The Travel Diaries

Discovering Saudi - Destination Special Dec 17, 2024

On today’s destination special, we’re going to be discovering a country which, for the longest time, was out of reach for travellers, Saudi Arabia, or Saudi as it’s now known. Within the travel industry Saudi has been front and centre for the past few years, with prominent features about its developments in most of the major travel magazines; the world’s leading luxury hotel brands from Six Senses to Aman have been announcing impressive future openings across the country, and new tourist destinations are being developed from the Red Sea resort on the coast to Sindalah at NEOM…even a ski resort in the 3000m mountains. These are all offerings that have really intrigued the travel world, now that the doors are wide open.

To be honest, I’ve been conflicted about making this episode. I had preconceptions about the country, which I’m sure many of you may share, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about showcasing it with its own episode. However, I firmly believe in the power of travel as a force for good – tourism brings connection, understanding, and often positive change. And I also firmly believe you’ll find this episode really interesting. Because if you’re anything like me, you’re probably very curious about destinations that feel like uncharted territory, that we don’t know that much about yet. My goal is to give you more insight about the country from the travel experts who know it best so you can make up your own mind.

First, we’ll hear from adventurer, writer, and TV presenter Alice Morrison. Alice is like a real-life Indiana Jones – most recently, she’s been exploring Saudi for her BBC series Arabian Adventures: Secrets of the Nabataeans, where she delves into the mysteries of this ancient civilization. She’s also travelled extensively across Saudi as a solo female traveler, offering a unique perspective on what it’s really like to explore the country as a woman.

Then we’ll be joined by Isabella Craddock, former editor of Condé Nast Traveller Middle East and the founder and editor of Near+Far Magazine. Isabella has spent years exploring Saudi’s landscapes, cities, and hidden gems and she’ll share her favourite spots, latest travel news, and tips for making the most of a visit.

Destination Recap:

Alice Morrison -

Riyadh
Diriyah Gate, Riyadh
National Museum, Riyadh
AlUla
Nabatean Tombs, Hegra
Jeddah
Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Royal Reserves
Wadi Disah
Banyan Tree Hotel, AlUla

Isabella Craddock -

NEOM
The Line
AlUla
Habitas, AlUla
Maraya, AlUla
Asir
Trojena Ski Resort
Banyan Tree, AlUla
Dar Tantora The House, AlUla
Aman, Diriyah
Jeddah Edition, Jeddah
AL-Balad, Jeddah
Sindalah, NEOM

You can find out more about Saudi by reading nearfarmag.com, and you can listen more to Alice's adventures in Saudi on her podcast Alice in Wanderland. The tourist board website is another great resource if you’re planning a trip.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 13 seasons to catch up on.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sandi Toksvig - Christmas Special Dec 10, 2024

Welcome back to The Travel Diaries podcast! I’m your host, Holly Rubenstein, and I’m so thrilled to be back with you for the first of three Christmas specials to bring bit of festive sparkle to your holiday season. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be bringing you conversations with some truly wonderful guests, and who better to start us off than the brilliant Sandi Toksvig?

Sandi is a comedian, writer, broadcaster, actor, activist, and, of course, a beloved TV presenter. You’ll know her from QI, where she made history as the first female host of a major British TV quiz show, from Channel 4’s Extraordinary Escapes, and from The Great British Bake Off.

Beyond her TV roles, Sandi has written numerous books, been a vocal advocate for equality and LGBTQ+ rights, and has a passion for adventure. Born in Copenhagen to a father who was a foreign correspondent, she spent her childhood living across the globe, from the African bush to NYC, sparking a lifelong love of travel. Her travel diaries today take us from the rivers of Africa to the Arctic Circle, the jungles of Costa Rica to her beloved Denmark —Sandi’s travels are as fascinating and varied as she is.

Sandi Claus Is Coming to Town is a family-friendly LGBTQ+ Christmas show hosted by national treasure, Sandi Toksvig. It’s taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 18 December (tickets from royalalberthall.com)

Destination Recap:

Copenhagen, Denmark
Zimbabwe
Zambezi River, Africa
Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark
Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Henningsvær, Lofoten, Norway
Sudan
Copenhagen, Denmark:
Host Restaurant
Restaurant Grøften /Tivoli Gardens
The Round Tower
The Kissing Bench
Eilean Sionnach, Scotland
Wolf Lodge, Norway
Nebraska, USA
The Oregon Trail, USA
Aarhus, Denmark
Villa Provence, Aarhus, Denmark
Sydney, Australia
Japan

With thanks to the Langham Hotel for hosting the interview.

*COMPETITION* Win a luxury 4-night stay for two at the newly refurbished Shangri-La Le Touessrok in sunny Mauritius. For details on how to enter, head to my Instagram @hollyrubenstein. The competition closes on December 30th. Good luck.

With thanks to Bibury Farm Barns in the Cotswolds. These barns are perfection—there are five in total ranging from 3 - 5 beds, each thoughtfully designed and beautifully styled. The location is ideal, right in the heart of the Cotswolds, making it a fantastic base for exploring this stunning part of the country. We loved revisiting charming villages like Bibury, Burford, and Stow-on-the-Wold, with their honey-coloured stone buildings and rich history. But it was the little moments back at the barn that made it truly special: mornings by the fire, countryside walks straight from the door, late-night hot tub soaks, and that deep, peaceful quiet you only find in the countryside.

If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 13 seasons to catch up on, that's over 140 episodes to keep you busy there.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monty Don Nov 12, 2024

Today's guest is truly beloved figure in British television - someone who many of us feel we already know so well - Monty Don.

For over two decades, Monty has been the heart and soul of BBC’s Gardeners’ World, inspiring millions to embrace the joys and therapeutic benefits of gardening. His connection to nature has taken him all over the globe, all in search of the profound ways that different cultures engage with the land.

Alongside Gardeners’ World, Monty has brought us stunning travel series like Around the World in 80 Gardens, Monty Don’s Italian Gardens, Adriatic Gardens and most recently, Spanish Gardens. This latest series, which is accompanied by a beautiful book, delves into the country’s breathtaking historic and contemporary landscapes, from Moorish-inspired patios to vibrant urban greens paces, revealing the depth and diversity of Spanish garden design.

It was also fascinating to hear about Monty’s journey to TV stardom, and how he had a completely different and hugely successful career in the fashion world, before, somewhat by chance, getting a new break into gardening and TV.

From the gardens that stole his heart to the wild landscapes that left a lasting impression, here are Monty's travel diaries.

Destination Recap:

Leominster, Herefordshire, England
The Black Mountains, Wales
Hydra, Greece
Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England
Mevagissey, Cornwall
Provence, France
London, England
Annapurna, Nepal
Native Tree Fern Forests, New Zealand
The Amazon Rainforest, Brazil
Iran
Chile
Japan
Summer Palace, Beijing, China
Galicia, Spain
Ninfa Gardens, Italy
Wollerton Hall, Shropshire, England
Finland through Eastern Europe to Trieste

Spanish Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore, BBC Books, £39.99 out now.

*COMPETITION* Head to my Instagram, @hollyrubenstein, for a chance to win a 3 night full board stay at one of the Maldives’ most luxurious hotels, Kuda Villingili. Good Luck!

With thanks to Skyscanner - The full travel trends 2025 report is available on Skyscanner app/site and of course you can always look for your 2025 trip whether it’s flights, hotels or car hire on Skyscanner too.

And to Airbnb - Your home could be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/host.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olivia Hammond, Content Creator - Family Travel Special Nov 09, 2024

Welcome to this season's Family Travel Special. Having been thrust into the world of family travel a couple of years with the arrival of my daughter, I quickly realised that it’s an area that there could be a lot more helpful information about, it’s a huge market and I was scouring the internet for destinations and hotels that weren’t your typical all inclusive family resorts, and I really struggled. So I decided to integrate these into the travel diaries podcast lineup, to hopefully give you some travel inspiration, destination ideas, tips and tricks for travelling with children.

And today, I’m joined by a very special guest who knows a thing or two about that. Olivia Hammond and I first met in our antenatal bump and baby group in South West London, and we were very lucky, we had such a lovely group and we became friends. When her gorgeous boy, Beau, arrived in November 2022, Olivia began documenting her daily life and travels on TikTok and Instagram, and almost immediately her honest and relatable videos led her to become one of the uk’s leading content creators in her field, with videos amassing hundreds of millions of views. It has been an astonishingly fast ascent to mum-fluencer stardom, but it’s no surprise to me because I think everyone can relate to her videos, they’re so watchable.

So when thinking about who would be a good guest for this episode, Olivia was the obvious choice. She has been far more intrepid than me when it comes to travelling as a family. You’ll hear she flew to the other side of the world when Beau was just a month old, she’s flown with him countless times to Europe, the Caribbean, taken him travelling all around Sri Lanka and even camped with him at Glastonbury. And now, since we recorded this episode, beau has a beautiful little sister, called Lila, and Lila is about to embark on her first trip abroad, at only a few weeks old too.

I hope this episode shows you that whatever age or stage, travel is not off limits with a family.

Olivia's Destination Recap:

Costa Rica
Algarve, Portugal

Holly:

Vila Vita Parc, Algarve, Portugal

Olivia

Sigiriya, Sri Lanka
Kandy, Sri Lanka
Ella, Sri Lanka
Udawalawa, Sri Lanka
Hiriketiya, Sri Lanka
Antonio’s, Algarve, Portugal
Sr Frango’s, Algarve, Portugal
Olhão, Algarve, Portugal
Ilha do Farol, Algarve, Portugal
Ilha Deserta, Algarve, Portugal
Ilha Armona, Algarve, Portugal
Fuerteventura, Spain
Cape Town, South Africa
Nicaragua

You can follow all of Olivia’s adventures on her Instagram which is Olivia_Hammond and her TikTok is OliviaClaireM.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode, follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok. If you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Orlando Uncovered - Destination Special Nov 05, 2024

Today we’re uncovering one of the mostawe-inspiring destinations on the planet - Orlando, Florida. Orlando is the most visited destination in the USA, and after listening to this episode, you’ll understand why.

It’s the theme park capital of the world, home to seven of the world’s top theme parks. From Magic Kingdom to Universal Studios, there's something for everyone.

And there’s a brand new theme park opening in May 2025, Universal’s Epic Universe. It’s set to feature over 50 attractions, entirely new lands, including the much-anticipated Super Nintendo World, where guests can step into the world of Mario Kart and Yoshi’s Adventure.

My first guest today knows a thing or two about these parks - Katie Ellison is a content creator who has visited Orlando countless times with her three children. She’ll take us on a whirlwind through her top picks of Disney’s parks. She’ll also share her favourite places to chill after a busy day at the parks - because as you’ll hear, Orlando isn’t just about the theme parks. It’s got beautiful green spaces, cute neighbourhoods, a really burgeoning food scene…and that’s where our next guests come in - travel content creators Ryan and Jade from Live the Dash. They recently took a trip to Orlando where they skipped the theme parks entirely, and focussed on everything else the city has to offer.

They’ll show us just how diverse Orlando is as a destination, whether it’s zooming across the headwaters on an airboat ride or kayaking down crystal clear rivers, they tell us how they fell in love with Orlando’s natural beauty.

So, whether you're planning a theme park-packed family trip or looking to discover the hidden gems of Orlando, this episode will shine a light on everything you need to know.

Katie’s Destination Recap:

Magic Kingdom Park
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Boardwalk
Disney Springs
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Universal Islands of Adventure
Universal Studios Florida
Universal CityWalk
Universal Volcano Bay
Winter Park
Celebration
WonderWorks

Ryan & Jade’s:

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve
Courtyard Orlando Lake Buena Vista at Marriott Village
Dezerland Park
Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
Boggy Creek Airboat Rides
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Orlando Eye at ICON Park
The Ravenous Pig, Winter Park
The Greenery Creamery

If you’re inspired to explore more, head over to VisitOrlando.com where you’ll find all the travel tips, deals, and information you need to plan the perfect Orlando holiday. You can also make an appointment with an Orlando Vacation Planner for free, personalised holiday planning suggestions, via phone, email or Whatsapp.

And if you’d like to hear even more about Orlando, tune in to my Fantastic Florida Destination Special from a couple of seasons back, where Orlando is a big focus too.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Al Murray Oct 29, 2024

Today, I’m thrilled to have comedian, history buff, and all-around legend, Al Murray, joining us on the show. Al is one of the UK’s most beloved comedians, best known for his character ‘The Pub Landlord’ – a hilarious, patriotic pub owner who’s become an iconic figure in British comedy. His career has spanned over three decades, with award-winning comedy specials, TV shows, and even political satire where he actually ran for office in character!

Beyond his comedy, though, Al has a real passion for history and travel – two themes that run deep through our conversation today.

Together, we embark on a journey through some fascinating and surprising destinations that have left a mark on him. From the serene beauty of Alderney in the Channel Islands to the rugged coasts of Connemara in Ireland, and even the mystical temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia – Al’s love for adventure and curiosity about the past come through in each of his travel chapters. So let’s buckle up and get started.

Destination Recap:

Alderney, Channel Islands, England
Guernsey, Channel Islands
Ervallagh, Connemara, Ireland
Roundstone Bay and Island boat trips, Connemara, Ireland
Osnabrück, Germany
Grottes de Gargas, France
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Normandy, France
Dubai
The moon

And I talk about Lesante Cape, Zakynthos, Greece

Guv Island is currently on tour across the UK and Ireland, tickets are available here.

Arnhem: Black Tuesday is out now

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Washington DC's Wonders - Destination Special, Bonus Episode Oct 26, 2024

On today’s bonus destination special episode we are bringing to life one of America’s most iconic destinations, its capital city and somewhere everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime - Washington DC.

Now, when you think of Washington, DC, what comes to mind? The towering obelisk of the Washington Monument? The sprawling grandeur of the Lincoln Memorial? The iconic steps of the U.S. Capitol or the regal beauty of the White House, framed perfectly by the National Mall? These landmarks are like touchstones of American history, and all within walking distance. But they also offer a striking juxtaposition to what DC is today: a city that is constantly evolving, modernising, and embracing diversity at every corner.

DC is a city bursting with energy. Colourful neighbourhoods like Georgetown with its cobblestone streets and boutique shops, and the trendy U Street Corridor, once known as 'Black Broadway,' where jazz music still pulses in the air are wonderful to stroll around. And it’s really grown into a bit of a culinary hub, too. From Ethiopian spots in Adams Morgan to Michelin-starred restaurants pushing boundaries in neighbourhoods like Shaw, DC has become a real food lover's city.

For those travelling on a budget, there are so many free experiences on offer in the city. Whether you’re exploring the Smithsonian museums, taking a stroll along the National Mall, or taking in the city's beautiful green spaces, DC will leave you with unforgettable memories, without draining your wallet.

DC will host WorldPride 2025 and the city will become a global hub of celebration, inclusivity, and pride, welcoming visitors from around the world. To help guide us through the city, I’m joined today by Ryan Bos, head of the Capital Pride Alliance.

Even if you’re listening after the glitter of WorldPride has settled, don’t worry—this episode is packed with tips and insights that will make your visit to DC memorable at any time of year.

Destination Recap:

Smithsonian Museums
The White House
Capitol Building
National Air and Space Museum
National Museum of American History
National Gallery of Art
National Museum of Natural History
Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse
ThreeFifty Bakery and Coffee Bar
Ben’s Chili Bowl – The original Ben’s Chili Bowl is located at 1213 U Street NW, in the U Street Corridor area of the Northwest quadrant.
National Zoo
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
National Arboretum

If you enjoyed this episode and feel inspired to visit DC, then head to washington.org

5 Nights Washington DC from £1,439pp

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dwayne Fields, from inner city to the ends of the Earth - Epic Adventures Oct 22, 2024

Today is the second of a new kind of episode within the podcast called Epic Adventures, where guests have achieved remarkable feats in the world of travel and adventure - and their life journey serves as an inspiration for others.

Explorer and adventurer, Dwayne Fields, was born in Jamaica, and lived a wild and beautiful life surrounded by nature before moving to inner city London at the age of 6. The years that followed were really challenging, with his environment often pushing him toward dangerous paths. There was a pivotal moment—a life-altering near-death incident where his path could have gone in a very different direction—which served as a wake-up call that would ultimately inspire a transformation, seeing him trade city streets for wide-open spaces. Fast forward to today, and Dwayne is a trailblazer in every sense of the word. He’s an explorer who’s conquered some of the most extreme environments on Earth, including becoming the first Black Briton to walk over 400 miles to the magnetic North Pole. His passion for nature and adventure has also led him to champion causes close to his heart, like encouraging young people from disadvantaged communities to step out into the wild, build resilience, and experience the transformative power of the great outdoors.

In this episode, we’ll hear about Dwayne’s incredible journey, from life-threatening moments to breathtaking expeditions, and how he’s using his platform today to inspire the next generation of adventurers. Dwayne’s story is sure to leave you motivated and uplifted.

Destination Recap:

Tanzania train
Zambia
Kenya
Jamaica
Three Peaks Challenge
Magnetic North Pole
Ben Nevis, Scotland
Galapagos, Ecuador

7 Toughest Days is streaming now on Disney+.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gordon Buchanan, Wildlife Cameraman returns - Safari Special Oct 19, 2024

Today’s bonus episode is a real treat, because we're going on safari! Whether you've dreamt of spotting the Big Five - lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffalo - or exploring the more hidden gems of the wild, there's so much to uncover. And what better way to do it than with one of the world’s top wildlife filmmakers, making his return to the podcast - it’s Gordon Buchanan.

A safari is more than just a holiday—it’s a journey into nature, where you can see some of the planet’s most awe-inspiring animals up close, in their natural habitats. When we think of safaris, some of the most iconic destinations immediately come to mind.

There's Kenya’s Maasai Mara, famous for its open savannahs and incredible amount of wildlife. It’s in Kenya that you can witness one of nature’s most jaw-dropping spectacles—the Great Migration, when every year typically between July and October, over a million wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles make a perilous journey from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Mara in Kenya, searching for fresh grazing lands. It’s the perfect time to witness dramatic river crossings and heart-stopping predator-prey interactions.

In Tanzania, the Serengeti offers a similar view, with endless plains stretching to the horizon, while Botswana’s Okavango Delta gives you a different kind of safari experience, with its winding waterways and lush landscapes where you can spot animals like hippos and crocodiles.

But as Gordon and I discuss on the episode today, you don’t need to go to Africa to enjoy an incredible safari. Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park is a fantastic place to see leopards, elephants, and even sloth bears—Gordon has had some great encounters there. In India, you can track the majestic Bengal tiger through dense jungles, and in Madagascar, you’ll find unique species like lemurs and chameleons. And don’t forget other African countries like Namibia, Zambia, and even beyond to South America’s Pantanal in Brazil, where jaguars are the stars of the show.

The great thing about safaris is that they can be tailored to all kinds of budgets. In South Africa, for instance, Kruger National Park has everything from luxury lodges to more affordable self-drive options, where you can explore at your own pace. In Kenya, you can choose between high-end tented camps or simpler, yet comfortable lodges. So, whether you’re after a five-star experience or a more back-to-nature adventure, there’s something out there for everyone.

Gordon’s here to share his expert tips on where to go and what to see on safari, as well as some unforgettable moments from his travels. Plus, I’m really excited because he’s also going to tell us all about his latest project, the fantastic BBC show Big Cats 24-7.

Destination Recap:

Serengeti
Okavango Delta, Botswana
Maun, Botswana
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Sri Lanka
Ellesmere Island, Canadian Arctic

Big Cats 24-7 is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.

With thanks to Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club for their support of today’s episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dawn O'Porter Oct 15, 2024

Today, I’m joined by the multi-talented Dawn O'Porter. Dawn’s had an extraordinary career, starting in TV production before making a name for herself presenting hard-hitting documentaries, where she travelled the world exploring fascinating topics like polygamy, size zero culture, and the geishas of Kyoto, Japan. But she’s best known now as a bestselling author, with nine incredible books under her belt, including The Cows, So Lucky, and her latest novel, Honeybee, which is already a huge hit.

Dawn grew up in the Channel Islands on the beautiful island of Guernsey, a place she now cherishes for its breathtaking cliffs and sweeping beaches, though as a teenager, she yearned for big city life. After living in LA for 16 years with her husband, Bridesmaids actor Chris O'Dowd, and their two boys, she recently made the big move back to London. During her time in California, she uncovered her ultimate hidden gem that we’ll hear all about today, and her travel diaries today take us from Ibiza to Italy, Scotland to Japan and much more.

Holly’s recommendation: Porto Zante, Zakynthos, Greece

Destination Recap:

Guernsey, England
Ibiza, Spain
St Martin, Guernsey, England
Fermain Bay, Guernsey, England
Herm, Guernsey, England
Sark, Guernsey, England
Loch Lomond, Scotland
Los Angeles, California, USA
Mayfair, London, England
Marylebone, London, England
Kyoto, Japan
Ojai, California, USA
Thailand
Rome, Italy
Sienna, Italy
Paris, France
The Maldives

HONEYBEE by Dawn O’Porter is published by HarperCollins and is out now

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ranvir Singh Oct 08, 2024

I’m so excited to be joined by the journalist and TV presenter Ranvir Singh today. You’ll have seen Ranvir as a regular face on Good Morning Britain on ITV, where she’s known for handling everything from breaking news to tough political interviews and also presenting the Lorraine show when Lorraine herself is on her holidays, and beyond journalism, Ranvir showed a completely different side of herself on Strictly Come Dancing, a few years back.

As we chat about on the episode, I used to work on Good Morning Britain as a producer alongside Ranvir, although our paths didn’t really cross especially much as I was handling the showbiz side of things, but I always felt her warm and friendly energy in the office, and you’ll hear today what I mean by that. I was really touched by how open and real Ranvir was in this interview, as a mother, a single parent, an advocate for diversity, and I’m sure many of you will relate to the emotions that her travel diaries hold for her, because they are some of her most treasured memories.

And she is one of the most passionate guests I’ve had on the podcast when it comes to travel. She explains how it fuels her, and gets her through the everyday grind. I loved also hearing about the insider side of politics and political journalism - how she travelled on an RAF flight with the PM, and sat with former President Trump, it was fascinating.

Ok, let’s buckle up and get started, here’s Ranvir.

Holly's mention:

Son Brull, Mallorca

Ranvir's Destination Recap:

India
California, USA
Blackpool, England
Lancaster, England
Antigua
Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire, England
Dubai, UAE
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tresind studio, Dubai, UAE
SEVA, Dubai, UAE
Madikwe Lodge Game Reserve, South Africa
Iceland
Jordan
Golden Temple, Amritsar, India
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Salou, Spain
Japan
Quito, Ecuador
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Jason Atherton’s Dubai Dishes Series 2, a 10-part series, is airing on ITV1 every Saturday and is available to watch on ITVX depending on when you listen to this.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enchanted Ireland: Legends and Landscapes Destination Special with John O'Ceallaigh - Bonus Episode Oct 04, 2024

Today we’re diving into the heart of the Island of Ireland, its Legends and Landscapes, where every cliff, hill and glen whispers stories from a time long past. To get there is just a short flight or ferry ride from Great Britain, and yet arriving can feel like stepping into another world of history, mystery and breathtaking beauty.

As Halloween approaches, there's no better time to delve into Ireland's ancient traditions. Did you know that the Island of Ireland is the birthplace of Halloween? It originates from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter and even today the spirit of Samhain lingers, with festivals and celebrations that pay homage to the old ways.

To help us explore some more of Ireland’s incredible locations and the stories behind them, I’m joined by John O'Ceallaigh, one of our best loved travel journalists and editors, and an Ireland native from Galway on the west coast of Ireland. John’s deep connection to his country, and his experience writing about it, makes him the perfect guide for our journey today. We’re going to hear his Irish travel diaries today, from the wild beauty of Connemara and charming village of Roundstone to the Wild Atlantic Way’s luxurious coastal castles, and windswept islands, like Aran and Achill, taking in the sights, tastes and sounds along the way because of course Ireland is a feast for all senses.

Brought to you in partnership with Tripadvisor and Tourism Ireland, whether you're planning your next adventure or simply dreaming of distant shores, let this episode be your gateway to Ireland’s legendary landscapes.

Destination Recap:

Connemara, Co. Galway
Roundstoune, Co. Galway
Aran Islands, Co. Galway
Puca Festival, Co. Meath - around the time of Samhain each year (October 31)
Ballynahinch Castle, Co. Galway
Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo
Wild Atlantic Way driving route
County Kerry
Carrauntoohil, County Kerry
Kerry to Cork, Wild Atlantic Way driving route
Beara Peninsula, Cork
English Market, Cork City
Ballymaloe House Hotel, Co. Cork
Adare Manor, Co. Limerick
Park Hotel Kinmare, Co. Kerry
Kai, Co. Galway
Ard Bia at Nimmos, Galway
Aniar, Galway
Lignum, Galway
Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry
Skellig Beag, Co. Kerry
Achill Island, Co. Mayo
Wexford, Co. Wexford
Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Newgrange, Co. Meath

If you'd like to find out more about the Island of Ireland and source some more inspiration for a future trip, then head over to Tripadvisor's Ireland page - it has some brilliant guides on landscape, culture and gastronomy.

Thanks so much for listening today!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay Rayner Oct 01, 2024

Today’s guest needs little introduction in the world of food and travel journalism, a renowned restaurant critic, a writer whose words can make your mouth water, and a familiar face on TV—many of you will recognise him from his appearances as a judge on MasterChef. It is of course Jay Rayner.

Jay’s is a name synonymous with gastronomic excellence. As a long-time food critic for The Observer, he's sampled and critiqued some of the best, and worst, dining experiences around the globe. Beyond his razor-sharp reviews, he’s a celebrated author, his books like "The Man Who Ate the World" and "My Dining Hell” offering a deeper look into the intersections of food, culture, and travel. And he’s back with a new book, “Nights Out at Home, Recipes and Stories from 25 years as a restaurant critic". And he reflects on these years, and the 1000s restaurants he’s visited on today’s episode. I interviewed him a few weeks ago on the South Bank in London and I loved getting a glimpse into the world of reviewing restaurants, how it works, his tips on what to order when travelling, and the culinary destinations that have stood out to him, lots of restaurant recommendations as you might expect, so don’t forget they’re all included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and on the podcast website too.

Holly’s Destination Recap:

- Son Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain

Jay’s Destination Recap:

Cromer, Norfolk, England
Knoll House Hotel, Studland Bay, England
Erst, Manchester, England
Gloriosa, Glasgow, Scotland
Tayyabs, London, England
Bentley’s, London, England
Fallow, London, England
Otto’s, London, England
The Dining Room, The Ritz Hotel, England
Takahashi, London, England
Good Old Days, Reading, England
Cubo, Birmingham, England
Greece & Turkey backpacking
Syros, Greece
New York, USA
Russ & Daughters, NY, USA
The Fat Duck, Bray, England
Wheelers, Whitstable, England
Whitstable, England
Julian, California, USA
Steamboat, Oregon, USA
Sylvia Beach Hotel, Oregon, USA
Castle Elvira, Puglia, Italy
The Maybourne Riviera, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France
Moscow, Russia
New Zealand
Australia

“Nights Out at Home, Recipes and Stories from 25 years as a restaurant critic” is out now.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alexander Armstrong Sep 24, 2024

Welcome to Season 13 of The Travel Diaries! I’m so excited to be kicking it off with the multi-talented presenter, actor, comedian, singer, and writer, Alexander Armstrong.

Most of you will know Alexander as the host of the long-running BBC quiz show Pointless, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s had an incredible journey through comedy, starting with his breakout role in Armstrong and Miller, the comedy duo sketch show that gave us some unforgettable characters. He’s a classically trained singer with several albums under his belt. He’s fronted many fascinating travel documentaries. For the parents listening, you probably recognise his voice from iconic children’s shows like Hey Duggee, Peppa Pig and Ben & Holly. He’s now a children’s author too, with his novel Evenfall: The Golden Linnet, out now. We spoke a few weeks back in a suite at the beautiful Kensington Hotel and he couldn’t have been more charming. Relentlessly positive and so passionate about travel.

Destination Recap:

Magilligan, Northern Ireland
Alnick, Sonnet, Dunstanburgh Castle, Wooler - Northumberland, England
Florence, Italy
Reykjavik, Iceland
Edinburgh, Scotland
Sri Lanka
Galle, Sri Lanka
Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Datai Langkawi, Malaysia
St Lucia
Adriatic boat trip

"Evenfall: The Golden Linnet" by Alexander Armstrong is out now.

*COMPETITION* - I’ve partnered with the stunning Eliamos hotel in Kefalonia to offer you a two-night stay in one of their gorgeous one-bedroom villas, with breakfast included and a spa treatment included for each guest. For your chance to win, just head over to my Instagram, @hollyrubenstein, where all the details are waiting for you!

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool

If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com See you next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa Faulkner Aug 13, 2024

Hello and welcome to today’s summer season finale of The Travel Diaries. Today, we have a very special guest joining us, the lovely Lisa Faulkner, a multi-talented actress, presenter, and chef, who has graced our screens for over two decades.

Born in London, Lisa’s journey into the limelight began at the tender age of 16 when she was scouted by a modelling agency. Her career quickly transitioned from modelling to acting, where she built a reputation for her compelling and versatile performances in shows like Holby City and Eastenders, before winning the hearts of viewers as the champion of "Celebrity MasterChef" back in 2010. Not only did the show see Lisa reinvent herself as a TV chef and author of several best-selling cookbooks - she also met her now husband, Masterchef judge, and former guest of The Travel Diaries John Torode, and together they are now the hosts of John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen on ITV.

Lisa is an avid traveler with a deep love for exploring new cultures and cuisines. Her travels have taken her to the far corners of the globe, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the wild landscapes of Western Australia. Uncovering hidden culinary gems and soaking in the rich history of her favourite destinations, Lisa’s travel diaries take us from Paris and Greece, to Japan, Vietnam, Australia and beyond.

Destination recap:

Ikos Resort, Thessaloniki, Greece
Paris, France
Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Ho Chi Minh, City, Vietnam
Western Australia
Margaret River, Western Australia
Alberta’s, Busselton, Western Australia
Dubai, UAE
Westerns Laundry, London, England
Nashville, Tennessee, USA

You can catch Lisa exploring Western Australia on John and Lisa’s Food Trip Down Under - the full series is now available to watch on ITVX.

And that’s a wrap for Season 12. I'll be back towards the end of September with Season 13, and lots more brilliant guests, and destination specials!

To celebrate today’s season finale, I also have a fabulous competition running on my Instagram page @hollyrubenstein where you can win a 2 night stay at Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall, one of the most unique hotels in England. Good luck!

Wishing you all a fantastic rest of your summer (or winter, depending on where you are listening!) and wherever you’re heading, safe travels.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Jackson, from tragedy to triumph, one step at a time - Epic Adventures Aug 06, 2024

Today is the first of a new kind of episode. Just like my destination specials are a slightly different format, today is the first in a series of "Epic Adventures" where my guest may not necessarily be a household name, but has achieved remarkable feats in the world of travel and adventure. Ed Jackson is the perfect guest to kick this off, as someone whose story is bound to leave you inspired and in awe.

