The Travel Diaries

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.

This week, I’m so excited to say that business mogul and perfumer Jo Malone makes a return to the podcast, transporting us to the Middle East in this Dubai Destination Special. For avid listeners you might remember that back in Season 2 when Jo joined me as a guest, she talked about Dubai with such love, picking it as one of her all time favourites, she spends about a month each year out there, so I could think of no one better to join us today as we uncover her Dubai travel diaries, her favourite spots, hidden gems and recommendations as someone who knows the city so well. And later, we’ll be joined Dubai-based travel journalist Sarah Hedley-Hymers, who has her finger on the pulse of everything that is worth knowing about Dubai, and together they both really evoke the sights, the scents, and vibrancy of this Emirati city, and really get under its skin - beyond its glamorous and shiny first impressions, they really reveal its heart and heritage too.So, from desert nights under the stars to the heady aromas of the spice market, abra boat rides across the historic Dubai creek to its beaches and luxury hotels, let’s head to Dubai. Destination Recap: Jo MaloneDubai desertSatwaDubai CreekSpice MarketThe One & Only The Residence Fish Beach Taverna, Le Meridien W HotelMusandam Peninsula, Oman Six Senses Zighy Bay, OmanSarah Hedley-Hymers Perfume HouseAbra rides at Dubai CreekDubai Fountain Burj KhalifaDubai Mall AquariumThe Pointe Fountain Food District, The PointeJumeriah Beach Residence Jumeriah Lake TowersStreetery, Dubai Vietnamese Foodies, Dubai Pitfire Pizza, Dubai Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve Al Maha Desert Resort Sonara CampFor more information and inspiration to plan your holiday to Dubai visit www.visitdubai.com or follow them on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I’m joined by the chef, broadcaster, food writer and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. We first got to know Hugh through his much loved River Cottage TV series and books, filmed at his River Cottage Estate on the Devon-Dorset border. His uncompromising commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food and his concern for the environment, inspired a vast and loyal fanbase.Alongside more than 20 cookery shows, he’s also tackled powerful issues in his documentary campaigns, like obesity, illegal wildlife trade, fishing and the war on plastic. He’s the author of numerous best-selling cookbooks and he’s back with a new one - Eat Better Forever. We talk about that, his life-changing trip to Africa which shaped his food philosophy; what it was like travelling around India for 4 months with his young family; how a close shave while filming nearly left him in a Vietnamese jail, the power of wild swimming throughout the freezing winter months, and his favourite staycation spots . All that and more coming up on the travel diaries. Destination Recap:Aegina, GreecePort Quin, Cornwall, England Epphaven Cove, Cornwall, England Southern AfricaGloucestershire, England IndiaBharatpur bird sanctuary, Rajasthan, IndiaWest End Hotel, Mumbai, India River Cottage, Devon, EnglandThe Bull Inn, Totnes, England VietnamHugh’s new book Eat Better Forever is out now. 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. Find out more about that, and the rest of Lanserhof’s fantastic offerings 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. 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.

Today, I’m joined by multi BAFTA & Emmy-winning wildlife cameraman, Gavin Thurston. Over the last 37 years, Gavin has worked on some of the most famous nature documentaries ever made, like Planet Earth and Blue Planet, most often with his long time collaborator, Sir David Attenborough. Gavin, ordinarily, spends most of the year travelling, and he’s covered every corner of the globe - its deserts, polar ice caps and deepest sea.He’s a fantastic raconteur, so this had to be a “long haul” feature length episode. We talk about his incredibly close shave while filming gorillas in the Congo, what it’s like to be the very first person to see and film previously undiscovered new species of wildlife and film them, the terrifying time his submersible failed at 1000m deep below sea level, and what it’s like spending so much time working with the legend that is Sir David Attenborough.Destination Recap:Durdle Door, Dorset, EnglandDevon Coast, EnglandNouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of CongoHallo Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska, USASumatra, IndonesiaCosta RicaAntarcticaTurkmenistanEnglandGavin’s book ‘Journeys in the Wild - The Secret Life of a Cameraman’ is out now. You can follow him on Instagram @thegavinthurston. Thank you to The Nautilus Maldives, your luxury bohemian hideaway in the Maldives, for their support today. A highly personalised, immensely private ultra-luxury island resort with just 26 beach and ocean houses and residences, where every experience is tailored to you. Where nothing is fixed and anything is possible. Where you are free to set your own beat; free to do – and to be – as you please.You can find out more about The Nautilus Maldives 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. 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 Poppy Delevingne to Raymond Blanc. 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.

We’re back for Season 4 with the award-winning author, writer, and documentary maker, Jon Ronson. Jon is the author of many best-selling books, including So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Them: Adventures with Extremists, The Men who Stare at Goats which was adapted to become a movie starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor, and The Psychopath Test which is the first book of Jon’s that I read, and was hooked ever since.He’s an acclaimed screenwriter, most recently co-writing the 2017 Netflix film, Okja, with Bong Joon-Ho, the South Korean director of Parasite, last year’s Best Picture winner at the Oscars. And if you’re not already familiar with Jon’s work, I’d suggest checking out one of his recent podcast series, which have been huge hits around the world - The Butterfly Effect and The Last Days of August both look at the effects of the porn industry. Both are fascinating, disturbing and addictive to listen to.Jon’s now based in the US, so we spoke online as per usual these days, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.Destination Recap:Marlborough College, Wiltshire, EnglandAvebury, Wiltshire, EnglandCardiff, WalesSouth AfricaQE2 shipQueen Mary shipRhodes, GreeceManhattan, New York, USAUnion Hall, Brooklyn, New York, USAThe Bell house, Brooklyn, New York, USAGrand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, New York, USABarney Greengrass, New York, USAInns of Aurora, Fingerlakes, New York, USAHudson, New York, USAForte Village Resort, Sardinia, ItalyForte dei Mami, Tuscany, Italy Pacific High Way One, California, USALos Angeles, California, USAFlorida, USANew ZealandIceland A big thank you to Citalia for their support for today’s podcast. You can discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists.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 available 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 Simon Reeve. 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.