The Travel Diaries

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?ScotlandIcelandNew ZealandSnowdonia, WalesNewborough Beach, WalesBlack Rock Sands, WalesMongoliaLlŷn Peninsula, WalesTibetAntarcticaAlaska, USAYou 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

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:JamaicaItalyVerona, ItalyPuglia, ItalyMatera, ItalyTokyo, JapanHokaido, JapanUkraineWest Coast of USAEast Coast of USAHome Counties, EnglandCape Town, South AfricaVenice, ItalyWashington DC, USAAfghanistanSt Petersburg, RussiaSri LankaA 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

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 IslandsMenorcaAnegada, British Virgin IslandsThe Willy T, Norman Island, British Virgin IslandsAustraliaByron Bay, AustraliaArctic expeditionBali, IndonesiaUluwatu, Bali, IndonesiaUbud, Bali, IndonesiaKomodo Island, IndonesiaSri LankaChamonix, FranceMont Blanc, FranceMentawai Islands, Sumatra, IndonesiaUnder 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

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 RecapGreeceMonastery Estate Retreat, Crete, GreeceCaserio del Mirador, Alicante, SpainAlmyra, CyprusDaios Cove, Crete, GreecePuglia, Italy Ikos ResortsMartinhal, Sagres, PortugalMartinhal, Lisbon, Portugal Marbella Club, SpainCretan Malia Park, Crete, GreeceCosta RicaCasa Pineta, Elba Island, ItalyAustraliaWith 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

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, USAAventura Mall, Miami, Florida, USAVersailles, Little Havana, Miami, USAWynwood Walls, Miami, Florida, USALittle Havana, Miami, Florida USAIslamorada, Florida Keys, USACasa Morada, Florida Keys, USAKauai, Hawaii, USAMt Kilauea, Hawaii, USAFour Seasons Maui, Hawaii, USACalifornia - Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, MontecitoWaldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, Maldives57 Nord, Scotland, UKSedona, Arizona, USAZion National Park, Utah, USANiagara, New York, USABig Sur, CaliforniaDenver, Colorado, USAThe Ramble Hotel, Denver, Colorado, USAFinger Lakes, New York, USAAscona, Lake Maggiore, SwitzerlandBeltane Ranch, Sonoma, California, USAArundel, West Sussex, EnglandPatagonia, Argentina / ChileForestis, Italian Dolomites Rosa Alpina, Italian Dolomites Borgo Egnazia, Puglia, Italy Amanzoe, Port Heli, GreecePatina, MaldivesRitz Carlton MaldivesSix Senses Zighy Bay, OmanAirelles Chateau de la Messardiere, St Tropez, FranceSri LankaWith 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

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, EnglandMecca, Saudi ArabiaMedina, Saudi ArabiaCanadaLake Titicaca, PeruNicaraguaHavana, CubaCienfuegos, CubaTrinidad City, CubaSanta Clara, Cuba Varadero, CubaAlgamitas, Andalucia, SpainAtlas Mountains, MoroccoCape Town, South AfricaJapanThe Gambia Cornwall, England, UKMasai Mara, KenyaThanks 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.comThanks so much for listening and I’ll be back next week.  

Today, we're diving into the world of one of the UK's most renowned names in food. Angela Hartnett is a Michelin-starred chef who has been at the forefront of the UK culinary scene for over two decades. As well as running several restaurants – including her ever-popular Italian, Murano in Mayfair – she has authored best-selling cookbooks, been awarded an OBE for services to the hospitality industry and, in addition to her illustrious career as a chef, Angela is also the cohost of the chart-topping podcast Dish, alongside Nick Grimshaw, which has just returned with a new season.Her travel diaries take us from Scotland and Barbados to Italy and Japan, and much more. So let’s hear from her now. Destination Recap:Bardi, Italy SpainBarbadosJapanPeruEstela, New York, USAGatto Nero, Venice, Italy Osteria alla Testiere, Venice, Italy Noble Rot, London, England French House, London, England Gillebrighde, Torridon, Scotland Inver, ScotlandPort Appin, Scotland StockholmWarsawAngela's podcast, Dish, is available wherever you get your podcasts. 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 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

Today, we're joined by a titan of the travel industry. Divia Thani is the global editorial director of Conde Nast Traveler magazine, overseeing seven editions of the title across the globe, including here in the UK. If you're not familiar with Conde Nast Traveler, It's the ultimate guide to the world's most exciting destinations, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and experiences. Divia is at the helm of it all and has been shaping the brand's voice and vision for several years now, having served as Editor in Chief of Condé Nast Traveller India for a decade.Born and raised in Mumbai with family based across the globe, Divia’s travel diaries today take us far and wide, across Europe, Africa, North America and Asia. From ultra luxury hotels, to affordable homestays, belly dancing in Egypt to a shamanic experience in Mexico, her inspiring recommendations are sure to spark your wanderlust. Stay tuned for a quick fire round at the end, where Divia answers some of the questions you sent me on Instagram and offers some brilliant travel advice. Destination Recap:Lagos, NigeriaMumbai, IndiaTaj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, IndiaOberoi Mumbai, IndiaLondon, EnglandBradford, Pennsylvania, USAJohannesburg, South AfricaOne & Only Palmilla, Cabo San Lucas, MexicoMayascrest, Himachal Pradesh, India Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab, IndiaRaffles the OWO, London, EnglandMandarin Oriental, London, EnglandPeninsula London, EnglandVietnamThailandJapanArgentinaEgypt Alexandria, EgyptThanks 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