Once a professional rugby player, Ed's life took a dramatic turn in 2017. He’s here in part to talk about his new documentary film, "The Mountain Within Me," which chronicles his journey from the rugby field to the mountaintops. The film isn't just about physical challenges; it's about the mental and emotional mountains we all face and how we can overcome them. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Ed's story, exploring the highs and lows of his recovery, his newfound passion for mountaineering, and the profound lessons he's learned along the way, as well as touching on some of his travel diaries chapters in the latter half of the episode, too.

From tragedy to triumph, one step at a time, here are the epic adventures of Ed Jackson.

Holly’s Destination Recap:

Papaioannou. Mykonos, Greece
Cali Mykonos, Greece

Ed’s Destination Recap:

Fiji
Mt Snowdon, Wales
Nepal
Matterhorn, Switzerland
Primošten, Croatia
Montepulciano, Italy
Patagonia, Argentina

The Mountain within me is in UK cinemas from 23 August, with Preview Q&A Screenings from 19 August

You can find out more about Ed’s charity, at https://www.millimetres2mountains.org/

With thanks to Skyscanner - Visit skyscanner.net/carhire or download the Skyscanner app for free to start comparing car hire prices

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amazing Austria with Marina Fogle - Destination Special Jul 30, 2024

Today, we’re embarking on an enchanting journey to amazing Austria. Picture lush Alpine meadows bursting with wildflowers under a clear blue sky, the invigorating scent of pine forests, the gentle sound of cowbells ringing in the distance. Now, imagine a winter scene, where pristine slopes invite skiers of all ages and levels, and charming villages twinkle with festive lights and the aroma of mulled wine. Austria’s beauty is truly a year-round spectacle.

Today, we are diving deep into the soul of Austria, exploring not just its stunning sights but also its unique Lebensgefühl which translates in english as “the sense of life” - that unmistakable feeling of joy and contentment that is so integral to the Austrian way of life. From relaxing in world-class spas and thermal baths to hiking through majestic Alpine pastures, immersing yourself in its vibrant culture and music scene, to outdoor activities that cater to every age, Austria’s Lebensgefühl will be our guiding theme today.

To help us uncover the many layers of this extraordinary country, we have two fantastic guests. First, I’m thrilled to welcome Marina Fogle. Marina is the co-founder of The Bump Class, a renowned antenatal class provider, and the voice behind The Parent Hood Podcast. She is also the wife of TV presenter Ben Fogle. Marina has a special connection to Austria, spending many holidays there with her family, thanks to her Austrian heritage. She brings a wealth of personal anecdotes and insider tips that promise to give us a heartfelt glimpse into Austrian life.

Our second guest is Becki Enright, a distinguished travel journalist and Austria expert, who wrote the Vienna chapter of the Austria’s Lonely Planet guide and who calls Vienna her home. Becki’s extensive travels and deep-rooted knowledge of Austria make her the perfect guide to introduce us to the country’s hidden gems, cultural highlights, and must-see regions.

So, settle in and get ready to be transported to Austria, a land where natural beauty meets cultural richness, and every moment is infused with the joy of living.

Destination Show notes

Marina Fogle -

Schlenken mountain, Salzburg
Schmittenstein mountain, Salzburg
Salzkammergut, Salzburg
Lake Fuschl, Salzkammergut
Arlberg Massif
Salzburg

Becki Enright -

Vienna
Liechtensteinklamm, St. Johann im Pongau
Eisriesenwelt, Werfen
Area 47, Tirol
Salzkammergut, Salzburg
Hallstatt, Upper Austria
Attersee, Upper Austria
Wolfgangsee, Upper Austria
Traunsee, Upper Austria
Aquadome, Tirol
Rogner Bad Blumau,
Styrian Wine Road
Bad Ischl, Salzkammergut, Upper Austria
Bregenzerwald, Vorarlberg

For more information about Austria head to austria.info

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first 11 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andi Oliver Jul 23, 2024

It’s Season 12! And today’s guest is a truly special season opener - someone whose vibrant personality, culinary expertise, and passion for storytelling has made her a beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic. Of course we are joined by the fabulous, Andi Oliver.

Andi is a multi-talented dynamo who has worn many hats throughout her illustrious career. She’s a renowned chef, a charismatic TV presenter, and a celebrated musician. From her early days as a punk rock singer in the band Rip Rig + Panic alongside the legendary Neneh Cherry, to her captivating presence on shows like "The Great British Menu" and "Beat the Chef", to working as a restauranteur and writing best selling cookbooks, and hosting her fantastic podcast Stirring it Up with her daughter Miquita, Andi’s life has truly had many many chapters.

We discuss her Antiguan heritage, her special connection to the island and what that has meant to her over the years, as well as, on a more serious note, the challenges she has faced being a woman of Caribbean descent in the UK. We’ll delve into the stories behind her favourite dishes, her culinary inspirations, and much more.

So, buckle up and join us as we get started with Andi.

Destination Recap:

Holly -

Santa Marina, a Luxury Collection Resort, Mykonos

Andi -

Limassol, Cyprus
Suffolk, England
Antigua
The Pepperpot Rum Shop, Antigua
New York City, NY, USA
Modena, Italy
Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
Playa del Muerte, Mexico
Kenya
Soldier Bay, Antigua
Barbuda
Nobu Barbuda
Northcote Hall, Blackburn, England
Plates London - Plant-Based Restaurant & Food Studio, London, England
Puerto Rico
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Spain
Japan

With thanks to Curtain Bluff hotel in Antigua who are supporting today’s episode.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tim Peake, Astronaut May 07, 2024

It’s the Season 11 finale and to celebrate we’ve got a cosmic treat for you as we rocket into the mesmerising realm of space with the legendary British astronaut Tim Peake. A Space Destination Special, if you will - though we do cover some destinations here on planet earth, too, of course!

Tim honed his skills as a test pilot and helicopter pilot in the British Army Air Corps. After nearly 18 years of military service, he spotted an ad from the European Space Agency (ESA) to become an astronaut. After a rigorous selection process with over 8,000 hopefuls, Tim was chosen as one of ESA's astronauts in 2009, marking the beginning of his journey to the stars.

Fast forward to 2015, and Tim's dream of spaceflight became a reality as he launched aboard a spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS). During his six-month mission he conducted over 250 scientific experiments and became the first British astronaut in history to perform a spacewalk.

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to interview an astronaut, and there was so much I wanted to ask Tim, specifically about space, that I’ve cut down the chapters format this week, we’re going through the five chapters of his travel diaries.

This was one of the most fascinating interviews I’ve had the pleasure of hosting on the podcast. Among many things we cover the claustrophobic Subterranean cave training in Sardinia that prepared him for life on the space station, we deep dive into his take on the existence of extra terrestrial life, he shares his views on the future of space tourism, and the innovations that are just around the corner taking place on the space station that could revolutionise healthcare, but most interesting I found was his view of the earth and how that in turn has fuelled his wanderlust. I really hope you enjoy this one.

Destination Recap:

Briançon, South of France
Sardinia, Italy
Alaska, USA
Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA
Denali National Park, Alaska, USA
International Space Station
Sahara Desert
Patagonia
Madagascar
Bahamas
Space
Nepal
Indonesia

Fancy seeing Tim live? He is heading on tour with his show Astronauts: The Quest To Explore Space which will bring the awe and wonder of space travel past, present and future to 25 venues across England, Scotland and Wales this autumn.

As thank you to you my lovely listeners, I have one more rather epic competition for you to enter. This is to win a stay at one of the most iconic British hotels, Chewton Glen Hotel & Spa in the beautiful New Forest in England. Head over to my Instagram @hollyrubenstein to find out how to win an irresistible Eat, Sleep, Retreat overnight stay with a spa treatment, lunch, three course dinner, and breakfast the next morning. I’m so excited for this one, good luck.

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magnificent Malta - Destination Special, Bonus Episode May 04, 2024

On today’s bonus Destination Special episode, we are heading to the sun-soaked Mediterranean archipelago that is Magnificent Malta.

Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, about 3 hours direct flight from England, Malta is a stunning island nation with a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Imagine rugged cliffs overlooking crystal-clear waters, stunning beaches framed by ancient fortresses, and bustling towns adorned with colourful balconies and cobblestone streets.

Geographically, Malta is composed of three main islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino. Each island has its own distinct character which we discover on our episode today with the help of someone who is perfectly placed to bring Malta to life. Uwern Jong is a journalist, editor and inclusive-tourism advocate, who co-founded OutThere magazine, a luxury travel magazine and essential resource for LGBTQ+ travellers, nearly 15 years ago.

We head on a journey from the bustling capital city of Valletta with its UNESCO-listed fortifications to the tranquil countryside of Gozo and the serene beaches of Comino. Whether you're a film aficionado, a foodie, an adventurer, or simply looking to soak up the sun on a stunning beach, Malta has something for everyone. So join us as we uncover the hidden gems, local secrets, and unforgettable experiences that make this island nation truly magnificent.

Destination Recap:

Cugo Gran Macina Malta hotel
Valletta
Three Cities
St. Julian's
Gozo
The Blue Lagoon
Comino
Iniala Harbour House hotel
Ion at Harbour House restaurant
Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz Malta, Gozo
Thirtyseven hotel, Gozo
Seafood Beach Shack, Mġarr
Mdina
Rabat
Ancient Ruins, Gozo and Malta island

If you’re now desperate to find out more about Malta, don’t forget all of your favourite travel publications will have guides online, as will the tourist board website, which is always a great resource, which is visitmalta.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yolanda Edwards, Travel Editor - YOLO Journal Apr 30, 2024

On today’s episode I’m joined by a titan of the travel industry, Yolanda Edwards.

Formerly the creative director of Condé Nast Traveler in the US, Yolanda went on to launch the critically acclaimed Yolo Journal, a quarterly travel lifestyle magazine, which showcases real finds from interesting people around the world, not just industry insiders. Its accompanied by a weekly newsletter, which is a huge favourite among in the know travel lovers.

She also has the prestigious title of US and Canada Academy Chair for the World’s 50 Best Hotels which we discuss a bit on this episode - as a hotel enthusiast it was really fascinating to hear which properties stand out to her.

The story behind Yolanda falling in love with travel is a really interesting one that I didn’t know before this chat. She had a sheltered childhood where travel really wasn’t on the agenda, and it was a transformative cultural immersion program on a remote Greek island where Yolanda’s innate curiosity and love for travel was truly ignited. And the rest you could say was history, as nowadays Yolanda is non stop travelling the globe.

Her travel diaries today take us on a grand tour around Europe through the highlights and hidden gems of Italy, France and Greece. So fasten your seatbelts as we explore the fascinating life and career of a true travel trailblazer.

Destination Recap:

Rome, Italy
Milan, Italy
Mykonos, Greece
Kalymnos, Greece
Medoc, France
Il Pelicano, Port Ecole, Italy
La Colombe D’Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
Cap Ferret, France
Lynch-Bages, Frane
Tulum, Mexico
Palazzo Durazzo, Genoa, Italy
India

Check out YOLO Journal and follow Yolanda on Instagram here.

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trevor Nelson's Saint Lucia - Destination Special Apr 23, 2024

On today’s destination special, we are embarking on a journey to the jewel of the Caribbean, just 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, adorned with a tapestry of turquoise waters, golden beaches, and emerald-green rainforests. The enchanting island of Saint Lucia.

Having visited many Caribbean islands myself, Saint Lucia is one that truly sets itself apart, in part because of its enormously diverse landscape. The famous Piton mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site, frame a lush rainforest that cascades down to meet the powdery sandy shores below.

And let's talk about the warmth of its people. St Lucia isn't just a destination; it's a welcoming embrace from the moment you arrive. With easy year-round access from the UK, including daily flights from London Gatwick and seasonal options from London Heathrow, getting there is a breeze.

You're spoiled for choice with accommodation. From the unparalleled luxury of Jade Mountain, featured on BBC's Amazing Hotels, to the romance-infused retreats of Sandals, and an array of cosy boutique hotels and villas, there's something for every traveller's taste and budget.

And let's not forget the vibrant culture pulsating through St Lucia's veins, with events like the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival and Carnival adding rhythm and colour to the calendar year-round.

And our guest today knows a thing or two about the music scene. I am truly honoured to be joined on today’s episode by an institution of British music culture, Trevor Nelson.

Trevor’s parents are both from St Lucia and though he grew up in the London, he has travelled there throughout his life, and has a home there where he spends a lot of time.

Not only does he help bring his favourite island to life, we also get to hear all about his illustrious life and career along the way.

So let's get ready to set sail for paradise. Here’s Trevor Nelson’s St Lucia.

Destination Recap

Reduit Beach
The Landings Resort & Spa
Jade Mountain Resort
Cap Estate
Cabot Golf Course
The Coal Pot Restaurant, Castries
The Pink Plantation House, Castries
Rodney Bay
Pigeon Island
Marigot Bay
Sulphur Springs

For more information about St Lucia visit StLucia.org.

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Susannah Constantine Apr 16, 2024

Susannah Constantine first burst onto our TV screens in the late 90s, alongside her partner-in-style, Trinny Woodall. Together, they revolutionised the way women approach fashion with their ground-breaking show 'What Not to Wear’, as the iconic duo Trinny & Susannah. The series not only garnered international acclaim but also became a cultural phenomenon, empowering women to embrace their bodies and dress with confidence, taking them all over the world from The Oprah Winfrey Show to the Oscars red carpet.

This, we discuss, was just one chapter in Susannah’s fascinating life. In her 20s she was in a long-term relationship with Viscount David Linley, the son of Princess Margaret, and we chat today about her travels with Princess Margaret and how she viewed her very much as a mother figure in her life.

Susannah is also a bestselling author, and a very successful podcaster - her podcast, My Wardrobe Malfunction, has had 9 seasons, and the most incredible guest lineup from Elizabeth Hurley to Nile Rodgers.

Travel quite clearly means a lot to Susannah and she evokes the destinations in her travel diaries today, from Cornwall to Canada, Pakistan to Antarctica, so vividly, and emotively.

Destination Recap:

Holly -

Four Seasons Ritz Lisbon, Portugal

Susannah -

Antarctica
Gassin, France
St Tropez, France
Olhão, Portugal
Mustique
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Clinton, British Columbia, Canada
Pakistan
Helford Passage, Cornwall
Cairngorms, Scotland
Soverato, Calabria, Italy
Nairobi, Kenya
Antarctica

Susannah was on a Viking cruise to Antarctica, and Viking provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes across all seven continents and destination-focused expeditions in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. And you can find Susannah’ podcast my wardrobe malfunction wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first ten seasons to catch up on, that's over 110 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Rosenthal Apr 09, 2024

Phil Rosenthal first gained international recognition by creating the iconic TV sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which won 16 Emmys and as we discuss on the episode today, 30 years later is still a mainstay on both US and UK TV.

A self-described foodie, he has always been an ardent supporter of restaurants and food culture and his favourite saying is that “food is the great human connector”. Now he is living out his dream, travelling the world and exploring different cultures one bite at a time on his hit Netflix show, “Somebody Feed Phil” which is going into its 7th season, this time featuring Orlando, Scotland, Kyoto, Dubai, Washington D.C. and more. More than anything in this episode Phil is just such an advocate for travel for the positive power that travelling can have in broadening our perspectives on life, and he transports us today from Florence to Florida, Paris to Taipei and much more.

Destination Recap:

Holly --

Vila Vita Parc, Algarve, Portugal
Quinta da Comporta, Comporta, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal

Phil --

New York, USA
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Disneyworld, Florida, USA
Orlando, Florida, USA
Florence, Italy
Kyoto, Japan
Paris, France
Italy
Taipei
Shanghai
Australia
Venice, Italy

You can watch the new season of Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix now. He also has published a children’s book that he co-created with his daughter Lily, called JUST TRY IT.

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

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Julia Bradbury Apr 02, 2024

Today we are joined by a name synonymous with adventure, exploration, and a deep passion for the great outdoors. Julia Bradbury's love affair with nature began at a young age, nurtured by family hikes and camping trips in the rugged landscapes of the Peak District.

She started her career as a show business reporter for breakfast TV in Los Angeles, becoming a household name as the presenter of BBC’s Countryfile alongside co-host Matt Baker - her boundless enthusiasm for the countryside endeared her to audiences across the UK. She is perhaps best known for turning her lifelong passion for walking into prime-time TV, with shows including Britain’s Best Walks, Cornwall and Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury and Wainwright’s Walks in the Lake District.

But Julia's thirst for adventure extends far beyond the borders of Britain, and over the years, she’s embarked on countless adventures to some of the world's most remote and awe-inspiring destinations. Her travel diaries today take us from Greece to South Africa, Iceland to Costa Rica.

I also really enjoyed talking to Julia about health and wellbeing, she has a huge wealth of knowledge that she accumulated while writing her Sunday Times Bestseller Walk Yourself Happy, and also because of the lifestyle shift she herself adopted after being diagnosed with breast cancer for which she underwent a mastectomy in 2021. I think that you’ll find this an inspiring, energising and wanderlust-inducing conversation.

Destination Recap:

Agia Marina, Athens, Greece
Chios, Greece
Skiathos, Greece
Skopelos, Greece
South Africa
Peak District, England - Stanage Edge, Buxton, Mam Tor
Landmannalaugar trail, Iceland
Costa Rica
Lake District, England
South America

Walk Yourself Happy is available from all good bookshops and online, and you can book her Lake District retreat, which is called Walk Yourself Happy Wellbeing Retreat on theOutdoorGuide.co.uk here.

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Alex Jones Mar 26, 2024

Today, we're joined by one of the most recognisable faces of British TV, the delightful Alex Jones. Alex has been the co-presenter of The One Show, since 2010, a daily magazine show here in the UK which is broadcast every week night on BBC 1. It’s a British institution that's become a staple in many households.

Hailing from Wales, Alex grew up bilingual, fluent in both English and Welsh. She tells us today about her first experience of TV, taking part as a contestant in a reality show in Magaluf - and how that led to none other than Davina McCall invigilating her final university exams.

She shares her journey to the One Show sofa, which included hosting a travel show. And you could say that sparked a love of travel in her.

She’s travelled all around the world with her husband and 3 children, and Alex takes us today on a journey from rural Wales, to coastal France, the rolling countryside of Italy to the ranches of Arizona.

Destination Recap:

Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy
Mallorca
Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Solva, Wales, UK
Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Sorrento, Italy
Capri, Italy
Magaluf, Spain
Arizona, USA
Ogmore, Wales, UK
Berlin, Germany
Gothenburg, Sweden
Pembrokeshire, Wales
Ile de Re, France
Le Marche, Italy
Belgium
Sonnwies, The Dolomites, Italy (Holly)
Japan

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

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Jessica Gee, The Bucket List Family - Family Travel Special Mar 19, 2024

Today’s episode has a particular focus on family travel, and I’m joined today by Jessica Gee, the matriarch of one of the most well known travelling families in the world, The Bucket List Family, who I’m sure many of you follow on Youtube and social media.

The Bucket List Family’s story began back in 2015 when Jess and her husband Garrett decided to sell everything and leave home with their two children, for a journey around the world together. Eight years and another son later, they've visited more than 90 countries, have grown a following of 1.5 million YouTube subscribers and 3 million Instagram followers, and continue to find ways--big and small--to add to their lifelong travel bucket list.

As a family of five, they’ve swum with whales in Tonga, slept in castles in Ireland, lived on a houseboat in Amsterdam and eaten breakfast with giraffes in Kenya. Jess shares how having been raised “a traditional all-American girl” whose family favoured trips to Disneyworld over international travel, she never imagined she would end up seeing so much of the world. Now she’s partnered with National Geographic on her debut book, which provides all the know-how to fulfil your own family’s bucket list—including how-tos for picking a destination, packing, budgeting, and even surviving a 12-hour plane ride. And it’s these kind of practical questions as well as her Jess’s travel chapters, that now as a parent myself, I’m so excited to uncover today.

I’ve followed Jess and the family for years now, with a mixture of admiration and envy, and it’s so interesting to hear about life on the road with three little ones.

Destination Recap

Tonga
Swallow’s Cave, Tonga
Rwanda
Rwanda Genocide Memorial Building, Rwanda
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Soneva Jani, Maldives
Miavana, Madagascar
Dominica
Rosalie Bay Eco Resort & Spa, Dominica
New Zealand
Antigua
Belize
Alaska, USA
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge, Alaska, USA
Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Homer, Alaska, USA
Borneo
Antarctica
The Arctic
South Georgia
The Falkland Islands
Hawaii, USA
Kona, Hawaii, USA
Maui, Hawaii, USA
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Tahiti, French Polynesia
Rangiroa, French Polynesia

Jess’s new book, National Geographic Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World with Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime is out now and available wherever books are sold. You can follow Jess and her family’s travels on Instagram @thebucketlistfamily

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Lindex - Fom their UV 50+ protection swimwear to the cutest hats and tees, Lindex is a one stop shop for chic kid's clothing.

Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels - For a tropical family holiday unlike any other with endless opportunities for fun and adventure, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels are the place to stay. Book your next getaway here.

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Anton Du Beke & Giovanni Pernice Mar 12, 2024

Welcome to Season 11! Kicking us off in style, we’re joined by a dazzling duo who are set to waltz their way into your hearts, stars of Strictly Come Dancing, and heading into a second season of their much loved travel show Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures, it’s Anton du Beke and Giovanni Pernice.

I spoke to Anton and Gio in London a couple of weeks ago, at a dance studio which was like something out of Fame - sprawling rooms filled with people singing and whooping and music blaring from every corner, so if you hear the odd vocal warmup or some echoey bits in the background, that’s why. I’ve watched Strictly since Season 1 and Anton has been a part of the show since the very beginning, a seasoned dance floor veteran, first as a contestant and now as a judge. And then Giovanni entered with a bang back in 2015, reaching the final 3 times, and then winning with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.

With Anton being half Spanish, half Hungarian and Giovanni growing up in Sicily, travel has played an important part of both their lives, and I hope you really have a laugh with us on this one.

Destination Recap:

Holly:

COMO Alpina Dolomites

Anton & Gio’s Destination Recap:

Sciacca, Sicily, Italy
Taormina, Sicily, Italy
Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Hungary
Galicia, Spain
Bilbao
San Sebastian, Spain
Benidorm, Spain
Bologna, Italy
Thailand
Maldives
Pacific Highway 101, California, USA
Carmel, California, USA
Seville, Spain
Ronda, Spain
Madrid, Spain
Doncaster, England, UK
Bangkok, Thailand
Portofino, Italy
Buenos Aires, Argentina, South America
New York, USA

Episode 1 of Anton & Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain will air on BBC One and iPlayer on Mon 18th March at 9pm.

With thanks to my sponsors today -

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then remember there’s the first ten seasons to catch up on, that's over 110 + episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

See you next Tuesday!

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Fantastic Florida with Jimmy Doherty - Destination Special Feb 20, 2024

Today we are embarking on a sun-soaked journey to the Sunshine State - Fantastic Florida. From the magical world of theme parks in Orlando to the laid-back vibes of the Florida Keys, we’ll be chatting about some of the State’s best known spots as well as uncovering its hidden gems that may not yet be on your radar. For example, did you know that Florida is a foodie’s paradise? My first guest today knows a bit about that. Jimmy Doherty is a TV presenter and one of the UK’s best known farmers. His journey started over 20 years ago when he took on a leasehold of a 100-acre farm which was followed in a BBC series called Jimmy’s Farm. You’ll have seen him on loads of shows including Escape to the Wild, Food Unwrapped, as well as co-hosting Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast with his friend, Jamie Oliver. Jimmy recently returned from a three week shoot travelling all around Florida for his new ITV show, Jimmy’s Taste of Florida, and I can’t wait for you to hear his Floridian travel diaries.

Then, we’ll be joined by Florida resident and Florida travel expert and writer, Simon Veness, who’ll be sharing all his hidden gems, travel tips, and recommendations for your next trip to Florida.

Destination Recap:

Jimmy Doherty

Universal Studios, Orlando
Union Public House, Pensacola
Dat Cajun Place, Panama City Beach
Third Wave, New Smyrna Beach
The CURRENT Hotel, Tampa
Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, Anna Maria Island, Gulf Coast
The Florida Aquarium, Tampa
Little Havana, Miami
The Ball and Chain Restaurant, Little Havana, Miami
Columbia Restaurant, Tampa
Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay
Sand Bar, Anna Maria Island
The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, Bradenton
Peebles BBQ, Polk County, Central Florida
Westgate River Ranch, Lake Wales, Central Florida
Everglades National Park, Miami

Simon Veness

Capa, Four Seasons, Orlando
Gulf Coast
Overseas Highway, Florida Keys
Casa Morada, Isla Morada
Key Largo
Flagler Beach
St Augustine
Evermore Orlando Resort, Orlando
Resort Collection, Islamorada
St Regis, Longboat Key
Epic Universe, Universal Orlando
Indian River Lagoon, Atlantic Coast
Manatee swimming, Crystal River, Gulf Coast
Deep Sea Fishing, Florida Keys
Florida Panhandle
Amelia Island, Nassau County
Gulfport, St Petersburg

Don’t miss Jimmy’s Taste of Florida on ITV. For more Florida travel inpso, head to Instagram @hollyrubenstein and visitflorida.com

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Sir Michael Palin - From the archives Dec 12, 2023

Sir Michael Palin - where do you start! He’s a legendary comedian, part of pop culture history as one of Monty Python. He’s a BAFTA-winning actor, a best-selling author, and one of our most loved travel documentarians and travel writers. His journeys across the world, beginning with Around the World in 80 Days, followed by Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara, Himalaya, Brazil and more, were a key part of how many of us discovered the world growing up, through his eyes, and through his warmth and curiosity with whoever he encountered along the way.

From Saharan Africa and the Amazon, to western Scotland and North Korea, it was such an honour to hear the travel diaries of Sir Michael Palin. I hope you enjoy them.

Destination recap:

Sheffield, England
Norfolk, England
Solden, Austria
Venice, Italy
Barbados
Morocco
Mauritania
Chinguetti, Mali
Persian gulf to Indian Ocean dhow boat trip
West coast of Scotland including Glencoe
Aberfeldy, Scotland
New York, USA
Istanbul, Turkey
Kolkata, India
Pongo de Mainique, Peru
North Korea
Algiers
Vietnam
Gulag camps, Kolyma, Russia
Mongolia and the 'Stans
Altai Mountains
Walking in the Dolomites, Italy

With thanks to #mindbodysoul at worlddutyfree.com @worlddutyfreeuk for their support of today's episode.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

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Monica Galetti Dec 05, 2023

You might know today’s guest as the formidable judge on "MasterChef: The Professionals,”; or maybe you've followed her globetrotting escapades on the BBC’s "Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby”. Perhaps you’ve even been lucky enough to eat in her London restaurant, Mere. She’s one of the best-known and highly renowned female chefs in the UK, it is of course, Monica Galetti.

This season has been such a treat because I’ve managed to interview so many names who I dreamed of talking to when I started the podcast, and Monica was one of those, for so many reasons. I was desperate to ask her about what her childhood was like growing up on a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. And then what life was like when she moved as a child to New Zealand, where suddenly it’s cold and it’s another language that she didn’t speak. I was excited to ask her where her love of food began and how that led her to London to work alongside Michel Roux Jr - a former guest on the podcast of course - at his legendary Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Gavroche. The intense kitchen there became the crucible where Monica honed her skills, eventually rising to become the restaurant's first female sous chef. Her experience there would eventually serve as the foundation to the opening of Mere, her restaurant in Fitzrovia, London.

After a few technical issues, I was so pleased Monica was able to squeeze this interview into her busy schedule. She’d just got off a plane, and got home, so this was recorded remotely last week.

So from Samoa to Sri Lanka, Ireland to Italy and much more, let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Samoa
New Zealand
Vanuatu
Sri Lanka
Italy
Ashford Castle, Ireland
Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
The Brando, French Polynesia
Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka
JOALI, Maldives
Croatia
J Sheekey Restaurant, London
Sabor Restaurant, London
Scotland
Japan

A big thank you to Monica Galetti, do check out her restaurant Mere for a taste of what we’ve been talking about today. And thank you to the magnificent JOALI and JOALI BEING resort in the Maldives, one of Monica’s Amazing Hotels, who helped to make the interview happen.

This episode was recorded at Cliveden House.

And so that is a wrap for Season 10. Thank you again for tuning in. I hope you are all gearing up for a lovely festive. I put together a little travel diaries Christmas gift guide on my Instagram @hollyrubenstein so do check that out. I will back next week with a bonus episode from the archives, and I’ll be back with a whole new season in the Spring. So who would like to hear from? Who are your dream guests? You know I always try to make it happen if you ask, so remember you can get in touch with me on Instagram, I’m also on threads, TikTok - maybe my new years resolution will be to use those a bit more, but certainly i’m always happy to chat on Instagram, and remember all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes, and on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Lots of love everyone, Happy holidays, and i’ll speak to you soon.

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Sophie Morgan, Disability Advocate & Presenter Nov 21, 2023

Sophie Morgan is a TV presenter, Conde Nast Traveller columnist and disability advocate. When she was 18, on the night she received her A level results, Sophie crashed her car, and was left instantly paralysed from the chest down. Everything she had dreamed for her life was instantly forgotten and her journey to rediscover herself and build a different life began. “I want to go to some extraordinary places, meet some extraordinary people and do some extraordinary things", she wrote from her hospital bed the day she was discharged. But as a recently injured paraplegic woman, she would go on to face barriers as complex and nuanced as her impairment itself. In her words: “When it comes to travel, total satisfaction can be hard – if not impossible – for disabled people to find.”

Sophie first appeared in BBC Two’s show Beyond Boundaries which followed 11 disabled people on a 220-mile trek across Nicaragua, alongside another previous podcast guest, Amar Latif. After that, her career on TV grew, and she became one of the first female wheelchair users globally to host on TV, playing a part in transforming the representation of disability on screen, as the lead presenter on Channel 4's broadcast of the Summer Paralympics, fronting her own prime-time travel series, documentaries as well as being a regular panelist for ITV's Loose Women.

She’s currently spearheading the global disability rights campaign Rights On Flights which has taken her to the White House to meet the President, and we talk a lot on today’s episode about accessible travel and ableism - it’s an issue that has been hugely overlooked in the travel sphere for too long, and hearing Sophie’s experiences as a wheelchair user, on planes in particular, but within travel more broadly, really opened my eyes to the significant change that needs to take place to make travel accessible for everyone. Having said that, Sophie has been travelling literally non-stop for the last year, I mention it at the start of the episode all the places and adventures that she’s been on recently, so not only will today’s episode open your eyes to things you may not have thought of before - it will also fuel your wanderlust for your own future adventures.

