7th -Daring Travels and Sector Challenges: Chatting with Darrell Wade
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me as I sit with Darrell Wade to uncover the raw thrills of his travel exploits and tackle the big issues in tourism. We cut through the noise, r...
November 6th - Bradt Guides give their views on where you should be heading to in 2024
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Legendary travel guide writer Tim Burford, who's been writing for Bradt Guides for three decades, gives the inside track on his world – and where yo...
November 3rd - Meet the director of the Ski Club for Great Britian
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's early November, some fresh snow is promised in the Alps and so a good time to catch up with Chris Radford, director of the Ski Club of Great Brit...
November 2nd - What storm Ciaran is doing to travel
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Due to Storm Ciaran British Airways have made weather adjustments across the UK and Europe. Around 50 flights have been affected.This podcast is free,...
November 1st - Meet the largest independent travel agent in the UK
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm talking to travel royalty: Dame Irene Hays, chair of Hays Travel, the largest independent travel agent in the UK.This podcast is free, as is...
October 31st - What will our prime minister do about the railways?
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The government makes a screeching U-turn on closing rail ticket offices. What was a really good idea in the summer is now not a good idea at all, it s...
October 30th - A Ferry Crossing from Rhodes: Bridging Greece and Turkey
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, on a ferry sailing from Rhodes towards Marmaris. Integrating the charm of the Greek Islands with the allure of Turkey is quite ...
October 27th - Navigating the Numbers: Heathrow’s Q3 Analysis
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Simon Calder here, taking you through Heathrow's Q3 financial intricacies, where passenger numbers still haven't rebounded, and retail revenue is faci...
October 26th - Cruising Conversations: The High Seas and Hipster Coffee
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm Simon Calder, coming to you from a trendy café, joined by Andy Harmer of the Cruise Lines International Association UK. We're chatting about the ...
Which are the best airport lounges?
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following on from the amazing airport lounge survey, my thoughts on the cheapest/most expensive/best/worst – with a little help from my friends at f...
October 24th - Why there are so many airport Lounge Lizards
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lounge lizards: one in four people say they pay for an enclave of calm for a couple of hours before their flight.This podcast is free, as is my weekly...
October 23rd - The Heathrow Hassle: Navigating London’s Biggest Airport
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode I share my personal journey and insights on the various public transportation options available for commuting to and from Heathrow Air...
October 20th - Why I'm immune to Concorde nostalgia
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Concorde 20 years on. The last supersonic passenger jet flew from New York to London on 24 October 2003. Good riddance, say I!Of course, this podcast ...
October 19th - Storm Babet travel chaos: What are my rights?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trains, planes and ferries are being affected by Storm Babet – which, warns the Met Office, will bring “exceptional rainfall and impactf...
October 18th - My favourite A-roads
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at Highways UK at Birmingham NEC, but I'm dreaming of my favourite UK A-roads – one in each of the four nations. All better driven than cycled!O...
October 17th - Wondered which airport terminal is the busier? Wonder no more...
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's travel podcast is an exclusive report about the busiest airport terminals in the UK – if you agree with Jean-Paul Sartre that "Hel...
October 16th - Travel to the Middle East
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Judging from my inbox, there are growing concern about visits to Jordan, Egypt and other locations in the Arab and wider Islamic world. My view: if th...
October 13th - Competition in the Chunnel: A New Era for Eurostar?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, from the old Eurostar terminal at London Waterloo. We explore Eurostar's storied past and discuss exciting prospects of fresh c...
October 12th - Travel Law Unpacked: A Conversation with Matt Gatenby
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm joined by Matt Gatenby from TravLaw, and together we dissect the potential changes to the Package Travel Regulations. What does this mean for trav...
October 11th - How the car park fire at Luton Airport is affecting flights
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At around 9pm on the 10th October, a car catching fire in a car park at London Luton Airport quickly engulfed the car park, subsuming other cars parke...
October 10th - The Tel Aviv Flight Debate: Safety or Gamble?
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I, Simon Calder, discuss airlines' decisions to continue flying to Tel Aviv amidst regional tensions. How do major carriers weigh safety agains...
October 9th - Travel Implications Amidst Israel-Hamas Conflict
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the midst of the escalating events between Hamas and Israel, I discuss the unfolding repercussions for travellers. From recent travel advisories to...
