Shows
You should have been therePODCAST 227 Castles, caravanserai and the ruins of BaalbekSimon reports on his recent journeys to Lebanon, Northern Cyprus and Moldova. Also, we discuss the timeless allure of castles.
2025-11-0629 min
You should have been therePODCAST 224 Station to StationJoin Simon and Mick on the nearest thing to a hill climb that South London can offer. But will it be a suitable rehearsal for their forthcoming trek in the Pyrenees?
2025-09-1029 min
You should have been therePODCAST 220 Churches in the danger zoneSimon enjoys Lithuania and falls prey to creeping delays and dynamic currency conversions during a whistle stop European tour. Meanwhile Mick takes part in a race across southern England- accidentally.
2025-06-1826 min
You should have been therePODCAST 217 Below Deck in the AdriaticJoin Simon on his tour of beautiful Croatian Islands and share your thoughts on holiday souvenirs, Voyages a trois and "Trevi Fountain wishes" for ways to make travel better.
2025-05-0829 min
You should have been therePODCAST 207 Manatees v humanityWe discuss the possible impact on travel to the USA of the impending Donald Trump presidency while Simon reports from Florida on the often fraught interaction between humanity and manatees. With thanks to NOAA for the photo of a manatee and her calf.
2025-01-1430 min
You should have been therePODCAST 206 NEW YEAR, OLD YEARSimon and Mick share their favourite travel moments from 2024- best views, meals and cultural encounters- before looking forward to 2025. Happy New Year, fellow travellers!
2024-12-3128 min
You should have been therePODCAST 204 THE QUIET SIDE OF THE MOUNTAINSSimon recounts tales from his recent trek through Nepal's Lumba Sumba pass and, inspired by Rome's Trevi fountain we launch a strand of travel wishes!
2024-11-2828 min
You should have been therePODCAST 203 HITTING THE HEIGHTSSimon Calder and Mick Webb compare their recent lofty experiences in Nepal and La Gomera respectively.
2024-11-1929 min
You should have been therePODCAST 192 DOWN UNDER WITH THE CROCS AND THE QUOKKASWe discuss the merits of visiting Australia in the wake of Mick's trip to the less fashionable West and North of this vast country. On the agenda: strange pronunciations, marvellous marsupials, loud and lovely birds and the very important distinction between Salties and Freshies, just in case you meet a crocodile.
2024-06-1832 min
You should have been therePODCAST 191 THE REAL ORIENT EXPRESSWe reveal some truths about the legendary Orient Express, including who was responsible for "murdering " it. Plus more travel miracles and updates for summer tourism. With Simon Calder and Mick Webb
2024-05-0728 min
You should have been therePODCAST 189 DARK TOURISMWe explore the contrasting attractions of dark tourism for eclipse chasers and disaster seekers, while Simon tries not to miss his flight from New York. The website mentioned is dark-tourism. com.
2024-04-2029 min
You should have been therePODCAST 186 UNFASHIONABLE DESTINATIONSWe muse on the weeks travel headlines about Air Traffic Control chaos and plunging planes, while Simon reports from the vast Berlin Travel Show where the whole world of travel is revealed.
2024-03-1929 min
You should have been therePODCAST 184 THE MIRACLE OF MALAHIDESimon recounts the tale of his unbelievably cheap Irish journey and Dylan Harris of Lupine Travel reveals the rewards and challenges of running an adventure travel company.
2024-02-2828 min
You should have been therePODCAST 184 THE MIRACLE OF MALAHIDESimon recounts an extraordinary Irish journey and we hear from Jonny Bealby about the rewards and challenges of running his adventure travel country-Wild Frontiers.
2024-02-2828 min
You should have been therePODCAST 181 DOCUMENTARY DISASTERSWe hear listeners' tales of passport nightmares while Simon exposes a documentary faux-pas in a current Channel 4 drama series.
