The Travel Diaries

It’s July 1 which means it’s Canada Day and we are going to be celebrating Canada with this bonus destination special episode. Canada has been mentioned so many times as a favourite destination on the podcast by everyone from Ben Fogle and Dan Snow to Nadiya Hussain and Ella Eyre, and today, in celebration of Canada Day, I thought it would be a great opportunity to shine a light on a region of Canada that has historically been somewhat overlooked by tourists but is now gaining a real hype with in the know travellers, and that is the region of Atlantic Canada.Today I’m joined by writer and adventurer Hugh Francis Anderson, who has written extensively about Atlantic Canada, and he’s here to share his travel diaries from the region.Destination RecapThe Alexander Murray Hiking Trail, Newfoundland & LabradorCabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova ScotiaBar Kismet, HalifaxKouchibouguac National Park, New BrunswickThe Inn at Bay Fortune, Prince Edward IslandGros Morne National ParkThank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.For more information and inspiration to plan your holiday to Canada or Atlantic Canada visit here and here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this Awesome Australia Destination Special. Together with much loved guests including Rick Stein, John Torode and Dynamo, we’ll be heading on an Australian adventure across the country, revealing favourite spots, hidden gems and top tips. It’s wanderlust, guaranteed! It’s June 2021 right now, and unfortunately that means that for most of us travel is currently extremely restricted. So now’s the time to plan your next big bucket list trip - and for me, Australia is top of the list. From the wilderness of The Kimberley, to the red rock of Uluru, Kangaroo Island, Sydney, Melbourne and more, I hope this episode inspires you to visit when we are all able to travel easily again. Destination Recap:The Kimberley, WAThe King George Falls, The Kimberley, WAAdelaide, SACoober Pedy, SAAlice Springs, NTTorres Strait Islands, QLDSydney, NSWWolgan Valley, The Blue Mountains, NSWMelbourne Lane Ways, VICFederation Square, Melbourne, VICQueensland Coast, QLDWestern Australian wildlife trifecta, WANingaloo Reef, WAKangaroo Island, SAUluru, NTThank you to John Torode, Rick Stein, Rachel Khoo, Peter Grunert, Tony Wheeler, Dynamo and Phoebe Smith for being a part of today’s episode. For more information about planning your own trip to Australia head to australia.comIf you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel. Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I'm joined by one of the most famous and successful chefs in the world and in history - Heston Blumenthal. It was an unforgettable travel experience that inspired Heston to become a chef. He’s entirely self taught, and was working other odd jobs all the way until his late twenties, when he bought a small pub in Bray in Berkshire. He called it The Fat Duck, and it went on to be award three Michelin stars and to be named The World’s Best Restaurant. A food pioneer, he’s been dubbed the Willy Wonka of cuisine, fascinated by the science behind the cooking. He’s become the king of experimental cuisine which has led to world famous dishes like snail porridge, parsnip cereal, and bacon and eggs ice cream. Oh, and did you know it was Heston who invented one of my favourite things to eat - the triple cooked chip.This is definitely an unusual episode. Yes we cover travel, it’s a fundamental part of Heston’s food, and it was so fun to hear about some of the weird and wonderful things he’s eaten on his travels - not all of them happy memories, I should add! But honestly, I really felt like I was speaking to a true genius in this chat, it’s hard to find another way to describe it, and so we also cover off the meaning of life and philosophy, quantum physics and scientific theory. He is determined to push himself and others to think beyond the confines of our small minds, when it comes to both food and life. I really hope you enjoy it.Destination Recap:Praa Sands, Cornwall, EnglandRegent’s Snack Bar, Edgware Road, London, EnglandBaumanière, Hôtel Restaurant, Les Baux-de-Provence, FranceLes Alpilles, FranceMonastery Epiphany, Les Baux-de-Provence, FranceTurkeySiberia, RussiaIcelandGalapagos Islands, Ecuador KoreaThe AmazonPeruIndonesiaPolynesiaTune in to Heston’s own podcast, Heston’s Journey to the Centre of Food which is available on all podcast apps and is great fun, it’s a must for foodies.Well, that’s a wrap for Season 4, thank you all for joining me along the way, wherever you are in the world. Thank you for spreading the word about the podcast, sharing your favourite episode on your social media, telling your friends, leaving lovely reviews and sending me the most amazing messages, it has been amazing, especially to feel so connected and part of our little travel diaries community, that you’ve all created, during a time where we often otherwise feel quite disconnected. If you’ve enjoyed listening to the podcast, remember to press subscribe on your podcast app, it’s free, and you’ll then get notified when Season 5 begins in the summer.In the meantime, do stay in touch, I’m @hollyrubenstein on Instagram and Twitter.Remember there’s all four seasons to keep you going until then, from Rick Stein and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, to Jo Malone and Raymond Blanc. