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You should have been there

You should have been there

By Mick Webb and Simon Calder

Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent and former BBC producer, Mick Webb, discuss the world of travel and delight in travellers' tales.
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PODCAST 134 DIGITAL NOMADS-A GOOD THING?

You should have been there Dec 06, 2022

00:00
30:04
PODCAST 187 Finding Happiness in Travel

PODCAST 187 Finding Happiness in Travel

Our guest is Mike Mackay Richards, author of "The Travelling Ape." Mike has visited 155 countries and has a perhaps surprisingly upbeat view of people and most, if not all, places. He advises us to get out there and enjoy the world rather then "vegetating in a little corner of it." His book is available from Amazon.

Mar 26, 202429:53
PODCAST 186 UNFASHIONABLE DESTINATIONS

PODCAST 186 UNFASHIONABLE DESTINATIONS

We muse on the weeks travel headlines about Air Traffic Control chaos and plunging planes, while Simon reports from the vast Berlin Travel Show where the whole world of travel is revealed.

Mar 19, 202429:18
PODCAST 185  Into the Wild

PODCAST 185 Into the Wild

We talk to Jonny Bealby, founder of the adventure travel firm, Wild Frontiers, about his life as a traveller and businessman. On the agenda: his favourite countries, most terrifying experiences and the item that he won't travel without. Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

Mar 11, 202429:31
PODCAST 184 THE MIRACLE OF MALAHIDE

PODCAST 184 THE MIRACLE OF MALAHIDE

Simon recounts the tale of his unbelievably cheap Irish journey and Dylan Harris of Lupine Travel reveals the rewards and challenges of running an adventure travel company.

Feb 28, 202428:51
PODCAST 183   THE MOMENT YOUR HOLIDAY BEGINS

PODCAST 183 THE MOMENT YOUR HOLIDAY BEGINS

We discuss listeners' thoughts on when their holiday really starts: as the front door closes, as you clear airport security, the train/plane/ferry begins to move.... ? With particular thanks to Cathy Adams of Times Travel and filmmaker, Ben Garfield

Feb 21, 202428:12
PODCAST 182 TRAVEL TABOOS

PODCAST 182 TRAVEL TABOOS

We showcase the strange restrictions encountered by listeners on their travels and compare our own recent visits to intriguing islands.

Feb 10, 202429:56
PODCAST 181 DOCUMENTARY DISASTERS

PODCAST 181 DOCUMENTARY DISASTERS

We hear listeners' tales of passport nightmares while Simon exposes a documentary faux-pas in a current Channel 4 drama series.

Jan 18, 202429:26
PODCAST 180  ANSWERS TO THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 180 ANSWERS TO THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ

The wait is over. Here are the solutions to our "12 Days of Travel" Christmas Quiz.

Jan 11, 202429:36
PODCAST 12 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 12 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

The final destination makes a fitting conclusion to the 12 part quiz. Find the place then work out what connects all the answers.

Jan 05, 202405:22
PODCAST 11 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 11 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

We're in the heart of Europe for today's destination, the 11th of the 12 days.

Jan 04, 202402:48
PODCAST 10 - TWELVE DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 10 - TWELVE DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

A lesser-known, UNESCO-recognised delight is the tenth destination of the quiz. Can you work it out?

Jan 03, 202404:31
 PODCAST 9 : 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 9 : 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

We go offshore for today's destination, the ninth in the series of 12 mini podcasts

Jan 02, 202403:07
PODCAST 8 - 12 days of travel Christmas quiz

PODCAST 8 - 12 days of travel Christmas quiz

Guess the destination one, a very popular European city, in the eighth of our mini podcasts.

Jan 01, 202404:08
PODCAST 7 -12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ

PODCAST 7 -12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ

The clues should lead you to a European port, the seventh destination.

Dec 31, 202303:18
PODCAST 6 - "12 DAYS OF TRAVEL" CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 6 - "12 DAYS OF TRAVEL" CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Head for the Balkans to find this city, the sixth of our twelve destinations. Can you see a link emerging between these places?

Dec 30, 202303:19
PODCAST 5 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 5 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

The clues will reveal the fifth of the twelve destinations. It's in England!

Dec 29, 202303:11
MINI PODCAST 4 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL QUIZ

MINI PODCAST 4 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL QUIZ

Can you work out today's destination? A well-visited location with a well-loved building

Dec 28, 202304:31
PODCAST 3 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS QUIZ

PODCAST 3 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Test your travel know-how and guess the third destination.

