Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

A 15-day overland journey through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala chasing volcanoes, crater lakes, and colonial cities. The trip visits cloud forests, mangrove boat safaris, Mayan ruins at Copán, colorful markets and lakeside weaving villages. Expect tropical birdwatching, lava-lit nights, historic towns, and vivid local traditions.

Jonty Crane, travel writer and founder of JontyTravels.com, born in the UK and now based in New Zealand, shares insider knowledge about London. He highlights quirky, lesser-known sites across Greenwich, the City, Barbican, and South Bank. Expect tips on niche museums, unusual architectures, subterranean attractions, and easy day trips beyond the city.

Sam Baldwin, travel writer and author who lived in Slovenia and wrote Dormice & Moonshine. He describes an active, off-the-beaten-path road trip from Ljubljana to alpine lakes and wine country. Short drives reveal dramatic mountains, turquoise rivers, karst caves, and unique local traditions. Expect hiking, rafting, quirky cultural spots, and compact, surprisingly diverse landscapes.

Garvan Rushe, an Irish tour guide and founder of DublinTourGuide.ie, gives a local’s take on Dublin’s compact, human-scale charm. He highlights Trinity College and Bloomsday, lively vs authentic pub scenes, top museums and cathedrals, ideal neighborhoods to stay, and easy day trips like Howth and Wicklow. Short, walkable, and full of literary and historical texture.

Craig Anderson, travel writer who maps itineraries and history, guides a loop through Northern France and a day in Flanders. He highlights WWI and WWII battlefields, medieval walled towns and gothic cathedrals. Hear about coastal chalk cliffs, Boulogne-sur-Mer as a base, battlefield museums, and culinary and coastal delights.

Scott Thompson, founder of Livit Spanish and longtime Puebla resident, guides listeners through Puebla’s UNESCO-listed center, rich architecture, and food culture. Short takes cover walking tours, cathedral and Cinco de Mayo sites, mole origins, Talavera ceramics, Day of the Dead traditions, nearby Cholula and Atlixco day trips, and language immersion options in the city.

Hear about travel to Bern, Switzerland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jack Baumann from Guidester and the Europe Travel 101 Podcast about a city he fell in love with early in his travels. Why should you visit Bern? Jack says, "I would say Bern epitomizes the blend mixture of natural beauty, culture, and history that Switzerland is known for. It's on the river Aare, it's surrounded by the Bern oberland, so you can get from the city center to a mountain in about 15 minutes. On a clear day, you can see the Alps." Jack’s Recommended 7-Day Itinerary for Bern, SwitzerlandDays 1–2: Historic Bern (UNESCO Old Town) ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-bern-switzerland/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shannon O'Brien, travel writer and memoirist of Stray, shares a Sardinia love letter. She highlights crystal-blue beaches, dramatic coastal drives, and rugged mountain-to-sea landscapes. Practical tips include slow travel, renting a car, scenic SP49 and must-see spots like Capo Caccia, Chia and Bosa. She also recommends boat trips, grottos and savoring local wines.

Hear about travel to Christmas Markets in Europe as the Amateur Traveler talks to Justin Barnes of JustinAndCrystal.com about his visit to markets in 32 different cities across 12 countries. Justin's Core Itinerary Philosophy Visit 3–5 destinations total, ideally within 4 hours of each other by train. Base yourself in larger cities and use day trips to nearby towns when possible. Travel by train with light luggage (backpack style) and stay near train stations or old towns. Aim for early–mid December, before the final pre-Christmas weekend crowds and before many markets close around Dec 23–24  ... https://amateurtraveler.com/christmas-markets-in-europe/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to the Zambezi Valley in Zimbabwe as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rael Zieve from Keep Travelling Africa about one of his favorite African itineraries. Why should you visit the Zambezi Valley?  Rael says, "Just the landscapes are quite amazing. I think you should go because the landscapes change. There are still people who live very humbly along the river banks, living out of their mud huts in very medieval conditions, and that type of thing. Even today in the 21st century." Rael’s Recommended Zambezi Valley Itinerary (9 Nights Total) ... https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-zambezi-valley/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices