Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Inside the secret world of frequent flyer schemes, credit cards with inbuilt perks and the joys of airport lounges, with Head for Points founder Rob Burgess.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining me, James Hill shared his expert advice on visiting Rome during the bustling Easter season and the significance of the papal jubilee. Offering practical tips for crowd avoidance and spotlighting Italy's hidden treasures, James advocated for the enriching experience of guided tours.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's podcast, Bernard Donoghue, director of the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, highlighted the ongoing recovery of the UK's visitor attractions and the need to bridge the remaining gap from pre-Covid levels. We explore the detrimental policy changes affecting European visitors and the push for fiscal incentives to boost the sector, underscoring the shift towards more engaging and immersive visitor experiences.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In West Ealing, I met Mark Hopwood, GWR's managing director, to discuss an innovative battery-powered train trial aiming to transform branch lines and boost environmental sustainability. We also navigated GWR's challenges, the M25 closure's impact, and strategies to attract more passengers in a changing travel landscape.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I caught up with National Express's John Balton to discuss their first electric coach trial and its implications for the travel industry. From enhancing the passenger experience to competing in a crowded market, we explored how National Express is steering towards a sustainable future.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In conversation with Jonathan Wade from National Highways, I discussed the unprecedented weekend closure of the M25, highlighting the project's necessity and its ramifications. Advice for affected travellers and a look into future closures were also shared, aiming to mitigate the impact.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I travelled to Paris to talk to the people who are handling tourism this summer. The 33rd modern Olympiad opens in the French capital on 26 July 2024, closing on 11 August. While accommodation rates have surged ahead of the Games, in this exclusive interview, tourism boss Corinne Menegaux said: “We expect an occupation rate between 60 and 70 per cent.” So you can expect some bargains if you wait patiently.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here and have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast shines a light on fear of flying. Commercial aviation has never been safer, with no fatal crashes involving scheduled passenger jets in 2023. But anyone anxious about flying need not look far to feed their aerophobia – I'm thinking of events such as the fire on board the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 approaching Tokyo, and the Alaska Airlines incident involving a door plug on a Boeing 737 Max.Thankfully I don't but many people do have concerns, and so British Airways has a one-day course called Flying With Confidence that seeks to allay the fears of prospective passengers – culminating with a short flight. I've been hearing all about it from course director and presenter Captain Steve Allright, who has 33 years of flying experience.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up for it here and have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I examined a significant flight disruption case with TUI in Barbados, questioning the airline's compensation strategy and underscoring the necessity for passenger rights enforcement for appropriate support and reimbursement.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next weekend, 15-18 March, will see the first closedown of a stretch of the M25 for engineering work. The shutdown of this critical piece of national infrastructure will cause problems for many travellers. What is the recommended diversion? (Don't even think about trying it.) How should you travel between Gatwick and Heathrow airport? On Thameslink and the Elizabeth Line, via Farringdon station in central London.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.