Dec 27, 202304:38
PODCAST 2 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ

PODCAST 2 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ

The second mini podcast of the quiz. Guess the destination and try and work out the link between all 12 places.

Dec 26, 202303:20
DAY 1- 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

DAY 1- 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

Test your travel know-how with the first mini podcast of our 12 part Xmas Quiz.

Dec 25, 202304:17
PODCAST 179 TRAVELLING HEALTHILY

PODCAST 179 TRAVELLING HEALTHILY

We Talk to Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth about the new edition of her book, Staying Healthy When You Travel. Expect advice on what to pack, what to expect in different destinations and what to do if you fall ill abroad. The book is published by Fox Chapel Publishing.

Dec 14, 202330:22
PODCAST 174

PODCAST 174

We discuss the pros and cons of airport lounges and hear more from Pat Yale on the delights of slow travel to Turkey, including the unexpected charms of Belgrade. With many thanks to Nicola, Amanda, Laura, Nick, Gordon Stone and Pat Yale (@patyale on X)

Dec 06, 202329:40
PODCAST 178  COP 28: BEYOND THE BLAH BLAH BLAH

PODCAST 178 COP 28: BEYOND THE BLAH BLAH BLAH

We ask some of the questions that aren't being asked in Dubai at COP 28 and suggest one or two answers.

Dec 06, 202330:25
PODCAST 177 THE ROAD TO BERLIN

PODCAST 177 THE ROAD TO BERLIN

Travel meets football in our guide to the 2024 Euros. Discover where to go, when to book and what to see in Simon Calder's essential guide to next year's football feast across the length and breadth of Germany.

Nov 27, 202329:41
PODCAST 176    THE END OF TOURISM?

PODCAST 176 THE END OF TOURISM?

Chris Christou joins us from the lovely Mexican city of Oaxaca to discuss his podcast- "The End of Tourism" - and his ideas about "radical hospitality." We also feature listeners' tales of entertaining experiences of changing money. Chris' website is www.theendoftourism.com

Nov 23, 202329:32
PODCAST 175 INSIDE THE TRAVEL BUSINESS

PODCAST 175 INSIDE THE TRAVEL BUSINESS

Simon visits two of the industry's major get togethers to take the pulse of travel. Amongst the delegates, he meets Iceland's First Lady and the man who aims to put Airbus 380's back in the skies.

Nov 17, 202329:32
PODCAST 173 SLOW TRAIN TO TURKEY

PODCAST 173 SLOW TRAIN TO TURKEY

Writer Pat Yale joins us to talk about the pleasures of travelling overland from the UK to Turkey as well as what it's been like to live in the country for the past twenty five years. Pat's new book, "Following Miss Bell: Travels around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell," has just been published by Trailblazer Publications.

Oct 25, 202329:56
PODCAST 172  THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF MOUNTAIN TREKS

PODCAST 172 THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF MOUNTAIN TREKS

Simon and Mick conclude their walk across the Ariège in the French Pyrenees and ruminate on the challenges and the rewards of mountain walking

Oct 16, 202329:59
PODCAST 171     A WALK IN THE WILD COUNTRY

PODCAST 171 A WALK IN THE WILD COUNTRY

Simon and I share the audio diary of our trek across a remote area of the French Pyrenees, the wild and woolly Ariège - yes, it is famed for its sheep. On the agenda are physical challenges, human errors aplenty and entertaining encounters with humans and animals.

Oct 09, 202329:19
PODCAST 170  WHERE WILL WE BE IN 2053  - PART 2

PODCAST 170 WHERE WILL WE BE IN 2053 - PART 2

We continue our attempt to divine the future direction of travel, assisted by listeners.

Sep 27, 202329:58
PODCAST 169 THE PLACES TO BE IN 2053

PODCAST 169 THE PLACES TO BE IN 2053

We break out our crystal ball and hypothesise about the shape of travel in thirty years time. VTOL aircraft, jetpacks, autonomous vehicles, affordable rail travel ........ maybe.

Sep 11, 202323:25
PODCAST 168   Travel chaos theory

PODCAST 168 Travel chaos theory

We try to make sense of the mayhem endured by holidaymakers during this summer's busiest month for travel. Planes, boats and trains, all have been affected. Who is to blame, do we ever learn from previous mistakes and how bad is the UK, compared with other countries?

Sep 06, 202329:47
PODCAST 167  BELGIUM, BEYOND THE CHIPS AND CHOCOLATE
Aug 23, 202330:24
PODCAST 166 TRAVEL CLICHÉS : CURSE OR BLESSING

PODCAST 166 TRAVEL CLICHÉS : CURSE OR BLESSING

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.

