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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the brand-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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the Apulian 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.

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.

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.