Destination Recap:

The Whitehouse, Washington DC, USA
French Alps
Biking trip across the USA
Wyoming, USA
Idaho, USA
Cotignac, France
Scotland
California
Ximuwu,Greater Kruger, South Africa
Seville, Spain
Nicaragua
Antarctic

You can read Sophie’s Conde Nast Traveller column 'Beyond Barriers’ in magazines and online now.

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Kenton Cool, Mountaineer & Adventurer Nov 14, 2023

Today, we're diving into the awe-inspiring world of high-altitude adventure. Our subject is a man whose name is synonymous with daring expeditions and summit triumphs, the legendary climber and adventurer, Kenton Cool.

With 17 successful ascents of the mighty Mount Everest to his name, along with many other mountain peaks around the globe, including the ‘seven summits’ – the highest mountains on each of the seven traditional continents, Kenton is not just 'cool' by name, but by nature.

You’ll have heard him mentioned on previous podcast episodes - with Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Ben Fogle - Kenton has accompanied them on some of their most challenging ascents. Ben Fogle, Summited Everest with Kenton, and he led Sir Ranulph Fiennes up the North Face of the Eiger and to the summit of Mount Everest, too.

Kenton's adventure-filled life began in the UK, but he quickly found his heart in the Himalayas. He brings to life some of his most incredible adventures, and the valuable lessons he learnt along the way.

Destination Recap:

Alaska
Hubbard Glacier, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
West Wales, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire
The Presili Hills, Pembrokeshire
Pakistan
Mt Everest
Nepal
Peshawar, Pakistan
Bhutan
Colorado, USA
Cape Town, South Africa
European Alps in Summer
Megeve, Switzerland
South Africa
Antarctic Peninsula
North side of Everest
Darjeeling, India
Tibetan Plateau

You can find out more about their performance initiatives here: www.incoolcompany.com

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

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Greater Palm Springs Perfection Destination Special - Bonus Episode Nov 10, 2023

Hello and welcome to this bonus Destination Special of The Travel Diaries. Yes, I am back for a second time this week, as we continue to celebrate California and all it has to offer, today bringing to life one of my personal favourite spots, Greater Palm Springs. I was there in 2019 as part of a much bigger US road trip, which took me through all of California, and it’s one of the places I think about most when I’m daydreaming about far off lands.

It’s nestled in the heart of California's Coachella Valley, a couple of hours drive from LA, and it’s a desert oasis that's been capturing the hearts of travellers for generations. It’s where 1950s celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley spent their weekends, played golf at championship courses, and wined and dined the desert night away. With that Rat Pack spirit still lingering in the air, it has a unique allure that draws you in from the moment you arrive. Picture an elegant city framed by the towering San Jacinto Mountains and lined with impossibly tall swaying palm trees. A nexus of natural beauty, wellness, and culture, a living canvas of perfectly preserved mid-century modern architecture, offering such an intoxicating blend of nostalgia and sophistication.

I’m joined today by Steven Biller, he’s a Palm Springs legend, having edited Palm Springs Life Magazine for over 20 years, and we uncover his Palm Springs travel diaries, his all time favourites, his hidden gems, and top recommendations as someone who knows it so well. From its food and art scenes to its wild outdoors and hiking trails, there is so much to experience in Greater Palm Springs. I really hope you enjoy getting a flavour of it now.

Destination Recap:

Palm Springs aerial tramway
Coachella Valley
The Indian Canyons
Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza
Palm Canyon Trail
Korakia Pensione
L’Horizon Hotel
Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree rock climbing school
Barker Dam trail, Joshua Tree National Park
Ryan Mountain, Joshua Tree National Park
Johannes restaurant
Sol y Sombra restaurant, Paloma Resort
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum
Box Canyon, Mecca
Mojave Desert
Kelso Dunes

Well, I hope that has given you a flavour of what a fantastic destination Greater Palm Springs is. Thank you to Stephen Biller for joining me. You can find out more about Palm Springs at palmspringslife.com , in your favourite travel guides and magazines, and of course always on the tourist board website too, in this case it is visitgreaterpalmsprings.com

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California Calling - Destination Special Nov 07, 2023

Today we are heading to a sun-soaked slice of heaven. The place I chose as my all time favourite destination when I answered my own travel diaries here on the podcast. The Golden State. It is of course, California.

I have been so excited to work on this episode for you, bringing to life a destination so close to my heart - so close in fact, that I even got married on one of its many golden sand beaches.

The reason I love California so much is that it’s a paradise of possibilities, a promise of endless adventure, that truly caters to every traveller. From the dramatic coastlines of Big Sur, where the waves dance with the rugged cliffs, to the sun-kissed beaches of Santa Monica and the iconic Santa Cruz boardwalk, this state offers a buffet of coastal delights.

Speaking of buffets, don't even get me started on the food. California is a culinary playground where flavours from around the world collide. From food truck gems in Los Angeles to Michelin-starred eateries in San Francisco, your taste buds will embark on a journey of their own. Not forgetting that it’s home to some of the most famous and beautiful wine country in the world.

And how about the great outdoors? California is a nature lover's dream come true. Yosemite National Park, with its colossal granite cliffs and lush forests, will make you feel like you've stepped into a postcard. There’s the historic redwood forests of Northern California. And for the adrenaline junkies, Lake Tahoe offers year-round thrills, from skiing in the winter to kayaking in the summer.

Whether you're chasing dreams in LA, hiking in the Sierra Nevada, or sipping on cabernet in wine country, California is a place where every moment feels like a movie scene, and you're the star.

Speaking of stars, today we are joined by a star-studded lineup of some of my favourite guests across the last 10 seasons, who have chosen California as part of their travel diaries. They’ll be taking us on the ultimate California road trip - a trip of a lifetime you can do in two or three weeks, that everyone should be adding to their travel bucket list.

Destination Recap:

Holly Rubenstein

California Road Trip -

Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Montecito

Poppy Delevingne - Chateau Marmont Hotel, Hollywood, LA

Sir Trevor McDonald - Shutters on the Beach Hotel, Santa Monica

Ed Gamble - Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo

Jon Ronson - Pacific Highway Route 1, Hearst Castle, Los Angeles

Brian Chesky - Walt Disney Museum, San Francisco

Michel Roux Jr - Pacific Highway Drive, Wine Region, San Francisco, Spago Restaurant, Chez Panisse, Berkeley

Gregory Porter - Yosemite National Park

Chef Nancy Silverton

Los Angeles
Anajack Thai, Sherman Oaks
Kato, Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Baroo, Los Angeles
Ojai
Ojai Valley Inn, Ojai
Solvang
The Watts Towers, Los Angeles
Olvera Street, Los Angeles
Yosemite National Park
Palm Springs
San Francisco
Berkeley
San Juan Capistrano
Chez Panisse, Berkeley
San Ysidro Ranch, Santa Barbara
Ferry Plaza, San Francisco Embarcadero
Buvette, San Francisco
Blue Bottle, San Francisco
Farmer’s Market, San Francisco
Boonville Hotel & Restaurant, Mendocino County

To discover more about California head to visitcalifornia.com

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Kate Humble Oct 31, 2023

Growing up around farms and wildlife, TV presenter Kate Humble has always had a fascination for nature. After leaving school, she travelled solo to Africa; working her way from Cape Town to Cairo. On her return to the UK she began working for TV production companies, as a runner, then researcher on ‘The Holiday Programme’. It was on her second day in the Holiday office when she was asked by the programme’s editor if she had ever presented before. "No," she said "and nor do I want to." Kate has been presenting programmes for over 20 years ever since, as well as writing articles and books, many with a focus around travel. In fact, she has become a beloved mainstay of British television, having presented some of our most iconic shows, including Springwatch & Autumnwatch, Countryfile, Lambing Live, and many, many more.

We spoke at The Chelsea Townhouse, a new opening by Iconic Luxury Hotels, the brand behind some of Britain’s most legendary properties, like Chewton Glen and Cliveden. Tucked behind one of London's most fancy shopping districts, Sloane Street, we sat in one of its homely suites, overlooking it’s lovely garden and towering treetops - an unusual find in the heart of London.

Kate is what I would consider a true traveller. She is someone who sets off with pure wanderlust, with a map and hiking boots, and gets stuck in wherever she is heading. She tells us about an extraordinary five weeks spent with a tribe who live north of Timbuktu in the Sahara Desert trading salt; tracking clouded leopards in Borneo and hiking through Afghanistan. And closer to home about life in the Welsh Wye Valley, and her beloved escape in rural France.

Destination Recap:

Wye Valley, UK
Corfu
Guatemala
Mexico
South Africa
Cameroon
Timbuktu, Mali
Saharan Desert, Mali
Limousin National Park, France
Borneo
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar
Wakhan Corridor, Afghanistan
Siberia, Russia
Walking across Japan
Glyndŵr's Way, Wales
Poland
Romania
Albania

Kate has a new book out, called Where the Hearth Is: Stories of Home, which interestingly is all about home, questioning the notion of home, is it a tangible place or a state of mind? And considers the views of others living uniquely, extraordinarily and happily. It’s a fascinating and comforting read, which I thoroughly recommend - a great Christmas present.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gino D'Acampo Oct 23, 2023

Our guest today knows his way around both the kitchen and the world. He’s a culinary maestro with a passport full of flavours and a heart full of stories. It’s the wonderful, Gino D’acampo.

Born in Naples, in Southern Italy, Gino inherited his grandfather’s love and passion for cooking. After studying at catering college, at just 18 years old Gino moved to London. Soon after he was spotted by a TV producer and began to grace our TV screens on shows like Ready Steady Cook, This Morning and his own shows like Gino’s Italian Escape. He joined his pals Gordon Ramsay and former podcast guest Fred Sirieix on their much-loved Ultimate Road Trip series and is the host of Family Fortunes. He has a restaurant empire, several best-selling cookbooks and he also wrote his first children’s cookbook ‘Wiskella.’

Gino’s Travel Diaries are like a beautifully crafted recipe - filled with zest, sprinkled with laughter, and infused with the warm embrace of the places he's explored. From the sun-drenched Amalfi coast to the island of Sardinia, the olive groves of Puglia to the caves of Matera, Gino’s episode today is a love letter to his country of Italy, and was so much fun to record, so many laughs, we just had a really great time. I know you’re going to love it. So fasten your seatbelts, and let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Sardinia, Italy
Aritzo, Sardinia, Italy (Blue Zone)
Palinuro, Calabria, Italy
Torre del Greco, Naples, Italy
Guildford, Surrey, England
Costa Smeralda, Sardinia, Italy
Positano, Italy
Turkey
Hawaii, USA

You can watch Gino’s Italy: Secrets of the South on Sundays at 7pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

With thanks to today's sponsors:

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Sunweb - Use my promo code TRAVEL50 for £50 off your booking and your ski pass included.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beverley Knight Oct 17, 2023

Today’s guest is the queen of British Soul, a West End superstar, and an Olivier-award winner - Beverley Knight. If you've ever swayed to the rhythms of Beverley’s songs like "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" or "Come as You Are," you know that Beverley's voice has the power to transport you to another dimension. But what about the destinations that have transported her? She's also a seasoned traveler with a passport filled to the brim with stamps from around the world and today, she's going to take us on a journey through her most meaningful travel experiences, from New York to Brazil, Jamaica to The Bahamas, with such passion, and clear love of travel - she's got stories that will make your wanderlust soar!

So get ready to join us as we explore the world through the eyes and the incredible voice of the one and only Beverley Knight.

Destination Recap:

Datça Peninsula, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey
New York City, USA
Tea and Sympathy, New York City, USA
Sylvia’s, Harlem, New York City, USA
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Jamaica
London
Harbour Island, Bahamas
Chicago, USA
The Far East - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, China

Beverley’s album, The Fifth Chapter, is out now.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Monisha Rajesh, Train Travel Special Oct 10, 2023

Today, we're embarking on a special adventure – a voyage through the enchanting world of train travel. Our guest today is a true connoisseur of locomotion, travel writer Monisha Rajesh. In 2010, Monisha spent four months travelling around India by rail recounted in her debut book, Around India in 80 Trains. After India, Monisha took on the world, over seven months and 45,000-miles, on an adventure through the global rail networks, which later became her next book, the brilliant Around the World in 80 Trains.

Today, we’ll hear Monisha’s train travel diaries, from her earliest train travel memory being carried across the train tracks in Switzerland by her parents, to falling in love with train travel on a journey from Mumbai to Goa and her all time favourite journeys, to suit all budgets. From journeys that last just a few hours to those that last several days, Monisha brings to the life the unique perspective that travelling on a train can give us as travellers, the romance, the camaraderie, the excitement, unparalleled vistas, and a deep connection to the world around us. She evokes it so beautifully in our episode today. I think this is one you’re going to love.

So, all aboard, and let’s get started, with Monisha.

Destination Recap:

Switzerland
India
Mandovi Express, from Mumbai to Goa, India
US Amtrak
Delhi, India
Cannes to Ventimille Train, France to Italian border
Canadian railway Vancouver to Toronto
European Sleeper Brussels, Belgium to Berlin, Germany
Rome to Palermo, Italy train
Norway midnight sun train Oslo to Trondheim and Trondheim to Bodø
Skeena Train, Jasper to Prince Rupert, Canada
Transmongolian Railway
The Santa Claus Express from Helsinki to Rovaniemi, Finland

With thanks to my sponsors today …

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Sunweb - Use my promo code TRAVEL50 for £50 off your booking and your ski pass included.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok, I’m also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Captain Sandy Yawn Oct 03, 2023

Today’s very special guest is not only a seasoned sailor but also a true legend of the high seas. She's the captain that keeps it all together on the hit TV series, "Below Deck: Mediterranean”. That's right, today we're setting sail with none other than Captain Sandy Yawn!

Now, if you're a fan of the show, you already know that the show chronicles the lives of the crew members who work and reside aboard a super yacht during charter season and Captain Sandy brings more than just nautical expertise to the table. She's a force to be reckoned with, with a heart of gold and a personality that shines as bright as the sun over the Mediterranean. Today, we're going to delve deeper into her world, beyond the decks and the drama, to get to know more about Sandy. She has been on quite a voyage herself, a voyage of sobriety, a voyage of self discovery, and a new voyage lies ahead as just the day before we spoke, she proposed to her girlfriend, Leah.

Destination Recap:

Holly speaks about Porto Zante Villas & Spa on Zakynthos island, Greece

Captain Sandy:

The Florida Keys, Florida, USA
Little Palm Island, The Florida Keys, Florida, USA
Disneyworld, Florida, USA
Suwannee River, Florida, USA
Stepping Stones, Ft Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Barcelona, Spain
Barceloneta Spanish and Mediterranean Tapas Restaurant and Bar, Spain
Siesta Key, Florida, USA
St Petersburg, Florida, USA
The Don CeSar, St Petersburg, Florida, USA
The Bahamas
Aspen, Colorado, USA
Denver, Colorado, USA
Ouray, Colorado, USA
Thunderball Cave, Staniel Cay, The Exumas, Bahamas
Treasure Cay, The Abacos, Bahamas
Long Island, Bahamas
Cote D’Azur, France
Alabama Jack’s, Key Largo, Florida
Miami, Florida
Portofino, Italy
Alaska, USA

Watch Captain Sandy on thebrand-new season of Below Deck Mediterranean on Hayu, now.

With thanks to my sponsors today …

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Sunweb - Use my promo code TRAVEL50 for £50 off your booking and your ski pass included.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shaggy Sep 26, 2023

We’re kicking off Season 10 by diving into the world of one of the most iconic figures in the music industry, a Grammy-winning artist whose distinctive voice and reggae beats have seen him top the charts over the past 30 years. That's right, we’re joined today, Shaggy. “Oh Carolina”, Shaggy’s debut single, was his big breakthrough into the music industry, all the way back in 1993. It became a chart-topping hit around the world and subsequent mega-hits like “Boombastic”, "It Wasn't Me” and “Angel” all further propelled him to global superstardom.

From Kingston, Jamaica where he spent his childhood and lives now, to the global stage, today we’re going to be getting to know the man behind the hits and the destinations in his life that have played a part along the way, from Japan to Italy, New York to North Carolina.

Destination Recap:

New York City, USA
Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
Japan
North Carolina, USA
Iraq
Italy
Sardinia, Italy
Port Antonio, Jamaica
Zimbabwe

Shaggy’s In The Mood EP is out now

With thanks to my sponsors today …

Airbnb - Visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Sunweb - Use my promo code TRAVEL50 for £50 off your booking and your ski pass included.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Threads and TikTok, I’m also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dame Joanna Lumley Jun 20, 2023

On today’s season finale we're joined by a national treasure, and a name synonymous with travel, Dame Joanna Lumley. Joanna's appetite for adventure was deeply engrained from childhood. She was born in Kashmir in the last days of British India, the daughter of an army officer who served with the Gurkhas. Throughout her childhood her parents lived in Asia, moving to Hong Kong and Malaysia, while she spent term times at school in England.

From her early days as a fashion model, gracing the covers of magazines and strutting down runway, Joanna Lumley was destined for greatness. But it was her iconic role as Patsy in the hit TV series "Absolutely Fabulous" that truly catapulted her into the hearts of millions. I love Wikipedia’s description of Patsy - “an alcoholic, a chain smoker, and a frequent recreational drug user. She carries drugs with her at all times, storing joints in her trademark beehive."

After surviving solo on a desert island, on the groundbreaking show Girl Friday, Joanna soon became as synonymous with travel as she was with Ab Fab, setting off on epic journeys that would make even the most seasoned globetrotter green with envy, from Japan and India to the Caribbean and the Silk Route. What makes her so remarkable is not just her fearless spirit but her genuine love for the people she meets along the way. She champions causes close to her heart, advocating for the rights of the Gurkhas, supporting endless charities, and shedding light on the important issues affecting our world.

So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready as we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and awe-inspiring travels of Joanna Lumley, from Malaysia to Uzbekistan, Italy to Indonesia.

Destination Recap:

Kashmir, India
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
Madagascar
Delhi, India
Uzbekistan
Tash Rabat, Kyrgzystan
Sienna, Italy
Banda Islands, Indonesia
Sudan
Romania

Joanna Lumley’s Spice Trail Adventure starts on 5th July at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next season come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first nine seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Fogle - From The Archives Jun 13, 2023

Today we’re uncovering another favourite episode from The Travel Diaries archive, now that we have over 100 episodes to pick from, as we build up to our big season finale with Joanna Lumley next week. It was so hard to choose, but when I reflected on the episodes that sparked the most wanderlust in me, from the most seasoned travellers, I thought it had to be Ben Fogle. Ben’s episode was recorded back in the Covid days, during season three, when no one really knew what was going on with the future of travel, and his tales of epic physical feats, wilderness living , going to the most remote parts of the planet, really inspired me at the time.

Ben is an award-winning broadcaster and one of the UK’s most prolific adventurers. He has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco, run the Marathon Des Sables (a 6 day ultra marathon across the Sahara Desert), raced across the Antarctica to the South Pole and most recently climbed Mount Everest.

He’s written nine best-selling books - many about travel - and has the enviable title of the United Nations Patron of the Wilderness. And speaking of the Wilderness, he has travelled to every corner of the globe while filming his long-running hit TV series, New Lives in the Wild, a notion that feels particularly relevant right now during lockdown.

Get ready to be transported to Guatemala, the top of Mt Everest, Ethiopia, the Canadian Wilderness and…Ayia Napa.

Destination Recap:

Taransay, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Lake Chemong, Ontario, Canada
British Columbia, Canada
Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada
Latin America
Quito, Ecuador
Antigua, Guatemala
Bolivia
Pitcairn Island, South Pacific
Pleistocene Park, Siberia
The Atlantic Ocean
Mt Everest, Nepal
Cornwall, England
Ethiopia
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Ayia Napa, Mallorca, Spain
Haiti
The Great Wall of China, China
The North Pole
The South Pole

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps. Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Reeve - From The Archives Jun 06, 2023

We're revisiting one of the podcast's favourite episodes today, from back in Season 3, and we're joined by one of travel’s most familiar faces. Known for his TV series tracing the Equator, the Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn, following the world’s sacred rivers and pilgrimages, travelling the length of the Americas, and deep diving into destinations like Burma, Russia and Colombia, visiting over 130 countries along the way. It is of course the adventurer, author and broadcaster, Simon Reeve.

If you’ve watched Simon’s shows, you’ll know they’re not your typical travel programmes. He’s known for digging beneath the surface of a place, and telling the stories - both good and bad - that need to be told. What you may not know is that Simon is really very experienced when it comes to digging a little deeper as he began his career as an investigative journalist, and went on to become a NY Times best-selling author, all before he even appeared on our TV screens.

Simon has undertaken numerous extraordinary journeys, but none of them are quite as extraordinary as the journey his own life has taken. I think you’ll be both amazed and inspired by it.

Destination Recap:

Studland Bay, Dorset, England
Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia Grand Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey
Gabon
Madagascar
Bangladesh
Somaliland
West Country, England
Japan
New Zealand
Senegal
Mali
The Arctic
The Antarctic
Paraguay

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

I’m @hollyrubenstein on Instagram, and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan Hine, Survivalist & Explorer May 30, 2023

Megan Hine is a survivalist and wilderness guide who has carved her path in the fiercely competitive world of adventure travel, producing some of the biggest adventure and survival shows on TV around the world. Her big break came working alongside Bear Grylls on his hit show Man vs Wild, and from there, she’s led talent and film crews in the world’s toughest environments for over 20 years.

A seasoned adventurer, Megan also possesses an insatiable hunger for exploration. Armed with her unwavering spirit and an arsenal of survival skills, she’s led expeditions around the world, from the arid deserts of the Sahara to the icy tundras of the Arctic. Her remarkable ability to adapt to the harshest conditions and think on her feet has earned her the admiration of both novice adventurers and seasoned experts alike. Whether it's scaling treacherous cliffs, navigating dangerous waters, or braving bone-chilling temperatures, Megan continues to push boundaries.

She is also a qualified resilience coach, and combines intimate knowledge of wilderness survival, a degree in psychology and a fascination with the psychology of survival to help clients overcome mental health struggles. Many of these techniques feature in her best-selling book 'Mind of a Survivor’, which we talk about today.

So, fasten your seatbelts, and ready to embark on an unforgettable journey with us today, full of heart-stopping adventures, invaluable life lessons, and the transformative power of travel. From Panama to Tibet, New Zealand to Mongolia, let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Pearl Islands, Panama
The Maldives
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China?
Scotland
Iceland
New Zealand
Snowdonia, Wales
Newborough Beach, Wales
Black Rock Sands, Wales
Mongolia
Llŷn Peninsula, Wales
Tibet
Antarctica
Alaska, USA

You can follow Megan on her adventures on Instagram at @Megan_hine and read her book, Mind of a Survivor.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight episodes to catch up on, that's over ninety episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clive Myrie May 23, 2023

Today’s guest is a familiar face to millions all over the world as a BBC newsreader and foreign correspondent, with a career spanning three decades. He’s covered some of the biggest stories of our time from Hurricane Katrina, to 9/11; reported fro the front lines of conflicts in Africa, the Middle East and covered wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and most recently, Ukraine, reporting for BBC News from the roof of a hotel in the capital of Kyiv when the war broke out in February last year. He’s the host of Mastermind, and most recently swapped the BBC studios for sun-drenched Italian countryside, with his first travel show, Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip, a 15-part series, which follows Clive as he embarks on a captivating journey around the country, immersing himself in its culture, rich history and local cuisine from its heel to its top. We of course chat about this as well his hugely varied career which has taken him to over eighty countries in itself.

Destination Recap:

Jamaica
Italy
Verona, Italy
Puglia, Italy
Matera, Italy
Tokyo, Japan
Hokaido, Japan
Ukraine
West Coast of USA
East Coast of USA
Home Counties, England
Cape Town, South Africa
Venice, Italy
Washington DC, USA
Afghanistan
St Petersburg, Russia
Sri Lanka

A huge thank you to Clive. What an interesting life he has led. Clive Myrie’s Italian Road Trip is available on BBC iPlayer.

With thanks to today's sponsor, Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Branson May 16, 2023

Today’s guest will reignite your sense of adventure and reaffirm your love of nature. I’ve had over 100 guests now and I can safely say that this guest is up there in terms of the passion and love he shows for travel - the power of it, the importance of it and its symbiosis with nature and our planet.

Sam Branson is a very busy man indeed. He’s one of those people where the list of things that they do in their bio goes on for so long you question what you’ve done with your own life! Adventurer, Film maker, Singer/Songwriter, Charity Founder, Business Leader, Social Entrepreneur and much more.

As an adventurer - his feats match some of the greatest names in the field. He’s spent 3 months crossing the arctic on a dog sled, he’s climbed epic peaks, he’s kayaked treacherous stretches of water, he’s set numerous world records, including - curiously - running the London Marathon attached to 33 other people. None of it was done without a wider cause though with the primary charitable focus - Big Change - which he also founded! He’s raised several million pounds to date.

He’s also hugely passionate about our planet and many of the challenges he’s undertaken have been to raise awareness and create action around climate change. He speaks with such warmth about nature. This has transcended to his new venture - music. He’s just released his debut album - Under the Static - which is a love letter to mother nature under his musical name Waves Rush In. The perfect soundtrack to summer.

Alongside all of this - which is making me exhausted just thinking about it - he’s found time to co-found and run a documentary production company alongside Hillary and Chelsea Clinton.

Now - obviously - a lot of this opportunity has come from being born into the Branson family - being the son of Sir Richard Branson - and we discuss this privileged upbringing in the episode and how he’s strived for his own self identity since.

All of this makes it a really fascinating listen. I hope you enjoy it.

Destination Recap:

British Virgin Islands
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
Menorca
Anegada, British Virgin Islands
The Willy T, Norman Island, British Virgin Islands
Australia
Byron Bay, Australia
Arctic expedition
Bali, Indonesia
Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Komodo Island, Indonesia
Sri Lanka
Chamonix, France
Mont Blanc, France
Mentawai Islands, Sumatra, Indonesia

Under the Static, Sam’s debut album which is released under his musical alter ego Waves Rush In, is out in June.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Family Travel Special - 6 months & under, travel tips & more May 09, 2023

Welcome our first ever Family Travel special. I had my first child back in October last year, and it’s been you the listeners who have reached out to me in such overwhelming numbers asking for a dedicated family travel episode because there isn’t a ton of advice out there for new parents travelling with a baby, where to go what to pack - it can be quite overwhelming. So here we are!

Obviously, this episode might not appeal to everyone. So if you’re one of those regulars, please tune in next week, we’ll be back with a great celeb guest.

So how’s this going to work? My current plan is to release a family focussed episode each season that loosely tracks my own experience as a mother. Today we’ll be chatting with a bit of a focus on travelling with a baby up to around 6 months. Next season will then probably focus on 6 months to the toddler phase and so on. It won’t follow the usual 7 chapters but focus on things like travel tips, the best recommendations and bucket list destinations for that specific age group.

I’m delighted to be joined by two seasoned family travellers to guide me through this. Kate Leahy is an acclaimed travel journalist who spent ten years working in-house at The Sunday Times and now contributes to The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Times, and much more. Prior to a career in journalism, Kate spent five years working as British Airways cabin crew, often observing the logistics of parents travelling with children. Now mum to two-year-old twins, she's putting everything she has learned along the way into making her own family travel memories.

Joining her is Frankie Collinson, who is the co-founder of the family travel start-up Tiny Travelship which provides vetted recommendations across all price ranges for both family specific and family friendly spots across the globe. They’ve just launched a new booking website and their Instagram has inspired a lot of my own Family Travel Bucket List!

Destination Recap

Greece
Monastery Estate Retreat, Crete, Greece
Caserio del Mirador, Alicante, Spain
Almyra, Cyprus
Daios Cove, Crete, Greece
Puglia, Italy
Ikos Resorts
Martinhal, Sagres, Portugal
Martinhal, Lisbon, Portugal
Marbella Club, Spain
Cretan Malia Park, Crete, Greece
Costa Rica
Casa Pineta, Elba Island, Italy
Australia

With thanks to...

Roarsome - Head to roarsome.com and use the code TRAVELDIARIES for 20% off all clothing, events and adventures in 2023.

Forte Village, Sardinia - Forte Village is the perfect place for your holiday in Sardinia, a beautiful corner of paradise

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. All the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Polizzi May 02, 2023

Today, I’m joined by Alex Polizzi, who you might know best as TV”s 'Hotel Inspector’. Alex has used her decades of experience working in hospitality to advise struggling hoteliers on how to turn their businesses around on the hit Channel 5 show. And on today’s episode we take a deep dive into what makes a great hotel, a great holiday and our ultimate pet peeves.

Alex’s passion for travel and hospitality is something that runs in her blood. She’s part of one of travel’s most iconic family dynasties, the Forte family, Her grandfather was the legendary hotelier Lord Charles Forte, an Italian immigrant who opened a milk bar on London’s Regent Street in the 1930s and turned it into an empire of over 800 international hotels. Her uncle Rocco, established his own chain of luxury hotels, the Rocco Forte hotels. Her mother, is the hotel designer Olga Polizzi and founder of the Polizzi Collection (three hotels across the south of England), the third of which, The Star in Alfriston, she opened jointly with Alex in June 2021 to rave reviews.

I spoke to Alex in one of her family’s most iconic hotels, Brown’s in London. Her travel diaries today take us from Cambodia to the Caribbean, from Portugal to Puglia, all across Italy and much more.

Destination Recap:

Browns’ Hotel, London, England, UK
Dona Filipa Hotel, Algarve, Portugal
Cambodia
Hong Kong
Hotel Endsleigh, Devon, England, UK
Venice, Italy
Belmond Cipriani, Venice, Italy
Providenciales, Turks + Caicos
Torcello, Venice, Italy
Murano, Venice, Italy
The Coral House, Providenciales, Turks + Caicos
Villa Igiea, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
Pompeii, Naples, Italy
Ischia, Italy
Masseria Torre Maizza, Puglia, Italy
Lecce, Puglia, Italy
Otranto, Puglia, Italy
The Priory Hotel & Restaurant, Caerleon, Wales
India
Japan

With thanks to today's sponsors:

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Masseria Torre Maizza, a Rocco Forte Hotel - Be inspired by Alex's travel diaries, and discover an oasis of luxury in the heart of theApulian countryside, Masseria Torre Maizza.

If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Holly Rubenstein, your host - 100th episode special Apr 25, 2023

Hello and welcome to episode 100 of The Travel Diaries podcast. I’m journalist Holly Rubenstein, and today I’m your cohost, as I’m joined today by my other half, my partner in life and travels Alex, who is going to be interviewing me about my travel diaries. That’s right, after nine seasons, and 99 episodes, and quite a few requests I thought it about time that I shared with you some of the many destinations that have shaped my life. I hope you get to know a little bit more about me.

So from Miami to Montecito, Scotland to Switzerland, and many more, here are my travel diaries.