Aug 13, 202329:13
PODCAST 165 ISTANBUL OR BUST

PODCAST 165 ISTANBUL OR BUST

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?

Aug 08, 202327:08
PODCAST 164  WHAT CAN A.I. DO FOR  YOUR HOLIDAYS ?

PODCAST 164 WHAT CAN A.I. DO FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS ?

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.

Jul 25, 202330:09
PODCAST 163  THE WRONG KIND OF DELAY

PODCAST 163 THE WRONG KIND OF DELAY

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

Jul 18, 202329:14
PODCAST 162  ISLAND HOPPING

PODCAST 162 ISLAND HOPPING

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.

Jul 11, 202328:02
PODCAST 161 THE PERFECT ISLAND

PODCAST 161 THE PERFECT ISLAND

Lyn Hughes of Wanderlust magazine joins us to discuss the endless allure of islands and what it is that makes them so attractive. Is there one perfect example among the world's million chunks of offshore land?

Jul 05, 202332:43
PODCAST 160 TRAVELLERS' LUCK

PODCAST 160 TRAVELLERS' LUCK

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

Jun 27, 202325:44
PODCAST 159  THE MANY ROADS TO SANTIAGO

PODCAST 159 THE MANY ROADS TO SANTIAGO

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"

Jun 19, 202330:00
PODCAST 158 YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN A BORDER TOWN WHEN.....

PODCAST 158 YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN A BORDER TOWN WHEN.....

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.

Jun 12, 202328:20
PODCAST 157 THE WRONG BOOTS

PODCAST 157 THE WRONG BOOTS

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

Jun 07, 202329:29
PODCAST 156 SURPRISING DELIGHTS

PODCAST 156 SURPRISING DELIGHTS

Simon travels to Israel and Hong Kong, finding unexpected pleasures in harsh and politically volatile destinations. In particular, he enjoys the "friendly" Negev desert and the tranquil island of Tai O


May 29, 202329:36
PODCAST 155   THE SHORT ROUTE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

PODCAST 155 THE SHORT ROUTE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

Simon and Mick discuss the latter's experience of walking the "camino inglés", the 115 km pilgrims' route from Ferrol to Santiago. On the agenda: the weather, the kindness of strangers, fellow-pilgrims and the nature of the walk itself.

May 22, 202329:20
PODCAST 154 AROUND THE WORLD WITH JESSICA NABONGO

PODCAST 154 AROUND THE WORLD WITH JESSICA NABONGO

Jessica has visited every country world and is almost certainly the first black woman to do so. She shares her tales of favourite and not so favourite places, of inspiring encounters and lessons learnt along the way. You can follow Jessica's journeys on https://thecatchmeifyoucan.com . Her new WhatsApp docuseries, Crossing Cultures, is about the world's diasporas and starts in London's Peckham : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzndKNV9HrE

May 16, 202328:21
PODCAST 153 NORTHERN SPAIN BY TINY TRAIN

PODCAST 153 NORTHERN SPAIN BY TINY TRAIN

We report on recent journeys: Simon to the potentially controversial destination of Israel, Mick to the North of Spain, where the FEVE narrow-gauge railway takes you to some remote and intriguing mountain villages. Find FEVE information here https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve

May 10, 202329:59
PODCAST 152   LGBTQ+  TRAVEL

PODCAST 152 LGBTQ+ TRAVEL

We are joined by Sophie Griffiths from TTG Media to talk about gay-friendly destinations, oppressive and discriminatory laws and the improvements in attitudes towards LGBTQ+ travellers that Pride events are helping to bring about around the world

May 03, 202328:02
PODCAST 151 Planning trips, connections and transits

PODCAST 151 Planning trips, connections and transits

We compare and contrast Simon's happy-go-lucky approach to travel planning with Mick's meticulous preparations. Serendipity v serious forethought. And which is better when it all goes Pete Tong, as journeys often do? We also hear from listeners about the ideal length of time to allow for transits, layovers and stopovers. Thanks to all contributors, in particular traveller, Catherine Oldham and coach driver, Husain.

Apr 11, 202328:46
PODCAST 150  GREAT MOMENTS IN PODCAST TRAVEL

PODCAST 150 GREAT MOMENTS IN PODCAST TRAVEL

We celebrate our 150th podcast at London's St Pancras station with highlights (and some lowlights) from our previous editions. On the agenda: crossing strange borders, psychogeography, Pyrenean slip-ups and strange brews.


Apr 10, 202327:03