Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

"Mind the gap," says King Charles in the Royal travel announcement that is playing out at stations across the kingdom this weekend. Does he mean the void between the train and platform – or the wide-as-ever gap between the rail unions and the government? More strikes next weekend, and overnight the RMT union announced that members had voted 91% in favour of continuing industrial action. What’s going on, what are the warring sides saying, and why is Saturday 13 May significant (apart from the obvious: Eurovision)?This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around 1,400 security staff have walked out at Heathrow airport two days ahead of the Coronation and the bank holiday weekend. Members of the Unite union, mainly employed at Terminal 5, are striking in support of a pay claim. Signs in the terminal warn departing passengers: “There may be some security delays due to industrial action.”The Fast Track security lanes are closed, but queues for the first wave of departures on Thursday morning were not excessive.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm hearing from Dylan Harris, founder of Lupine Travel, about the inaugural Trans-European Race – which starts in central London on 5 August at 10am and concludes as soon as you can reach Istanbul. The distance as the crow flies – or the plane flies – is about 1500 miles. It’s quite a lot longer by public transport and walking, the only forms of travel allowed. Dylan reveals more ...This podcast is free, just like my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International travellers will no longer need to demonstrate to airlines that they have received Covid jabs from Friday 12 May.Florida’s theme parks, Manhattan’s restaurants and California’s road trips are now on the summer agenda for British travellers who have not been vaccinated against the virus.The rule will expire at the end of the day on Thursday 11 May – which is when America’s “Covid-19 public health emergency” officially ends.This podcast is free, just like my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The month of May has begun with fresh travel chaos. Thousands of travellers hoping to return to the UK today at the end of the bank holiday weekend are being told their flights are cancelled because of striking air-traffic controllers in France. On Tuesday the walk-out at HM Passport Office will be stepped up, and on Thursday security staff at Heathrow airport will walk out again. And later in May, national rail strikes resume. I give details on each and what you as a paying customer are entitled to if disrupted.This podcast is free, just like my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travellers trying to reach the Eurovision Song Contest and the FA Cup Final by rail could find their trains cancelled by a series of strikes. The main rail union, the RMT, and the train drivers’ union, Aslef, have called more walk-outs in May and June. Staff will stop work at more than a dozen train operators, including all the key long-distance and commuter rail firms. On Friday 12 May, Wednesday 31 May and Saturday 3 June, train drivers belonging to Aslef will walk out. Aslef has also imposed an overtime ban on eight days between 13 May and 1 June.The RMT has called a strike by members working at 14 train operators on Saturday 13 May.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m at Luton Airport Parkway (yes, living the dream once more) to test the new Dart shuttle from the railway station to the terminal (not too impressed with the “every 10 minutes” frequency, especially when combined with delayed trains from London) and report on Ryanair deploying shiny new Boeing 737 Max aircraft at Luton in a bid to win hearts, minds and passengers from main incumbents easyJet and Wizz Air.Of course, this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Brexit, the European Union gave us exactly what we wanted in terms of border formalities: "third-country national" status, the same as people from Tonga, Venezuela and other faraway nations, with our passports stamped and scrutinised. Now Rishi Sunak is wondering if a softer approach might be possible. Here's what it's all about.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast is a version of car-pool karaoke – I'm discussing the best rental cars for work or pleasure with cameraman-director Douglas Bolton. Unlike me, he is a very good and enthusiastic driver. Yet his choice of best all-round vehicle surprised me.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter - subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're not alone if you don't know what Abta and Aito mean. You might see these acronyms being advertised by travel agents and I'm here to help you understand why they're important, what sort of organisation they are, who they serve, how they can help you as a traveller and what kind of legitimacy they give to a travel agent or tour operator. Charlotte Hindle is here with me asking our reader's questions.Of course, this podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.