You should have been there

We discuss "bustling" markets, "palm-fringed" beaches and "towering" peaks with professor of philosophy, Emily Thomas from Durham University. Do clichéd travel descriptions add to our understanding of other places or quite the reverse? Plus an interview with Eleanor Parker, the winner of last week's Trans-Europe Race to Istanbul by public transport.

Simon joins the competitors and organisers of Lupine Travel's Trans-European Race at the start line in London's Trafalgar's Square. It's a bizarre medley of mystery and travel challenges, all on public transport. So who on earth would spend their holidays doing this and what prizes are at stake?

We welcome to the show Michael Motamedi, chef, digital nomad and influencer, who tells us what it's like to entrust his family's travel plans to a digital guide called Guide Geek. And we compare AI's take on Mykonos with a human view of it as a holiday destination. You can follow Michael's experimental journey at michaelmotamedi.com. And thanks for the lovely photo of Mykonos are due to Dana Tentis at Pixabay.

Snow, leaves, sun, swans, even trampolines. We investigate delays to planes and trains and discuss the bizarre causes and often ludicrous excuses.

We delve into this delightful holiday activity and suggest some of the best places to try it out. You don't need to go as far as Panama's San Blas Islands as the UK has island hops that are sometimes much easier than you'd think.

In this podcast, Lyn Hughes joins the hosts to discuss the allure of islands and what makes them so attractive. They explore different islands like Myorka, Manhattan, Mombasa, Mustique, and Madeira, highlighting their unique qualities and attractions. They also discuss the best Caribbean islands, share their experiences on an island, and hint at future episodes on the Galapagos Islands and UK islands.

Simon and Mick discuss the role played by luck, miraculous interventions and the kindness of strangers in a fulfilling journey. And we reveal an odd connection between Brexit and Dexy's Midnight Runners

Simon and Mick are joined by walker and novelist, Stephen Marriot, to discuss the enduring appeal of the Caminos de Santiago (I bet you don't know how many there are!) Stephen explains how the first of his "pilgrimages" inspired him to write his Reluctant Pilgrim series, published by The Marsh Books while Mick completes his audio diary of the "Camino inglés"

We talk border towns and their unique features, in particular those curious places which are split by an international frontier. In Baarle Hertog, for instance, divided between Belgium and the Netherlands, the border runs through the middle of the council chamber while the main street of Le Perthus offers opportunities to shop in Spain on one side and France on the other.

We swap tales of footwear malfunctions while shining a light on the neglected, important and richly comic topic of traveller's shoes.