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Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast
January 1st - My recommendations on where to visit in 2025
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Happy New Year! Welcome to 2025 and with it I'm sure there's a renewed optimism for places to visit and sights to see. So, I've run down the list of where I think is a great place to visit - all within five hours travel time of the UK.
This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.
That list in full:
January - Bradford
February - Vienna
March - Tromso
April - Sarajevo
May - Rotterdam
June - Belfast
July - Kyiv
August - St John’s
September - Thessaloniki
October - Tangier
November - Constantine
December - Krakow
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January 3rd - Jet2’s year ahead: new horizons and a final flight for the 757
08:11|In today’s podcast, I speak with Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2 Holidays and Jet2.com, about the airline’s ambitious expansion in 2025, including new bases in Bournemouth and Luton. We discuss the growing holiday demand, the company’s award-winning customer service, and the retirement of their last Boeing 757 this weekend, marking the transition to a cleaner, quieter Airbus A321neo fleet.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.January 2nd - Grounded at Gatwick: BA staff misapply post-Brexit passport rules
07:16|Sue Heath was removed from her British Airways flight to Malta just before Christmas, despite her UK passport meeting all post-Brexit EU entry requirements. In today’s podcast, I explore the alarming misunderstanding of passport rules by BA staff at Gatwick and the implications for travellers, sharing insights into Sue’s experience and advice for passengers facing similar issues.This podcast is free, as is The Independent Travel newsletter, which you can subscribe to here and have delivered every Friday.December 31st - BA’s Executive Club revamp: spend more, earn more
07:13|In today’s podcast, British Airways’ controversial changes to its Executive Club are now rebranded as the British Airways Club. From April 2024, loyalty will be tied directly to spending, making it harder for budget travellers to earn perks like lounge access and seat upgrades. I discuss how the revamped system impacts frequent flyers, with insights from industry experts on whether this shift rewards loyalty—or alienates economy travellers.This podcast is free, much like The Independent Travel newsletter. Subscribe here and get it delivered every Friday.December 30th - My favourite spot to enjoy Heathrow Airport
06:42|I'm at my favourite airport hotel anywhere: the Thistle Terminal 5, which is not quite at London Heathrow Terminal 5 but has a priceless terrace overlooking the northern runway. I list the reasons why you'd enjoy stopping here before flying out of Heathrow Airport - as well as asking a plane spotter what he's taking a look at.This podcast is free, much like The Independent Travel newsletter. Subscribe here and get it delivered every Friday.December 27th - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas doesn't like Eurostar
05:50|It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas doesn't like Eurostar. Last year, a sudden strike by Eurotunnel staff thwarted thousands of passengers. And today the first London-Paris train broke down in the Channel Tunnel. Elsewhere, issues with some services from London Euston but train services on a whole are looking ok for what was scheduled to be running today.This podcast is free, as is the weekly Independent Travel newsletter. Get that here and have it posted to your inbox every Friday.December 26th - Boxing Day and we're on the move again, but how far can you get?
06:38|Boxing Day – and many people are on the move around Britain. But how easily will they be able to travel? I’m at London St Pancras International, the UK’s best connected rail station – at least in normal times. In this episode, I run through what the train timetables look like as Network Rail runs engineering works across the network but if you're looking to catch the Boxing Day races in Liverpool, you're in luck.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here.December 23rd - Travel tangles & festive fiascos
06:10|A round-up of all the festive travel disruption!This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday.What Vienna has over Budapest and Prague
06:47|While travel unravels across the UK, I have escaped to Vienna – where I caught up with Helena Steinhart of the Vienna Tourist Board. She tells me about Christmas celebrations, why January to March is a good time to be in the city and how Vienna differs from central European rivals Budapest and Prague.