Destination Recap:

Miami, Florida, USA
Aventura Mall, Miami, Florida, USA
Versailles, Little Havana, Miami, USA
Wynwood Walls, Miami, Florida, USA
Little Havana, Miami, Florida USA
Islamorada, Florida Keys, USA
Casa Morada, Florida Keys, USA
Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Mt Kilauea, Hawaii, USA
Four Seasons Maui, Hawaii, USA
California - Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Montecito
Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Maldives
57 Nord, Scotland, UK
Sedona, Arizona, USA
Zion National Park, Utah, USA
Niagara, New York, USA
Big Sur, California
Denver, Colorado, USA
The Ramble Hotel, Denver, Colorado, USA
Finger Lakes, New York, USA
Ascona, Lake Maggiore, Switzerland
Beltane Ranch, Sonoma, California, USA
Arundel, West Sussex, England
Patagonia, Argentina / Chile
Forestis, Italian Dolomites
Rosa Alpina, Italian Dolomites
Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
Amanzoe, Port Heli, Greece
Patina, Maldives
Ritz Carlton Maldives
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman
Airelles Chateau de la Messardiere, St Tropez, France
Sri Lanka

With thanks to today’s sponsor, CV Villas. Book your 2023 summer holiday, now.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight seasons to catch up on, that's over 100 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amar Latif, Blind Adventurer & TV Presenter Apr 18, 2023

Today we are joined by the self described blind guy who wants to show you the world, Amar Latif. Due to an incurable eye condition, Amar lost 95% of his sight by the age of 18. Through sheer determination, he has managed to turn a tale of loss, into one of truly inspirational achievement. Amar became known to millions through the groundbreaking BBC series Beyond Boundaries, which followed a group of disabled adventurers trekking 220 miles through Central America. The experience showed Amar that being blind didn't have to mean never seeing the world, but when he sought to take his adventures further afield he found himself facing rejection after rejection. Conventional travel companies refused to take him as an independent blind traveller, and so Amar set out to establish a company that would.

Determined to travel the world, and to empower thousands of other blind travellers to do the same, Amar founded Traveleyes. Now a world-unique, award-winning tour operator, offering over 70 destinations a year, and providing an innovative way for blind and sighted travellers to explore the world together.

Amar has since worked on numerous tv programmes including River Walks, which recently won a Royal Television Society Award for ‘Best Single Documentary’, Celebrity Masterchef and Travelling Blind, which saw Amar partnered up with comedian Sara Pascoe as they travelled through Turkey together, demonstrating the dynamics of travelling as a sighted and visually impaired duo.

I loved chatting to Amar, his enthusiasm and passion for travel is completely contagious, and he’s one of my best travelled guests, having visited over 100 countries. He takes us from Morocco to Mecca, and from Cuba to Cape Town and much more.

Destination Recap:

Blackpool, England
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Medina, Saudi Arabia
Canada
Lake Titicaca, Peru
Nicaragua
Havana, Cuba
Cienfuegos, Cuba
Trinidad City, Cuba
Santa Clara, Cuba
Varadero, Cuba
Algamitas, Andalucia, Spain
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Cape Town, South Africa
Japan
The Gambia
Cornwall, England, UK
Masai Mara, Kenya

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight episodes to catch up on, that's over ninety episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll be back next week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Divia Thani, Condé Nast Traveler Global Editorial Director Apr 04, 2023

Today, we're joined by a titan of the travel industry. Divia Thani is the global editorial director of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, overseeing seven editions of the title across the globe, including here in the UK. If you're not familiar with Conde Nast Traveler, It's the ultimate guide to the world's most exciting destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and experiences. Divia is at the helm of it all and has been shaping the brand's voice and vision for several years now, having served as Editor in Chief of Condé Nast Traveller India for a decade.

Born and raised in Mumbai with family based across the globe, Divia’s travel diaries today take us far and wide, across Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. From ultra luxury hotels, to affordable homestays, belly dancing in Egypt to a shamanic experience in Mexico, her inspiring recommendations are sure to spark your wanderlust. Stay tuned for a quick fire round at the end, where Divia answers some of the questions you sent me on Instagram and offers some brilliant travel advice.

Destination Recap:

Lagos, Nigeria
Mumbai, India
Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, India
Oberoi Mumbai, India
London, England
Bradford, Pennsylvania, USA
Johannesburg, South Africa
One & Only Palmilla, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Mayascrest, Himachal Pradesh, India
Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, India
Raffles the OWO, London, England
Mandarin Oriental, London, England
Peninsula London, England
Vietnam
Thailand
Japan
Argentina
Egypt
Alexandria, Egypt

Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok as of a few weeks ago, also @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't want until then remember there’s the first eight episodes to catch up on, that's over ninety episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Katie Melua Mar 28, 2023

Today’s special guest is the singer-songwriter Katie Melua. Many of you will know Katie from her chart-topping hits like "Nine Million Bicycles" and "The Closest Thing to Crazy”. Over the last twenty years, her soulful voice has captivated audiences all around the world, selling over 11 million albums worldwide, making her one of the most successful British female artists of all time.

Katie was born in Georgia, - a country found at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe - which was then part of the Soviet Union, and it’s a huge feature of her travel diaries today. If it's a place that's been on your travel radar, you’ll get some great tips for a future trip. Katie spent her early childhood living in Georgia before moving to the UK, when she was eight years old. Her passion for music led her to enrol at the famous BRIT school, alongside alumni like Adele and Amy Winehouse. She was discovered by songwriter and producer Mike Batt, and rocketed to stardom soon after.

Her success has of course meant she has travelled much of the world several times over on tour, and she shares with us some of the most extraordinary destinations she has put on a show, including the deepest concert ever held, 303 meters below sea level in a Norwegian fjord.

So sit back, relax, and join us on this journey as we explore the life and travels of Katie Melua.

Destination Recap:

Batumi, Georgia
Moscow, Russia
Tbilisi, Georgia
Belfast, Northern Ireland
East Prawle, Devon, England
Margate, Kent, England
Deal, Kent, England
Broadstairs, Kent, England
Mt Kazbegi, Georgia
Rooms Hotel, Kazbegi
Norway
Tresco, Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, England
Brazil

Katie Melua’s ninth studio album, Love + Money, is out now, and she heads out on a UK + EU tour in April and May.

With thanks to today's sponsor...

Jumeirah Beach Hotel - Visit jumeirah.com/JBHEscapes today, and book your Exceptional Escape to Dubai. Jumeirah Beach Hotels' Exceptional Jumeirah Escapes Offer gives up to 20% savings when you stay before 30 September 2023, with unlimited Wild Wadi Waterpark access, flexible cancellation and USD 200 credit when staying in an Ocean Club Room, Suite, or Beit Al Bahar Royal Villa.

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National Parks of the UK with Juliet Kinsman, Sustainable Travel Expert - Bonus Episode with BMW Mar 23, 2023

Welcome to this bonus episode of The Travel Diaries podcast, where we are going to be talking about some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring national parks here in the UK. We’re joined by friend of the podcast, former guest on Season 3, Juliet Kinsman, who is the Sustainability Editor of Conde Nast Traveller magazine, the author of The Green Edit: Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller and an aficionado of the national parks of the UK.

Today’s episode is brought to you in partnership with BMW and National Park UK’s Recharge in Nature Project, an initiative to support nature restoration, biodiversity, wellbeing as well as access - the project is enhancing the electric vehicle charging infrastructure around our national parks to make it that bit easier to use an electric car when exploring. Often they are so vast, so remote and so rural that if you’re driving an electric car you might be anxious about when you’d next able to charge it.

From the soaring mountains and serene lakes of the Lake District National Park to the rugged moorlands and rolling hills of the Cairngorms National Park and the wild horses of the New Forest, by uncovering Juliet’s national parks travel diaries we’ll not only take a closer look at what makes these parks so special, we'll also explore how we can ensure their protection for generations to come.

So grab your your binoculars, your walking boots, and your sense of adventure, and let's get started as we delve into the National Parks of the UK!

Destination Recap:

Lake District National Park, England
Snowdonia National Park, Wales
New Forest National Park, England
The Pig Hotel, Hampshire, England
Limewood, Hampshire, England
Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
Cairngorms National Park, Scotland
Saorsa 1875 Hotel, Scotland
South Downs National Park, West Sussex
Petworth, West Sussex
Arundel, West Sussex,
Swanbourne Lake, Arundel, west Sussex
Wildhive, Callow Hall, Derbyshire
Loch Lomond National Park, Scotland

To discover more about the Recharge in Nature Project, visit bmw.co.uk/NationalParks

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Martin Mar 21, 2023

Welcome to Season 9! It’s great to be back. Get ready to tantalise your taste buds and whet your appetite, because today we are joined by the master of all things delicious, Chef James Martin.

James has been cooking up a storm on TV screens for over 20 years, and has written over 20 cookbooks as well, selling millions of copies worldwide.

Born and raised in Yorkshire, James remains a Yorkshire lad through and through and still spends plenty of time in his home county, which he tells us about today. You’ll hear that James has had a huge passion for food since childhood, and he was just 22 when he gained his first Michelin star working as the head chef at the Hotel du Vin in Winchester. His down-to-earth personality and infectious enthusiasm quickly caught the attention of TV producers, and it was his regular appearances on "Ready Steady Cook" that really brought him to the public's attention.

From there, he landed his own cooking show, BBC's "Saturday Kitchen,” which he hosted for over ten years, while opening restaurants in Manchester and at Chewton Glen hotel in Hampshire. Now he's the host of Saturday Morning with James Martin on ITV, alongside several foodie travel shows like "James Martin's French, Mediterranean and American Adventures” - so travel has been an incredibly important feature in his career so far.

James' travel diaries today take us from the west coast of Scotland to the golden Caribbean sands of St Barths, from the quintessential British seaside of Blackpool to a culinary road trip through Wales, and much more. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a culinary novice, sit back, relax, as we kick off a big new season of the travel diaries with James Martin.

Destination Recap:

Holly’s travels -

Lilycombe Farm, Somerset, England
The Nook, Hillside Hangouts, Worcestershire, England

James Martin -

The Lygon Arms, Worcestershire, England
Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, England
Blackpool
Malton, North Yorkshire, England
Hotel de Plaisance, Vitrac, France
Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
West Coast of Scotland
St Paul-de-Vence, France
L'Isle sur la Sorgue, France
Lake Annecy, France
St Barths
Monaco
Food Road Trip in Wales: The Hardwick, Abergavenny, The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny and Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms, Machynlleth
Greece
Turkey
Japan
Spain

If you'd like to experience a taste of James' signature dishes, head to The Lygon Arms, and book a table at GRILL or TAVERN.

With thanks to today’s sponsor -

Kip Hideaways - The best of UK travel is just around the corner and with places already booking up fast now is the time to find and book a spring or summer break. Head to kiphideaways.com to find your perfect escape or give them a follow on Instagram @kiphideaways for the dreamiest U.K. travel inspiration.

If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week’s episode, follow me on Instagram @hollyrubenstein, You’ll also find me on Twitter and TikTok. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spencer Matthews Oct 25, 2022

Hello and welcome to the Season 8 finale of The Travel Diaries. You may have first got to know today’s guest as the bad boy of the reality TV show Made in Chelsea. Now married with three children to model Vogue Williams, who he met on the TV show, The Jump, he regularly tops the podcast charts as the co-host of the hilarious hit podcast, Spencer and Vogue, as well as entertaining listeners with his former Made in Chelsea co-star Jamie Laing, on the podcast, 6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer. It is of course, Spencer Matthews.

Spencer has led a truly international life - not many people can say they grew up in a hotel on a small Caribbean island, and it was so interesting to chat to him about life there and how it shaped who he is today. He’ll be talking about his relationships with his old Made in Chelsea co-stars. And we also talk about Spencer’s recent time in Nepal. Spencer’s older brother Michael tragically died climbing Mt Everest in 1999, and Spencer has collaborated with Disney to make a documentary film called Finding Michael about the journey to try and find his body which was never brought home. I think this is the first time he’s spoken at length about the documentary and I was really touched by his honesty about such a monumental experience to go through and what it meant to him and his family. In fact, Spencer has taken on a number of huge challenges that we talk about on today’s episode in memory of his brother, taking him from the Sahara Desert to Arctic Sweden. Alongside that, he takes us from the South of France and Morocco to New York City and Paris.

Destination Recap:

Caunton, Newark, England
Paris, France
La Colle-Sour-Loup, France
La Colombe D’Or, France
St Barths, Caribbean
Eden Roc Hotel, St Barths
Sahara Desert
Mt Everest, Nepal
Namche Bazar, Nepal
New York, NY, USA
Palais Namaskar, Marrakech, Morocco
The Mark, NY, USA
The Bowery, NY, USA
Katz Deli, NY, USA
The Select Burger, NY, USA
4 Charles Prime Rib, NY, USA
Arctic Sweden
Japan
Argentina
Brazil

If you'd like to hear more from Spencer and his wife Vogue, you can tune in to his hit podcast, Spencer and Vogue, a Global original here.

And don’t forget to check out his low- and no-alcohol drinks brand Clean Co, here.

If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use Apple Podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Thanks so much for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Hammond Oct 18, 2022

On today’s episode I’m joined by one of British TV’s most famous faces, Richard Hammond. Stepping into the spotlight over twenty years ago, Richard became one third of the iconic trio to front the BBC's motoring show, Top Gear, alongside James May and Jeremy Clarkson.

The show went on to become the world's most watched factual TV programme - as proven by the Guiness book of records - at its peak 350 million viewers around the world were tuning in each week. The show saw the trio travel all over the world to take on epic motoring challenges, which they’ve since continued on The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime, where the three embark on car related challenges across the world.

Now when I say these shows have taken Richard all over the world, I’m not exaggerating: the filmography includes Norway, Canada, Botswana, Vietnam, Chile, Argentina, Namibia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, India, Madagascar, Mongolia - and that’s only half of them. Richard recounts some of these epic adventures on today’s episode, taking us from Canada to Botswana, to Bolivia, as well as to some much loved spots on British soil.

Destination Recap

The Forest of Dean, England
Biblins Campsite, Ross-on-Wye, England
Coast to Coast walk across England
Buttermere, Lake District, England
North Magnetic Pole, Northern Canada
Botswana
Mozambique
Canadian Forest
Cambodia + Vietnam road trip
Mikadikadi Salt Flats, Botswana
Kubu Island, Botswana
Bolivian rain forest
South Pole

Richard Hammond's Workshop Season 2 will be available to stream exclusively on discovery+ from Monday 17th October

With thanks to…

Sonnwies, South Tyrol’s mountain family-only wellness hotel with its own organic farm. Head to sonnwies.com to find out more.

If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Thanks so much for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspiring Ireland with Angela Scanlon - Bonus Episode with Tourism Ireland Oct 16, 2022

Welcome to this special bonus destination special episode of The Travel Diaries podcast, brought to you in partnership with Tourism Ireland.

Today, we are focussing specifically on one of my all time favourite destinations, the island of Ireland. With such a breadth of experiences and activities on offer in Ireland, it’s no wonder it’s such a popular destination to have been mentioned by my guests over the last seven seasons of the podcast and today I'm joined by one of Ireland's most loved exports, TV presenter, Angela Scanlon. She'll be drawing on her lifetime of affection for and travels in her home country, as we uncover her Irish Travel Diaries. So what will we discover? Let's get started and find out.

Destination Recap:

Co. Cork
Newgrange, Co. Meath
Hill of Tara, Co. Meath
Newgrange Farm, Co. Meath
Dublin
Keem Bay, Co. Mayo
Wild Atlantic Way
Gweedore, Co. Donegal
Glandore, Co. Cork
Bellmullet, Co. Mayo
Shraigh Beach, Belmullet, Co. Mayo
Claggan Island, Co. Mayo
Clare Island, Co. Mayo

If Angela’s Irish travel diaries have inspired you to book a trip to Ireland, you can discover more epic activities atireland.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabby Logan Oct 11, 2022

Today, I'm joined by one of sports broadcasting’s most familiar faces, Gabby Logan. This summer alone we watched Gabby helm the Commonwealth Games, the European Championships, the Women’s Euros and the London Marathon, to name a few. She's been a trailblazer for women in sport, no doubt inspired by her own family sporting credentials as a former international gymnast herself, as well as being the daughter of a professional footballer and manager, and the wife of a rugby international.

She’s also the host of the highly podcast The Midpoint, and a prolific writer, here today ahead of the launch of her new book, The First Half.

Gabby has travelled all over the globe to cover the world’s greatest sporting events - as well as being a keen traveller in the few spare moments she has off. Today she takes us from Vermont and Vancouver to the islands of Kefalonia and St Barths, and much more.

Destination Recap:

South of France
Qatar
Russia
Long Island, New York, USA
Highlands of Scotland
Greece
Greek Islands yacht tour - Kefalonia
Vancouver, BC, Canada
London, England
Japan
European ski holidays in the Alps
Rome, Italy
Eden Roc hotel, St Barths
Twin Farms hotel, Vermont, USA
Peru
Badrutt's Palace, St Moritz, Switzerland
Monaco
India

Gabby Logan’s new book ‘The First Half’ is available from October 13 in hardback, eBook and audio and you can purchase it now from book stores and online retailers.

With thanks to…

Briggs & Riley - Take part in this week’s competition to win a Briggs & Riley Baseline Essential Carry-On Spinner (RRP £599), monogrammed with your initials & a set of Packing Cubes (£50) to make packing a breeze. To enter, follow @BriggsAndRiley and @HollyRubenstein on Instagram & tag two friends.

If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Thanks so much for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Gamble Oct 04, 2022

Today, I’m joined by podcasting royalty. He is the co-host of the mega-hit podcast Off Menu (one of my favourite podcasts) and Taskmaster the Podcast, too. He is a regular on our TV screens on shows like Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You; he's soon to be one of the new hosts of Pointless and he’s part of the esteemed judging panel on the Great British Menu. He is currently touring the UK with his critically acclaimed standup show, Electric. It is of course, Ed Gamble.

From coastal California to a catastrophic cruise, romance in Japan and the beaches of Cyprus, Ed takes us on another wanderlust-inducing world tour, also picking his own dream Off menu-inspired menu from the different destinations he’s visited along the way.

So fasten your seatbelts …

Destination Recap:

Cyprus
New York, USA
Newquay, Cornwall, England
Comedy Cellar, New York, USA
Las Vegas, Nevada
The Buffet at Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
California Road Trip, USA
Ace Hotel Palm Springs, USA
The Venetian, Las Vegas, USA
The Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, USA
Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Rutobo, Kyoto, Japan
Miyajima, Japan
Nara Deer Park, Japan
Milk Bar, New York, USA
Fruit Market, Hull, England
SY23 Restaurant, Aberystwyth, Wales
The Little Chartroom, Edinburgh, Scotland
Deep South BBQ Tour, USA
Mexico

A huge thank you to Ed Gamble. Ed is touring the country with his new stand-up show Electric. For tickets and further info, visit edgamble.co.uk

With thanks to ... DK Eyewitness - Find "Go Here Instead" online at dk.com or at your local bookshop.

If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Thanks so much for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wolfgang Puck Sep 27, 2022

With over fifty restaurants, multiple Michelin stars and innumerable celebrity fans, Wolfgang Puck is one of the world’s most famous chefs and global restauranteurs.

Born in Austria, he began cooking alongside his mother who was a chef, before starting his formal chef training at just 14 years old, quickly going on to cook at some of France's best restaurants. But, it wasn't an easy childhood, and Wolfgang is incredibly honest about the abusive relationship he had to endure with his step father at home, and how that has shaped who he is today, and where he still can’t bring himself to travel to as a result.

It was far away from Austria, in Los Angeles, California, where Wolfgang really made a name for himself, garnering the attention of the Hollywood elite, arguably becoming the world’s first ‘celebrity chef’ and spearheading a revolution of Californian cuisine with his flagship restaurant, Spago. For over thirty years he has also been the official caterer of the Oscars, lining the stomachs of every gong hungry nominee, and he was even awarded his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

When you have global restaurant empire like Wolfgang you spend a lot of time travelling, and this episode takes us to some fabulous locations all over the world from Sardinia to Mexico, Capri to Japan.

Destination Recap:

45 Park Lane, London, England
Spago, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, USA
Austria
Colchester, Essex, England
Villach, Austria
Arlberg, Austria
Park City, Utah, USA
L'Oustau de Baumanière, Provence, France
Sardinia
Cala di Volpe, Sardinia
Bonifacio, Corsica
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Montage Los Cabos, Mexico
Rosewood Miramar Beach, Montecito, California, USA
Capri, Italy
Quattro Passi Restaurant, Italy
Budapest, Hungary
Viva Mayr, Austria
Japan
Nile Cruise, Egypt
Uganda

If you’d like to experience Wolfgang’s cuisine, then you should check out the new outdoor dining terrace of CUT at 45 Park Lane hotel, part of the Dorchester Collection in London, which is open for lunch and dinner.

With thanks to…

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Thanks so much for listening.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait til then, remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Savoretti Sep 20, 2022

On today’s episode we’re joined by one of the UK’s most successful singer-songwriters. He’s collaborated with everyone from Kylie Minogue to Bob Dylan and Nile Rogers, and recently sold out Wembley Arena - we’re joined today by the utterly delightful and extremely talented Jack Savoretti.

Jack had a truly international upbringing, moving from London to Switzerland, and spending idyllic childhood summers in Portofino, Italy, where his father’s family hail from as well as on a remote Bahamian island - it’s a rather enviable childhood I have to say.

It was a slow-burning rise to fame for Jack as a musician, who toured the UK for several years, all the while his fanbase grew and grew and it was his sixth album, Singing to Strangers, that finally hit the number one spot, and his most recent record, the sun-soaked and star-studded Europiana - which frankly couldn’t be a better talking point for the podcast, as it was inspired by his European upbringing and life - that was also a chart-topper too and it was really interesting to hear the story behind that.

This episode is a love letter to the Mediterranean as well as a few spots farther afield, but as the night’s draw in here in England, I hope this injects a bit of sunshine into your day.

Destination Recap:

Liguria, Italy
Formentera, Spain
Oxfordshire, England
Lugano, Switzerland
Ascona, Switzerland
Hotel Eden Roc, Ascona, Switzerland
Portofino, Italy
San Fruttuoso, Italy
Pierre Island, Bahamas
Abu Dhabi
South America

Jack Savoretti’s latest single Dancing Through The Rain which is taken from Europiana Encore, a special extended edition of his chart topping album, Europiana, is out now.

If you’d like to hear more from the podcast don’t forget to hit subscribe or if you use apple podcasts to hit follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week, and if you’re really enjoying it I’d be so grateful if you could leave a rating or review.

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait til then remember there’s the first seven seasons to catch up on - that’s over 85 episodes to keep you busy there. And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Thanks so much for listening.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hairy Bikers Sep 13, 2022

Welcome to Season 8 of The Travel Diaries! And who better to kick off the season than national treasures Si King and Dave Myers, a.k.a. the Hairy Bikers. My first duo on the pod, they’ve been entertaining Britain with their TV shows and books for over twenty years. Their unique blend of foodie expertise, humour and motorbike enthusiasm has earned them national treasure status. And part of their success has been their foodie travel shows, where they’ve biked incredible routes across the world, while experiencing local cuisines like their Asian Adventure, Mediterranean adventure, and US route 66 series to name just a few.

I spoke to Si and Dave a little while back now - as you might know, Dave is currently undergoing chemo for cancer, and he spoke to me the night before his next round which he'd travelled down to London for. So to say I was truly touched that they took the time to talk about to The Travel Diaries is an understatement. One thing is for sure, the two of them adore travel, and this episode takes us from Namibia to India, Argentina to Estonia and many places in between.

Destination Recap

Bamburgh Beach, Newfoundland, England
Isle of Man, England
Portugal
Namibia
Madurai, India
Southern Italy
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Patagonia, Argentina
Valdes Peninsula, Argentina
Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Mexico
Ghats, India
Japan
Lithuania
Riga, Latvia
Talinn, Estonia
Finnish Archipelago
Southern Turkey
Macchu Pichu, Peru
Nigeria
Pan American Highway

Check out the Bikers’ podcast, Agony Uncles, wherever you get your podcasts.

With thanks to today’s sponsors…

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

Visit Estonia - If the Bikers’ Baltic adventures have given you the wanderlust, why not Visit Estonia? Head to VisitEstonia.com to find out more.

CV Villas - Browse the newly launched 2023 Collection and book your dream villa holiday at CVVillas.com

Athletic Greens - It’s time to reclaim your health and arm your immune system with convenient, daily nutrition! Athletic Greens is going to give you a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase. All you have to do is visit athleticgreens.com/TTD

If you want to be the first to find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

And don’t forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes and they’re also on my website, TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Miriam Margolyes Jun 28, 2022

Today, I’m joined by a legend of stage and screen. Britain’s naughtiest national treasure. It’s the award-winning actress, Miriam Margolyes.

Miriam’s movie roles have included the BAFTA award-winning Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Age of Innocence’ and of course Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films. She’s appeared in a host of hugely popular TV shows from Blackadder and Miss Marple to more recently the Real Exotic Marigold Hotel and Call the Midwife. And she’s also a prolific travel documentarian filming in and around Australia, the US and Scotland to name a few. As a lifelong lover of Charles Dickens, she presented the successful BBC documentary series Dickens’ America and toured the world with her acclaimed one woman show ‘Dicken’s Women’ in which she played 23 characters based on or inspired by characters in Dickens’s novels.

Speaking to me from her Australian home, Miriam was so engaging and generous with her time both before, after and during the interview - so grab a cuppa, settle in and enjoy listening to the very widely travelled and very entertaining Miriam Margolyes.

Destination Recap:

Robertson, NSW, Australia
Australia
Tuscany, Italy
Kingsgate, Kent Coast, England
St Margaret’s Bay, Kent, England
Glasgow, Scotland
Isle of Harris, Scotland
Cambridge, England
Norfolk, England
Basel, Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland
Lindt Chocolate Shop, Zurich, Switzerland
Israel
Palestine
The Rust Belt, USA
India
Italy
Ireland
Indonesia
Kerala, India
Calcutta, India
Giglio, Italy
Fordyce, Scotland
Rimini, Italy
Africa

Miriam is heading to a British theatre near you next month, as part of her upcoming book tour, in honour of the paperback release of her fantastic memoir, This Much is True. Head online for tickets.

With thanks to…

Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out more.

DK Eyewitness - Get new editions of DK’s award-winning Eyewitness and Top 10 travel books and plan out adventures to the likes of Italy, Mexico, Spain or Costa Rica. Each guide is complete with updated listings, interest-led travel advice and the latest practical information. Find them all online or at your local bookshop.

Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me coming up, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Glorious Greece - Destination Special Jun 21, 2022

On this week’s destination special we are heading to one of the world’s most popular travel destinations. We're off to the South East of Europe, to a country of thousands of islands dotted throughout the Aegean and Ionian Seas. The cradle of Western civilization, its capital, Athens, is home to ancient landmarks dating back to the 5th-century B.C. like the Acropolis and the Parthenon. A country of magical natural landscapes, turquoise seas and secret beaches, with the longest coastline in Europe and the most welcoming locals. It is of course, Glorious Greece.

Unsurprisingly, Greece, and in particular the Greek Islands have been a hugely popular choice by my podcast guests over the last seven seasons and what I’ve especially enjoyed is really how many of them are hidden gems that I personally wasn’t hugely familiar with.

The first half of today’s episode is a tour around the islands featuring some of my favourite guests over the last few years, and then, afterwards, we’ll be joined by Greece travel expert, fellow podcaster and Greece resident, Heidi Fuller-Love who’ll be sharing her extensive expertise, tips, and recommendations for your next Greek holiday.

Destination Recap:

Tom Kerridge - Agistri
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall - Aegina
Fiona Duncan - Koufonisia and Amorgos
David Loftus - Paros
Yotam Ottolenghi - Folegandros
Raven Smith - Milos
Jo Malone - Rhodes

Heidi Fuller-Love’s Destination Recap:

Crete
E4 trail, Crete
Sitia Geopark, Crete
Samaria Gorge, Crete
Kato Zakros, Crete
Akoritiri, Santorini
MarBella Elix, Parga
Nana Princess, Crete
Agistri
Aegina
Thirassia
Thirassia Paradise Suites
Alonissos
Karpathos
Epirus Mountains

For more information about Greece head to visitgreece.gr and follow @GreeceGrammable on Instagram.

With thanks to…

Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out more

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lorraine Kelly Jun 14, 2022

Today’s guest is Britain’s undisputed Queen of breakfast telly. A national treasure, who for the last 12 years has been the host of her self-titled show on ITV, Lorraine - it is, of course, Lorraine Kelly.

Lorraine became a journalist the hard way, working on local papers before working as a researcher on BBC Scotland, where bosses told her that, because of her Scottish accent, she’d never get a job in front of the camera.

Oh how she proved them wrong. Joining TV-am she went on to report on some of the toughest stories of that era, from the Dunblane massacre to the Lockerbie bombings, with her characteristic compassion and empathy, before joining GMTV and the sofas of breakfast TV.

What you might not know about Lorraine is that she is fanatical about travel. She has been practically everywhere, and is really intrepid in her travel choices. She takes us from the islands of the Outer Hebrides to the frozen landscape of Antarctica; from remote Botswana to the jungles of Uganda and much much more.

Oh, and the occasional grumble in the background is her daughter Rosie’s sausage dog who also joined us for the chat.

There’s a lot to cover today. So, let’s fasten our seatbelts and get started.

Destination Recap:

Glasgow, Scotland
Paris. France
Orkney, Scotland
The Italian Chapel, Orkney, Scotland
St Kilda, Scotland
Singapore
Marina Bay Sands hotel, Singapore
Orchard Road shops, Singapore
Sentosa Island, Singapore
Duxton Reserve, Singapore
Antarctica
Falkland Islands
Alaska, USA
Southern Africa
Botswana
Uganda
Borneo
Barra, Scotland
Harris, Scotland
Tunisia
Rajasthan, India
Mongolia
Siberia
The Arctic

Listen to Lorraine’s podcast What If? wherever you get your podcasts.

With thanks to…

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

The Kensington Hotel - For bookings and more information click here.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out more

Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listener Special Jun 07, 2022

Today is a Travel Diaries first - a Listener Special where you, my amazing listeners, are this week’s special guests. I’ve interviewed many a star over the past seven seasons, but the real stars have been you, the listeners. Your incredible support has allowed the podcast to grow as quickly as it has, so it only felt right that I turn the tables, and the microphone, back on to you to tap into your collective wisdom and travel experiences, as you answer the seven chapters of the travel diaries.

From China to Kerala, from Costa Rica to Puglia, from the rainforests of the Amazon to the plains of Kenya, fasten your seatbelts for the first ever Travel Diaries Listener Special.

