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Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
Simon Calder is the Independent’s travel correspondent, the UK’s leading travel journalist. From news updates to discussions with experts, Simon Calder and the Independent Travel Podcast will bring you all you need to know from the world of travel.
Latest episode
How the Eurostar chaos *should* have been handled
09:28|Right at the end of 2025, tens of thousands of passengers had their New Year plans wrecked when a problem in the Channel Tunnel. 30 trains linking London St Pancras International with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam. Paul Charles, chief executive of the PC Agency, used to be director of communications for Eurostar – and gives me his no-holds-barred view of how events unfolded.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.
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How to be a responsible tourist
07:15|To start 2026, I'm talking to Mark Tanzer, well respected chief executive of Abta, the travel association – about reasons to be cheerful, challenges from the EU entry-exit system and the environmental impact of tourism. As well as: What's the point of Abta?This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.How does a hotel keep going through Christmas and into New Year?
04:35|I'm talking to Mike Vincent, General Manager of the Langdale Chase Hotel overlooking Windermere in Cumbria – who has been working through the festive season along with his staff. "We're nice people looking after nice people," he says.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.The secret behind Manchester Airport's growth
07:46|I've been talking to Chris Woodroffe, managing director of Manchester airport, about plans for the future in terms of passenger numbers – and also public transport connectivity to MAN. With a brief mention of the thorny subject of drop-off charges.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.Part 2/2 – 2026 predictions with travel CEO
08:05|Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, is back to talk about travel in 2026.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.Part 1/2 – From cake to caterpillars: Travel boss reveals 2025 highs and lows
07:29|Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, flies more than anyone else I know. So in the first half of a two-part interview, I’m talking to him about the best and worst of aviation in 2025.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.Coming to a bus stop near you this Christmas Day?
06:51|For people living in the UK without a car, Christmas Day has long been a problem. No trains are running, and in most areas local buses remain in the depot too – leaving car-less people dependent on friends, family or taxis to get around. But this 25 December things are getting better, according to Graham Vidler, CEO of the Confederation of Passenger Transport.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.