2024-01-1829 min
You should have been therePODCAST 177 THE ROAD TO BERLINTravel meets football in our guide to the 2024 Euros. Discover where to go, when to book and what to see in Simon Calder's essential guide to next year's football feast across the length and breadth of Germany.
2023-11-2729 min
You should have been therePODCAST 175 INSIDE THE TRAVEL BUSINESSSimon visits two of the industry's major get togethers to take the pulse of travel. Amongst the delegates, he meets Iceland's First Lady and the man who aims to put Airbus 380's back in the skies.
2023-11-1729 min
You should have been therePODCAST 172 THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF MOUNTAIN TREKSSimon and Mick conclude their walk across the Ariège in the French Pyrenees and ruminate on the challenges and the rewards of mountain walking
2023-10-1629 min
You should have been therePODCAST 171 A WALK IN THE WILD COUNTRYSimon and I share the audio diary of our trek across a remote area of the French Pyrenees, the wild and woolly Ariège - yes, it is famed for its sheep. On the agenda are physical challenges, human errors aplenty and entertaining encounters with humans and animals.
2023-10-0929 min
You should have been therePODCAST 165 ISTANBUL OR BUSTSimon joins the competitors and organisers of Lupine Travel's Trans-European Race at the start line in London's Trafalgar's Square. It's a bizarre medley of mystery and travel challenges, all on public transport. So who on earth would spend their holidays doing this and what prizes are at stake?
2023-08-0827 min
You should have been therePODCAST 160 TRAVELLERS' LUCKSimon and Mick discuss the role played by luck, miraculous interventions and the kindness of strangers in a fulfilling journey. And we reveal an odd connection between Brexit and Dexy's Midnight Runners
2023-06-2725 min
You should have been therePODCAST 159 THE MANY ROADS TO SANTIAGOSimon and Mick are joined by walker and novelist, Stephen Marriot, to discuss the enduring appeal of the Caminos de Santiago (I bet you don't know how many there are!) Stephen explains how the first of his "pilgrimages" inspired him to write his Reluctant Pilgrim series, published by The Marsh Books while Mick completes his audio diary of the "Camino inglés"
2023-06-1930 min
You should have been therePODCAST 156 SURPRISING DELIGHTSSimon travels to Israel and Hong Kong, finding unexpected pleasures in harsh and politically volatile destinations. In particular, he enjoys the "friendly" Negev desert and the tranquil island of Tai O
2023-05-2929 min
You should have been therePODCAST 155 THE SHORT ROUTE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELASimon and Mick discuss the latter's experience of walking the "camino inglés", the 115 km pilgrims' route from Ferrol to Santiago. On the agenda: the weather, the kindness of strangers, fellow-pilgrims and the nature of the walk itself.
2023-05-2229 min
You should have been therePODCAST 153 NORTHERN SPAIN BY TINY TRAINWe report on recent journeys: Simon to the potentially controversial destination of Israel, Mick to the North of Spain, where the FEVE narrow-gauge railway takes you to some remote and intriguing mountain villages. Find FEVE information here https://www.renfe.com/es/en/suburban/cercanias-feve
2023-05-1029 min
You should have been therePODCAST 151 Planning trips, connections and transitsWe compare and contrast Simon's happy-go-lucky approach to travel planning with Mick's meticulous preparations. Serendipity v serious forethought. And which is better when it all goes Pete Tong, as journeys often do? We also hear from listeners about the ideal length of time to allow for transits, layovers and stopovers. Thanks to all contributors, in particular traveller, Catherine Oldham and coach driver, Husain.
2023-04-1128 min
You should have been therePODCAST 147 COSTLY ERRORSWe hear the salutary tales of Debra's passport and of Mick's misplaced click, while continuing the hot topic of travelling with children- is there a best age? With many thanks to Debra Davis, Alec Webb and Charlotte Hindle. And do send us your own stories of travel errors to be avoided and childhood memories to be cherished.
