Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Explora Journeys might sound like an overland adventure company, but in fact it is an upmarket cruise line.The president of the organisation, Anna Nash, told me how it differs from mass-market cruise firms, and says she welcomes competition from land-based companies such as Ritz-Carlton dipping a toe into the water and offering voyages.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.

Gloria Guevara is campaigning for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations body that works to promote sustainable tourism around the world. She told me why she is the person for this tricky role.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've been looking into Electronic Travel Authorisation ahead of the 2 April 2025 deadline – after which every foreign visa-exempt visitor to the UK, with the exception of the Irish, will need to pay £10 and register online.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.

March hasn't started brilliantly on the travel disruption front, with ultra-long passport queues at Stansted, a delayed flight from Gatwick and a cancelled train.But I had an appointment to talk to Decius Valmorbida, president of travel for technology firm Amadeus – and finally caught up with him at McDonald's opposite Strasbourg station.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.

For the past five days I have been rattling around the southernmost province of mainland Italy, Calabria. Most of the ground has been covered by train, which is a joy: affordable, usually reliable and with superb scenery. I reckon you should stick to the cheap, “classic” network rather than the high-speed trains.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.

On Sunday 2nd of March, rail fares across England and Wales will rise by 4.6 per cent. Alex Robertson, chief executive of the consumer watchdog Transport Focus, has been telling me that passengers need to feel that they are getting value for money – by increasing reliability of trains.Also a reminder to buy that railcard on 28 February or 1 March, before they increase by £5 to £35.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.

Despite the spread of contactless payments around the world, it's always useful to have some cash. And, more broadly, where are the locations where you might be wise to change some money now for a trip later in the year.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.

Heathrow has just announced record passenger numbers for 2024 – but it has a much bigger prize in its sights.I have been talking to Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive of the UK's busiest airport, about his plans for the future – and the natural environmental concerns about expansion.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 Issam Kazim, responsible for Dubai Tourism, about the remarkable visitor numbers and "key performance indicators" (KPIs) – and, with Ramadan about to start, the prospects for a visit during that Islamic month of fasting.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.

It’s a busy week for airport announcements in the London area. On Wednesday Heathrow is likely to say more on its expansion plans for an added runway – and Gatwick is hoping to hear a decision from the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, about its hopes to bring the standby runway into permanent use. I’ve been speaking to Stewart Wingate, chief executive of London Gatwick.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.