You should have been there  artwork

You should have been there

204 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratings

Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent and former BBC producer, Mick Webb, discuss the world of travel and delight in travellers' tales.

Places & Travel Society & Culture
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed

Episodes

PODCAST 187 Finding Happiness in Travel

March 26, 2024 09:18 - 29 minutes - 27.9 MB

Our guest is Mike Mackay Richards, author of "The Travelling Ape." Mike has visited 155 countries and has a perhaps surprisingly upbeat view of people and most, if not all, places. He advises us to get out there and enjoy the world rather then "vegetating in a little corner of it." His book is available from Amazon.

PODCAST 186 UNFASHIONABLE DESTINATIONS

March 19, 2024 09:38 - 29 minutes - 25.7 MB

We 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.

PODCAST 185 Into the Wild

March 11, 2024 09:44 - 29 minutes - 26.5 MB

We talk to Jonny Bealby, founder of the adventure travel firm, Wild Frontiers, about his life as a traveller and businessman. On the agenda: his favourite countries, most terrifying experiences and the item that he won't travel without. Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

PODCAST 184 THE MIRACLE OF MALAHIDE

February 28, 2024 18:08 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MB

Simon 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.

PODCAST 183 THE MOMENT YOUR HOLIDAY BEGINS

February 21, 2024 11:57 - 28 minutes - 35.7 MB

We discuss listeners' thoughts on when their holiday really starts: as the front door closes, as you clear airport security, the train/plane/ferry begins to move.... ? With particular thanks to Cathy Adams of Times Travel and filmmaker, Ben Garfield

PODCAST 182 TRAVEL TABOOS

February 10, 2024 16:07 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MB

We showcase the strange restrictions encountered by listeners on their travels and compare our own recent visits to intriguing islands.

PODCAST 181 DOCUMENTARY DISASTERS

January 18, 2024 17:56 - 29 minutes - 26.1 MB

We hear listeners' tales of passport nightmares while Simon exposes a documentary faux-pas in a current Channel 4 drama series.

PODCAST 180 ANSWERS TO THE CHRISTMAS QUIZ

January 11, 2024 14:08 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MB

The wait is over. Here are the solutions to our "12 Days of Travel" Christmas Quiz.

PODCAST 12 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

January 05, 2024 08:20 - 5 minutes - 4.83 MB

The final destination makes a fitting conclusion to the 12 part quiz. Find the place then work out what connects all the answers.

PODCAST 11 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

January 04, 2024 09:20 - 2 minutes - 2.53 MB

We're in the heart of Europe for today's destination, the 11th of the 12 days.

PODCAST 10 - TWELVE DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

January 03, 2024 08:58 - 4 minutes - 4.2 MB

A lesser-known, UNESCO-recognised delight is the tenth destination of the quiz. Can you work it out?

PODCAST 9 : 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

January 02, 2024 08:49 - 3 minutes - 2.82 MB

We go offshore for today's destination, the ninth in the series of 12 mini podcasts

PODCAST 8 - 12 days of travel Christmas quiz

January 01, 2024 09:39 - 4 minutes - 3.79 MB

Guess the destination one, a very popular European city, in the eighth of our mini podcasts.

PODCAST 7 -12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ

December 31, 2023 08:28 - 3 minutes - 2.96 MB

The clues should lead you to a European port, the seventh destination.

PODCAST 6 - "12 DAYS OF TRAVEL" CHRISTMAS QUIZ

December 30, 2023 08:31 - 3 minutes - 2.97 MB

Head for the Balkans to find this city, the sixth of our twelve destinations. Can you see a link emerging between these places?

PODCAST 5 -12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

December 29, 2023 08:24 - 3 minutes - 2.88 MB

The clues will reveal the fifth of the twelve destinations. It's in England!

MINI PODCAST 4 - 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL QUIZ

December 28, 2023 08:29 - 4 minutes - 4.18 MB

Can you work out today's destination? A well-visited location with a well-loved building

PODCAST 3 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS QUIZ

December 27, 2023 08:31 - 4 minutes - 4.25 MB

Test your travel know-how and guess the third destination.

PODCAST 2 - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS TRAVEL QUIZ

December 26, 2023 08:25 - 3 minutes - 3.01 MB

The second mini podcast of the quiz. Guess the destination and try and work out the link between all 12 places.