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode, I’m joined by the multi-Grammy winning singer, Gregory Porter. Gregory’s was originally set to become an American football player, and it wasn’t until he turned 40 that his rich jazz baritone caught the attention of industry bigwigs and subsequently, jazz heads around the world. His major label debut Liquid Spirit went on to become the most streamed jazz album of all time. He's played Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, sung for the Queen and prior to Covid was travelling over 200 days a year, playing to his adoring fans around the world. So with all that travel and all those miles covered, it’s no surprise that today’s episode is a long haul, feature length episode. Gregory joins me from his home in California, and this is a really touching, personal, evocative episode. Gregory says it’s like therapy - he remembers his travels so vividly, and each destination is full of emotion as he describes it to us. We’ll go on a journey from the West to the East coast of the United States, across Russia on the Transiberian Express and to a secret French island that I’d never heard of, which is now firmly added to my travel wish list. Oh and he serenades us not once but twice on this episode, so prepared to be soothed by that velvety voice!Destination Recap:Bakersfield, California, USAYosemite National Park, California, USASanta Monica, California, USASan Diego, California, USABrooklyn, New York, USAHarlem, New York, USASiberia, Russia Tokyo, JapanKanazawa, JapanPorquerolles, FranceUkraineIstanbul, TurkeyTel Aviv, IsraelJakarta, Indonesia South Africa Sierra LeoneGhanaGregory Porter’s album All Rise is out now.Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe on your podcast app of choice. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by one of the most well travelled people I have ever spoken to. Geoffrey Kent is the founder, chairman and CEO of the luxury travel company, Abercrombie & Kent, and a titan of the travel industry. Before researching and recording this episode, I didn’t know that much about Geoffrey himself, and now, here in this intro, it’s hard to convey what an extraordinary life he’s led, but I’ll give it a go. Raised in rural Kenya, Geoffrey’s said that his whole childhood was like a safari. He tells us about living among leopards and elephants and riding horses when he’d barely even learnt to walk. And from there, during a military career where he served in Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Cyprus, Libya and Malta, he founded Abercrombie & kent - a travel company best known for inventing the photographic safari, changing wildlife travel forever with the ethos “shoot with a camera, not with a gun”. A born explorer, he’s credited with pioneering “experiential travel” so along with telling us about some of the 156 countries he’s already visited, Geoffrey brings to life the experiences that he’s had along the way, and how we can best enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful countries. We don’t really touch on the fact that he’s also a world renowned polo player, he was the Captain of Windsor Park’s polo team which he played on with Prince Charles; or that he took Prince Harry to Botswana after the death of Princess Diana and sparked Prince Harry’s love of Africa. Even so, this is still a long haul feature length episode, there was so much to cover, it’s a love letter to Africa, and one that I hope you’ll really enjoy. So, here’s Geoffrey Kent. Destination Recap: MonacoFlorianópolis, BrazilZambiaKenyaNairobi, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa motorcycle trip Masai Mara, KenyaThe Aberdare Highlands, Kenya Malindi, Kenya Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, EnglandSouth PoleBotswana Mauritius Chief's Camp, Okavango Delta, BotswanaBazaruto Channel, Mozambique One & Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius Gorilla trekking, UgandaDiving in Palau, PhilippinesHelicopter to Base Camp, Mt EverestMadagascarGreenlandAntarcticaFinlandHelicopter tour of EthiopiaCocos Islands, Costa RicaJuba, Southern SudanNorth West Passage Cruise You can follow Geoffrey on Instagram here.Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe on your podcast app of choice. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m joined by one of the most established names in British luxury - the designer and businesswoman, Anya Hindmarch. Anya started her accessories business as a teenager, inspired by the leather bags she saw on her travels in Italy. Within a few short years, her designs were stocked by some of the most prestigious fashion outlets around the world. She is known for using fashion as a force for good. Back in 2004, her £5 white tote bags, with the slogan “I’m not a plastic bag” written on them, graced the shoulders of A-listers around the world, sparking a global frenzy with queues of over 80,000 people outside Sainsbury’s shops, trying to get their hands on the canvas bags. More recently, during the pandemic, she’s worked with University College London to design a special holster for frontline NHS workers to wear, along with thousands of PPE gowns. Just as fashion takes inspiration from cultures and destinations all around the world, so too does Anya, whose travel diaries take us from Morocco and Myanmar to Japan, Italy and glamorous Mustique.Destination recap:Marrakech, Morocco El Fenn, MoroccoKasbah Beldi, Morocco Cap Ferrat, France Florence, Italy Mustique Park Hyatt, Tokyo, JapanTokyo, JapanPatagoniaEthiopiaBeirutEgyptIndia Inle Lake, Myanmar This episode is in memory of my beloved uncle, Anthony Lean. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week. Thank you to ancestry.co.uk for their support for today’s episode. And thank you also to Fujifilm. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here. Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is one who is sure to put you in a good mood. His infectious enthusiasm most recently led him to the Strictly Come Dancing final. He’s a chart-topping podcaster himself, and the star of the reality TV show Made in Chelsea. And he’s a businessman, the founder of the sweetie empire Candy Kittens. It is of course, Jamie Laing. With a father who runs a travel agent, and family all around the world, it’s no wonder that Jamie has an insatiable appetite for travel. So much so that this is a long haul, feature length episode. So from Peru to Japan, and Turkey to Turks & Caicos, let’s hear Jamie's travel diaries. Destination Recap:Turks & CaicosTurkeyNew York, USADylan’s Candy Bar, New York, USASouth America travelling - Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina Buenos Aires, Argentina Cape Town, South Africa JapanSix Senses Laamu, Maldives Paraty (?) Northern PeruBiarritz, France Notting Hill, London, EnglandIsle of Mull, Scotland Eilat, Israel Tel Aviv, Israel The Grand Canyon, USANew ZealandJamie's podcast Private Parts is available wherever you get your podcasts.If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week. And thank you to Fujifilm for their support too. