The Travel Diaries

Today’s guest is, quite simply, one of the great travellers of our time. Sir Michael Palin first joined me on The Travel Diaries back in 2020, and that episode went on to become one of our most loved and most listened-to conversations ever. So when the opportunity came up for him to return to the podcast, this time to mark the publication of his new book, In Nigeria, I absolutely leapt at the chance.For anyone listening who might not be fully familiar with Sir Michael Palin’s extraordinary career, he first became known as one of the members of Monty Python, before going on to become one of the world’s most beloved travel broadcasters and writers. His landmark BBC travel series, from Around the World in 80 Days to Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Himalaya and so many more, completely changed the way travel was brought to our screens.I went to Michael’s house in London to film the interview and you’ll be able to watch the full conversation on YouTube and Spotify this weekend.On today’s episode, we talk about some of the extraordinary journeys he’s been on since we last spoke, from Nigeria to Iraq, Venezuela and the Philippines. We talk about the places that surprised him, the countries that defied their reputation, the journeys that have stayed with him, and the places he still dreams of visiting. And, because Michael has already shared his original seven travel chapters with us, this time I asked you to send in some brand new travel chapters for him. So listen out, because one of your questions might just be in there.Holly’s stay:Palazzo Fiuggi, Italy Destination Recap:VenezuelaPhilippinesNigeria, NigeriaLagos, NigeriaKano, NigeriaPort Harcourt, NigeriaIraq, IraqBabylon, IraqCuzco, PeruMachu Picchu, PeruIguazu Falls, Argentina/BrazilVictoria Falls, Zambia/ZimbabweRussia, RussiaMürren, SwitzerlandKamchatka, RussiaBhutanNepalThe Dolomites, ItalyArmenia, ArmeniaGeorgia, GeorgiaMount Ararat, Turkey/ArmeniaMichael's new book, In Nigeria, is out now.With thanks to Sani for their support of today's episode. Discover your paradise at Sani. For more information, visit sani-resort.comThank you so much to all of you for listening this season. I really hope you’ve enjoyed travelling the world with me through all of these conversations. The good news is, it won’t be too long before I’m back. We’ve got another summer season coming your way in mid-August, so there are lots more travel stories to come very soon.You can find me on Instagram and TikTok at @hollyrubenstein, you can watch us on YouTube here.And have you checked out my brand new Travel Diaries map, which will save every single destination ever mentioned on the podcast? A very dangerous tool for anyone with a serious case of wanderlust? You can look at it here.Thank you again for listening, have a wonderful summer, and I’ll see you very soon.

Before we get started, a quick warning: this episode contains spoilers. So if you haven’t finished watching the latest series of Race Across the World, I’d suggest turning off now and coming back once you have!Race Across the World is one of those shows that just gets under your skin, isn’t it? You start off thinking you’re watching a travel programme, and then suddenly you’re so emotionally invested in people trying to get across a border, find a cheap hostel, or make it onto a 29-hour train with no phone and barely any money. This season, five pairs travel over 12,000 kilometres, from Palermo in Sicily all the way to Hatgal in Mongolia, without smartphones, internet access, flights or bank cards, relying instead on instinct, kindness, grit and a lot of very long bus and train journeys.And at the heart of it all were today’s guests: best friends Jo and Kush from Liverpool, who not only won the series, but completely won over viewers along the way. Their friendship was such a joy to watch and there was something so lovely about seeing two young men support each other so openly through the highs and lows.What I loved about chatting to them is that Race Across the World has this brilliant sense of mystery around it. As a viewer, I’m always wondering how the show actually works. So in this episode, we really get into all of that. We talk about the audition process, the secrecy around winning, the budget, the homestays, the toilets, the borders, the long-distance trains, and what it’s really like travelling without your phone in your pocket.  And of course, we talk about the places too. From Sorrento and Naples, to Tbilisi in Georgia, the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, the vast landscapes of Kazakhstan, and the wild, icy beauty of Mongolia.Destination Recap:Palermo, Sicily, ItalySorrento, ItalyNaples, ItalyGreeceTürkiyeKars, TürkiyeGeorgiaTbilisi, GeorgiaAzerbaijanUzbekistanKyrgyzstanJalal-Abad, KyrgyzstanBishkek, KyrgyzstanKazakhstanKyzylorda, KazakhstanAlmaty, KazakhstanMongoliaUlaanbaatar, MongoliaHatgal, MongoliaLake Khövsgöl, MongoliaKathmandu, NepalPunjab, IndiaCentral IndiaSri LankaCosta RicaBrazilRio de Janeiro, BrazilWith thanks to...Richard Haworth - Discover their luxury hotel-quality bedding, towels and table linen at Richard Haworth At HomeAirbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host