2023-03-2129 min
You should have been therePODCAST 144 10 TOP TIPS FOR CHEAPER HOLIDAYSSimon delves into his library and his memory bank to come up with ten tips for reducing holiday outgoings
2023-02-2028 min
You should have been therePODCAST 141 IN AND OUT OF BRUGESWe reflect on the many charms of Belgium's star attraction- Brugge or Bruges. Mick's audio diary brings the city to life through its sounds while Simon generates the power for his own recording from the Eurostar terminal in Brussels- surely a first in podcasting history!
2023-01-2931 min
You should have been therePODCAST 138 OUR VERY HARD NEW YEAR TRAVEL QUIZSimon and Mick go head to head over 8 rounds. Can you do better than they did? The website mentioned during the quiz is "The Man in Seat 61 "
https://www.seat61.com
2023-01-0330 min
You should have been therePODCAST 135 A GUIDE TO XMAS TRAVEL PROSPECTSAre they as bleak as the weather? Join Mick Webb and Simon Calder for a summary of the festive disruptions, a lively listener exchange about business flights and a look back at the original Christmas journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem- challenging, to put it mildly. With thanks to Christian Bjoerklund for his electronic track, Hallon.
2022-12-1124 min
You should have been therePODCAST 126 HIGH PEAKS AND FAWLTY TOWERSPart two of Simon and Mick's trek through The High Pyrenees. It brings spectacular cols, "Dormitory Hell" and a brush with the French equivalent of Basil Fawlty
2022-09-2728 min
You should have been thereNEW TRUTHS ABOUT TRAVELBasilicas with views, Bob Dylan's childhood home and the world's best London all featured on Simon's packed August itinerary. We discuss the experiences, the discoveries and the lessons of his busy trip
2022-08-3029 min
You should have been therePODCAST 122 THE UPS ANDS DOWNS OF A TOUR MANAGEROur guest Raquel tells us all about an essential but often unsung job in the travel industry- the Tour Manager- revealing its upsides as well as its disadvantages. While Simon takes a trip back in time on the chrome-covered Amtrak express, The Wolverine, en route from Detroit to Chicago.
2022-08-1527 min
You should have been thereTHE TROUBLE WITH DOVERSimon wisely cycles to Dover's ferry port to report on the queues and the chaos that have beset holidaymakers. Who is to blame? Plus, the winners of our competition to find the UK's best city for a summer break.
2022-07-2427 min
You should have been thereTRAVEL HIGHS AND TRAVEL LOWSFollow Simon's week of travel reporting-from the chaos at UK's airports to the 9 euro deal of the century on German railways. And taking in the bizarre dangling tram of Wuppertal as well as plenty of technical challenges along the way. Many thanks to Hywel Jones and Linda WS for their contributions.
2022-06-0324 min
You should have been therePODCAST 108 TOURING THE BALTIC STATESSimon takes the temperature of travel in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, three small states in the menacing shadow of Russia and Belarus. Even so, he enjoys the scenery, the hospitality and a surreal cultural tour in the Estonian town of Sillamäe. With thanks to his guide, Valentina, and the anti-war protestors of Tallinn.
2022-04-1329 min
You should have been therePODCAST 104 RETURN TO THE COLDWe ponder the possible consequences of Putin's brutal war for travel and tourism, helped by Russian travel expert, Neil Taylor. Are there any parallels to be drawn with apartheid South Africa or Franco's Spain? And Simon recalls his recent visit to Chernobyl when it was, hard to believe now , a tourist attraction
2022-03-1425 min
You should have been therePODCAST 103 QATAR'S WORLD CUPWe discover what awaits visitors to the first truly post-modern World Cup. As stadiums rise from the desert, Doha's beautiful new museum opens its doors to Simon, if he can manage to find the way in! With thanks to Samuel and Daniel for joining in.
2022-03-0729 min
You should have been therePODCAST 102 THE FIRST TOURIST IN SYDNEYSimon goes to Sydney, newly-opened to the world and, of course, eager to welcome tourists. He gets free vegemite at the airport, roams the city to discover what is and isn't open yet and enjoys some of the city's simpler pleasures: a tram ride, a sunset walk across the iconic bridge and a trek through the Sydney Harbour National Park, where the suburbs, the sea and the outback meet. Thanks to Jane and Jim O'Donnell for taking part.