October 6th - From Paris With... Bed Bugs?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My final podcast of the week is about the travel itch. And not in a good way. I tackle the apparent infestation of bedbugs in Paris, and what your rig...
October 5th - Navigating the £36bn Transport Shift
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I unpack the government's bold move to redirect £36bn from HS2 to other transport projects across the North and Midlands. From new r...
October 4th - End of the line for HS2
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yes, it’s another rail strike day in England. I’m at London Waterloo, normally the busiest rail station in the UK. Train drivers belonging to the ...
October 3rd - The HS2 Debacle: Hopes, Hypes, and Harsh Realities
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Simon Calder shares his observations and insights on the High-Speed 2 (HS2) project from his usual spot at Euston station. Reflecting...
October 2nd - Hiking Highs: Tales from the Pyrenean Trail
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Simon Calder takes listeners on a journey from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. Along the way, he encounters trail markers, rustic ...
September 29th - Rail Disruption Resumes Amid Union Strikes
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Calder, as I navigate the rail disruptions causing upheaval across England. Dive deep into the ongoing tussle between the Aslef union a...
September 28th - A visit to Le Volcan in Le Havre and another exquisite library tour
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Another day, another spectacular library. This one is the hulk at the heart of Le Havre, the French port just 100 miles south of Portsmouth. It is par...
September 27th - Exploring Helsinki's Unique Library
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Simon Goer, as I wander through Helsinki's Central Library, a modern marvel blending culture and innovation. It's more than just books; imagi...
September 26th - Gatwick Grounds Flights: The Impact of Staff Shortage
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With 30% of Gatwick's air-traffic controllers falling ill, we're seeing unprecedented disruptions. In this episode, I'll walk you through the emerging...
Sep 25th - Scottish National Gallery project
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve been given a preview of the Scottish Galleries at the National in Edinburgh, Scotland’s leading art museum. From Saturday 30 September, you w...
September 22nd - An ode to carpooling
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Compulsory car-sharing has been officially scrapped by the prime minister. The announcement took many in transport circles by surprise, since the only...
September 21st - Out go the green taxes on travel, though did they ever exist?
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rishi Sunak told the public on Wednesday. “The proposal to create new taxes to discourage flying – I’ve scrapped that.” I was unaware of any g...
September 20th - Strikes & Shifts: The Balance of Transport Rights
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's chat, I tackle the Tube and National Rail strikes. Whilst the right to strike is clear, what about the traveller's right to reliable transp...
September 19th - Ryanair still won't compromise
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ryanair are back in the news with the airline’s no-compromise attitude to online check-in. This concerns Damian Lloyd and his family, who were told ...
September 18th - The future of travel with emerging tech
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m exploring the technological future of travel with brainbox Kate Doodson, joint chief executive of Cosmic UK – a social enterprise that works w...
September 15th - Another air traffic control problem hits Gatwick
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gatwick: Another night of chaos for thousands of passengers after an air-traffic controller went sick. It was the third bout of air-traffic control di...
September 14th - Abolishing peak-time rail tickets
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Scotland is to abolish peak-time rail fares for a six-month trial.The only “walk-up” fare for immediate purchase and travel will be the cheaper of...
September 13th - World’s best-connected airports
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the start of 2023, I asked the aviation data analysts, Cirium, for the top 20 airports by unique destinations. This week, I asked the brainy boffin...
September 12th - First Choice is back – kind of
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the most familiar names in travel over the turn of the century is back – with a very different proposition.First Choice offers flight-free tr...
September 11th - Morocco After the Earthquake
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The weekend saw a hugely destructive earthquake occurring in Morocco, with thousands unfortunately losing their lives. One of the worst-hit areas was ...
September 18th - How augmented reality and AI might change the travel industry
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I speak with the joint CEO of Cosmic UK, Kate Dodson, about how augmented reality might change travel in the future and whether AI is going to be used...
September 8th - Do independent travel agents agree with me about the scale of the disruption?
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m speaking to one of the leading lights of the travel industry: Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive, Advantage Travel Partnership – a members' gr...
August 7th - Are things getting worse?
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How many more things can go wrong this summer? Floods, staff sickness at Gatwick's air traffic control, and missed flights and ferries due to a manhun...
