Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Steve is Head of Engineering at the UK's second-busiest airport, and responsible for the baggage systems. Almost all the time things work well for the passenger, the airport and the airline.But sometimes bags with loose straps and the like can gum up the system. And if you leave old barcodes on your case (those little labels) your bag might end up in Bangkok while you are waiting in Barcelona.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All week I have been covering the strike by members of the RMT union working for London Underground, which has paralysed the capital. While some Tube trains have been running on each day, they represent only a tiny fraction of the network.I took one of the rare trains running from Baker Street to Harrow-on-the-Hill, sharing the journey with a pigeon and a handful of humans.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The summer has actually been excellent in terms of coming out of the UK," says Jeremy. While the peak day for flights from the UK is still back before Covid, in October 2019, and UK-US flights are showing a downturn, the trend is unrelentingly upwards. North Africa bookings doubled this summer and the Middle East is expanding ... This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is the day that Intrepid Travel has revealed its Not Hot List – places off the tourism mainstream, from Nevada to Sierra Leone. I've been speaking to Hazel Maguire, chief marketing officer for the adventure travel company.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Goldstein, adventurer and wildlife campaigner, successfully completed 25 Marathon-length walks from Tigerton in Scotland to Tiger Bay in Wales to raise money for the conservation of four-legged animals – particularly the tiger. He's been telling me the highlights ...This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm talking to Martina Jamnig, director of the Austrian National Tourist Office in London, about the activities on offer in autumn and winter – which range from Christmas markets to ice-bathing in Carinthia. News about more flights to Austria, too.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode celebrates National Travel Agents Day, highlighting their essential role in today's travel landscape. Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE proposes a bold reform to school holiday schedules, suggesting a shorter summer break in favor of longer vacations in May and October. The discussion sheds light on how these changes could benefit families and boost the travel sector amidst rising costs and airline challenges. Tune in for insights on reshaping travel for everyone!

Nicky Gardner, co-author of Europe by Rail, tells me the best places to make the most of all-you-can-travel rail.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of the summer I'm talking to Kaya Niedenthal of Currency Online Group in London about trends in the currency markets: what's worth buying now, the use of the dollar and euro in many developing countries, and the currency that is selling extraordinarily well to Brits.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Caribbean is a mosaic of delectable isles - but what makes St Lucia distinctive? Senior travel writer Natalie Wilson was there in the summer and was smitten by the island's beauty, friendliness and culture.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.