2022-02-2424 min
You should have been therePODCAST 100 CELEBRATING OUR CENTURYUnapologetic self congratulation is in order as we pick our favourite extracts from the 99 previous podcasts. On the menu: the epitome of slow travel, Graham Greene's little known travelogue and Simon's embarrassing experience on the Balham train, along with the evocative sounds of Andean flutes and a choir of cicadas. Plus, some inspirational journeys involving the number 100, which include "the sociopath's camino de Santiago." Also, thanks to Syna-Max of Freesound for the recording of applause.
2022-02-0626 min
You should have been therePODCAST 96 THE GREAT CHRISTMAS QUIZExpect festive cheer and testing questions as Simon @simoncalder takes on Wanderlust Magazine's founding editor, Lyn Hughes @Wanderlust.Lyn See how you measure up against our travel experts and help decide the worthy winner!
2021-12-2132 min
You should have been therePODCAST 94 SUNSHINE STATE OF MINDSimon goes to Florida and returns with tales of manatees, space missions and roseate spoonbills. There's more to the sunshine state than theme parks, although he did sample (and survive) the terrifying velociocoaster. With many thanks to Simon Veness, Susan Veness, Jenna Pierce from the Imperial Bar and former astronaut, Bruce Melnick.
2021-12-0627 min
You should have been thereGOING WESTSImon makes a pioneering trip across the Rainbow Bridge, which connects Canada with the the newly opened USA. Mick, meanwhile journeys to the hilly county of Dorset and scales its mightiest peak, risking family unity on the way. We compare notes and tensions. With thanks to Steph, Silas and Aruja for taking part. The recording of pheasants comes courtesy of http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/
2021-11-2229 min
You should have been therePODCAST 89 THE ARABIAN SIGHTSSimon discovers more of Saudi Arabia's ancient wonders and gets an early peek at their grandiose plans for developing tourism. Meanwhile, at South London's Selhurst Park, the Saudi takeover of Newcastle United attracts criticism as well as visual creativity. Many thanks to Najla Drees and to Paul Oliver for taking part.
2021-10-2523 min
You should have been therePODCAST 88 NEWCASTLE to NEOMSimon of Arabia discovers whether the Desert Kingdom and the home of the Geordies have anything in common, apart from the ownership of a well-known football club. We weigh the relative merits of camel tongues and saveloy dips and hear what the respective locals know about one another's countries. Thanks to Christine, Fahad, Janet and Michael for taking part and being such good sports.
2021-10-1929 min
You should have been therePodcast 87 NO TIME TO.... TRAVELAs James Bond returns to the big screen, we map his journeys around the world and speculate on his favourite destination based on the 1000 locations that he has appeared in. How many are authentic? How many are location doubles? Simon joins us from one of these stand-ins- the Broadgate Tower in Bishopsgate, London.
2021-10-1127 min
You should have been therePODCAST 86 THE GREAT CAMEL-RIDE SCAMListeners share their experiences of travel con-tricks, old and new, in situ or online. Simon reports from Rotterdam's genre-bending art museum while Deirdre Swann tells us about a surprise encounter and an opportunity missed on her 64th birthday walk. Thanks to Deirdre, to Alan and to Ina Klaassen of The Depot.
2021-10-0428 min
You should have been therePODCAST 84: CHINA VERSUS JAPANThe latest head-to head in our travel Olympics involves two mighty destinations from the Far East. Which will prevail in events that feature capital cities, walls, snow monkeys, toilets and Simon's culinary take on the travel bug? Many thanks to Dr Emily Thomas and Rebecca for their contributions and to the Terracotta Warriors for their unwitting participation.
