Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Dame Irene Hays shares the success story of Hays Travel, from small agency to UK's largest. They discuss resilience after Thomas Cook's acquisition and adapting to post-pandemic customer preferences.

The government makes a screeching U-turn on closing rail ticket offices. What was a really good idea in the summer is now not a good idea at all, it seems. Anyone would think there was a general election on the horizon. And talking of which: Labour really needs to explain what it would do, if elected, with the railways.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, on a ferry sailing from Rhodes towards Marmaris. Integrating the charm of the Greek Islands with the allure of Turkey is quite an experience, though ferry connections are sparse.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder here, taking you through Heathrow's Q3 financial intricacies, where passenger numbers still haven't rebounded, and retail revenue is facing a downturn. With an increase in average plane size, we also ponder the future of the third runway.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Simon Calder, coming to you from a trendy café, joined by Andy Harmer of the Cruise Lines International Association UK. We're chatting about the cruise industry’s impressive bounce back post-pandemic and addressing environmental worries. Andy sheds light on new ship launches and cruising’s rising popularity, plus we touch on the industry’s careful coordination with major tourist citiesThis podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following on from the amazing airport lounge survey, my thoughts on the cheapest/most expensive/best/worst – with a little help from my friends at frequent flyer website Head for Points, who have rather more experience of these oases of calm than I do.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lounge lizards: one in four people say they pay for an enclave of calm for a couple of hours before their flight.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comparison of transportation options at Heathrow Airport, drawbacks of Elizabeth line, challenges of the Piccadilly line, expansion of terminals, warning against terminal four tram train, different transportation options from Heathrow Airport

Concorde 20 years on. The last supersonic passenger jet flew from New York to London on 24 October 2003. Good riddance, say I!Of course, this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trains, planes and ferries are being affected by Storm Babet – which, warns the Met Office, will bring “exceptional rainfall and impactful wind for some”.Forecasters have issued a red warning for rain for parts of eastern Scotland, affecting Angus and Aberdeenshire, because of “a danger to life from flood water, extensive flooding to homes and businesses and severely disrupted travel conditions”.Of course, this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.