The Travel Diaries

Latest Episodes:

Dev Patel - Short Haul Jan 21, 2020

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

Ella Eyre Sep 17, 2019

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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.