Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

The Depot opens next month – I’ve had a sneak preview of what will become one of Europe’s great attractions.One card for all the trains, buses and trams in the Netherlands.And more on the red list update expected this week.Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today: I’m in the Netherlands, where they do things differently – I’ll explain how.As the countdown to the next red list changes gets under way, how did the UK get where it is today in terms of extreme measures against so many nations?And my life’s work may be complete – I’ll tell you why …Of course this podcast is completely free, as is my weekly travel email. You can sign up at independent.co.uk/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia opens up from November – but not to you and me.Turkey eases its testing rules for fully vaccinated British travellers.And Britain’s ID card ban – and why it matters.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heathrow is the last big UK airport to bring in a drop-off charge.Could the US bring in a mandatory vaccination rule for airline passengers?And United is “separating” from 600 staff who have declined to get vaccinated.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Able to drive as far as Dover? Your problems could be only just beginning.Using a national ID card to enter the UK is about to be outlawed.And three months on, how great are the new “flexi season” tickets on the trains?Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Southeastern rail franchise is torn up amid fraud allegations – but don’t panic if you’re a passenger.South Africa is a cert to be removed from the red list in around 10 days’ time.And Egypt, the Maldives and Sri Lanka are removed from the Foreign Office no go list.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

London-Perth nonstop flights won’t start before Christmas after all.Ireland scraps its red list – some more information on the change.And plans by ministers to give Civil Aviation Authority powers to force refunds have been scrapped.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland abruptly scraps its red list. Could the same happen in the UK?Reports of chaos at the airport – not here, but in Europe, with passengers flying back.Ashley Davies wonders: is it weird sharing a cabin on the Caledonian Sleeper from Edinburgh to London.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three months to Christmas Day – should you be making festive travel plans now?What’s happening with the new travel rules for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?And the strange case of a railway ticket that warns you it is not valid on a train that doesn’t exist.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could you get your lateral flow post-arrival tests from Lidl?South African Airways back in the air. Good news … or not?And Ambre Plus – with a TPF of at least 50.Sign up to Simon's free weekly newsletter at independent.co.uk/newsletters and all the very latest is available 24hrs a day at independent.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.