DAY 1- 12 DAYS OF TRAVEL CHRISTMAS QUIZ

December 25, 2023 08:31 - 4 minutes - 3.89 MB

Test your travel know-how with the first mini podcast of our 12 part Xmas Quiz.

PODCAST 179 TRAVELLING HEALTHILY

December 14, 2023 09:19 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MB

We Talk to Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth about the new edition of her book, Staying Healthy When You Travel. Expect advice on what to pack, what to expect in different destinations and what to do if you fall ill abroad. The book is published by Fox Chapel Publishing.

PODCAST 174

December 06, 2023 14:00 - 29 minutes - 26.2 MB

We discuss the pros and cons of airport lounges and hear more from Pat Yale on the delights of slow travel to Turkey, including the unexpected charms of Belgrade. With many thanks to Nicola, Amanda, Laura, Nick, Gordon Stone and Pat Yale (@patyale on X)

PODCAST 178 COP 28: BEYOND THE BLAH BLAH BLAH

December 06, 2023 13:49 - 30 minutes - 27.1 MB

We ask some of the questions that aren't being asked in Dubai at COP 28 and suggest one or two answers.

PODCAST 177 THE ROAD TO BERLIN

November 27, 2023 10:15 - 29 minutes - 26.4 MB

Travel 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.

PODCAST 176 THE END OF TOURISM?

November 23, 2023 12:11 - 29 minutes - 27.8 MB

Chris Christou joins us from the lovely Mexican city of Oaxaca to discuss his podcast- "The End of Tourism" - and his ideas about "radical hospitality." We also feature listeners' tales of entertaining experiences of changing money. Chris' website is www.theendoftourism.com

PODCAST 175 INSIDE THE TRAVEL BUSINESS

November 17, 2023 09:40 - 29 minutes - 39.5 MB

Simon 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.

PODCAST 173 SLOW TRAIN TO TURKEY

October 25, 2023 08:32 - 29 minutes - 26.2 MB

Writer Pat Yale joins us to talk about the pleasures of travelling overland from the UK to Turkey as well as what it's been like to live in the country for the past twenty five years. Pat's new book, "Following Miss Bell: Travels around Turkey in the Footsteps of Gertrude Bell," has just been published by Trailblazer Publications.

PODCAST 172 THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF MOUNTAIN TREKS

October 16, 2023 15:32 - 29 minutes - 25.7 MB

Simon and Mick conclude their walk across the Ariège in the French Pyrenees and ruminate on the challenges and the rewards of mountain walking

PODCAST 171 A WALK IN THE WILD COUNTRY

October 09, 2023 14:48 - 29 minutes - 26.3 MB

Simon 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.

PODCAST 170 WHERE WILL WE BE IN 2053 - PART 2

September 27, 2023 15:34 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MB

We continue our attempt to divine the future direction of travel, assisted by listeners.

PODCAST 169 THE PLACES TO BE IN 2053

September 11, 2023 18:40 - 23 minutes - 21.4 MB

We break out our crystal ball and hypothesise about the shape of travel in thirty years time. VTOL aircraft, jetpacks, autonomous vehicles, affordable rail travel ........ maybe.

PODCAST 168 Travel chaos theory

September 06, 2023 13:31 - 29 minutes - 25.8 MB

We try to make sense of the mayhem endured by holidaymakers during this summer's busiest month for travel. Planes, boats and trains, all have been affected. Who is to blame, do we ever learn from previous mistakes and how bad is the UK, compared with other countries?

PODCAST 167 BELGIUM, BEYOND THE CHIPS AND CHOCOLATE

August 23, 2023 13:45 - 30 minutes - 35.9 MB

We discuss the many, very accessible charms of the small country that is becoming a surprise travel hit. With thanks to Vonne of Brasserie Vonne in Balham, South London, for joining us. brasserievonne.co.uk

PODCAST 166 TRAVEL CLICHÉS : CURSE OR BLESSING

August 13, 2023 09:05 - 29 minutes - 26.1 MB

We discuss "bustling" markets, "palm-fringed" beaches and "towering" peaks with professor of philosophy, Emily Thomas from Durham University. Do clichéd travel descriptions add to our understanding of other places or quite the reverse? Plus an interview with Eleanor Parker, the winner of last week's Trans-Europe Race to Istanbul by public transport.