Destination Recap:

Chapter One - Earliest Childhood Travel Memories

featuring

- Beijing, China from Tone in Surrey, England

- France from Katja in Slovenia

Chapter Two - The First Place You Fell In Love With

featuring

- Villefranche-sur-Mer, France from Emma in Edinburgh, Scotland

- Austria from Joe from Somerset, England

- Kerala, India from Emma in London

Chapter Three - The Place Where You Learnt The Most About Yourself

featuring

- Karditsa, Greece from Aoife in Ireland

Chapter Four - All Time Favourite Destinations

featuring

- Puglia, Italy from Tracey in Wexford, Ireland

- Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest from Charlotte in New Zealand

- Nice, France from Jen in Belfast, Northern Ireland

- Kenya from Emma in Worcestershire

Chapter Five - Hidden Gems

featuring

- San Gerardo de Rivas in Costa Rica from Mani in Birmingham, England

- Rendezvous Bay, Antigua from Charlie in the Wirral, England

- Red Wharf Bay on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales from Shireen in Wales

Chapter Seven - The Destination At The Top Of Your Travel Bucket Lists

featuring

- Toronto, Canada from Ellie in East Sussex, England

- Japan from Aaron in South Wales

With thanks to…

Small Luxury Hotels of the World - Ease yourself into a holiday headspace and visit slh.com/travelcomfortzones to find out more.

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Hollywood May 31, 2022

On today’s episode I’m joined by Mr Blue Eyes himself, our favourite judge from the Great British Bake Off, and making a very rare podcast appearance, I’m thrilled to be joined by Paul Hollywood.

Paul began his career as a baker, quickly ascending to become Head Baker in some of the world’s most exclusive hotels. His talent caught the eye of TV producers who snapped him up for cooking shows and before long, he was cast as a judge on one of TV’s most successful shows of all time - the Great British Bake Off. Paul has taken part in every season of the show and when he isn’t filming he’s most likely working on other TV series that combine his two loves - food and travel, and he has travelled the world over.

He’s probably the guest this season that a lot of you have been most curious about, maybe because of his tough love and penetrating stare on the Bake Off. As you’ll here, Paul was an absolute delight, very unaffected and genuine, and clearly really passionate about travel. I really enjoyed this one and I hope you will too. So let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Mexico
Ensenada, Mexico
Baja, Mexico
Chablé Yucatán, Chocholá, Mexico
Conwy, North Wales
Ibiza, Spain
St Lawrence Gap, Barbados
Cliveden, Hampshire, England
London, England
Cyprus
Annabelle Hotel, Cyprus
Anassa Hotel, Cyprus
Jerusalem, Israel
Rome, Italy
The Great British Bake Off Tent, England
Cafes near the Coliseum, Rome, Italy
Verbier, Switzerland
Casablanca, Morocco
Australia
New Zealand

BAKE by Paul Hollywood, published by Bloomsbury on 9 June 2022 (£26.00 RRP, Hardback)

With thanks to…

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas - The resort is currently offering 30% off with a Best of Maldives offer, which includes a complimentary four course lunch in SEA for stays of four to seven nights and a complimentary manta ray snorkelling or dolphin cruise for stays over 8 nights, available for stays until 23 December. Head to anantara.com or check out @anantarakihavah on Instagram to find out more.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Burkard, Adventure Photographer May 24, 2022

Today, I’m joined by one of the world’s most successful adventure and nature photographers, Chris Burkard. Nearly 4 million people follow Chris’s work throughout the year on Instagram as he travels to some of the world’s most remote destinations and extreme environments, often requiring Chris to take on immense challenges to capture his work. His stories inspire us to consider our relationship with nature, and the importance of the preservation of wild places everywhere.

His travel diaries take us from Greenland to the Kuril Islands, and from remote Iceland to the beaches of California, with some great photographs tips at the end, too.

Destination Recap

Pismo Beach, California, USA
Yosemite, California, USA
Iceland
Kuril Islands
Ísafjörður, Iceland
Greenland
Nicaragua
Lake Baikal, Russia
Mongolia
Faroe Islands
Svalbard

Chris' new book, Wayward, is out now.

With thanks to…

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

CV Villas - Book your dream villa holiday at CVVillas.com

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raven Smith May 17, 2022

Today, I’m joined by Raven Smith, the best-selling author and Vogue columnist who’s been hailed as the funniest man on Instagram and dubbed London’s fashion world philosopher. His first book, Raven Smith’s Trivial Pursuits, captured readers as a witty and irreverent guide to modern life and he’s back with a new book, part memoir part commentary on masculinity, called Raven Smith’s Men.

As you’ll soon hear, Raven is also an avid traveller and has written for numerous travel titles about his experiences around the world. He takes us from the pyramids of Egypt to the nightclubs of New York, from Greek island tavernas to the hidden beaches of Barbados, with lots of laughs along the way.

So fasten your seatbelts and let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Crete, Greece
Kos, Greece
Milos, Greece
O Hamos, Milos, Greece
Brighton, England
Barbados
Japan
Sea-U Guesthouse, Barbados
Berlin, Germany
Cairo, Egypt
Adrére Amellal, Siwa, Egypt
Old Cataract Hotel, Aswan, Egypt
L'Avant Comptoir de la Mer, Paris, France
Brasserie Zedel, London, England
Rochelle Canteen, London, England
Quo Vadis, London, England
Duck Soup, London, England
Cuba
Finca Paradisa, Cuba
Hawaii, USA

That was the fabulous Raven Smith. His new book Raven Smith’s Men is out now.

With thanks to…

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

Airbnb - Whether you’re looking to live anywhere, or become a Host yourself, visit Airbnb.com and find out more. Prospective Hosts can learn more about how much they can earn sharing their space through the What’s My Place Worth Tool.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gennaro Contaldo May 10, 2022

Today’s guest is one of the UK’s most loved chefs, Gennaro Contaldo. A key player in bringing his native Italian cuisine to British shores over recent decades, Gennaro’s written over a dozen best-selling Italian cookbooks and is the mentor to his protege Jamie Oliver, who credits Gennaro with teaching him everything he knows about Italian cooking, and Gennaro calls him his sixth child. You’ll have seen on numerous TV shows with Jamie, on Saturday Kitchen and on Two Greedy

Italians, with the late great Antonio Carluccio.

This episode is a real love letter to Gennaro’s homeland of Italy, bringing to life with such passion destinations like the Amalfi coast, Puglia, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands. So, fasten your seatbelts, and let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Minori, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Monte Gargano, Puglia, Italy
Monte Sant'Angelo, Italy: Saint Michael's Cave
Salina, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy
Catania, Sicily, Italy
Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy
Lipari, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy
Signum Hotel, Aeolian Islands, Sicily, Italy
Naples, Italy
India

Gennaro is an ambassador for Citalia and his latest recipe book Gennaro’s Limoni: Vibrant Italian recipes celebrating the lemon is out now.

With thanks to…

Clinique UK - Discover Clinique at World Duty Free today.

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists

Villa D’Este Hotel - Experience one of Europe’s grandest hotels, on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, for its 150th season. Visit villadeste.com to find out more.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first six seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Stanley Tucci and Raymond Blanc.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beautiful Bahamas with India Hicks - Destination Special May 03, 2022

Today, we’re being transported to an island paradise. An archipelago of nearly 700 coral islands, 100,000 square miles of the world’s clearest turquoise ocean, secret sandbars, private coves, secluded pink sand beaches, and undisturbed wildlife. We’re heading to The Beautiful Bahamas.

There are 16 main islands in the Bahamas, and no two islands are alike with their own culture, history, cuisine, diving, fishing - there is something for every type of traveller, and I'm joined today by two fabulous guests who will be bringing these different islands to life.

First I’m joined by someone who has called The Bahamas their home for over 25 years, the designer, entrepreneur and former model, India Hicks.

India is the daughter of famed interior designer David Hicks and Lady Pamela Hicks. She is the granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten who was Prince Philip’s uncle and whose assassination by the IRA was most recently depicted on the The Crown on Netflix. India was thrown into the spotlight as a teenager when was a bridesmaid to her godfather, Prince Charles and Princess Diana at their wedding. So it may seem somewhat of an unusual decision that India has settled and raised her five children on a tiny Bahamian island. She speaks to me from her home on the picture postcard Harbour Island.

And later we’ll be joined by the acclaimed travel writer and editor Alicia Miller. Alicia has written extensively about the Bahamas and is full of tips and recommendations about so many different islands.

Destination Recap:

India Hicks

Harbour Island

The Dunmore Beach Club
The Landing Hotel
Queen Conch
Cocoa Coffee House

Windermere Island

Andros

Kamalame Cay, Andros

New Providence

Rosewood Baha Mar, New Providence

Blue Holes diving

Grand Bahama

Tiger Shark diving

Alicia Miller

Harbour Island

The Landing Hotel
The Dunmore Hotel

New Providence

Nassau
Paradise Island
Atlantis Hotel
Baha Mar
Rosewood Baha Mar
Café Boulud The Bahamas
Marcus at Baha Mar
Downtown Nassau
The Graycliff Hotel
Fish Fry
Frankie Gone Bananas
BREEF Coral Reef Sculpture Garden & Coral Nursery
The Poop Deck restaurant

The Exumas

Spanish Wells

Andros

Kamalame Cay

Grand Bahama

Coral Vida Project

Eleuthera

The Other Side
The Cove

If you would like find out more about the Bahamas, check out bahamas.com.

To hear future episodes of the podcast as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice. To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first six seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc .

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New Zealand Now with Rose Matafeo and Richie McCaw - Destination Special Apr 26, 2022

Today, we’re heading to a mountainous island nation in the Pacific Ocean, with two main islands, the North and the South. A land of mammoth national parks, epic biodiversity, dynamic Māori culture and world-class adventure sports. One of the most popular destinations to be picked by my guests as top of their travel bucket list. It is of course, New Zealand.

Today’s episode is a bumper celeb guest double bill, representing both the North and the South Island, kicking off with the comedian, writer and actor Rose Matafeo, who grew up in Auckland on the North Island. Rose’s critically acclaimed show Horndog won the award for Best Show at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, setting her on a trajectory to international stardom. Her sitcom, Starstruck, which she writes and stars in was commissioned by the BBC and HBO Max. Season One became the BBC’s best performing new comedy of last year. Rose is particularly passionate about NZ’s food and cultural scenes, and she shares her must dos, her must eats, and all her insider North Island knowledge, from its magnificent coasts and beaches, to geothermal wonders, sprawling farmlands and Māori rich culture.

And then we head to the South Island, where we are joined by arguably the greatest rugby player of all time, Richie McCaw. Richie captained the New Zealand All Blacks for 15 years in the 00s and 10s to two world cup wins. He achieved an astonishing 148 caps, a record only just beaten and was named World player of the year 3 times. From wildlife to wineries, glacial valleys to star-filled skies, its no wonder the other-worldly mountainous South Island was the destination where the Lord of the Rings films were set. It’s been Richie’s home all of his life, and he shares his expert knowledge on the island he knows so well.

Destination Recap:

Rose Matafeo

Auckland, North Island
Auckland Live, North Island
Civic Theatre, Auckland, North Island
The Basement Theatre, Auckland, North Island
The Classic Comedy Club, Auckland, North Island
Piha Beach, North Island
Herne Bay, North Island
Ponsonby Food Court, Auckland, North Island
K Road, Auckland, North Island
Peach Pit, K Road, Auckland, North Island
Bestie Cafe, K Road, Auckland, North Island
Mount Maunganui, North Island
Rotoroa Island, North Island
Waitomo Caves, North Island
Taranaki
New Plymouth
Wellington
Te Papa gallery, Wellington
Tanuki’s Cave, Auckland

Richie McCaw

Kura, South Island
Wānaka , South Island
Central Otago, South Island
Southern Alps, South Island
Bay of Islands, North Island
Terminal Lake, South Island
Taranaki, New Plymouth, North Island
Poor Knights Islands, North Island
Stewart Island, South Island

If you’re ready to find out more about planning your trip to NZ, head to newzealand.com and check out your favourite travel magazines and newspaper travel sections, which have plenty of handy guides.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first six seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spectacular Singapore with Tom Kerridge - Destination Special Apr 19, 2022

Hello and welcome to The Travel Diaries Season 7! I’m starting this season with a Destination Special mini series - three incredible destinations, all on my travel wish list, with some great celeb guests and destination experts helping us bring them to life, and today is no exception.

We are heading on a journey to South East Asia, to a small but mighty thirty mile long tropical island, surrounded by sixty two smaller islands, with Malaysia to its north and Indonesia to its South. It is of course Spectacular Singapore.

Beyond Singapore’s picture-perfect skyline and bustling city centre, there’s so much about this country to explore and I have two fabulous guests who will help us do just that.

First, Michelin-starred chef, tv presenter and author Tom Kerridge returns to the podcast. When he joined me be back on Season 2, he picked Singapore as his all time favourite destination, and so I thought who better to come back? Food is so important in Singaporean culture that a common greeting is "Have you eaten?”

And then we’ll be joined by novelist, editor and travel journalist Annabelle Thorpe. Annabelle spent six years on the Times Travel desk, before becoming deputy travel editor for Express Newspapers, and then taking the same role at the Observer. She has a particularly spot for Singapore which she has visited and written about many times. She shares her insider tips and expert knowledge, and so many recommendations if you are planning a trip to Singapore - which I hope after listening to this episode you will be inspired to do. I know I certainly am!

Destination Recap:

Tom Kerridge

Annabelle Thorpe

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Gardens by the Bay
Sentosa Island
Jurong Lake
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Ann Siang House
Raffles Singapore
Capella Singapore
National Museum of Singapore
Fort Canning Park
Fullerton Road

If you’re inspired to start planning your trip to Singapore, head to visitsingapore.com and check out your favourite newspapers and travel magazines which often have detailed destination guides.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first six seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc .

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amazing Thailand with John Torode - Destination Special Dec 28, 2021

On today’s destination special we’re travelling far away to the warmer climes of South East Asia. To a country renowned for its opulent monuments, ancient ruins, floating markets, palm-fringed tropical beaches, turquoise seas, lush jungle, sumptuous cuisines and a people so friendly that the country is nicknamed The Land of Smiles. Of course, today we’re heading to Amazing Thailand.

I’m thrilled to say that chef and TV presenter John Torode returns to the podcast, having been so passionate about his extensive travels in Thailand back in Season 5 to share his Thai travel diaries, from Bangkok the bustling capital in the middle of the country, to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the mountainous north, to its famous jungle-topped tropical islands that lie off its two golden sand coastlines in the south.

And then, I am joined by the wonderful Kay Plunkett-Hogge. Kay is a cookery writer, travel journalist and broadcaster who is Thai, she was born and raised in Bangkok, bi-lingual, and she now lives in the mountains of Chiang Dao, which is in the Chiang Mai province of the country, and she spoke to me from her home there.

I have never been to Thailand - it's somewhere I've always wanted to go, and so I ask Kay, as someone who has lived in Thailand most of her life, where I should go and what I should do on my first trip there. She takes us through a fantastic two week round trip itinerary for first timers, beginning and ending in Bangkok, as well as sharing some of her favourite spots and hidden gems.

John Torode's Destination Recap:

Pak khlong talat (Flower Market Bangkok)
The Thai House, Bangkok
Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
King’s Project, Chiang Rai
Hyatt, Chiang Mai
Southern Thai islands

Kay Plunkett-Hogge’s Destination Recap:

Chiang Dao
Bangkok
Chakrabongse Villas, Bangkok
Old Chinatown, Bangkok
Chiang Rai
Phu Chaisai, Ching Rai
Chiang Dao
Chiang Mai
Phuong Tong Restaurant, Chiang Mai
Old day train, Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Phuket
Baan Bayan, Hua Hin
Aksorn Restaurant, Bangkok
100 Mahaseth (Si Phraya), Bangkok
Madrid Bar, Bangkok
Isan
Phanom Rung Historical Park

What an incredible flavour of an incredible country, thank you so much to both John and Kay for sharing their knowledge and passion for Amazing Thailand.

If you’re inspired to find out more about Thailand, visit fanclubthailand.co.uk and check out your favourite travel magazines and newspapers who will no doubt offer some comprehensive destination guides.

And come and follow me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein.

Have a very Happy New Year and thanks so much for listening.

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Fantastic Finland Christmas Special with Tracy-Ann Oberman - Destination Special Dec 21, 2021

Today, we’re embarking on a journey to the far north of Europe. To a place of summer midnight sun and the magical northern lights of the winter. The Land of a Thousand Lakes. A place where saunas are as common as cafes. And, with just a few days to go until Christmas, I imagine it’s a hive of activity given that Lapland in the north of the country is the home of Santa Claus and his elves. Of course, I’m talking about Fantastic Finland.

And I’m joined by two wonderful guests today to help bring this diverse and beautiful country to life. First, we’ll hear from the actress Tracy-Ann Oberman. You’ll know Tracy-Ann from shows like EastEnders, Friday Night Dinner, It’s A Sin and Ridley Road. She has a special connection to Finland, which she'll tell us about when she shares her Finnish travel diaries, coming up.

And then, we’re joined by Finland Destination Expert, and food and travel writer, Bre Graham, who has travelled extensively around the country, and shares so many brilliant different recommendations and tips, for places to visit, stay, eat, and what to bring home in your suitcase.

Tracy-Ann Oberman’s Destination Recap:

Bre’s Recap:

Löyly Helsinki sauna, Helsinki
Goodio Chocolate Factory, Vantaa
Nolla Restaurant, Helsinki
Finnish Lapland
Lake Inari, Sápmi
Albina Ravintola & Viinibaari, Kallio, Helsinki
St George Hotel, Helsinki
Lapland Hotel, Helsinki

If you would like to read more about Finland head to visitfinland.com. If you enjoyed today’s episode don’t forget to subscribe. And come and follow me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein. Have a very Happy Christmas and thanks so much for listening.

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Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-Founder & CEO Dec 14, 2021

Today’s guest is the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, an interview that has been years in the making, and a real honour.

For billions of us, including myself, Airbnb has completely changed the way we travel. It opened up people’s homes, creating an army of Superhosts in the process, bringing tourists and locals far closer together. It’s no short of lie that Airbnb created a travel revolution.

So you could say today’s episode is both Brian’s and Airbnb’s. For a CEO of his magnitude, it’s clearly hard for him to separate the two. The story of how Airbnb came to be, is not what you’d expect. Brian went to design school, he’s an artist, and came from humble beginnings. In fact, it was cereal boxes that first got Airbnb off the ground - you’ll have to stay tuned to hear Brian explain more about that, as part of the fascinating and surprising twists and turns on the path to Airbnb’s global domination.

Brain’s answers are very philosophical and a goldmine of both travel and business wisdom. As he says himself, he was a host before he was a traveler and many of his answers reflect that mindset. Travel for him is about getting into a locals POV. You won’t get luxury hotels, you’ll get stories of people and experiences.

We also hear at the end how Airbnb are pivoting to drive the next revolution in travel.

I hope you enjoy it.

Destination Recap:

St Louis, Missouri, USA
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), USA
Los Angeles, California, USA
San Francisco, California, USA
Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Tokyo, Japan
The Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco, California, USA

If you want to follow in mine and Brian's footsteps and become a host on airbnb you can go to airbnb.com/host to sign up, and try out airbnb.co.uk/askasuperhost to speak to other UK hosts for advice.

Thank you to today's sponsor, DK Eyewitness. Find their guides on special offer at wordery.com - simply enter the code DKEYEWITNESS at checkout for a 10% discount.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michel Roux Jr Dec 07, 2021

Today, I’m joined by a legend of the culinary world, the chef, restaurateur and broadcaster, Michel Roux Jr. Michel was practically born in a kitchen when his mother went into labour during service at his father’s restaurant. He’s the son of Albert Roux and the nephew of Michel Roux, brothers who revolutionised the restaurant business in the UK when they opened Le Gavroche in 1967, famously becoming the first establishment in this country to gain one, two and then three Michelin stars. When his father retired in 1993, Michel Jr took over the world-famous restaurant, quickly becoming a household name on TV shows like Masterchef The Professionals, Remarkable Places to Eat and he now has a new TV show, set in Provence, which he’ll tell us all about. Chefs tend be very well travelled, and Michel is no exception. His travel diaries take us on a delectable journey from Lyon to Hong Kong, The Seychelles to Las Vegas.

Destination Recap:

Scotland
Shipbourne, Kent, England
Fairlawne Estate, Kent, England
Paris, France
Lyons, France
Hong Kong
Aberdeen, Hong Kong
West Coast of USA
Spago Restaurant, San Francisco, USA
Chez Panisse, San Francisco, USA
The Seychelles
Bird Island, Seychelles
Marie Antoinette restaurant, Mahe, Seychelles
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Macau
Ardèche, France
Pont Sant Espirit, France
India
South America

Watch Michel Roux's French Country Cooking as a boxset exclusively on Discovery+.

Thank you to my sponsors -

The Tourism Authority of Thailand welcomes you to join them for Visit Thailand Year 2022 - Amazing New Chapters. Find the A-Z of amazing things to see and do in Thailand and the latest travel advice at www.fanclubthailand.co.uk
Naladhu Private Island, an exclusive luxury island resort in the Maldives. Visit naladhu.com to find out more and book that trip of a lifetime.

To find out who’s joining me next week, follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin to Heston Blumenthal.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Bailey Nov 30, 2021

Today I’m joined by the much loved comedian, musician and actor, Bill Bailey. Known for his hugely inventive stand up, he’s of course such a familiar face on our TV screens, spending several years as team captain on the long running music and comedy BBC panel show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, making regular appearances on QI and Have I Got News For You, and most recently being crowned the champion of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Oti Mabuse, last year.

Bill kicks off his travel diaries having just returned from an incredible trip to Iceland, so he tells us all about; he shares his love of Indonesia where he spontaneously eloped with his wife, and travels back to each year; as a gigging comedian he has discovered every corner of the UK, so he reveals some British hidden gems that could be on your doorstep, and he shares his tips for Strictly this year.

He joins me from his West London family home, which he shares with a menagerie of pets, including five rescue dogs, a cat, a parrot, a snake, ducks and hens, which you will occasionally hear laying an egg in the background. This is a really fun one!

Destination Recap:

Reykjavik, Iceland
Akureyi, Iceland
Bubble Hotel, Iceland
Weston-super-mare, England
Bath, England
Saunder’s Foot, South Wales
Marseilles, France
Argentina
Indonesia
Sumatra, Indonesia
West Papua, Indonesia
The Ridgeway National Trail, England
Barbados
Baqueira Beret, Spain
Sitges, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Patagonia
Namibia
Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

Bill Bailey’s En Route To Normal tour kicks off in Plymouth on Sun 12 December and runs through to mid January. All the tickets and dates can be found at www.BillBailey.co.uk

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone to Heston Blumenthal and Nadiya Hussain.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giovanna Fletcher Nov 23, 2021

Giovanna Fletcher is one of the UK’s most successful women’s fiction authors. She's the host of Happy Mum, Happy Baby, the chart-topping podcast which sees her interview celeb guests about the highs and lows of parenting. She and her husband Tom Fletcher, from the band McFly have a huge YouTube presence where they perform together; and she’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’s reigning champion, the Queen of the Castle. To say Giovanna is multi-talented, is quite the understatement.

Giovanna has been travelling since a very young age as her dad is Italian, so she tells us about her annual trips to visit her family in Italy, she and Tom are a kind of obsessed with Disney and she brings to life the magic and joy of holidays at the Disney parks, and much of her new book is inspired by travel, by the country of Peru. We also chat about her love of trekking; her advice about travelling with three young kids; and what is was like to interview Kate Middleton and the whirlwind of press that came after.

Giovanna’s Destination Recap:

Valva, Campania, Italy
Paris, France
Disneyland Paris, France
Peru
Walt Disney World, Florida, USA
Jade Mountain, St Lucia
Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall, England
Three Mile Beach, Cornwall, England
Tenerife, Spain
Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Madagascar
Appalachian Trail, USA

Holly’s Destination Recap:

Belmond British Pullman train

Giovanna’s new novel, Walking on Sunshine, is out now in hardback, priced £14.99

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc .

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Backshall Nov 16, 2021

Steve Backshall is a BAFTA-winning presenter, writer, explorer, naturalist and all round daredevil. His big break as a broadcaster arrived when National Geographic offered him the post of Adventurer in Residence and he’s been taking on some of the toughest challenges on earth ever since, gracing our TV screens with shows like Deadly 60, Expedition, and The Lost Land series. On this episode you’ll hear that Steve’s great passion is discovery. Discovery of new places and new animal species - whether that’s uncovering never before seen ancient human art work in a Borneo cave, tracking snow leopards in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, coming extremely close to death while kayaking in Bhutan or diving with sharks in his new show, Shark with Steve Backshall.

Holly’s Destination Recap:

No. 15 Great Pulteney, Bath, England
Three Mile Beach, Cornwall, England

Steve’s Destination Recap:

Zimbabwe
Colombia
West Papua
Bhutan
Wales - Gower, Pembroke, Snowdonia, Breacon Beacons
Scilly Isles, Cornwall, England
Coastal Pembroke, Wales
Coastal Penzance, Cornwall, England
Bimini, The Bahamas
Kyrgyzstan
Borneo
Brazil
Suriname

Shark With Steve Backshall continues on Sunday at 8pm on Sky Nature, Sky Showcase and is streaming on NOW TV.

Thank you to today’s sponsors:

Freddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50
The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa

To hear future episodes as soon as they’re released, don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow”. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And there’s always the first 5 seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Rick Stein, to Jo Malone to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Nabongo, first black woman to visit every country in the world Nov 09, 2021

Jessica Nabongo is the first black woman in history to have visited all 195 countries in the world. On top of that, she travelled to 89 of these countries solo. All by the age of 35. She’s an influencer, photographer and businesswoman, and shares with us what she learnt throughout this epic journey.

From Tuvalu and Eritrea to Turkmenistan and Djibouti, Jessica’s travel diaries literally take us all over the world.

Destination Recap:

Punta Mita, Mexico
Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda,
Lamu, Kenya
Japan
Mt Fuji, Japan
Hiroshima, Japan
Bali, Indonesia
Namibia
Islamabad, Pakistan
Lahore, Pakistan
Iran especially Isfahan
Colombia
Cuba
Merowe, Sudan
Senegal
Eritrea
Masawa, Eritrea
Tuvalu
Lake Assal, Djibouti
The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan
South Sudan
Moldova
Belarus
Tashkent, Samarkand & Termez, Uzbekistan
Venice, Italy
Greenland
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

For more of Jessica’s adventures you can pre-order her first book on Amazon. It will be published by National Geographic and is out in May 2022. In the meantime, you can follow her on Instagram @jessicanabongo. Jessica's new project, The Nabongo List: is a new luxury, travel membership that gives you the best in local, luxury and unique experiences all around the world, curated by Jessica

A big thank you to today’s sponsors for their support of the podcast.

DK Eyewitness - What better way to find that next adventure than with a DK Eyewitness book? Get new editions of their award-winning DK Eyewitness and Top 10 travel guides, or for the intrepid explorer, there’s Outdoor Europe. Click the link, or visit your local bookshop.

COMO Hotels and Resorts - COMO's collection of 14 luxury boutique hotels and resorts are in some of the world's most desirable destinations. A new hotel has been announced for 2022, COMO Le Montrachet in Burgundy, France. Find out more about COMO's beautiful hotels and resorts by visiting Comohotels.com

Adnams - The home of premium gins. Get 10% off your first purchase with Adnams using code TRAVEL10.

Freddie’s Flowers- Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50 at freddiesflowers.com

British Airways x Visit Florida - Book your trip with confidence at BA.com/Florida

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clare Balding Nov 02, 2021

Today’s guest is a broadcasting legend. Whether it’s the Olympic Games, Paralympics, horse racing, Crufts, Wimbledon or so much more, Clare Balding has risen to national treasure status. She’s also a best-selling author, radio presenter and podcaster, in case you didn’t think she was busy enough!

Covering so many major TV events has taken Clare around the world, and then some. Her travel diaries take us from Mauritius to Costa Rica, Italy to Iona. She tells us how she once won her weight in champagne as a horse jockey; as a dog lover like me she shares her favourite dog friendly spots in the UK; we hear her take on the future of Emma Raducanu, and about the time the Queen turned up at her house for breakfast. All that coming up on The Travel Diaries.

Destination Recap:

Chamonix, France
Aspen, Colorado, USA
Mauritius
Four Seasons Hotel, Mauritius
Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Australia
New Zealand
Costa Rica
Hotel Punta Islita, Costa Rica
Cuba
Lewa, Kenya
Galana, Kenya
Tofauti charity
Lucknam Park, Bath, England
Whatley Manor, Wiltshire, England
Holbeck Ghyll, Lake District, England
Rosa Alpina, The Dolomites, Italy
Puglia, Italy
Umbria, Italy
Iona, Scotland
Northumberland, England
Wigton, Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway
Elephant Corridor, Sri Lanka
Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Mexico
Baltic Sea Cruise
Fjord Cruise
Panama Canal Cruise
The Amazon Cruise
South Pacific Cruise
Alaska, USA

A big thanks to Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London for hosting us for our interview. Book your winter or Christmas staycation and enjoy Magical Mandarin Moments of delight from £740 per night.

To book your dream villa holiday visit The Thinking Traveller. The Thinking Traveller's collection of luxury villas across Italy, The Greek Islands, Corsica and Mallorca are some of the best properties out there for a villa holiday and come in all sizes, whether you're travelling as a couple or for a big family reunion.

Freddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50 at freddiesflowers.com

British Airways x Visit Florida - Book your trip with confidence at BA.com/Florida

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stanley Tucci Oct 26, 2021

We’re back for Season 6 (how did that happen?!) and what an honour to be joined on our first episode by the Oscar-nominated actor and writer, Stanley Tucci. You’ve seen him in The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, Julie and Julia, Supernova, Fortitude, and The Lovely Bones. He’s directed four movies, and recently won an Emmy for his new food and travel TV series, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. As a foodie he’s written two delectable cookbooks, and his new memoir, Taste, is just as delicious.

This episode is a love letter to Italy, and of course to food. So let’s get started. Season 6, Stanley Tucci. Here we go!

Destination Recap

Holly:

- Vaison La Romaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

- Airelles Chateau de la Messardiere, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France

Stanley Tucci:

Vermont, USA

Rome, Italy

Florence, Italy

New Paltz, Upstate NY, USA, Shonagun Mountains

The Cotswolds

Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall, England

Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, England

Cirencester, The Cotswolds, England

The Lake District, England

Zermatt, Switzerland

Lake Como, Italy

Rome, Italy

Emilio Romagna, Italy

Ischia, Italy

Iceland

Scandinavia

Stanley Tucci’s memoir ‘Taste’ is out now.

A huge thank you to today’s sponsors, Citalia, Freddie’s Flowers and British Airways x Visit Florida.

Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists

Freddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50 at freddiesflowers.com

British Airways x Visit Florida - Book your trip with confidence at BA.com/Florida

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magical Kenya - Destination Special Oct 12, 2021

Today, we’re embarking on a journey to the east of Africa, to a country of spectacular wild and natural landscapes, where the wildlife is abundant, the famous Big 5 roaming free. A country of great plains, mountains, lush forest, and white sand beaches. It has captivated and travellers adventurers the world over. It is of course, Kenya.