2021-09-2037 min
You should have been thereZANTE OR SHETLAND?Enjoy our latest head-to-head: Scottish Island versus Greek Island. Which is the better holiday destination? Simon is on location in Lerwick, while Zante's champion is Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive Officer of the Advantage Travel Partnership
2021-08-2330 min
You should have been thereWHERE IN THE WORLD CAN WE GO?With Simon reporting live from sunny St Pancras station, we attempt to navigate the latest twists and turns in the government's controversial "traffic light" travel scheme. And it's Slovenia (colourful capital: Ljubljana ) versus Slovakia (world's most castles!) in our new Olympic travel competition.
2021-08-0928 min
You should have been thereFIRST STEPS ABROADWhat was your first trip aboard like? Where did you go? Did anything amazing happen? Simon and Mick compare their first times and their memories, but we want to know about your experiences. Do get in touch by audio message on Anchor.fm/youshouldhavebeenthere or via Twitter: @youshouldhaveBt
2021-07-1822 min
You should have been thereTHE PERFECT SQUAREThe heart of any self-respecting town or city is its square. So which is the world's best square, what are the essential ingredients for a good one and why are we in the UK so bad at them? Simon offers his opinions from the not very renowned Kings Cross Square in London though I thought the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa was a bit more photogenic!
2021-06-2829 min
You should have been thereRUSSIA: BIG BUT IS IT BEAUTIFUL?Mick's prejudices about the world's largest country are robustly challenged by Simon and the travel writer and photographer, Frances Linzee Gordon. Enjoy her tales of smiling policemen, two-way mirrors and learning to fire a Kalashnikov.
2021-06-1328 min
You should have been thereSMALL PLEASURES: VISITING EUROPE'S MICROSTATESJoin Simon in Gibraltar as he meets the residents and tries to avoid the light-fingered macaque monkeys. The famous "Rock" is just one of the tiny states that dot the map of Europe. Cleo Paskal, Associate Fellow of Chatham House kindly shares her research passion for these Microstates and we revisit a journey to Andorra.
2021-06-0630 min
You should have been thereINSIDE THE RAINFORESTA gorilla mother and baby are among the most wonderful sights that a rainforest can provide. But there are also snakes, scorpions and mosquitoes that you would prefer not to come across. We get inside nature's miraculous but disappearing hot houses with the help of Joe Taylor and Silas Webb. Thanks are also due to Ernesto, the Colombian guide who helped Simon and me across a small part of the treacherous Darien Gap. The website with details of our very own UK temperate rainforests is https://lostrainforestsofengland.org/
2021-05-3031 min
You should have been thereFIRST FLIGHT TO FARO............. and of course Simon was on it, taking the Covid tests and checking out sunny Algarve as the UK's oldest ally gets a green light from the government. But how complicated is it to get there and what kind of holiday experience awaits the intrepid visitor to Portugal? Many thanks to Paul Goldstein for joining in the Faro fun.
2021-05-1930 min
You should have been thereTRAVEL DESTINATION ROULETTEWe shed light on the government's forthcoming strategy for foreign travel with the help of Carolyn Pearson. Her company, Maiden Voyage, advises business travellers on safety and well-being (maiden-voyage.com). An unexpected accompaniment is provided by some dogs that Simon befriended outside Swindon Railway Station.
2021-05-0225 min
You should have been thereTRIPS THAT NEVER WEREWe hear from listeners about all the journeys that were planned but not made during the past 12 months, while Simon makes a "minimised" trip to the seaside. Many thanks to Poppy, Daisy and Jamie for their readings. Also to Christian Bjoerklund for his music track "Hallon"
2021-04-0629 min
You should have been thereON THE ROAD AGAIN!Simon reports from the first bus to leave Manchester for London on the 29th March, the day that travel restrictions were cautiously relaxed. Many thanks to Dave the driver, fellow-passenger, Sam Serrano, as well as listener Mick for his message.
2021-03-3023 min
You should have been thereTHE ALLURE OF AUSTRALIASimon reveals his love of Quokkas, while Mick's sceptical view of Australia's charms is well and truly challenged by Oz aficionados, Charlotte Hindle and Peter Webb.
