Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Flybe, the UK regional airline, has gone bust for a second time – with the loss of hundreds of jobs and leaving the travel plans of thousands of passengers in tatters. The news was broken at 4am on Saturday by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is urging travellers with bookings on Flybe not to go to the airport. My assessment of the situation and what you can do as a passenger due to travel with the airline.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can find here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most common questions sent to me is what to do if your booking isn't as was advertised. I take you through what you as a consumer can demand, as well as some hints and tips in general when it comes to making bookings for things like accommodation.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Australia Day – a time of contemplation more than celebration these days – I've sought advice on three great travel options from Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up for it here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eurostar is capping the number of passengers on its trains through the Channel Tunnel because of the squeeze created by post-Brexit passport checks. I’m reporting on my way back from Brussels from a Eurostar train with plenty of room.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roman remains, Georgian glory and Jane Austen’s chapters: there are plenty of good reasons to travel to Bath.But I’ve been discovering a new dimension, Bath Quays – only eight minutes’ walk from the station and with Newark Works (a converted crane factory) as a “creative hub”.Richard Pearce, the man whose vision this is, told me more…This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The posh seats on trains from Kent and East Sussex to London are still fitted, but anyone can sit in them. But while one train firm scraps first class due to lack of demand, others are creating extra classes.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up for it here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester airport closed down briefly on Thursday morning – causing havoc for thousands of travellers. Many of them are still struggling to get where they need to be.What went wrong, why did airlines respond as they did – and what are your rights?This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could we soon see an end to at least one of the long and bitter rail disputes? I'm 70% optimistic.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the day the Office for National Statistics said air fares had soared by 44% in December 2022, Simon Calder looks into what is driving the increase and whether flight prices will start coming down soon.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's been quite a bit of confusion around passport validity and expiry times with regards to being able to travel, with Brexit leading to changes for British travellers. I've received huge volumes of questions on the matter and with Charlotte Hindle I answer your questions around passports and when and where requires more than six months on your existing passport.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.