On today’s episode, we’ll be hearing first from some of my previous podcast guests who have chosen parts of Kenya in their travel diaries, wildlife cameraman Gavin Thurston returns to the podcast to share his experiences having spent so much of his career travelling around and working in Kenya, and we’ll hear from one of my guests coming up on Season 6, too.

We’ll be heading on a tour of the country, starting in its capital Nairobi and ending in Samburu National Park in the north. It’s in Samburu that my final guest, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, has lived for the last 6 years. Saba is a conservationist and award-winning TV presenter. Born and raised in Kenya, you might recognise Saba as the presenter of the BBC’s hugely successful Big Cat Diaries, The Secret Life of Elephants and This Wild Life. She’ll be joining us later to reflect on our tour of Kenya, sharing her tales of living and working in the country and her own Kenyan travel diaries.

Kenya is now on the travel green list for UK travellers, so I hope this episode inspires you to think about a bucket list experience like travelling to Kenya and experiencing all that it has to offer.

Destination Recap: *No hotels or safari camps paid to be part of this destination special.

Giles Coren:

Giraffe Manor, Nairobi
Diani Beach, Mombasa

Jessica Nabongo:

Lamu, Lamu Island

Gavin Thurston:

Tsavo East National Park
Maasai Mara National Reserve
Governor’s Camp, Masai Mara National Reserve
Lewa Downs
Wilderness Camp, Lewa Downs
Samburu National Park
Elephant Watch Camp, Samburu National Reserve

Geoffrey Kent:

Masai Mara National Reserve
Aberdare Highlands
Malindi Beach

Lucy Williams:

Sasaab, Samburu National Reserve

Saba Douglas-Hamilton

Nairobi
Elephant Watch Camp, Samburu
Mount Kenya
Lewa
Kalepo Camp, Samburuland
Mike's Camp, Kiwahu Island

If you would like to read more about Kenya or get some more inspiration about where you should go and what you can do there head to www.magicalkenya.com or follow them on social media, or check out the websites of your favourite travel magazines, who normally offer compressive guides.

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or to “follow” the podcast if you’re using Apple Podcasts.

To find out who’s joining me on Season 6, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Completely Caribbean - Destination Special Sep 28, 2021

We're going Completely Caribbean here on The Travel Diaries this week. On today's bonus destination special, we’ll be heading on a sun-soaked tour of the Caribbean islands, in partnership with the British Airways American Express Credit Card.

Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most popular destinations to be picked each week on the pod, and in today’s episode lots of my lovely guests from the last five seasons will be recounting their favourite Caribbean travel memories - the islands they love - of course the islands are so diverse, each with their own distinct history, culture and landscape - as well as the best hotels, places to visit and hidden gems, taking us on a tour from the north to the south of the Caribbean.

And later we’ll be joined by Caribbean destination expert Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon aka Jet Set Sarah. Sarah is a Caribbean travel expert, award-winning travel journalist, and self-described “Carivangelist”, having visited and written about nearly all of the Caribbean islands. She'll take us through the destinations chosen by my guests, as well as sharing her own Caribbean travel diaries.

Destination Recap:

David Loftus: The Bahamas
Jamie Laing and Jo Malone: Turks & Caicos
Fred Sirieix: Jamaica
Jacqui Gifford: Anguilla
Ainsley Harriott: Dominica
Richard Branson and Ella Eyre: Necker Island, BVIs

Jet Set Sarah's Destination Recap

Turks & Caicos: Parrot Cay, Providenciales, Andros, Long Island
Bahamas: Harbour Island
Dominica
Anguilla
Jamaica: Kingston, Trench House, Devon House, Negril, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, KFC Montego Bay!
Bequia
Petit St Vincent
Grand Cayman
Belize
Bonaire
Mustique

Thank you so much to the British Airways American Express Credit Card for supporting today's episode. Search BA Amex for more details and check out the world. Representative 24.5% APR Variable, Applicants must be 18 years old or older, Subject to approval - Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. All information including Representative APR is correct as at 14th September 2021.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on future episodes, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeremy Vine Aug 24, 2021

On today’s Season 5 Finale, I’m joined by one of the UK’s leading broadcasters and most recognisable voices, Jeremy Vine.

Jeremy began his journalism career as a BBC reporter for the Today show before becoming the BBC’s political correspondent at Westminster, and the BBC’s Africa correspondent based out of Johannesburg.

He worked alongside Jeremy Paxman as a presenter on Newsnight and back in 2015 he donned his dancing shoes becoming a hugely popular contestant on Strictly Come Dancing - although his first dance with partner Karen Clifton was scored a ‘2’ by judge Craig Revel-Horwood.

These days, Jeremy’s based back in the UK, and along with his eponymous daily topical programme on Ch5, his daily BBC radio 2 programme is the most listened to news show on UK radio. He’s also an accomplished author and tells us about his latest novel, which is set in Spain.

Given his day job involves chatting to anyone and everyone, it’s no surprise that Jeremy had no shortage of conversation today and we have a great time dashing around the world today with his travel diaries, from the Channel Islands to an island off Canada, Siberia to Oman. This is a fun one, I really hope you enjoy it. So, Let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

- Jersey, England

- Alderney, England

- The Blonde Hedgehog, Alderney, England

- Johannesburg, South Africa

- Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

- Siberia, Russia

- Oman

- Appledore, Devon, England

- Glasgow, Scotland

- Dali Museum, Figueres, Spain -

Cadaques, Spain

- Sitges, Spain

- Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada

Jeremy’s novel The Diver and The Lover is out now in paperback - a great read for a summer holiday.

A huge thank you to today’s sponsors, DK Eyewitness and The Thinking Traveller.

September sees the launch of DK Eyewitness’s new series Like A Local, travel guides to the world’s biggest cities featuring the best local hangout spots, hidden haunts and independent businesses. Listeners to The Travel Diaries can now get 10% off the books over at wordery.com. Simply enter the code 'LIKEALOCAL' at the checkout to receive your discount.

To book your dream villa holiday visit The Thinking Traveller. The Thinking Traveller's collection of luxury villas across Italy, The Greek Islands, Corsica and Mallorca are some of the best properties out there for a villa holiday and come in all sizes, whether you're travelling as a couple or for a big family reunion.

And with that, it’s a wrap for Season 5. Thank you so much to all my lovely guests for transporting us all around the world. And most importantly, thank you, my incredible listeners, for tuning in each week, for taking the podcast over one and a half million downloads, across 160 countries - what a dream come true. If you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review or five star rating is the best way to show your support, on your podcast app of choice. All the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes, on my website thetraveldiariespodcast.com and also on my Instagram page @hollyrubenstein where I publish and save weekly guest guides, which plot out all the locations that have been discussed.

And it’s not long until I’m back - we’ve got a couple of wonderful destination specials coming up, the first in a couple of weeks celebrating all things Caribbean, so keep an eye out for that. I’m off to Cornwall, again, and then to Provence in France. You can follow my travels on social media and as ever I’d love to hear from you.

Season 6 will return in the autumn. Have a wonderful rest of your summer, and I’ll be back soon.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inspiring Ireland with Annie Mac - Destination Special Aug 17, 2021

Welcome to this Inspiring Ireland Destination Special where, alongside legendary Irish DJ and broadcaster Annie Mac, we celebrate all things island of Ireland.

Annie’s been in the news a bit recently, because after 17 years as one of BBC Radio 1’s most loved DJs, she has left the station, and the video of her playing her final song went viral online, I think simply because she is such a legend in the industry, and a big part of the lives of so many music lovers, so this farewell was a huge deal. We talk about how she became a DJ and presenter, and her illustrious career and what that involved - and then her travel diaries chapters are all focussed on destinations across Ireland - the place where she grew up, travels back to as much as she can, and knows so well.

And then later, I’m joined by travel writer and Ireland expert, Aoife O’Riordain who shares some really brilliant tips, in particular some amazing foodie recommendations and a hotel that I’d never heard, on an Irish island that I’d also never heard of, of that has gone straight to the top of my hotel wish list. Oh and Aoife’s husband was actually the producer of Normal People (you know the show we all watched last summer) so she gives us a little insight into the making of that too!

DESTINATION RECAP

Annie Mac’s Destinations:

Dublin, Rep. of Ireland
Rasharkin, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Roundstone, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland
Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland
The Burren, Co. Clare, Rep. of Ireland
The Gaeltacht, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland
Dog’s Bay, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland
Dingle, Co. Kerry, Rep. of Ireland
Dingle Benners Hotel, Co. Kerry, Rep. of Ireland
The Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry, Rep. of Ireland
Loch Na Fooey, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland
County Donegal, Rep. of Ireland
Inishmore, Rep. of Ireland

Aoife O’Riordan’s Destinations

West Cork, Co. Kerry and Coastal Donegal parts of Wild Atlantic Way drive
Dublin
Dublin and Wicklow Mountains
Glendalough, Co. Wicklow
Sandycove, Dublin
Forty foot, Dublin
Bray, County Wicklow
The DART commuter train
Co. Kerry
Ring of Kerry driving route
Dede at the Custom’s House, West Cork, Co. Cork
Misunderstood Heron, Leenaun, Co. Galway
Paddy Bawn Brosnans Bar, Dingle, Co. Kerry
Bally Bia, Co. Cork
Great Western Greenway, Co. Mayo
The Royal Canal Greenway
The Aran Islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer, Co. Galway
Inis Meáin, Restaurant & Suites, Co. Galway

Thanks so much for listening today. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, leaving a review or five star rating is the best way to show your support, on your podcast app of choice. And to find out who is on next week’s episode, the Season 5 finale, come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubensten and as ever, I’d love to hear from you.

To find out more about visiting the island of Ireland, head to ireland.com and check out the travel pages of your favourite newspapers and travel magazines which are always great resources for the latest travel news, new openings and must see spots.

Have a great week and I’ll be back on Tuesday.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fiona Duncan, Hotel Critic Aug 10, 2021

Today I’m joined by the UK’s leading hotel critic, Fiona Duncan. Fiona has been writing about and reviewing hotels for 35 years. She began her career writing travel guides before launching her own book series with her husband The Charming Small Hotels Guides back in the 1980s.

In the late 90s she was asked to write about hotels for the Telegraph, which she continues to this day, with a weekly hotel column in the Sunday Telegraph. They call her the Hotel Guru, Country & Town House Magazine call her the Hotel Wizard, for which she is also travel editor and the editor of their great British hotels guide.

I spoke to Fiona last week in London, and it was so lovely to reconnect with her - Fiona has been a real mentor to me as a travel writer, which has been life changing to be honest, and I’ve learnt so much from her, so this episode means a lot to me. It also means a lot to finally have a female guest on this season, I wanted to have a completely gender balanced season this time, and just the way things have panned out annoyingly with people’s availability and covid, that just hasn’t been possible. But next week also we have fantastic female guest joining us which I’m really looking forward to as well.

This is an episode for hotel lovers, Fiona has visited well over 600 of them just for her column alone, and if you’re looking for recommendations here in the UK and in Europe, she has some great tips to share, and ones that won’t break the bank too.

DESTINATION RECAP:

Orient Express to Venice
Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
Seaview, Isle of Wight, England
Mallorca, Spain
Antigua and the Caribbean
Formentera, Spain
Gecko Beach, Formentera, Spain
Hambleton Hall, Rutland, England
Gravetye Manor, West Sussex, England
Langar Hall, Nottinghamshire, England
The Lamb at Shipton-Under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, England
Glebe House, Devon, England
The Goring Hotel, London, England
Howtown Hotel, Ullswater, England
Santa Catarina, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Locanda Cipriani, Venice, Italy
Limewood, New Forest, England
Lake Nagin, Kashmir, India
Gulmarg, India
Villa Mahal, Kalkan, Turkey
The Fish Shack, Kalkan, Turkey
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tiger Tops, Nepal
Mexico
Ravenna, Italy
Georgia
Transylvania
Koufonisia, Greece
Amorgos, Greece

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gordon Buchanan, Wildlife Presenter and Cameraman Aug 03, 2021

One of the world's most prominent wildlife filmmakers and presenters, Gordon Buchanan has been filming wild and wonderful creatures in remote areas of the planet for over 30 years, capturing film across every continent apart from Antarctica. His numerous captivating and award-winning wildlife documentaries, from The Cheetah Family and Me and Snow cats and me, to Animals with Cameras and Into the Wild, are ubiquitous on our TV screens, here in the UK.

I spoke to Gordon last week, the sound is a little bit echoey - we joked he could say he was talking to us from a cave somewhere in the wilderness but he was actually in his home in Glasgow!

And this episode is one of my very favourites - I’m often asked who is the nicest person I’ve interviewed for the podcast and to be honest all my guests have been truly lovely but Gordon is just so delightful, I’m his new biggest fan. His travel diaries take us from his childhood, growing up on the remote Scottish island of Mull, to his first job in Sierra Leone; close encounters with wolves in the arctic and discovering a new species of giant rat in Papua New Guinea. That and so much more, coming up.

Destination Recap:

Isle of Mull, Scotland
Isle of Lunga, Treshnish Isles, Scotland
Ellesmere Ireland, Canadian Arctic
Sierra Leone
Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai, India
Great Bear Rainforest, BC, Canada
River Kelvin, Glasgow, Scotland
Loch Lomond, Scotland
Mt Bosavi, Papua New Guinea
Russia
Yala National Park, Sri Lanka
Antarctica

Gordon will be on tour in January and February 2022. Buy tickets for “Gordon Buchanan - 30 years in the wild - The Anniversary Tour” here.

A big thank you to Visit Estonia for their support of today’s episode. This ad is in co-operation with Visit Estonia and funded by the European Union European Regional Development Fund. To find out more about head to Visit Estonia.

Another big thank you to the British Airways American Express Card for their support of today’s episode.

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Loftus, Travel & Food Photographer Jul 27, 2021

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by one of the most influential photographers of all time, David Loftus. I first got to know David’s work through reading Conde Nast Traveller magazine, for which he has shot numerous breathtaking travel editorials, taking him all around the globe. But he’s perhaps best known for bringing food to life for millions of people, photographing for the books of Gennaro Contaldo, Nathan Outlaw, previous podcast guest Rachel Khoo and his long time collaborator, and close friend, Jamie Oliver. His work with Jamie alone has resulted in international book sales in excess of 30 million copies, and not only has he now photographed over 100 books, David is also a published author himself, with books like Around the World in 80 Dishes and more recently his memoir, Diary of a Lone Twin, an account of love and grief following the untimely death of his identical twin, something which frames a lot of our conversation today.

I spoke to David in his beautiful London home last week on the hottest day of the year, in a room full of memories from his extensive travels. And as well as bringing to life some of the incredible destinations in which he’s worked and travelled - looking through the destination recap there’s a strong theme of islands, David says he loves to be surrounded by water - we also benefit from David’s expertise with some brilliant tips for taking the best photos on our phones while we travel.

So from Paros to The Bahamas, the Lofoten Islands to the Orkneys, let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Lake Grundlsee, Austria
Lake Toplitzee, Austria
The Orkney Islands, UK
Old Man of Hoy, Orkney, UK
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Paros, Greece
Windermere, The Bahamas
Kefalonia, Greece
Ithaca, Greece
Fivizanno, Tuscany, Italy
North West Australia
New Orleans, USA
Japan

David’s memoir, Diary of a Lone Twin, is out now.

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram or Twitter, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

A big thank you to Citalia for their support of today’s episode. Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists.

And thank you to the British Airways American Express Card for their support too.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Simpson Jul 20, 2021

Today, I feel very privileged to be joined by a legend of the broadcasting world. John Simpson has been reporting for the BBC for 51 years, and its World Affairs Editor since 1982, covering in person more major world events than many of us could recount, from the Iranian Revolution and Tianamen Square massacre in Beijing, to the Kosovo War, and the US led invasion of Afghanistan, interviewing the majority of the world’s leaders along the way.

Having broadcast from the front line in over 30 war zones, today’s episode features so many tales of courage, and if you read up on John’s career, really we are only scratching the surface.

We’ll hear about what it was like being smuggled into Afghanistan dressed as a woman, the time he was physically assaulted by a British Prime Minister and his very close shave with the IRA. It’s clear that John also adores travelling and I love that he’s picked really unusual destinations that weren’t necessarily on my radar before, and he’s totally sold me on them.

So from Paris to Iran, Uzbekistan to Argentina, let’s get started.

Destination Recap:

Suffolk, England
Casablanca, Morocco
Belfast, N. Ireland
Angola
Paris, France
Rue de Rivoli, Paris, France
Baghdad, Iraq
Afghanistan
Tehran, Iran
Isfahan, Iran
Persepolis, Iran
Bukhara, Uzbekistan
Khiva, Uzbekistan
Qatar
Buenos Aires, Argentina

And I spoke about:

Bruton, Somerset, England
Number One Bruton, Somerset, England
Osip, Bruton, Somerset, England
Hauser & Wirth, Somerset, England
At the Chapel, Somerset, England

John’s novel Our Friends in Beijing is a great read. It’s published by John Murray and is out on Thursday July 22.

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

A big thank you to the British Airways American Express Card for their support of today’s episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Torode Jul 13, 2021

Today, I’m joined by one of the food world’s most recognisable faces, John Torode. John grew up in Melbourne, Australia, embarking on his culinary career when he was 16 years old, having learnt to cook from his grandmother, who raised him after his mother passed away. After apprenticeships at some of Melbourne’s best restaurants he moved to the UK, quickly making a name for himself as one of the finest chefs out there, opening restaurants like Smiths of Smithfield and The Luxe. It wasn’t long before he also caught the attention of the TV world, and since 2005 he became a household name as the co-host of Masterchef which is soon to enter its 18th season, as well as hosting Celebrity Masterchef too. He’s written numerous best-selling cook books and made lots of TV shows about culinary road trips in destinations with vibrant food cultures like Malaysia, Argentina and Korea.

From the streets of Thailand to the markets of Mumbai, the islands of Malaysia and the wilderness of Australia, I predict you might be adding some places to your travel wish list after this.

Destination Recap

Australia
Singapore to Bangkok via Penang Orient Express
Grand Canyon, Nevada, USA
San Francisco, California, USA
Bangkok, Thailand
The Thai House, Thailand
The Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
The Kimberley, Australia
The Bungle Bungles, The Kimberley, Australia
The Great Wall of China, China
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bombay (Mumbai), India
The Taj Hotel, Mumbai, India
Panang and Langkawi, Malaysia
Tasmania, Australia
Marrakech, Morocco
China
Mongolia
Transiberia Express
Mallorca, Spain
Norwegian Arctic circle
Alaska, USA

And I chatted about Watergate Bay Hotel and Watergate Bay in Cornwall.

Celebrity Masterchef is back this summer on BBC1 for its 16th series. John continues to present Masterchef on BBC1 and John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen on ITV1

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

A big thank you to the British Airways American Express Card and Western Australia for their support of today’s episode.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Trevor McDonald Jul 06, 2021

Welcome to Season 5! Today’s guest was on the original Travel Diaries dream guest wish list. He’s a broadcasting legend and has presented some of my favourite travel series. It is, of course, Sir Trevor McDonald.

Sir Trevor was born and raised in the West Indies, on the island of Trinidad and so the Caribbean is of course a big feature in his Travel Diaries today. He began his ascent to journalistic stardom over there, working as a radio reporter and news presenter, before moving to London in the late 1960s to work for the BBC. He went on to join ITN and became a household name as the first sole presenter of the News at Ten and the first black news anchor in the UK.

Now at 81 years old, he tells us about interviewing some of modern history’s most revered and reviled figures, from the pressure of being the first person to interview Nelson Mandela after he was released from prison, to travelling to Baghdad to grill Saddam Hussein in his palatial home. It’s no surprise that Trevor became the most accoladed news broadcaster in British history.

We’re heading today on a journey across North America, Australia, The Middle East, Europe and Africa.

Destination Recap:

Trinidad
Grenada
Sydney, Australia
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
South Africa
Shutters on the Beach, Santa Monica, California, USA
Baghdad, Iraq
Madeira
Barbados
Antigua
St Lucia
Las Vegas to Grand Canyon plane ride, USA
Napa Valley, California, USA
Carmel Valley, California, USA

And I chatted about my stay at The Cary Arms in Babbacombe, Devon.

Thank you so much for listening today. If you’ve enjoyed today’s episode please subscribe on your podcast app, it’s very easy to do that, although on Apple they’ve changed it so that you “follow” now rather than subscribe by pressing the plus sign in the top right of the app. I would also be so grateful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really helps other people to discover the podcast, which in turn allows me to keep making more.

Don’t forget all the destinations mentioned each week across all five seasons are included in the episode show notes.

Follow me on Instagram @hollyrubenstein to find out who is joining me next Tuesday. I’d love to hear from you. And if you can’t wait until then, there’s all of Season 4 to listen to.

Thank you to the wonderful Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi for their support of today’s episode. Follow them on Instagram here.

And a big thank you to The Kensington Hotel for hosting today’s episode recording.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy Canada Day with Atlantic Canada - Destination Special Jul 01, 2021

It’s July 1 which means it’s Canada Day and we are going to be celebrating Canada with this bonus destination special episode. Canada has been mentioned so many times as a favourite destination on the podcast by everyone from Ben Fogle and Dan Snow to Nadiya Hussain and Ella Eyre, and today, in celebration of Canada Day, I thought it would be a great opportunity to shine a light on a region of Canada that has historically been somewhat overlooked by tourists but is now gaining a real hype with in the know travellers, and that is the region of Atlantic Canada.

Today I’m joined by writer and adventurer Hugh Francis Anderson, who has written extensively about Atlantic Canada, and he’s here to share his travel diaries from the region.

Destination Recap

The Alexander Murray Hiking Trail, Newfoundland & Labrador
Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Bar Kismet, Halifax
Kouchibouguac National Park, New Brunswick
The Inn at Bay Fortune, Prince Edward Island
Gros Morne National Park

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville.

For more information and inspiration to plan your holiday to Canada or Atlantic Canada visit here and here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Awesome Australia - Destination Special Jun 08, 2021

Welcome to this Awesome Australia Destination Special. Together with much loved guests including Rick Stein, John Torode and Dynamo, we’ll be heading on an Australian adventure across the country, revealing favourite spots, hidden gems and top tips. It’s wanderlust, guaranteed!

It’s June 2021 right now, and unfortunately that means that for most of us travel is currently extremely restricted. So now’s the time to plan your next big bucket list trip - and for me, Australia is top of the list. From the wilderness of The Kimberley, to the red rock of Uluru, Kangaroo Island, Sydney, Melbourne and more, I hope this episode inspires you to visit when we are all able to travel easily again.

Destination Recap:

The Kimberley, WA
The King George Falls, The Kimberley, WA
Adelaide, SA
Coober Pedy, SA
Alice Springs, NT
Torres Strait Islands, QLD
Sydney, NSW
Wolgan Valley, The Blue Mountains, NSW
Melbourne Lane Ways, VIC
Federation Square, Melbourne, VIC
Queensland Coast, QLD
Western Australian wildlife trifecta, WA
Ningaloo Reef, WA
Kangaroo Island, SA
Uluru, NT

Thank you to John Torode, Rick Stein, Rachel Khoo, Peter Grunert, Tony Wheeler, Dynamo and Phoebe Smith for being a part of today’s episode.

For more information about planning your own trip to Australia head to australia.com

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll be back in a couple of weeks.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heston Blumenthal Apr 06, 2021

Today, I'm joined by one of the most famous and successful chefs in the world and in history - Heston Blumenthal.

It was an unforgettable travel experience that inspired Heston to become a chef. He’s entirely self taught, and was working other odd jobs all the way until his late twenties, when he bought a small pub in Bray in Berkshire. He called it The Fat Duck, and it went on to be award three Michelin stars and to be named The World’s Best Restaurant.

A food pioneer, he’s been dubbed the Willy Wonka of cuisine, fascinated by the science behind the cooking. He’s become the king of experimental cuisine which has led to world famous dishes like snail porridge, parsnip cereal, and bacon and eggs ice cream. Oh, and did you know it was Heston who invented one of my favourite things to eat - the triple cooked chip.

This is definitely an unusual episode. Yes we cover travel, it’s a fundamental part of Heston’s food, and it was so fun to hear about some of the weird and wonderful things he’s eaten on his travels - not all of them happy memories, I should add! But honestly, I really felt like I was speaking to a true genius in this chat, it’s hard to find another way to describe it, and so we also cover off the meaning of life and philosophy, quantum physics and scientific theory. He is determined to push himself and others to think beyond the confines of our small minds, when it comes to both food and life.

I really hope you enjoy it.

Destination Recap:

Praa Sands, Cornwall, England
Regent’s Snack Bar, Edgware Road, London, England
Baumanière, Hôtel Restaurant, Les Baux-de-Provence, France
Les Alpilles, France
Monastery Epiphany, Les Baux-de-Provence, France
Turkey
Siberia, Russia
Iceland
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Korea
The Amazon
Peru
Indonesia
Polynesia

Tune in to Heston’s own podcast, Heston’s Journey to the Centre of Food which is available on all podcast apps and is great fun, it’s a must for foodies.

Well, that’s a wrap for Season 4, thank you all for joining me along the way, wherever you are in the world. Thank you for spreading the word about the podcast, sharing your favourite episode on your social media, telling your friends, leaving lovely reviews and sending me the most amazing messages, it has been amazing, especially to feel so connected and part of our little travel diaries community, that you’ve all created, during a time where we often otherwise feel quite disconnected.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to the podcast, remember to press subscribe on your podcast app, it’s free, and you’ll then get notified when Season 5 begins in the summer.

In the meantime, do stay in touch, I’m @hollyrubenstein on Instagram and Twitter.

Remember there’s all four seasons to keep you going until then, from Rick Stein and Sir Ranulph Fiennes, to Jo Malone and Raymond Blanc.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gregory Porter Mar 30, 2021

On today’s episode, I’m joined by the multi-Grammy winning singer, Gregory Porter. Gregory’s was originally set to become an American football player, and it wasn’t until he turned 40 that his rich jazz baritone caught the attention of industry bigwigs and subsequently, jazz heads around the world. His major label debut Liquid Spirit went on to become the most streamed jazz album of all time. He's played Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage, sung for the Queen and prior to Covid was travelling over 200 days a year, playing to his adoring fans around the world. So with all that travel and all those miles covered, it’s no surprise that today’s episode is a long haul, feature length episode.

Gregory joins me from his home in California, and this is a really touching, personal, evocative episode. Gregory says it’s like therapy - he remembers his travels so vividly, and each destination is full of emotion as he describes it to us. We’ll go on a journey from the West to the East coast of the United States, across Russia on the Transiberian Express and to a secret French island that I’d never heard of, which is now firmly added to my travel wish list. Oh and he serenades us not once but twice on this episode, so prepared to be soothed by that velvety voice!

Destination Recap:

Bakersfield, California, USA
Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Santa Monica, California, USA
San Diego, California, USA
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Harlem, New York, USA
Siberia, Russia
Tokyo, Japan
Kanazawa, Japan
Porquerolles, France
Ukraine
Istanbul, Turkey
Tel Aviv, Israel
Jakarta, Indonesia
South Africa
Sierra Leone
Ghana

Gregory Porter’s album All Rise is out now.

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Geoffrey Kent, Founder of Abercrombie & Kent Mar 23, 2021

Today, I’m joined by one of the most well travelled people I have ever spoken to. Geoffrey Kent is the founder, chairman and CEO of the luxury travel company, Abercrombie & Kent, and a titan of the travel industry. Before researching and recording this episode, I didn’t know that much about Geoffrey himself, and now, here in this intro, it’s hard to convey what an extraordinary life he’s led, but I’ll give it a go.

Raised in rural Kenya, Geoffrey’s said that his whole childhood was like a safari. He tells us about living among leopards and elephants and riding horses when he’d barely even learnt to walk. And from there, during a military career where he served in Bahrain, Oman, Yemen, Cyprus, Libya and Malta, he founded Abercrombie & kent - a travel company best known for inventing the photographic safari, changing wildlife travel forever with the ethos “shoot with a camera, not with a gun”.

A born explorer, he’s credited with pioneering “experiential travel” so along with telling us about some of the 156 countries he’s already visited, Geoffrey brings to life the experiences that he’s had along the way, and how we can best enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful countries. We don’t really touch on the fact that he’s also a world renowned polo player, he was the Captain of Windsor Park’s polo team which he played on with Prince Charles; or that he took Prince Harry to Botswana after the death of Princess Diana and sparked Prince Harry’s love of Africa. Even so, this is still a long haul feature length episode, there was so much to cover, it’s a love letter to Africa, and one that I hope you’ll really enjoy. So, here’s Geoffrey Kent.

Destination Recap:

Monaco
Florianópolis, Brazil
Zambia
Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya to Cape Town, South Africa motorcycle trip
Masai Mara, Kenya
The Aberdare Highlands, Kenya
Malindi, Kenya
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England
South Pole
Botswana
Mauritius
Chief's Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana
Bazaruto Channel, Mozambique
One & Only Le Saint Géran, Mauritius
Gorilla trekking, Uganda
Diving in Palau, Philippines
Helicopter to Base Camp, Mt Everest
Madagascar
Greenland
Antarctica
Finland
Helicopter tour of Ethiopia
Cocos Islands, Costa Rica
Juba, Southern Sudan
North West Passage Cruise

You can follow Geoffrey on Instagram here.

Thank you so much for listening today.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe on your podcast app of choice.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anya Hindmarch Mar 16, 2021

Today I’m joined by one of the most established names in British luxury - the designer and businesswoman, Anya Hindmarch. Anya started her accessories business as a teenager, inspired by the leather bags she saw on her travels in Italy. Within a few short years, her designs were stocked by some of the most prestigious fashion outlets around the world.

She is known for using fashion as a force for good. Back in 2004, her £5 white tote bags, with the slogan “I’m not a plastic bag” written on them, graced the shoulders of A-listers around the world, sparking a global frenzy with queues of over 80,000 people outside Sainsbury’s shops, trying to get their hands on the canvas bags.

More recently, during the pandemic, she’s worked with University College London to design a special holster for frontline NHS workers to wear, along with thousands of PPE gowns.

Just as fashion takes inspiration from cultures and destinations all around the world, so too does Anya, whose travel diaries take us from Morocco and Myanmar to Japan, Italy and glamorous Mustique.

Destination recap:

Marrakech, Morocco
El Fenn, Morocco
Kasbah Beldi, Morocco
Cap Ferrat, France
Florence, Italy
Mustique
Park Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo, Japan
Patagonia
Ethiopia
Beirut
Egypt
India
Inle Lake, Myanmar

This episode is in memory of my beloved uncle, Anthony Lean.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Thank you to ancestry.co.uk for their support for today’s episode.

And thank you also to Fujifilm. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Laing Mar 09, 2021

Today's guest is one who is sure to put you in a good mood. His infectious enthusiasm most recently led him to the Strictly Come Dancing final. He’s a chart-topping podcaster himself, and the star of the reality TV show Made in Chelsea. And he’s a businessman, the founder of the sweetie empire Candy Kittens. It is of course, Jamie Laing. With a father who runs a travel agent, and family all around the world, it’s no wonder that Jamie has an insatiable appetite for travel. So much so that this is a long haul, feature length episode.