September 6th - I've read the report into the air-traffic control shutdown so you didn't have to
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently we saw one of the busiest travel days of the year and a complete failure of the National Air Traffic Service. This meant that controllers had...
September 5th - Airlines have been under attack for adding extra charges for baggage and seating. Is this fair?
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
They say “no” – all the charges are published and highlighted, and these are optional extras. If you’re prepared to travel with just a small b...
September 4th - British Airways' U-Turn flights
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No fewer than four British Airways flights turned back after take-off from London at the weekend – on one occasion flying two-thirds of the way to t...
September 1st - There's no solution in sight to national rail strikes
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I'm at Euston today for the latest national rail strike. I've counted that it's the 16th month since the strikes began. I spoke to Mick Whelan, genera...
August 31st - Copenhagen travel has it's perks
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m approaching Copenhagen airport on a driverless train, and enjoying what the Danes ever did for travellers – making journeys intuitive and smoo...
August 30th - What did go wrong with the UK's air traffic control system?
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're still feeling the effects of the air traffic control fiasco that crippled flights into and out of the UK on the bank holiday with little in the ...
August 29 - Travel chaos from a technical issue
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hundreds of thousands of passengers booked to travel to or from the UK have had their flights cancelled or delayed after the air-traffic control syste...
August 28 - Scandinavian simplicity extends to... buying tickets
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week will see much debate about plans to close railway station ticket offices – including the wider question about how passengers with disabili...
August 25 - Travel chaos arrived before the bank holiday started
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bank holiday travel chaos arrived earlier than expected, with thousands of travellers stranded in various parts of Europe after large-scale cancellati...
August 24 - All the travel challenges this bank holiday
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I predict that we're about to see the busiest holiday since 2019 this bank holiday weekend and it won't be helped by the train strikes. Over ten thous...
August 23rd - New airline flights to Cairo this Winter!
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I am celebrating the news that not one but two airlines will be flying from Luton to Cairo this winter: easyJet and Wizz Air. With the much-dela...
August 22nd - Concorde remembered
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Twenty years ago, the world’s only surviving supersonic airliner was on her final lap of honour. The Concorde era ended on 24 October 2003, when Bri...
August 21st - Brace yourselves for the next round of train strikes
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s travel podcast, I’m on the train again, from London Bridge to Gatwick Airport – making the most of the opportunity of rail travel ah...
August 18th - Lonely Planet's Vice President on the future for the iconic travel brand
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
50 years ago after Tony and Maureen Wheeler first published Across Asia on the Cheap – the first book in the Lonely Planet guidebook serie...
August 17th - British Airways Speedbird Pilot Academy
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s A-level results day, which means some young people may be having a bit of a rethink about their future.One option for which the academic requir...
August 16th - Why fly with Ryanair?
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After an elderly couple was hit with a £110 admin fee for failing to print out their boarding passes for a Ryanair flight, I've been sifting through ...
August 15th - The couple who lost £110 for an honest mistake
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last Friday morning, retired doctors Ruth and Peter Jaffe arrived at London Stansted in good time to check in for their flight FR2668 to Bergerac in s...
August 14th - The Great Race Across Europe Finale
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Trans-European Race from London to Istanbul is over – with all manner of surprises along the way. I’ve been talking to race director James Fin...
August 11th - Unexpected items in the billing area
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My guide to unexpected items in the billing area, after a British tourist at Lake Como in northern Italy was charged €2 extra for cutting his toaste...
August 10th - Disruption as usual? Things have been worse...
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Whatever disruption you might be encountering this summer, August is so much better than it has been.In today's travel podcast, I look back at stories...
August 9th - Keeping a lid on delays at Dover
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I've been in Dover talking with the port's chief executive, Doug Bannister, who says additional staffing and expanded facilities have proved effective...
August 8th - The resurrection of US railroad travel?
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Five weeks from today, two of Florida’s biggest cities will be linked by express trains. Brightline is due to extend its existing Miami-Fort Lauderd...
August 7th - Flight delays across the world
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
British Airways passengers on an Airbus A380 from Johannesburg to London Heathrow went on a 10-hour “flight to nowhere” when Niger’s airspace wa...
August 4th - The Great Race Across Europe
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
And they're off (or at least they will be at 10 am on Saturday) on the great Race Across Europe from London to Istanbul, using only public transport. ...