2021-01-2425 min
You should have been thereWHEN A BREAKDOWN IMPROVES A JOURNEYThere's nothing quite like a mechanical breakdown to disrupt your travel plans. But sometimes it can make rather than break your holiday, as we hear from Steph Nelms and Alec Webb. Meanwhile the President of the AA, Edmund King gives some timely advice on how to avoid mechanical mayhem. Do send your travel tales to us via Twitter @youshould haveB1
2021-01-1726 min
You should have been thereTHE BEST EVER TRAVEL FILMTo help draw up a shortlist of worthy contenders, we are joined by Sarah Baxter, Charlotte Hindle, Alec Webb and Tony Wheeler. Would you believe that someone proposed The Sound of Music? Do send us your own suggestions to our new Twitter destination, @youshouldhavebe1
2021-01-1029 min
You should have been thereTHE WORLD-BEATING CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZSImon goes head to head with Lyn Hughes, Editor in Chief of Wanderlust magazine, over ten mind-bending rounds. Can you outquiz them?
2020-12-2143 min
You should have been thereQ IS FOR QUARANTINESimon and Mick are joined by travel journalist, Helen Coffey to ponder some of quarantine's big questions. Where was it first practised, how do you cope with being quarantined and hardest of all, what are the UK's current restrictions?
2020-10-1927 min
You should have been thereTHE CYCLING REVOLUTION?Simon and MIck are joined by Anna Hughes, Director of FlightFree UK, co-author of Peaky Climbers and a champion of cycling. They share the pleasures (and pains) of cycling and wonder what could be done to make getting on your bike an easier experience in the UK.
2020-10-0429 min
You should have been thereGETTING AWAY FROM IT ALLSimon and Mick compare notes about their respective attempts to enjoy some time off. But was it better to be scaling Holland's highest peak or to be walking through a road-free valley on the way to a pint of Sussex ale? Well, we'll let you decide!
2020-09-2027 min
You should have been thereYOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THREEA typing error leads Mick and Simon to wonder about the desirability of travelling in threes. When is three a better number of people than the standard two? The answer seems to be - when you're in a boat with a dog, when you're up a snowy mountain or when you're flying on a low-cost Spanish airline on Valentine's day!
2020-09-0626 min
You should have been thereEMBARRASSING TRAVEL MOMENTSTravelling and embarrassment seem to go hand in glove. Simon and Mick wonder whether it's an essential part of being a tourist and also, if we are often the authors of our own discomfort, not to mention that of our children. The tale of the false beards is a case in point. Thanks are due to Poppy and Daisy Calder for dishing the dirt on their dad!
2020-08-3028 min
You should have been thereRESPONSIBLE TRAVELAre you a responsible traveller? See if you measure up to the standards proposed by some of the movement's new gurus, and enjoy the poetic pledge created by the Tourist Office of Finland. Thanks to Anna Hughes of Flight Free UK for her interview and to Aaron Burden@unsplash for his photo.
2020-08-2428 min
You should have been thereHIGH PLACESWhat is that makes us stretch every sinew to get to the top of things? Simon and Mick's favourite high places include the Blackpool Tower, Buenos Aires' Barolo Tower, Mount Aconcagua, also in Argentina, and The Cirque de Gavarnie in the French Pyrenees. Joining them are Silas Webb, who scaled Mount Kilimanjaro and Ed Douglas, whose book, "Himalaya, a human history" is published on the 27th August by Vintage-price £25. Thanks are also due to Christian Bjoerklund for letting us use his musical track, Hallon.
2020-08-1830 min
You should have been thereTRAVEL WIT AND WISDOMThe act of travelling from one place to another may seem a simple thing. But it has spawned a vast number of sayings and reflections. Simon and Mick discuss the wittiest, wisest, pithiest and most pathetic of them.