So from Peru to Japan, and Turkey to Turks & Caicos, let’s hear Jamie's travel diaries.

Destination Recap:

Turks & Caicos
Turkey
New York, USA
Dylan’s Candy Bar, New York, USA
South America travelling - Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Cape Town, South Africa
Japan
Six Senses Laamu, Maldives
Paraty (?) Northern Peru
Biarritz, France
Notting Hill, London, England
Isle of Mull, Scotland
Eilat, Israel
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Grand Canyon, USA
New Zealand

Jamie's podcast Private Parts is available wherever you get your podcasts.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

And thank you to Fujifilm for their support too. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanjeev Bhaskar Mar 02, 2021

Today, I’m joined by the much loved actor and comedian, Sanjeev Bhaskar. Following a late arrival into comedy, Sanjeev was catapulted to stardom in the comedy series Goodness Gracious Me, and later The Kumars at No. 42, both bringing the British Asian experience to the masses to international acclaim.

This success, which has led to decades of movie and TV roles, has taken Sanjeev all over the world. India, of course, is a big feature today - Sanjeev has filmed documentaries and written books about the country, where some of his family still live. From Delhi and Rajasthan to Shimla and Darjeeling, Sanjeev paints a wonderful picture of such a diverse and exciting country.

He transports us to the American city he first fell in love with, his European all time favourite and we chat about the new season of his hit ITV show Unforgotten, which is back for its fourth season.

Destination Recap:

Delhi, India
Karnal, India
New York, USA
Amalfi, Italy
Rajasthan, India
Shimla, India
Darjeeling, India
Ellora, India
Vesuvius, Italy
Pompei, Italy
Rome, Italy
Australia
Paris, France
New Zealand

Unforgotten Season 4 airs on Monday nights on ITV at 9pm.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Bonneville Feb 23, 2021

He’s the star of Downton Abbey, Paddington, Viceroy’s House and W1A. Today, I’m joined by one of Britain’s best loved actors - and part-time vaccine volunteer - Hugh Bonneville.

Hugh stars in a new film called To Olivia where he plays the celebrated author Roald Dahl. We talk about that later on in the interview - and he was just so lovely to chat to on a very rainy gloomy lockdown day. I’ve interviewed Hugh a few times in the past and he never fails to make me laugh. He’s travelled so extensively both through his work and through being a really keen traveller himself, so we cover a lot of ground.

He transports us to the deserts of Utah and to pockets of serenity among the chaos of India. We visit the pristine coves of the Costa Brava and the campsites of France. And he reveals what is on the cards for Downton Abbey and Paddington, if you’re a fan of either (or both like me) you’ll be very happy with what Hugh has to say!

Destination Recap:

France
Tamariu, Costa Brava, Spain
Aigua Xelida, Spain
Aigua Blava, Spain
Sherbourne, Dorset, England
Road trip through Egypt, Sudan, Uganda and Kenya
Nile River Boat, Sudan
Juba, Sudan
India
Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru, Maldives
Amangiri, Utah, USA
Mihir Garh, Jodphur, India
Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA
South America

To Olivia, a Sky Original film, is out on Sky Cinema and NOW TV right now.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to hit subscribe on your podcast app so that you’re updated with a new episode each week. And if you can't wait til next week, remember there's the first three seasons to catch up on from Michael Palin and Rick Stein to Dev Patel, Richard Branson and Poppy Delevingne.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. Share your own travel diaries using the hashtag #thetraveldiaries I’ll be re-sharing your own hidden gems, recommendations and all time faves on my Instagram and here on the podcast.

Thank you to Fujifilm for their support for today’s episode. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred Sirieix Feb 16, 2021

Today, I'm joined by the nation’s favourite maitre d’ and TV personality, Fred Sirieix. Having worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in both France and the UK, Fred rose to fame back in 2013 on Channel 4’s BAFTA-winning matchmaking show First Dates, greeting nervous daters with his warmth, charm and philosophical musings (of which you’ll hear many coming up), putting them at ease before they sit down to eat in the First Dates restaurant. Now, he’s become known for his TV globetrotting too, as the presenter of Remarkable Places to Eat on the BBC, and spending months at a time travelling with his pals Gordon Ramsay and Gino D’Acampo on ITV’s Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Road Trip series.

Fred’s travel diaries take us from Italy to Monaco, and Paris to Peru. He reminisces about life growing up in Limoges, France and how he became the ultimate Anglophile. He reveals which Caribbean island he escapes to every year, what it felt like plunging into an ice well in Lapland, and he uncovers what goes on behind the scenes with the making of First Dates - how do they match these couples so perfectly? I really wanted to know. All that and more coming up on The Travel Diaries.

Destination Recap

Lapland
Limoges, France
Eymoutiers, France
Massif-Central, France
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Macchu Pichu, Peru
Sandals, Negril, Jamaica
Paris, France
Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
Chez Black, Positano, italy
Hilton, Dubai
Australia
Thailand

Teen First Dates starts on 22nd Feb 10pm on E4.

Thank you Fujifilm for their support for today’s episode. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here.

And thank you to Lanserhof at The Arts Club for their support for today’s episode. Find out more about that, and the rest of Lanserhof’s fantastic hotels here.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. Share your own stories using the hashtag #thetraveldiaries - I’ll be re-sharing your own hidden gems and all time faves on my Instagram and here on the podcast.

And there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Raymond Blanc, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Rick Stein.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Destination Dubai with Jo Malone - Destination Special Feb 09, 2021

This week, I’m so excited to say that business mogul and perfumer Jo Malone makes a return to the podcast, transporting us to the Middle East in this Dubai Destination Special. For avid listeners you might remember that back in Season 2 when Jo joined me as a guest, she talked about Dubai with such love, picking it as one of her all time favourites, she spends about a month each year out there, so I could think of no one better to join us today as we uncover her Dubai travel diaries, her favourite spots, hidden gems and recommendations as someone who knows the city so well.

And later, we’ll be joined Dubai-based travel journalist Sarah Hedley-Hymers, who has her finger on the pulse of everything that is worth knowing about Dubai, and together they both really evoke the sights, the scents, and vibrancy of this Emirati city, and really get under its skin - beyond its glamorous and shiny first impressions, they really reveal its heart and heritage too.

So, from desert nights under the stars to the heady aromas of the spice market, abra boat rides across the historic Dubai creek to its beaches and luxury hotels, let’s head to Dubai.

Destination Recap:

Jo Malone

Dubai desert
Satwa
Dubai Creek
Spice Market
The One & Only The Residence
Fish Beach Taverna, Le Meridien
W Hotel
Musandam Peninsula, Oman
Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

Sarah Hedley-Hymers

Perfume House
Abra rides at Dubai Creek
Dubai Fountain
Burj Khalifa
Dubai Mall Aquarium
The Pointe Fountain
Food District, The Pointe
Jumeriah Beach Residence
Jumeriah Lake Towers
Streetery, Dubai
Vietnamese Foodies, Dubai
Pitfire Pizza, Dubai
Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
Al Maha Desert Resort
Sonara Camp

For more information and inspiration to plan your holiday to Dubai visit www.visitdubai.com or follow them on Instagram

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall Feb 02, 2021

Today, I’m joined by the chef, broadcaster, food writer and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. We first got to know Hugh through his much loved River Cottage TV series and books, filmed at his River Cottage Estate on the Devon-Dorset border. His uncompromising commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food and his concern for the environment, inspired a vast and loyal fanbase.

Alongside more than 20 cookery shows, he’s also tackled powerful issues in his documentary campaigns, like obesity, illegal wildlife trade, fishing and the war on plastic. He’s the author of numerous best-selling cookbooks and he’s back with a new one - Eat Better Forever.

We talk about that, his life-changing trip to Africa which shaped his food philosophy; what it was like travelling around India for 4 months with his young family; how a close shave while filming nearly left him in a Vietnamese jail, the power of wild swimming throughout the freezing winter months, and his favourite staycation spots . All that and more coming up on the travel diaries.

Destination Recap:

Aegina, Greece
Port Quin, Cornwall, England
Epphaven Cove, Cornwall, England
Southern Africa
Gloucestershire, England
India
Bharatpur bird sanctuary, Rajasthan, India
West End Hotel, Mumbai, India
River Cottage, Devon, England
The Bull Inn, Totnes, England
Vietnam

Hugh’s new book Eat Better Forever is out now.

Thank you Fujifilm for their support for today’s episode. Book in your free trial with the Fujifilm X-S10 here.

And thank you to Lanserhof at The Arts Club. Find out more about that, and the rest of Lanserhof’s fantastic offerings here.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Dev Patel.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wildlife Cameraman, Gavin Thurston Jan 25, 2021

Today, I’m joined by multi BAFTA & Emmy-winning wildlife cameraman, Gavin Thurston. Over the last 37 years, Gavin has worked on some of the most famous nature documentaries ever made, like Planet Earth and Blue Planet, most often with his long time collaborator, Sir David Attenborough.

Gavin, ordinarily, spends most of the year travelling, and he’s covered every corner of the globe - its deserts, polar ice caps and deepest sea.

He’s a fantastic raconteur, so this had to be a “long haul” feature length episode.

We talk about his incredibly close shave while filming gorillas in the Congo, what it’s like to be the very first person to see and film previously undiscovered new species of wildlife and film them, the terrifying time his submersible failed at 1000m deep below sea level, and what it’s like spending so much time working with the legend that is Sir David Attenborough.

Destination Recap:

Durdle Door, Dorset, England
Devon Coast, England
Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Republic of Congo
Hallo Bay, Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
Sumatra, Indonesia
Costa Rica
Antarctica
Turkmenistan
England

Gavin’s book ‘Journeys in the Wild - The Secret Life of a Cameraman’ is out now. You can follow him on Instagram @thegavinthurston.

Thank you to The Nautilus Maldives, your luxury bohemian hideaway in the Maldives, for their support today. A highly personalised, immensely private ultra-luxury island resort with just 26 beach and ocean houses and residences, where every experience is tailored to you. Where nothing is fixed and anything is possible. Where you are free to set your own beat; free to do – and to be – as you please.

You can find out more about The Nautilus Maldives here.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they are released just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Poppy Delevingne to Raymond Blanc.

Thank you so much for listening, and I’ll be back next week.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon Ronson Jan 19, 2021

We’re back for Season 4 with the award-winning author, writer, and documentary maker, Jon Ronson. Jon is the author of many best-selling books, including So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, Them: Adventures with Extremists, The Men who Stare at Goats which was adapted to become a movie starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor, and The Psychopath Test which is the first book of Jon’s that I read, and was hooked ever since.

He’s an acclaimed screenwriter, most recently co-writing the 2017 Netflix film, Okja, with Bong Joon-Ho, the South Korean director of Parasite, last year’s Best Picture winner at the Oscars.

And if you’re not already familiar with Jon’s work, I’d suggest checking out one of his recent podcast series, which have been huge hits around the world - The Butterfly Effect and The Last Days of August both look at the effects of the porn industry. Both are fascinating, disturbing and addictive to listen to.

Jon’s now based in the US, so we spoke online as per usual these days, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Destination Recap:

Marlborough College, Wiltshire, England
Avebury, Wiltshire, England
Cardiff, Wales
South Africa
QE2 ship
Queen Mary ship
Rhodes, Greece
Manhattan, New York, USA
Union Hall, Brooklyn, New York, USA
The Bell house, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant, New York, USA
Barney Greengrass, New York, USA
Inns of Aurora, Fingerlakes, New York, USA
Hudson, New York, USA
Forte Village Resort, Sardinia, Italy
Forte dei Mami, Tuscany, Italy
Pacific High Way One, California, USA
Los Angeles, California, USA
Florida, USA
New Zealand
Iceland

A big thank you to Citalia for their support for today’s podcast. You can discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast.

To hear future episodes as soon as they’re available just search for The Travel Diaries on your podcast app of choice, and hit subscribe.

To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first three seasons to catch up on, from Michael Palin to Rick Stein, and Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Simon Reeve.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incredible Italy - Bonus Episode Nov 03, 2020

Buongiorno and welcome to this bonus Destination Special of The Travel Diaries, in partnership with the British Airways American Express® Credit Card*. Today, we’ll be heading on a tour of Incredible Italy. Italy is one of the most popular destinations on the podcast, and with the help of some of my favourite guests from the past three seasons, I’ve created a special itinerary that covers some of the country’s ultimate highlights - my guests’s favourite cities, best hotels, hidden gems and much more, from Puglia and Positano in the south, to Venice and Trieste in the north.

*Terms and conditions apply. Representative 22.2% APR Variable.

Destination Recap:

Merrion Charles:

Lunigiana, Tuscany
Val D’Orcia, Tuscany
Ponza, Pontine Islands
Sicily

Simon Calder:

Syracuse, Sicily

Travel Leisure’s Jacqui Gifford:

Borgo Egnazia, Puglia

Poppy Delevingne:

Positano, Amalfi Coast - Le Sirenuse; Da Adolfo; Conca del Sogno
Rome - Residenza Napoleone III

Mr & Mrs Smith’s James Lohan:

Florence, Tuscany - Il Latini; JK Place

Yotam Ottolenghi:

Florence, Tuscany

Rick Stein:

Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

Lonely Planet Founder, Tony Wheeler:

Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna

Sir Michael Palin:

Venice, Veneto

Lonely Planet Magazine’s Peter Grunert:

Cannareggio, Venice, Veneto

Rick Stein:

Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia

Holly Rubenstein:

Capri, Bay of Naples
Citalia tour operator
Ascona, Lake Maggiore

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To hear all about our podcast news, future guests and destination specials come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. Visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

Grazie mille!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Reeve Sep 15, 2020

Today, I’m joined by one of travel’s most familiar faces. Known for his TV series tracing the Equator, the Tropics of Cancer & Capricorn, following the world’s sacred rivers and pilgrimages, travelling the length of the Americas, and deep diving into destinations like Burma, Russia and Colombia, visiting over 130 countries along the way. It is of course the adventurer, author and broadcaster, Simon Reeve.

Now, if you’ve watched Simon’s shows, you’ll know they’re not your typical travel programmes. He’s known for digging beneath the surface of a place, and telling the stories - both good and bad - that need to be told. What you may not know is that Simon is really very experienced when it comes to digging a little deeper as he began his career as an investigative journalist, and went on to become a NY Times best-selling author, all before he even appeared on our TV screens.

Simon has undertaken numerous extraordinary journeys, but none of them are quite as extraordinary as the journey his own life has taken. I think you’ll be both amazed and inspired by it.

Destination Recap:

Studland Bay, Dorset, England
Istanbul, Turkey
Hagia Sophia Grand Turkey, Istanbul, Turkey
Gabon
Madagascar
Bangladesh
Somaliland
West Country, England
Japan
New Zealand
Senegal
Mali
The Arctic
The Antarctic
Paraguay

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

For a boutique Cotswolds escape, head over the Barnsley House and their Instagram account to find out more.

If you’re looking for a spectacular private hire home in Cornwall, check out Barford Beach House nr Bude.

And for a splash out escape in the New Forest, there’s nowhere better than Chewton Glen.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yotam Ottolenghi Sep 08, 2020

On today’s episode, I’m joined by world renowned chef, restaurateur and best-selling cookbook author, Yotam Ottolenghi.

Yotam had always been expected to follow his parents into the world of academia, and it wasn’t until he turned 30 that he decided to follow his true passion for food, enrolling in the prestigious Cordon Bleu culinary school in London.

From there, he became a pastry chef in some of London’s top restaurants before meeting Sami Tammimi, a Palestinian chef who became his business partner. They created a small deli in Notting Hill called Ottolenghi. The rest, you could say, was history. Yotam’s signature mix of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours, showcasing mainly vegetables, soon became a sensation, sparking what can only be described as a culinary movement - plates were now about sharing and the rising popularity of ingredients like pomegranate seeds, sumac and tahini in British supermarkets was dubbed “the Ottolenghi effect”.

Now, he’s the owner of six delis and restaurants, a Guardian columnist, TV presenter and he’s back with his 8th cookbook, Flavour.

As you’ll hear in this episode, Yotam won’t visit a destination unless it has great food, and his food is continuously inspired by his extensive global travels. And so, his travel diaries are also food memory diaries, and they’re sure to make your mouth water.

From Israel and Bali to Greece and Mexico, here are the travel diaries of Yotam Ottolenghi.

Destination Recap:

Jerusalem, Israel
Palestine
Sinai Desert, formerly in Israel and now, Egypt
Florence, Italy
Amsterdam, Holland
Ubud, Bali
Royal Pita Maha, Bali
Malaysia
Vietnam
Folegandros, Greece
Greek Islands
Guangzhou, China
Mexico

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

Yotam’s new recipe book, Flavour, is out now.

Head over to TheThinkingTraveller.com/traveldiaries to book your dream villa holiday.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sustainable Travel Expert, Juliet Kinsman Sep 01, 2020

On today’s episode, I’m joined by sustainable luxury travel writer, and the Sustainability Editor of Condé Nast Traveller magazine, Juliet Kinsman. Juliet has been an authority in the travel world for over two decades, as a renowned hotel expert. She’s the former Editor-in-Chief of the boutique hotel guide, Mr & Mrs Smith, and went on to found Bouteco, a platform that helps design lovers find the best eco-conscious design-led hotels.

And now she’s releasing a book, The Green Edit: Easy Tips for the Eco-Friendly Traveller. All of which couldn’t feel more relevant in our current global climate crisis. I really hope you enjoy Juliet’s insight into the future of travel, as well as the wonderful array of unusual destinations that she picks for her travel diaries.

Destination Recap:

Algeria
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
New York City, USA
Bali, Indonesia
Green School, Bali
Sumba, Indonesia
Nihi Sumba hotel, Indonesia
Fogo Island, Newfoundland, Canada
Uxua Casa, Brazil
Potato Head, Bali, Indonesia
Budapest, Hungary
Brody House, Hungary
Treviso, Italy
Transylvania, Romania
Norway
Scotland inc. Alladale Wilderness Reserve
Japan
Peruvian Andes

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

The Green Edit by Juliet Kinsman is out on September 10.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel & Leisure's Jacqui Gifford Aug 25, 2020

Today, I’m joined by Jacqui Gifford, the Editor-in-Chief of America’s biggest travel magazine, Travel & Leisure. With a circulation of almost two million and an online readership of nine million, the magazine has always inspired me with its incredible covers, breathtaking photography and moving features, and Jacqui will absolutely inspire you with this episode. Having lived all over the world, and specialising in travel and lifestyle content for two decades, she has so many wonderful destinations in her travel diaries for you to add to your travel wish list. From Anguilla and Mexico to Bermuda and Puglia, speaking to me from NYC, these are the travel diaries of Travel & Leisure’s Jacqui Gifford.

Destination Recap:

Long Island, New York, USA
Kauai, Hawaii, USA
Japan: Tokyo, Peninsula Hotel Tokyo, Okinawa, and Setouchi
Saudi Arabia
Ireland: West Coast and Dublin
Morocco: Marrakech and Dar Ahlam, Atlas Mountains
Paris, France: Le Meurice, Shangri-La Paris and Park Hyatt Paris
Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy
Gritti Palace, Venice, Italy
Bermuda
Mexico: Oaxaca and San Miguel de Allende
Anguilla: Belmond Cap Juluca, Four Seasons Anguilla, Malliouhana and Zemi Beach House
Riga, Latvia
Rwanda
Southern India including Goa and Kerala, and Varanasi

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

And If Jacqui has tempted you to visit the West Coast of Ireland, one of the most magnificent places to stay is Adare Manor - found out more, here.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Jane Goodall Aug 18, 2020

Today, I’m joined by legendary ethologist and conservationist Dame Dr Jane Goodall, known best for her groundbreaking research of wild chimpanzees.

When Jane moved from England to Gombe in Tanzania, at the age of just 26, virtually nothing was known about chimpanzees in the wild. Her findings, in particular observing them using tools to get food, changed our understanding of animal behaviour and the natural world, and propelled Jane to international fame. What makes this even more astounding is that at the time, she had no formal scientific qualifications. Still running today, the study is the world’s longest running continuous wildlife research project.

Jane has since been named a United Nations Messenger of Peace and was invested as a dame of the British Empire. Now at the age of 86 she remains a dedicated activist, travelling 300 days of every year (before covid), becoming equally well known as a conservationist and a champion of human rights.

Destination Recap:

Bournemouth
Serengeti
Gombe
Germany
Cape Town
Tanzania
Nebraska
Malaysia
Tendaguru, Tanzania
Lubbock ,Texas
Auschwitz
Haiti
Death

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that you receive a new episode each week.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

If you want to get involved or find out more about Jane’s work, visit www.janegoodall.org.uk and www.rootsnshoots.org.uk

The documentary, Jane, is currently available on Netflix and is a fantastic watch.

Book your stay at the spectacular Gleneagles hotel at https://gleneagles.com/

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Cracknell Aug 11, 2020

Today, I’m joined by the sportsman, adventurer and double Olympic gold medallist, James Cracknell. We first got to know James as part of the coxless four rowing team, alongside Steve Redgrave, that won gold at the Sydney Olympics. Several world titles later, James went on to take part in countless feats of endurance, from becoming the highest ever placed Brit to run the Marathon des Sables, the hottest hardest race in the world, to rowing the Atlantic in a two man boat, and racing to the South Pole with his friend Ben Fogle, who you might have heard on the podcast earlier this season.

Then, in 2010, James’s life was turned upside down. While cycling in a race across America, he was struck by a lorry and experienced a serious brain injury that left him in a coma. As we discuss, his journey to recovery has been anything but straightforward, but his story is one of sheer determination and resilience, ultimately leading him to return to university - Cambridge, no less - where he became the oldest ever winner of the famous Oxbridge boat race.

Travel has been hugely important to James. Of course he’s spent a lot of time on some of the world’s most beautiful lakes and rivers - and I love being by the water, so I really enjoyed hearing about those. And his Slovenian hidden gem is a spot that I’ve now added to my travel wish list, and I’m sure you might do too.

Destination Recap:

Biarritz, France
Lac d’Aiguebelette, France
Galtür, Austria
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Annecy, France
South Pole, Antarctica
Rowing the Atlantic Ocean
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Maggiore, Italy / Switzerland
Grand Canyon National Park, USA
The Amazon
Tepui Table Top Mountains, Venezuela

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

To find out more about Lanserhof at the Arts Club and Lanserhof Sylt, visit https://www.lanserhof.com/en

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wanderlust Magazine's Lyn Hughes Aug 04, 2020

Today, I’m joined by Lyn Hughes, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of one of the UK's best-loved travel magazines, Wanderlust. In the early nineties Lyn and her late husband were bored on a flight to South America, so they schemed out their dream travel magazine on the back of a sick-bag. The idea stuck and, returning to the UK a few months later, they launched Wanderlust magazine from their spare bedroom, with Lyn as editor and her husband, Paul, as publisher. The magazine gradually grew through word of mouth, and now, years later, it’s one of the UK’s leading travel magazines. Of course, through her work with the magazine, Lyn has travelled all around the world, and has her finger on the pulse of what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to travel. I particularly love her hidden gem in this episode and along with her travel diaries we cover wildlife travel, future travel trends, and of course a little bit of travel during Covid - it’s hard to escape it at the moment. As usual, though, the plan is to transport you far away from all those worries, so from New Zealand and Borneo, to Macedonia and Morocco here are the travel diaries of Lynn Hughes.

Destination Recap:

Southport, Merseyside, England
Exmoor, Devon, England
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore trip
Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia
African safaris including Zambia
Caiman Lodge, The Pantanal, Brazil
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Marrakech, Morocco
Number 43, Cumbria, England
Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
St Naum Monastery, North Macedonia
Japan
Sumatra, Indonesia
Sabah, Borneo

Wanderlust Magazine is available in all good newsagents as well as online at wanderlust.co.uk

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

To find out more about Lanserhof at the Arts Club and Lanserhof Sylt, visit https://www.lanserhof.com/en

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giles Coren Jul 28, 2020

This week, I’m joined by the food writer and TV presenter, Giles Coren. Giles has been a restaurant critic and columnist for The Times for 17 years and alongside chef Monica Galetti, he is the presenter of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, which sees him travel the globe, visiting some of the world’s most incredible hotels, rolling up his sleeves to work alongside their staff. As well as some fabulous hotels, stay tuned for some fab foodie recommendations too.

I loved chatting to Giles - his take on travel amused me from start to finish. I hope you enjoy it too!

Destination Recap:

MGM Macau
Kenyan safari
Andalucía, Spain
La Petite Maison, London, England
Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
Le Gavroche, London, England
The River Cafe, London, England
Min Jiang, London, England
Gymkhana, London, England
Palmers, London, England
Scott’s, London, England
J Sheekey, London, England
Inter-railing around Europe
Tourettes-sur-loup, France
Corsica, France
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
Schloss Elmau, Germany
The Brando, French Polynesia
The Bell Inn, Langford, England
Kerala, India
Cuba

Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby is out now on BBC 2, and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Stafford Jul 21, 2020

On today’s episode, I’m joined by the explorer and survivalist Ed Stafford. In 2010, Ed became the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, a feat that took 860 days and put him on the map as one of our most prominent and exciting adventurers. From there here’s gone on to present and self film more massive challenges, like living in complete isolation on a desert island for 60 days without food, clothes or equipment, or being left for dead in various extreme environments around the world from Madagascar to Mongolia. These became incredible TV series that I’ve watched religiously and couldn’t recommend more.

Ed is someone I’ve wanted to interview for the very beginning but like so many of my dream guests he’s normally always travelling so I was lucky to finally get this time to speak with him and I hope you enjoy what I think is a really raw and honest account of the spiritual and emotional development that comes with travel - as well as hearing about some inspiring destinations along the way.

Destination Recap:

Henfaes, Aberdaron, Wales
Leicestershire, England
Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England
Walking the length of the Amazon river
Olorua, Fiji
Argentine Patagonia
Northern Thailand
Ibiza, Spain
Antarctica

Ed’s new podcast, Dangerous Minds, is out now

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

And don't forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

Huge thanks to The Lygon Arms hotel for their support for today’s episode - you can follow them here

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Michael Palin Jul 14, 2020

Sir Michael Palin - where do you start! He’s a legendary comedian, part of pop culture history as one of Monty Python. He’s a BAFTA-winning actor, a best-selling author, and one of our most loved travel documentarians and travel writers. His journeys across the world, beginning with Around the World in 80 Days, followed by Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara, Himalaya, Brazil and more, were a key part of how many of us discovered the world growing up, through his eyes, and through his warmth and curiosity with whoever he encountered along the way.

From Saharan Africa and the Amazon, to western Scotland and North Korea, it was such an honour to hear the travel diaries of Sir Michael Palin. I hope you enjoy them.

Destination recap:

Sheffield, England
Norfolk, England
Solden, Austria
Venice, Italy
Barbados
Morocco
Mauritania
Chinguetti, Mali
Persian gulf to Indian Ocean dhow boat trip
West coast of Scotland including Glencoe
Aberfeldy, Scotland
New York, USA
Istanbul, Turkey
Kolkata, India
Pongo de Mainique, Peru
North Korea
Algiers
Vietnam
Gulag camps, Kolyma, Russia
Mongolia and the 'Stans
Altai Mountains
Walking in the Dolomites, Italy

Michael Palin’s North Korea Journal is out now, and available from all good bookshops.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beautiful Destinations founder, Jeremy Jauncey Jul 07, 2020

Jeremy Jauncey is the founder and CEO of the world’s largest online travel community, Beautiful Destinations, which has a combined social following of over 25 million people.

The jaw-dropping photos on Beautiful Destinations’s Instagram feed have provided me with endless travel inspiration and undoubtedly influenced some of my travel choices.

And what was once a passion project has become a global business, with Beautiful Destinations offices based out of the US, UK and Asia.

While it might look like Jeremy spends most of his time being photographed in some of the most epic locations around the world - meditating on North Island in the Seychelles, hugging giant pandas in China, posing on a horse rearing in front of a pyramid in Egypt - most of the time he is actually consulting with major travel brands and tourist boards, helping them to tell inspiring stories through social first content.

This conversation gives a deep insight into the business of travel and travel marketing, of the power of imagery, and the power of human connection.

From New Zealand and Japan to the Philippines and Norwegian Fjordland, these are the travel diaries of Jeremy Jauncey.

Destination recap:

Perth, Scotland
New Zealand
Colombia
Panama
Rwanda
Singapore
New York City, USA
Tokyo, Japan
Palawan, Borocay and El Nido, Philippines
Siargao, Philippines
Scandinavia, in particular Norway including Fjordland and Lofoten Islands

You can follow Jeremy on Instagram @jeremyjauncey and of course @beautifuldestinations, too.

Thank you also to CV Villas - you can browse and book their stunning villas around the world, here

If you’ve enjoyed this episode today then don’t forget to subscribe and leaving a review or a rating really helps others to discover the podcast. And to find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks so much for listening and I’ll see you again next week.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fabulous France - Destination Special Jul 01, 2020

Bonjour! As quarantine-free travel is soon to be announced between France and England, here is a bonus episode celebrating Fabulous France to whet your appetite and inspire your future travel plans.

As well as hearing from some of my favourite guests from the past two seasons, today’s show is introduced by Nicola Williams, France expert for The Telegraph and Lonely Planet. She shares her experience of living in France during lockdown and her top tips and hidden gems to visit across the country now that we can travel freely again.

Destination Recap:

Nadiya Hussain - Paris
Rachel Khoo - Paris
Conde Nast Traveller’s Melinda Stevens - Le Bristol Paris hotel, La Reserve Paris hotel
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa
Rick Stein - Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne; Jura; Collioure and Perpignan
Ella Eyre - La Clusaz
Jo Malone - Grasse; Mougins; La Colombe d’Or Hotel, St Paul de Vence, France
Raymond Blanc - Provence

Nicola Williams on…

Ile de Ré
Le Martiniere Ice Cream shop, Ile de Ré
Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Nernier, Haute-Savoie
Château de la Treyne, Lots, Dordogne
Les Prés d'Eugénie, Eugénie-les-Bains, Les Landes

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And to delve into the back catalogue, visit thetraveldiariespodcast.com

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps. Hit subscribe so that each new episode lands magically into your feed.

See you next week!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Fogle Jun 30, 2020

It’s the start of Season 3, and who better to join me to celebrate than Ben Fogle? Ben is not only an award-winning broadcaster, fronting many of our most loved TV shows - he is also one of the UK’s most prolific adventurers. He has rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, swam from Alcatraz to San Francisco, run the Marathon Des Sables (a 6 day ultra marathon across the Sahara Desert), raced across the Antarctica to the South Pole and most recently climbed Mount Everest.

