You should have been there
By Mick Webb and Simon Calder
You should have been there Apr 30, 2024
PODCAST 191 THE REAL ORIENT EXPRESS
We reveal some truths about the legendary Orient Express, including who was responsible for "murdering " it. Plus more travel miracles and updates for summer tourism. With Simon Calder and Mick Webb
PODCAST 190 HE WAS A DAY TRIPPER.........
We discuss the controversial new tax on day visitors to Venice and look ahead to the charms and challenges of this summer's travel, including the best month to make your get away.
PODCAST 189 DARK TOURISM
We explore the contrasting attractions of dark tourism for eclipse chasers and disaster seekers, while Simon tries not to miss his flight from New York. The website mentioned is dark-tourism. com.
PODCAST 188 NECESSARY EVILS
We delve into "Type 2 fun" and discuss some places that might be considered necessary evils on the way to more enjoyable destinations. Like the Central American city in the photo.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
PODCAST 182 TRAVEL TABOOS
We showcase the strange restrictions encountered by listeners on their travels and compare our own recent visits to intriguing islands.
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.
PODCAST 180 ANSWERS TO THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ
The wait is over. Here are the solutions to our "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.
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.
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?
PODCAST 9 : 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ
We go offshore for today's destination, the ninth in the series of 12 mini podcasts
PODCAST 8 - 12 days of travel Christmas quiz
Guess the destination one, a very popular European city, in the eighth of our mini podcasts.
PODCAST 7 -12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ
The clues should lead you to a European port, the seventh destination.
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?
PODCAST 5 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ
The clues will reveal the fifth of the twelve destinations. It's in England!
MINI PODCAST 4 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL QUIZ
Can you work out today's destination? A well-visited location with a well-loved building
PODCAST 3 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Test your travel know-how and guess the third destination.
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.
DAY 1- 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ
Test your travel know-how with the first mini podcast of our 12 part Xmas Quiz.
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.
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)
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
PODCAST 170 WHERE WILL WE BE IN 2053 - PART 2
We continue our attempt to divine the future direction of travel, assisted by listeners.
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.
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?
PODCAST 167 BELGIUM, BEYOND THE CHIPS AND CHOCOLATE
We discuss the many, very accessible charms of the small country that is becoming a surprise travel hit. With thanks to Vonne of Brasserie Vonne in Balham, South London, for joining us. brasserievonne.co.uk
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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?
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
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"
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.
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.
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
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.
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