2020-08-1128 min
You should have been thereSURE WAS GLAD TO GET OUT OF THERE ALIVEMick and Simon relive some of the travel situations which they're only too pleased to have survived. Plus a visit to a pub in Southampton which is proud to carry the name of that ill-starred ship, The Titanic. Thanks to Martin and Michelle for their contributions and to www.fesliyanstudios.com, for the music.
2020-08-0428 min
You should have been thereTHE NEW NORMALWhat's in store for this summer's holidaymakers in the UK? What's open, what needs booking and when do you need to take your own toilet with you? Plus an insight into the mysteries of Romney Marshes and the challenge of cycling from London to Land's End. Thanks to Rob, Silas, Karen, Jan and Vanessa.
2020-07-2725 min
You should have been thereTAKING A CHANCE ON A FOREIGN HOLIDAYSimon unveils his five pillars of advice on how to avoid some of the nastier travel surprises that are emerging in the wake of the pandemic.
We're grateful to f_ilippo @Freesound for the casino recording
2020-07-2028 min
You should have been thereTRAVELLING LIGHTReflections on the subject, a bit of advice on how to do it and a look back at what some eccentric travellers carried with them on their journeys. You can see the painting "Waiting for a train" @ https://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/collections/3243/objects/35106/waiting-for-the-train-willesden-junction
2020-07-1428 min
You should have been thereNEW FRONTIERSMick and Simon try to make sense of the bewildering advice about where we can and can't go on our holidays. They also ponder the new pop-up enclaves created by Coronavirus, adding to the historical oddities like Llívia, a small piece of Spain entirely surrounded by France.
2020-07-0628 min
You should have been thereCARRY ON CAMPINGSimon and Mick discuss a tentative new dawn for camping, and swap tales of their own intense experiences under canvas.
Music: Solstice by Scott Buckley
2020-06-2928 min
You should have been thereSLOW TRAVELIs slow travel something we should all strive for, or is it just an exercise in marketing? Simon and Mick investigate, helped by Gina Waggott, Anna Hughes, Alec Webb, Nicky Gardner, Graham Hoyland and James Hill.
2020-06-2230 min
You should have been thereTRAVELLING SAFELY, WEIGHING UP RISKSMick and Simon discuss travel risks and how to manage them. Diseases, snakes and hippos all feature, along with selfies, local police and rip tides. For information about these, go to bit.ly/RipSafe. Thanks to Charlotte for her wise words.
2020-06-0928 min
You should have been thereGREAT EXPEDITIONS: BARNARD CASTLE AND BEYONDWhat makes a trip or a holiday into an expedition? Does it need a key objective, sponsorship or just some specialised kit? Simon and Mick talk machetes and mountain meals, as well as catching up on the latest Covid19 travel news
2020-06-0130 min
You should have been thereBrief EncountersThe search for the perfect, fleeting holiday experience takes in the Kentish North Downs, Kalingrad Oblast and Carnforth railway station. With the briefest of stops at Dublin airport and Newport Pagnell Motorway Services. The recording of the steam train leaving Moor Street station was made by Keith Burnett
2020-05-2528 min
You should have been thereTravel with social distancingWhat's the current guidance and what will await us, when and if we do get away? Simon unveils his five "tests " for prospective travellers while Mick continues his worldwide search for Gerald Bernstein. We'd like to thank Daisy and Poppy for their help. You can read the article from the New England Journal of Medicine at : https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa031349
2020-05-1829 min
You should have been thereThe Bits AwardsEnjoy the best bits from our first 20 podcasts. Among the categories: best travel moment, best lock down story and best breakfast.
2020-05-1131 min
You should have been thereThe ideal travelling companionWho would you most like to travel with on a long trip? Someone who get things organised, can carry most of the kit, tells a good joke..........? Thanks to Charlotte and Alec for their contributions.