He’s written nine best-selling books - many about travel - and has the enviable title of the United Nations Patron of the Wilderness. And speaking of the Wilderness, he has travelled to every corner of the globe while filming his long-running hit TV series, New Lives in the Wild, a notion that feels particularly relevant right now during lockdown.

Get ready to be transported to Guatemala, the top of Mt Everest, Ethiopia, the Canadian Wilderness and…Ayia Napa, Here, are the travel diaries of Ben Fogle.

Destination Recap:

Taransay, Outer Hebrides, Scotland
Lake Chemong, Ontario, Canada
British Columbia, Canada
Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada
Latin America
Quito, Ecuador
Antigua, Guatemala
Bolivia
Pitcairn Island, South Pacific
Pleistocene Park, Siberia
The Atlantic Ocean
Mt Everest, Nepal
Cornwall, England
Ethiopia
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Ayia Napa, Mallorca, Spain
Haiti
The Great Wall of China, China
The North Pole
The South Pole

The Wilderness Collection for Barbour by Ben and Marina Fogle is available from www.benfogle.com

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps. Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

Today’s episode was recorded during the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. It was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hidden Gems - Bonus Episode Apr 14, 2020

Surprise! I’m back with bonus episode number two, as we could all do with a bit of armchair travel right now. This week we’re uncovering the best ‘Hidden Gems’ from the past 23 episodes, from guests including Nadiya Hussain, Dan Snow and Levison Wood. Stay tuned for those secret spots that you want to keep to yourself because they’re that wonderful, but you also want to shout from the roof top because…they’re that wonderful! I hope they transport you to somewhere far, far away and provide some inspiration for your future travel plans.

Destination Recap:

Dan Snow: Stockholm and Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
Mr & Mrs Smith’s James Lohan: Ett Hem, Stockholm, Sweden
Rachel Khoo: Little Brothers Bakery - Stockholm, Sweden
Luleå, Swedish Lapland
Arctic Bath, Sweden
The Independent’s Simon Calder: Wuppertaler Schwebebahn (Wuppertal Suspension Railway), Germany; Tiraspol, Moldova; The Azores; Syracuse, Sicily
Levison Wood: Lebanon
Arthaus Beirut, Lebanon
Lucy Williams: Anopura, Jaipur, India
Lonely Planet’s Peter Grunert: Bhutan
Nadiya Hussain: Koh Sukorn, Thailand

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of British - Destination Special Mar 31, 2020

Today we celebrate the Best of British, where a selection of guests from Season 1 & 2 will transport you to some of their favourite places in the British isles - all from the safety of your own home. From the Isles of Scilly to the Island of Rum; Shropshire, Yorkshire, Kent, London and much more, here’s a taster of some of the very best of what Britain has to offer.

Destination recap:

Rick Stein: Isles of Scilly; Padstow, Cornwall, England
Poppy Delevingne: Daymer Bay, Cornwall, England
Porthminster Beach Cafe
Porthmeor Beach Cafe
Melinda Stevens: The Long Mind, Shropshire, England
Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Isle of Rum, Scotland
Dynamo: Chiltern Firehouse and Bar Bruno’s, London
Kettner’s Town House, London
Blanchette, London
Peter Grunert: Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Tom Kerridge: North Kent Coast, England - Whitstable; The Goods Shed, Canterbury; The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury; The Compasses Inn, Crundale; The Sportsman, Seasalter
James Lohan: Blakes Hotel, London; The Witchery, Edinburgh, Scotland; Drunken Duck Inn, Lake District, England; Le Manoir aux quat’saisons, Oxfordshire, England; Lime Wood, Hampshire, England
Sophy Roberts: Yeotown, Devon, England

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lonely Planet founder, Tony Wheeler Mar 24, 2020

Today, I’m joined by a legend of the travel world. Back in 1972, Tony Wheeler and his wife Maureen, decided to drive from London through Asia, and all the way to Australia on what was known as the Hippie Trail. Along the way, they realised there was a real shortage of information about the countries they were visiting, and so they decided to write a guidebook together. That was the now seminal Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, and from there, Lonely Planet was born.

Lonely Planet went on to become the world’s largest travel guidebook publishers, selling hundreds of millions of books. I’m sure all of us have a well leafed Lonely Planet guide on our shelves, that has been a trusty companion on our travels.

Tony and Maureen now live in Melbourne, Australia, so I was very lucky to grab some time with Tony when he was over in London at the beginning of the month.

We spoke before the Coronavirus became a global pandemic - although you’ll hear that it had impacted his travels on the way to get here.

It’s a very frightening time for all of us across the globe, a time when travel suddenly feels so out of reach. I hope this episode acts as a bit of escapism, some light relief, that will transport you to the weird and wonderful corners of the world that make up Tony’s travel diaries. From Bulgaria and Turkmenistan, to Armenia and…The Maldives. I hope you enjoy it.

Destination recap:

Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Hippie Trail driving from London to Australia
Ashkabad, Turkmenistan
Karachi, Pakistan
Karakoram Highway, Pakistan
Nassau, Bahamas
San Francisco, California, USA
Sumba, Indonesia
Armenia
Istanbul, Turkey
The Pudding Shop, Istanbul, Turkey
Göreme, Turkey
Bamiyan Buddahs, Afghanistan
Torres Strait, Australia
Erub Island, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Ravenna, Italy
The Maldives
Socotra, Yemen
Yemen
Jamaica

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poppy Delevingne Mar 17, 2020

Supermodel and actress Poppy Delevingne is making her podcast debut today on The Travel Diaries. Poppy - and her sister, Cara Delevingne - are two of fashion’s most recognisable names. Poppy has been the face of Louis Vuitton, Burberry, the muse for designer Matthew Williamson, and the brand ambassador of Chanel. But as you’ll hear in this episode, it was acting that was Poppy’s first love, and having starred in blockbusters like Kingsman and King Arthur, Poppy is now a series regular on Sky Atlantic’s hit series, Riviera.

I spoke to Poppy in her beautiful west London home in a rare moment when she was back in the UK - travelling is not only an integral part of her career - you’ll soon hear that Poppy clearly has the travel bug, too. From Argentina to Antarctica, Japan to Positano, this is a glimpse into the glamorous life of Poppy Delevingne.

Destination Recap:

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Cornwall, England
Wandsworth Common, London, England
The Colbert, London, England
The Wolseley, London, England
The Delaunay, London, England
Chiltern Firehouse, London, England
The Windsor Castle, Camden Hill Road, London, England
Los Angeles, California, USA
Positano, Italy
Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy
Da Adolfo, Positano, Italy
Conca del Sogno, Positano, Italy
Camping in the Amazon, Brazil
India
South Africa
Peninsula Hotel, Tokyo, Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Amanemu, Shima, Japan
Amangiri, Utah, USA
Zion National Park, USA
Barcelona, Spain
La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain
Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles, California
Paris, France
Residenza Napoleone III, Rome, Italy
Macchu Picchu, Peru
Antartica

You can catch up on Riviera Season 1 & 2 on Sky Atlantic now. Season 3 will be released this summer. Follow Poppy on Instagram here.

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sophy Roberts, Travel Author Mar 10, 2020

Today, I’m joined by one of the world’s leading travel authors and journalists, Sophy Roberts. Formerly the editor-at-large of Conde Nast Traveller, and Departures Magazine, as well as a columnist at the Financial Times, Sophy’s focus now is primarily on remote parts of the world, reporting on fragile cultures, wildlife conservation and threats to eco-systems.

I hope this episode grabs you and transports you to the wild and wonderful ends of our planet. It’s a long haul, feature length episode and a love letter to travel, which will take you to some truly far flung locations from deepest Siberia and wild Papua New Guinea, to the deserts of Chad and the lakes of Kashmir. I really hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Destination Recap:

Uzbekistan
Aryll, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Leger, France
Ireland
Ecclefechan, Scottish Borders
Russia
Delhi Old Town, India
Kashmir, India
Drive from Kashmir to Ladakh
Siberia, Russia
Mongolia
Nepal
New York City, USA
New York Public Library
Sylvia’s, New York
Nihiwatu - Now called Nihi Sumba, Indonesia
Hotel Trasierra, Andalucia, Spain
Chad
Papua New Guinea
Yeotown, Somerset
The Canary Islands
St Tropez in August
Mozambique
Kolyma, Siberia, Russia
Rwanda
Arctic poles
Socotra Island, Yemen
Mississippi River, USA

‘The Lost Pianos of Siberia’ by Sophy Roberts, is out now. You can follow Sophy’s travel on Instagram here.

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jo Malone Mar 03, 2020

Jo Malone's superhuman sense of smell took her from life on a council estate, leaving school with no qualifications, and catapulted her into becoming one of the world’s most successful businesswomen, creating two globals brands- first Jo Malone London, and now Jo Loves.

Her name may conjure the smell of lime, basil and mandarin or the citrusy scent of pomelo - but what you might not know is how these scents are in many ways inspired by the travels that Jo has been on, and in this is episode she evokes so vividly the many destinations that have shaped her life.

Destination recap:

Elizabeth Street, Belgravia, London
Philip Treacy, London
Peggy Porschen cupcakes, London
Wild by Tart restaurant, London
Rhodes, Greece
Embonas wine festival, Rhodes, Greece
COMO Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
Grasse, France
Mougins, France
La Colombe d’Or Hotel, St Paul de Vence, France
Thula Thula Game Reserve, South Africa
New York City, New York, USA
The Boat House, Central Park, New York, USA
Wheatleigh Hotel, Lenox, Massachusetts, USA
The Surrey Hotel, New York, USA
The Lowell Hotel, New York, USA
The Peninsula Hotel, Paris, France
The PuLi Hotel, Shanghai, China
One & Only Royal Mirage, Dubai, UAE
La Bastide Saint Antoine, Grasse, France
Hacienda de San Rafael, Seville, Spain
Fairmont Chateau Whistler, Canada
India

You can visit the Jo Loves store on Elizabeth Street in Belgravia, or shop online.

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder, Travel Editor Feb 25, 2020

Today, I’m joined by the travel writer and broadcaster, Simon Calder. He’s TV’s travel guru, and the travel editor at the Independent newspaper, where he’s known as “the man who pays his way” because he doesn’t accept any freebies from the travel trade - and in this episode, he gives some great tips for travelling on a budget.

Simon’s got a great story because his first job was at Gatwick airport, cleaning planes and working on security, and the notion of simply travelling abroad while working there felt like a distant dream. Now of course, he spends his life travelling the world - and this episode includes such a variety of fascinating and unusual locations that this had to be a ‘long haul’ feature length episode.

Make sure you stay tuned for his all time favourites and hidden gems - there are some really interesting ones in there - I’m already dreaming up some travels from those.

Here’s a recap of the destinations mentioned:

Swanage, Dorset, England
Lake District, England
Guernsey, Channel Islands, England
Granada, Spain
Skye, Scotland
Isle of Wight Festival
Aconcagua, Argentina
Santiago, Chile
East Berlin
Tirana, Albania
Cuba
New York, USA
Mumbai, India
Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, Costa Rica
Pan American Highway - Nuevo Laredo, Mexico to Panama
Mexico City, Mexico
Puebla, Mexico
Wahaca, Mexico
Wuppertaler Schwebebahn, (Wuppertal Suspension Railway), Germany
Tiraspol, Moldova
The Azores
Syracuse, Sicily
Arctic Canada and Greenland cruise
Caribbean cruising
Alaska to Canada cruise
Cuillin, Skye, Scotland
Nepal
Mt Vinson, Antarctica

You can follow Simon’s travels on his Twitter page, @Simoncalder - and tune in to his podcast which is on Soundcloud, it’s called Escape podcast.

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget you can listen on Spotify, Apple podcasts, Castbox, Stitcher and pretty much all other podcast apps.

To find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein I’d love to hear from you.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything podcast-related.

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Snow Feb 11, 2020

Today I’m joined by the historian and broadcaster, Dan Snow. You’re probably already a fan of his podcast, Dan Snow’s History Hit. Following in the footsteps of his journalist parents, Dan is now a mainstay on our TV screens, often presenting programmes linked to his love of history - and history and travel of course come hand in hand.

I enjoyed this chat with Dan so much that it had to be a “long haul” feature length episode. As well as bringing to life so many far flung destinations (check out that list below!) Dan’s insights into the meaning of travel, and the impact of travel, I found to be fascinating. I hope you do too!

Destination Recap:

North Wales
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Timbuktu, Mali
Mount Assiniboine, Western Canada
Maui, Hawaii, USA
Amsterdam, Holland
Oberoi Hotel, Jaipur, India
Iceland
Vasa Museum, Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden
Northumberland, England
Lancashire, England
China
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Syria
New England, USA
St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean
Sao Tome & Principe
Micronesia

You can listen to Dan’s brilliant podcast, Dan Snow’s History Hit here. And check out his online history channel, HistoryHit.TV too.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This is episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dynamo Feb 04, 2020

Today I’m joined by one of the most prolific magicians of all time - Dynamo.

250 million viewers around the world tuned in to watch his award-winning TV shows, as he levitated in front of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro; and seemingly walked on water down London’s River Thames.

750,000 attended his last stadium tour, with famous fans from Jay Z and Snoop Dogg, to Gwyneth Paltrow and Ed Sheeran.

And then, at the very peak of his success, he had to step away.

As you’ll hear on this episode, Dynamo became so ill from the affects of Crohn’s disease that he spent months in hospital, thinking he would never be able to perform magic again.

Now, 5 years later, having come close to death, Dynamo’s resilience and determination mean he’s back. He’s been working on a new show which will take viewers on a magical journey across the globe. From Bradford to Japan, and Syria to Australia, these are the travel diaries of Dynamo.

Destination recap:

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA
Bradford, Yorkshire, England
India
Tokyo, Japan
Chūbu, Japan
Syria
Wolgan Valley, Blue Mountains, Australia
London, England
Hampstead Heath, London, England
Chiltern Firehouse, London, England
Bar Bruno, Soho, London, England
Harlem, New York, USA
Gorilla Trekking, Rwanda

Dynamo new show Beyond Belief is on Sky One now.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Kerridge Jan 28, 2020

Today I’m joined by the much loved chef, restauranteur and TV presenter, Tom Kerridge.

Tom’s worked in food since he was 18 years old, but he rose to fame when his pub in Buckinghamshire, The Hand and Flowers, went on to become the only pub in Britain with two Michelin stars. I, like many, got to know and love him on the BBC’s Great British Menu show, where he was the first chef to cook at the banquet two years in a row and he’s since gone on to release several best selling cook books and many popular TV shows. More recently, he’s made headlines with his dramatic 12 stone weight loss. As well as chatting a bit about that, Tom takes us on a journey across the UK, Europe, Asia and the US with his travel diaries, and lots of foodie recommendations along the way.

This is what I call a “long haul” episode - you’re getting a bit more this week because Tom is so lovely and we just couldn’t stop chatting. I hope you’ll really enjoy it.

Destination recap:

Isle of Wight, England
Ostend, Belgium
Agistri, Greece
Crete, Greece
Paphos, Cyprus
Singapore
Hong Kong
New York, USA
North Kent coast, England
Whitstable, England
The Good Shed, Canterbury, England
The Fordwich Arms, Canterbury, England
The Compasses Inn, Crundale
The Sportsman, Seasalter
Lapland
India
Japan

Tom’s new book, Lose Weight and Get Fit, is out now, and you can watch the accompanying BBC 2 series on Wednesday nights at 8.30pm.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dev Patel - Short Haul Jan 21, 2020

BAFTA winner and Oscar nominee, Dev Patel, is one of Britain’s finest young actors.

He first graced our screens in the seminal teen drama, Skins, before going on to make his movie debut in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, which picked up eight Oscars, including Best Picture.

He’s gone on to star in many more critically acclaimed films, including The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Lion, for which he won a BAFTA, and received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations.

Now, he’s taken the lead role in Armando Ianucci’s adaptation of The Personal History of David Copperfield, which is already a critic’s favourite.

Like in Season One, this episode I’ve called a "short haul" episode, because I didn’t have quite as much interview time as I normally do. The way that it tends to work with movie stars is you meet up in a hotel - in this case it was the Soho Hotel in London, which is a real celeb haunt - and you’re given quite a tight time slot before the next interviewer comes in. If you’ve seen Notting Hill, it’s like when Hugh Grant interviews Julia Roberts for Horse & Hound!

Despite literally just getting off a flight from LA, Dev was as warm and down to earth as he seems on screen, and having shot movies and travelled all around the world in some fascinating locations, I really hope you’ll enjoy hearing his travel diaries.

Destination recap:

Gujarat, India
Mumbai, India
Chor Bazaar, Mumbai, India
Alibag, India
Tokyo, Japan
South Korea
Norfolk, England
Koreatown, Los Angeles, USA
Quarters, Los Angeles, USA
Toe Bang, Los Angeles, USA
Johannesburg, South Africa
Soweto, South Africa
New Zealand

Dev’s new movie, The Personal History of David Copperfield is out now.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick Stein Jan 14, 2020

Today I’m joined by international treasure and culinary royalty, Rick Stein.

He’s graced our screens, and lined our bookshelves for over 25 years, cooking up cuisine from all over the world. Fish is his great love, served in his restaurant empire from Padstow, Cornwall to Sydney, Australia.

Along with his travel diaries, we talk about the very surprising career path he originally pursued that had nothing to do with food; how the loss of his father led him on a real voyage of self discovery; and he reveals which destinations he’s tipping for this year’s culinary hit list. All that and more, coming up.

Destination recap:

Isles of Scilly, England
Padstow, Cornwall, England
Combrée, France
Cantabria, Spain
Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne, France
Jura, France
Collioure, France,
Perpignan, France
Alice Springs, Australia
Iceland
Rajasthan, India
Lucknow, India
Sydney, Australia
Tbilisi, Georgia
Bologna, Italy
Trieste, Italy
Buenos Aires, Argentina

Rick Stein’s Secret France is out now and his accompanying TV series is on BBC iPlayer.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raymond Blanc Oct 15, 2019

On today’s season finale, I’m joined by one of the world’s greatest chefs, Raymond Blanc.

Raymond had a very humble start to life in rural France and his journey to opening Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, the internationally-renowned Cotswolds country house hotel where he’s been the chef patron since it opened in 1984 is nothing short of extraordinary. For half of his life he’s held two Michelin stars - the only chef in the UK to have retained two stars for so long. And of course in time, with his success, he has travelled the world, and has many stories to tell.

I spoke to Raymond at the Cheval Three Quays apartments, looking out at the London skyline. I don’t think I’ve ever met somebody overflowing with as much passion and joie de vivre as Raymond. It came as no surprise to hear that 34 of his protégés have gone on to win their own Michelin stars, including Marco Pierre White and Michael Caines. His passion is infectious.

Destination recap:

Franche-Comté, France
Switzerland
Provence, France
Besançon, France
Kuching, Malaysia
Japanese Tea House Garden, Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, England
Barocay, Philippines
Hong Kong
Nice, Provence, France

Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons celebrates 35 years this year.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Condé Nast Traveller's Melinda Stevens Oct 08, 2019

Today I’m joined by one of the world’s most influential and multi-award winning travel writers, the global editor in chief of Condé Nast Traveller UK and US, Melinda Stevens. She’s a trend setter, taste maker and considered by many to be travel royalty.

After beginning her writing career at Vogue Magazine, Melinda went on to become a columnist for the Sunday Times and Evening Standard, and the travel editor at Tatler, before taking the helm at Condé Nast Traveller.

Reading Condé Nast Traveller - the way the writers would transport me to far flung places with the power of their words - was my inspiration for becoming a travel writer. So heading to its offices in the heart of London’s Mayfair, where the walls were lined with its iconic covers, was really thrilling.

Unsurprisingly, Melinda has her finger on the pulse of the hottest destinations, which we of course discuss, as well as reflecting on some of the all time greats. And she gives a real insight into the makings of a top magazine. This is wanderlust guaranteed.

Destination Recap:

Frinton on sea, Essex, England
The Long Mynd, Shropshire, England
Bali, Indonesia
Road trip from Seattle, Washington, through Idaho, Wyoming and Montana
Road trip from Sun Valley Utah, through Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico
Danakil Depression, Ethiopia
Kazakstan
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
The Bahamas
Kerala, India
Rajasthan, India
Cala di Volpe, Sardinia
Amilla Fushi, Maldives
Hotel Escencia, Mexico
Le Bristol, Paris
The Mercer, New York
La Reserve, Paris
Honduras
Belgrade, Serbia
Soviet Russia
Egypt
Sleeper train from London to Scottish Highlands
Belmond trains
Japan

Condé Nast Traveller magazine is available in all good newsagents.

You can follow Melinda's Instagram here, as well as the magazine here, for all the travel inspo you could ever need.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gyles Brandreth Oct 01, 2019

Today, I’m joined by Gyles Brandreth. Summing up the life and career of Gyles is no easy feat. He’s a prolific broadcaster, actor, journalist, novelist, biographer and podcaster, and he was formerly an MP and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. You'll have seen him on Celebrity Googlebox; Countdown's Dictionary Corner hundreds of times, as well as on numerous TV panel shows. He's even the President of the Association of British Scrabble Players!

Through all these different jobs Gyles has travelled the world several times over, from Sri Lanka and Dubai to former Soviet Russia and East Germany. As you’ll hear, though, it’s the British seaside staycation that Gyles loves most.

Destination recap:

Norderney, Germany
Isle of Thanet, Kent, England
Broadstairs, Kent, England
Switzerland
Corfu, Greece
France
Iceland
Isle of Wight, England
Sri Lanka
India
Dubai
Sardinia
Sicily
Mexico
Belfast, Northern Ireland
Swansea, Wales
Russia
East Berlin, East Germany
Mekong Delta, Vietnam and Cambodia
Heaven!

‘Dancing by the Light of the Moon - over 250 poems to read, recite and relish’ is out now.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This is episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Lohan, Founder of Mr & Mrs Smith Sep 24, 2019

Ella Eyre Sep 17, 2019

Singer-songwriter Ella Eyre burst onto the music scene back in 2013 when she featured on the number one single, Waiting All Night, with Rudimental - which went on to win the BRIT award for best British single. She’s since toured the world, releasing hits like If I Go, Gravity, Came Here for Love and Just Got Paid and is now back with new material, most of which was written and recorded in Jamaica. We talk about her Maltese and Jamaican heritage, her obsession with Asian cuisine, the time she nearly became a professional swimmer, and her once in a lifetime performance on Richard Branson’s private island.

Destination Recap:

Wales
Malta
Barcelona, Spain
Necker Island, British Virgin Islands
Frenchman’s Cove, Jamaica
Four Seasons Langkawi, Malaysia
Lisbon, Portugal
Kanada-Ya restaurant, London
Sticks & Sushi restaurant, London
La Clusaz, France
Montreal, Canada
Japan
Singapore Grand Prix

Ella Eyre's fabulous new single, Mama is out now on Island Records.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This is episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Levison Wood Sep 10, 2019

Today I’m joined by Levison Wood, the British explorer, photographer, best selling author, and TV presenter.

You probably know him from his incredible walking expeditions, which he’s documented on TV. He’s walked the length of the River Nile, through Central America from Mexico to Colombia, and the length of the Himalayas from Bhutan all the way to Afghanistan.

We talk about the time he hitchhiked from Nottingham to India - and his adventures along the way; what it was like driving an ambulance from London to Malawi in Southern Africa through 27 countries, and about his most recent and maybe most ambitious expedition yet, which was a 5000 mile circumnavigation of the Arabian Peninsula from Iran to Lebanon.

Destination recap

Greece
Mexico
London to Malawi drive
Columbia
Grosny, Chechnya
Southern Yemen
Southern Dhoffar Mountains, Oman
Lebanon
Damascus, Syria
South Africa
Hitchhiking from Nottingham to India including Afghanistan
Georgia
Byblos, Lebanon
Iran
Corfu
New Zealand
Vancouver Island
Papua New Guinea
Biking through South America

If you’d like to hear more from Levison, you can pick up a copy of his book, Arabia: A Journey Through the Heart of the Middle East. And he’s also written a gorgeous children’s book called Incredible Journeys, and that’s out now too.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This is episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rachel Khoo Sep 03, 2019

Rachel Khoo is a cook, writer and TV presenter, who first rose to fame with her bestselling cookbook, The Little Paris Kitchen, a collection of recipes tested from her little Paris kitchen!

The book was soon developed into her first TV series, and Rachel quickly became known by food lovers the world over, with several cookbooks and TV series that followed.

Now, she lives in Stockholm with her Swedish husband and two children, and it’s this new beginning that’s served as the inspiration for her latest project, The Little Swedish Kitchen.

Destination recap:

Austrian border
Lech, Austria
Paris, France
Tokyo, Japan
Sydney, Australia
Little Brothers Bakery - Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden
Brazil
Cornwall, England

You can watch Rachel Khoo: My Swedish Kitchen on Thursdays at 9pm and 9.30pm on Food Network.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lonely Planet's Peter Grunert Aug 20, 2019

Today, I’m joined by Peter Grunert, the editor of Lonely Planet magazine. In fact, Peter is the editor of 13 different editions of the magazine around the world. And each is imbued with that spirit of adventure and a cultural understanding that makes it one of my favourite travel magazines - and as a result of our chat, I’ve added about 10 new destinations to my bucket list! We’ll be talking about so many incredible places from Bhutan and India, to Uruguay and Australia, and many more, which why is this my first long haul, bumper length episode. So, here is a real deep dive into the world of travel from one of its top experts. I hope you enjoy it.

Destination recap:

Gwyneth, Wales
West Wittering, West Sussex, England
Brittany, France
Mumbai, India
Cannareggio, Venice, Italy
Port Lincoln, South Australia
Coober Pedy, South Australia
Park Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan
Mashpi Lodge, Ecuador
Kerala, India
Bhutan
Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Saltaire World Heritage Site, Bradford, England
Tenerife, Canary Islands
Los Angeles, California, USA
Eswatini (formerly, Swaziland)
Uruguay
Borroloola, North Australia

You can find Lonely Planet Magazine in all good newsagents each month, and head over to their Instagram @lonelyplanetmag for all the travel inspo you could ever need. And follow Peter himself @petervg73

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy Williams Aug 13, 2019

Style icon Lucy Williams is one of the UK’s most successful bloggers, with over 429,000 followers on Instagram. Starting her career as a fashion journalist for magazines like Stylist, In Style and Sheerluxe, her own blog Fashionmenow quickly amassed a huge following and became her full time job. On her blog, she documents her incredible travels, and some really useful guides. Lucy is now the face of many brands and a wildly successful jewellery designer with Missoma London. She’s visited some of the most beautiful places and hotels in the world, so if you’re after some travel inspo, this is the episode for you.

Destination recap:

Abersoch, Wales
The Fife Arms, Braemar, Scotland
Zanzibar, Tanzania
Uganda
The east of South Africa
Sasaab, Samburu, Kenya
Los Angeles, California, USA
Ibiza
Greek Islands
Beltane Ranch, Sonoma, California
Anopura, Jaipur, India
Golborne Road, London
Lisboa Pattiserie, London
Golborne Deli, London
Pentolina, Brook Green, London
Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan
The Philippines
Western Cape of South Africa and Namibia
North Island, Seychelles

Visit Lucy’s blog, Fashionmenow for her travel guides and more, and follow her on Instagram, @LucyWilliams02

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ainsley Harriott Aug 06, 2019

This week, I’m joined by a bit of a national treasure. He’s a chef, an author, a presenter - most notably of one of my childhood favourites - Ready Steady Cook. It’s Ainsley Harriott.

Ainsley first trained as a chef in London, but it might surprise you that before becoming a TV star, he was part of pop duo The Calypso Twins, releasing a hit record in the nineties. He soon started presenting Can’t Cook, Won’t Cook and Ready Steady Cook, and spin-off shows around the world. His numerous cookbooks have sold over 2 million copies globally, and he continues to light up our TV screens today - this time with his new ITV series, Ainsley’s Caribbean Kitchen.

Destination recap:

Jamaica, Caribbean
Kew Gardens, London, England
Niederau, Austria
Interrailing in Europe
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Wimbledon Common, London, England
Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon, England
Dominica, Caribbean

Ainsley’s Caribbean Kitchen, Delicious Feelgood Cooking from the Sunshine Islands is out now.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes Jul 30, 2019

The world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, has led an extraordinary life, travelling to some of the most remote and dangerous places on earth. He’s climbed Mt Everest, traversed from the North to South Pole, discovered a lost city and ran 7 marathons in 7 days in 7 continents. He’s cheated death many times, and raised millions for charity along the way. Chatting in the lobby of a busy London hotel, we discuss that time when he cut off his own fingertips and how he was nearly cast as James Bond. All that, and more, coming up on Episode 3 of The Travel Diaries.

Destination recap:

Table Mountain and Kruger National Park, South Africa
Mt Everest
The Garden Route, South Africa
Crossing of Antarctica
Isle of Rhum, Scotland
Muscat, Oman
London, England
Shisr, Nejd Desert, Oman
Zambezi river trip, Tanzania

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein - and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sir Richard Branson - Short Haul Jul 23, 2019

When it comes to travel, names don’t get much bigger than Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group. On this short haul (bite size) episode of The Travel Diaries, recorded in the bustling lobby of the new Virgin Hotel San Francisco, Richard takes us on a journey around the world, from the mountains of Morocco to the plains of Kenya - and even into outer space.

Destination recap:

Virgin Hotel San Francisco

Menorca, Balearic Islands

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

Ulusaba, South Africa

Mahali Mzuri, Kenya

Mount Toukbal, Atlas Mountains, Marrakech

Kasbah Tamadot, Marrakech

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Galactic

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and to find out more about the podcast, visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nadiya Hussain Jul 23, 2019

Since winning the Great British Bake Off in 2015, life has changed immeasurably for Nadiya Hussain. In this episode of The Travel Diaries, Nadiya explains that travel wasn’t even something she contemplated as a young stay at home mum of three, except to visit her family in Bangladesh.

Now, as a TV presenter and author, she is travelling the globe, discovering her favourite destinations, learning more about herself than ever and getting recognised in the most remote situations imaginable.

Destination recap:

Sylhet, Bangladesh
Paris, France
Nepal
Toronto to Vancouver, Canada (1d 20hrs drive!)
Koh Sukorn, Thailand
Machu Picchu, Peru
Mauritius

Nadiya’s cook book, Time to Eat, is out now.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein and find out more about the podcast at TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com

This episode was produced by Holly Rubenstein

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trailer Jul 02, 2019

Subscribe now to The Travel Diaries, a brand new podcast series starting Tuesday July 23.

Each week, travel and entertainment journalist Holly Rubenstein will be joined by an incredible guest, as she uncovers the places around the world and travel experiences that have shaped her guests' lives.

Be transported to exotic and far flung places as Holly and her diverse lineup from across the arts and the world of travel, take you on a journey through eight key chapters of their life's travel diaries, from their earliest childhood travel memory and the first place they fell in love with; to their all time favourite destination, their hidden gem recommendation and what’s at the top of their bucket list. It's wanderlust guaranteed - so subscribe now!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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