Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

On a recent trip to Doha, and wrestling with the airport's rubbish wifi, I've had a think about airports and their proximity to the cities they serve. Whether it's Florence or Gibraltar, there's a host of great airports within walking distance of the city centre.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can subscribe to at https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The World Cup is reaching the knockout phases and many are looking to head to Qatar on a last-minute whim. Which might be great timing, for I can reveal collapsing air fares to Qatar for the World Cup, and slumping hotel rates when you get there. There are some catches and things to be aware of though, which I explain.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter, which you can get every Friday by subscribing here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder gives you the rundown on what is and isn't running with Saturday's Aslef union strike action.This podcast is free, as is Simon's weekly newsletter, which you can get every Friday by subscribing here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As train firms warn rail passengers to “only travel by train if necessary” on Saturday 26 November, ahead of the next strike, the leader of the rail union has begun talks with the new transport secretary. I'm outside the Department for Transport to ask Mick Lynch how planned industrial action will hit passengers around Christmas.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered to your inbox every Friday. Just sign up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've come across the story of a farmer who was hoping to enter the US but her occupation has meant that her fingerprints have all but been erased on her hands, which causes an interesting problem for biometric measures at borders. In this episode I talk about how frontier fingerprinting can be frustrating – but facial recognition is the way forward for travel.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe to it here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long flights between the UK and Southeast Asia (Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore) currently take even longer as they are obliged (because of Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine) to take a southerly track.Given that, is it worth changing planes in the Gulf to reduce the rigours of a 6,000-mile-plus journey?This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered to your inbox every Friday. Just sign up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder reflects on the latest rules imposed on the tournament - including an 11th-hour beer ban - which kicked off in the Gulf state over the weekend.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered to your inbox every Friday. Just sign up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've been in Singapore for a week, here is what I have learnt about this fascinating and friendly city-state.This podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can get delivered to your inbox every Friday. Just sign up here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

British Airways used to fly to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and many places in Australia besides Sydney. BA has just announced another route from London Heathrow. But it's not restoring any of these dropped destinations ... the link is to Cincinnati, Ohio.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe for it here: https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m in Holland Village in Singapore, where it is possible to eat and drink your way around the world along Lorong Mambong and Lorong Liput. From Irish and German via Thai and Chinese to the multi-purpose “Indian-Western-Italian-Mexican” combine known as the Pink Panther. If you can’t find it here, you’re probably better off without it.Of course this podcast is free, much like my weekly newsletter, which you can find by signing up at https://www.independent.co.uk/newsletters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.