PODCAST 165 ISTANBUL OR BUST

August 08, 2023 09:29 - 27 minutes - 35.1 MB

Simon 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?

PODCAST 164 WHAT CAN A.I. DO FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS ?

July 25, 2023 10:12 - 30 minutes - 25.9 MB

We welcome to the show Michael Motamedi, chef, digital nomad and influencer, who tells us what it's like to entrust his family's travel plans to a digital guide called Guide Geek. And we compare AI's take on Mykonos with a human view of it as a holiday destination. You can follow Michael's experimental journey at michaelmotamedi.com. And thanks for the lovely photo of Mykonos are due to Dana Tentis at Pixabay.

PODCAST 163 THE WRONG KIND OF DELAY

July 18, 2023 13:40 - 29 minutes - 26.3 MB

Snow, leaves, sun, swans, even trampolines. We investigate delays to planes and trains and discuss the bizarre causes and often ludicrous excuses.

PODCAST 162 ISLAND HOPPING

July 11, 2023 18:49 - 28 minutes - 35.4 MB

We delve into this delightful holiday activity and suggest some of the best places to try it out. You don't need to go as far as Panama's San Blas Islands as the UK has island hops that are sometimes much easier than you'd think.

PODCAST 161 THE PERFECT ISLAND

July 05, 2023 08:52 - 32 minutes - 29 MB

Lyn Hughes of Wanderlust magazine joins us to discuss the endless allure of islands and what it is that makes them so attractive. Is there one perfect example among the world's million chunks of offshore land?

PODCAST 160 TRAVELLERS' LUCK

June 27, 2023 14:36 - 25 minutes - 24.3 MB

Simon 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

PODCAST 159 THE MANY ROADS TO SANTIAGO

June 19, 2023 16:21 - 30 minutes - 34.2 MB

Simon 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"

PODCAST 158 YOU KNOW YOU'RE IN A BORDER TOWN WHEN.....

June 12, 2023 14:19 - 28 minutes - 37.8 MB

We talk border towns and their unique features, in particular those curious places which are split by an international frontier. In Baarle Hertog, for instance, divided between Belgium and the Netherlands, the border runs through the middle of the council chamber while the main street of Le Perthus offers opportunities to shop in Spain on one side and France on the other.

PODCAST 157 THE WRONG BOOTS

June 07, 2023 08:42 - 29 minutes - 26.9 MB

We swap tales of footwear malfunctions while shining a light on the neglected, important and richly comic topic of traveller's shoes.

PODCAST 156 SURPRISING DELIGHTS

May 29, 2023 09:38 - 29 minutes - 33.8 MB

Simon 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

PODCAST 155 THE SHORT ROUTE TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

May 22, 2023 12:26 - 29 minutes - 32.6 MB

Simon 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.

PODCAST 154 AROUND THE WORLD WITH JESSICA NABONGO

May 16, 2023 10:39 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MB

Jessica has visited every country world and is almost certainly the first black woman to do so. She shares her tales of favourite and not so favourite places, of inspiring encounters and lessons learnt along the way. You can follow Jessica's journeys on https://thecatchmeifyoucan.com . Her new WhatsApp docuseries, Crossing Cultures, is about the world's diasporas and starts in London's Peckham : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzndKNV9HrE

PODCAST 153 NORTHERN SPAIN BY TINY TRAIN

May 10, 2023 08:46 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MB

We 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

PODCAST 152 LGBTQ+ TRAVEL

May 03, 2023 14:19 - 28 minutes - 24.3 MB

We are joined by Sophie Griffiths from TTG Media to talk about gay-friendly destinations, oppressive and discriminatory laws and the improvements in attitudes towards LGBTQ+ travellers that Pride events are helping to bring about around the world

PODCAST 151 Planning trips, connections and transits

April 11, 2023 07:55 - 28 minutes - 36.6 MB

We 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.

PODCAST 150 GREAT MOMENTS IN PODCAST TRAVEL

April 10, 2023 09:13 - 27 minutes - 31.4 MB

We celebrate our 150th podcast at London's St Pancras station with highlights (and some lowlights) from our previous editions. On the agenda: crossing strange borders, psychogeography, Pyrenean slip-ups and strange brews.

Twitter Mentions

@lucyinthesky22 1 Episode
@youshouldhavebt 1 Episode
@simoncalder 1 Episode