2020-05-0429 min
You should have been thereSchool JourneysWhat were your journeys to school like? Long, uneventful, exciting, dangerous.....? Enjoy the experiences of some of our listeners. We'd like to thank Steph, Camilla, Silas, Lynette, Carol, Daisy and Poppy for their contributions. And the website we mentioned is www.boredpanda.com/dangerous-journey-to-school
2020-04-2728 min
You should have been therePoetry in motionTravel and journeys have inspired some great lines and uplifting verses. But, how many of our chosen poems do you know ?
2020-04-1827 min
You should have been thereThe World's Top Travel IconWhich famous site has come out top in our twitter poll? Will it be a wonder of nature or an attraction created by us humans? We also discuss Robert Louis Stevenson's book: Travels with a donkey in the Cévennes
The musical fanfare, The Curtain Rises, was composed by Kevin Macleod (incompetcech.com)
2020-04-1327 min
You should have been thereArmchair TravelSimon and I exchange ways of keeping the flame of travel alive, without going anywhere. Expect entertaining books, silly games and a brief appearance from the president of The AA, Edmund King. The book "Journey round my room" is available, free, at gutenberg.org.
2020-04-0630 min
You should have been thereTravel beyond the pandemicTravel and tourism will be transformed. Will our attitudes have to change too?
2020-03-3027 min
You should have been thereCoronavirus versus the Travel BugWe ponder the future direction of travel and suggest some ways of combatting cabin fever.
2020-03-2227 min
You should have been thereFaking itSimon and Mick make a few personal confessions and reveal some of travel's great fakes and fakers. They award the title of the greatest travel impostor to Georges Psalmanazar (not his real name), native of Formosa (well, not exactly) who hoodwinked London society in the eighteenth century.
2020-03-0929 min
You should have been thereThe Ups and Downs of a Travel WriterSimon Calder and Mick Webb share views on working as travel writers- the rewards, the challenges and how to do it well.
2020-02-0428 min
You should have been thereTravel in the 2020'sThe Great Green Wall, electric planes, vacuum trains.... Simon Calder and Mick Webb look forward to the next decade of travel and what it might bring. Electronic music is from the track "Hallon" by Christian Bjoerklund on the album Skapmat.
2020-01-1729 min
You should have been thereTales from the A23Every road, like every picture, has a story to tell. The A23, on its route between London and Brighton, has seen some of the best and worst of travel. Mick Webb and Simon Calder uncover tales of highwaymen, princely misdemeanours and old crocks (cars not them). They are joined by Rachel Birch and Beverley Keech
2020-01-1430 min
You should have been thereCan you fly with a clear conscience?Simon Calder and Mick Webb visit the UK's Gatwick Airport to discuss the carbon impact of flying
2019-12-1630 min
You should have been therePlaces glimpsedSimon Calder and Mick Webb create an alternative bucket list of places they've glimpsed from cars, planes and buses, and which they would love to return to one day. Like this Greek village in the Peloponnese.
2019-11-2828 min
You should have been thereTravelling hopefully......................Is it better than arriving? SImon Calder and Mick Webb discuss Robert Louis Stevenson's famous quotation.
And they trek hopefully through the vast expanses of the World Travel Market, playing Crazy Golf, Abu Dhabi style, and collecting freebies, daft marketing slogans and inspirational ideas about tourism.
2019-11-2728 min
You should have been thereLostSimon and Mick have made getting lost into an art form. They recall their most memorable experiences and discuss various ways to avoid losing the plot.
Do send us your own stories via the audio link
2019-10-2429 min
You should have been thereBordersCrossing frontiers is a crucial part of the travelling experience. It can be time-consuming,worrying, frightening, often fascinating and sometimes downright entertaining .
In this Podcast, travel journalists, Simon Calder and Mick Webb, who have travelled far and wide, reflect on the borders they have crossed. Like the unforgettable night spent trying to convince the Panamanian soldiers on the frontier between Colombia and Panama that they were bona fide tourists. Far from any road, in the thick rainforest of the Darien Gap, where most travellers were smugglers, Colombian guerrillas or paramilitaries, it took some doing. The photo shows a bord...
2019-10-1828 min