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here. Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by the much loved actor and comedian, Sanjeev Bhaskar. Following a late arrival into comedy, Sanjeev was catapulted to stardom in the comedy series Goodness Gracious Me, and later The Kumars at No. 42, both bringing the British Asian experience to the masses to international acclaim. This success, which has led to decades of movie and TV roles, has taken Sanjeev all over the world. India, of course, is a big feature today - Sanjeev has filmed documentaries and written books about the country, where some of his family still live. From Delhi and Rajasthan to Shimla and Darjeeling, Sanjeev paints a wonderful picture of such a diverse and exciting country. He transports us to the American city he first fell in love with, his European all time favourite and we chat about the new season of his hit ITV show Unforgotten, which is back for its fourth season.Destination Recap:Delhi, IndiaKarnal, IndiaNew York, USAAmalfi, ItalyRajasthan, India Shimla, India Darjeeling, India Ellora, India Vesuvius, ItalyPompei, ItalyRome, ItalyAustralia Paris, France New ZealandUnforgotten Season 4 airs on Monday nights on ITV at 9pm. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s the star of Downton Abbey, Paddington, Viceroy’s House and W1A. Today, I’m joined by one of Britain’s best loved actors - and part-time vaccine volunteer - Hugh Bonneville. Hugh stars in a new film called To Olivia where he plays the celebrated author Roald Dahl. We talk about that later on in the interview - and he was just so lovely to chat to on a very rainy gloomy lockdown day. I’ve interviewed Hugh a few times in the past and he never fails to make me laugh. He’s travelled so extensively both through his work and through being a really keen traveller himself, so we cover a lot of ground. He transports us to the deserts of Utah and to pockets of serenity among the chaos of India. We visit the pristine coves of the Costa Brava and the campsites of France. And he reveals what is on the cards for Downton Abbey and Paddington, if you’re a fan of either (or both like me) you’ll be very happy with what Hugh has to say!Destination Recap:France Tamariu, Costa Brava, SpainAigua Xelida, SpainAigua Blava, Spain Sherbourne, Dorset, England Road trip through Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and KenyaNile River Boat, SudanJuba, SudanIndiaFour Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, MaldivesAmangiri, Utah, USAMihir Garh, Jodphur, IndiaGrand Canyon, Arizona, USASouth AmericaTo Olivia, a Sky Original film, is out on Sky Cinema and NOW TV right now. If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to hit subscribe on your podcast app so that you’re updated with a new episode each week. And if you can't wait til next week, remember there's the first three seasons to catch up on from Michael Palin and Rick Stein to Dev Patel, Richard Branson and Poppy Delevingne. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. Share your own travel diaries using the hashtag #thetraveldiaries I’ll be re-sharing your own hidden gems, recommendations and all time faves on my Instagram and here on the podcast. Thank you to Fujifilm for their support for today’s episode. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here.Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week. Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I'm joined by the nation’s favourite maitre d’ and TV personality, Fred Sirieix. Having worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in both France and the UK, Fred rose to fame back in 2013 on Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning matchmaking show First Dates, greeting nervous daters with his warmth, charm and philosophical musings (of which you’ll hear many coming up), putting them at ease before they sit down to eat in the First Dates restaurant. Now, he’s become known for his TV globetrotting too, as the presenter of Remarkable Places to Eat on the BBC, and spending months at a time travelling with his pals Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo on ITV’s Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip series.Fred’s travel diaries take us from Italy to Monaco, and Paris to Peru. He reminisces about life growing up in Limoges, France and how he became the ultimate Anglophile. He reveals which Caribbean island he escapes to every year, what it felt like plunging into an ice well in Lapland, and he uncovers what goes on behind the scenes with the making of First Dates - how do they match these couples so perfectly? I really wanted to know. All that and more coming up on The Travel Diaries. Destination RecapLapland Limoges, FranceEymoutiers, France Massif-Central, France Monte Carlo, MonacoMacchu Pichu, PeruSandals, Negril, JamaicaParis, France Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy Chez Black, Positano, italy Hilton, DubaiAustraliaThailand Teen First Dates starts on 22nd Feb 10pm on E4.Thank you Fujifilm for their support for today’s episode. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here. And thank you to Lanserhof at The Arts Club for their support for today’s episode. Find out more about that, and the rest of Lanserhof’s fantastic hotels here.If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. Share your own stories using the hashtag #thetraveldiaries - I’ll be re-sharing your own hidden gems and all time faves on my Instagram and here on the podcast. And there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Raymond Blanc, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Rick Stein. Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week. Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.