Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

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 from Simon Cockerell of specialist operator Koryo Tours.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Saturday 17 August, 180 competitors will set off from Trafalgar Square in London, destination Tirana in Albania, in the second Race Across Europe staged by Lupine Travel – using only public transport. Today I'm talking to the organiser, James Finnerty.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leeds Bradford Airport has unveiled its Vision 2030 strategy, aiming for more flights and more passengers but a more gentle environmental footprint.Simon Calder speaks with Vincent Hodder, the airport’s chief executive, about plans to boost the transform the gateway to – and from – Yorkshire.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 trains on north-south routes over the impending August bank holiday weekend. Network Rail engineering work will lead to some interesting changes. A mention, too, for London Paddington to South Wales services, diverted via Gloucester from 24 to 26 August.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ahead for a 48-hour stay, is £338. Airlines are charging at least £100 less. What we need on this most essential intercity link is proper competition between rail firms.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Simon Calder, and today I discuss why Jordan and Egypt are excellent travel destinations despite current travel advisories. With rich histories and welcoming atmospheres, these countries offer unforgettable experiences. Plan your trip to these underrated gems today.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With tension rising in the Middle East, what are the implications for travellers? A range of airlines have suspended their operations to Tel Aviv although a couple haven't. If you want to continue flying to a no go area you may also want to check your travel insurance.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 of the Appalachian Trail, a breathtaking 1,000km journey that winds through the scenic landscapes of Québec and crosses into the United States, passing through Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.Join me as we explore the stunning vistas, diverse wildlife, and rich history along this remarkable trail, discovering the unique beauty of each state along the way.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 has now finally corrected.British Airways had claimed, wrongly: “To travel on an international flight your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date you enter a country.”The airline now says, correctly, than non-EU nationals who wish to travel to an EU member state (except Ireland) or the Schengen Area nations of Switzerland, Norway and Iceland must carry a passport “issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country”.This podcast is free, like the Independent Travel newsletter. Get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.