Today’s guest is one of the country’s best-loved comedians and presenters - the wonderful Tom Allen. You’ll know him from Bake Off: An Extra Slice, The Apprentice: You’re Fired, QI, Would I Lie To You?, Live at the Apollo and of course his standup comedy. He’s also a brilliant writer, and his new novel, Common Decency, is out now.Tom’s travel diaries are full of glorious detail. We talk childhood holidays, package holidays, the etiquette of sunbeds, solo travel, America, Japan, Spain, the joy of a great hotel, and why food is so often the thing that makes a place unforgettable.Destination Recap: Holly: Sani, Halkidiki, Greece Tom:Gran Canaria, SpainJavea, SpainAlicante, SpainBenidorm, SpainSan Francisco, USANew York, USAPhiladelphia, USACherry Hill, USAJapanTokyo, JapanKyoto, JapanOsaka, JapanHiroshima, JapanNara, JapanGran Canaria, SpainMaspalomas, SpainMenorca, SpainWakefield, EnglandElgin, ScotlandBanchory, ScotlandHighlands and Islands, ScotlandBeijing, ChinaForbidden City, ChinaGreat Wall of China, ChinaTom Allen’s hilarious debut novel Common Decency is out now Today’s episode was filmed in the Westminster Suite at London Marriott County Hall With thanks to...Richard Haworth - Discover their luxury hotel-quality bedding, towels and table linen at Richard Haworth At HomeAirbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostIf you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe on your podcast app. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.

On today’s Destination Special, we’re taking you somewhere that, for so many travellers, represents the ultimate holiday feeling: Queensland, Australia.This is a state seven times the size of Britain! A place where one trip can take you from the cultural heartbeat and riverside energy of Brisbane, to the al fresco beach lifestyle of the Gold Coast, to ancient rainforest, island life, wildlife encounters, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures, First Nations storytelling, and one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef.Known as Australia’s Sunshine State, Queensland is, of course, famous for its blue skies, golden beaches and that blissful sense of switching off the moment you arrive. But as I discovered through making this episode, it is so much more than that.And that, really, is what makes Queensland so compelling - it’s not just one kind of holiday. It’s a whole collection of holidays in one place. You can wake up in Brisbane, wandering along the river as the city comes to life, stop for brilliant coffee and world-class food, then be out in nature within minutes, perhaps heading to nearby Minjerribah, also known as North Stradbroke Island, for First Nations culture and extraordinary natural landscapes. You can head south towards the Gold Coast for beach walks, coastal drives, wineries, rainforest and incredible produce. Or you can travel north to the Whitsundays, where Hamilton Island, Whitehaven Beach and the Great Barrier Reef deliver that almost dreamlike version of Australia with its turquoise water, white sand, sailing, seafood, and warm tropical air.Today’s guest is someone who experienced Queensland through one of its great strengths: food. Matt Tebbutt, chef, broadcaster and host of Saturday Kitchen, recently travelled there, eating his way through the state, from riverside restaurants and beachside lunches to extraordinary seafood and island dining.What struck me most in speaking to Matt was that the food became a way into everything else: the landscape, the wildlife, the culture, the openness, the warmth, and that easy-going Aussie outdoor lifestyle. This episode is wanderlust, guaranteed. So let’s buckle up and get started.Destination RecapBrisbaneStanley Restaurant, BrisbaneHoward Smith Wharves, BrisbaneJames Street, BrisbaneLone Pine Koala Sanctuary, BrisbaneNorth Stradbroke Island / MinjerribahLady Elliot IslandThe Great Barrier ReefGold CoastRick Shores, Gold CoastTamborine Rainforest SkywalkMason Winery, Mount TamborineThe WhitsundaysHamilton IslandThe Sundays, Hamilton IslandWhitehaven BeachCatseye Pool Club, Hamilton IslandLong Pavilion at qualiaBommie, Hamilton IslandPassage Peak, Hamilton IslandThank you to Tourism and Events Queensland for working with me on this episode. For more information and further inspiration about travelling to Queensland, visit queensland.com. If you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you on Tuesday.

Today’s guest is a global tv star, bestselling author, food obsessive and one of the most beloved members of one of Netflix’s biggest ever shows…Antoni Porowski.You’ll know Antoni as the much-loved food and wine expert from Netflix’s global phenomenon Queer Eye, where for ten seasons he helped people transform not just the way they cooked and ate, but the way they saw themselves.Antoni’s own story is such a fascinating journey in itself. In today’s episode, we travel through his life from childhood road trips to the North Carolina coast and the first meal that truly blew his mind, to the trip he saved up for as a young waiter in New York that made him fall completely in love with travel.We talk about the years before Queer Eye, when he was auditioning, working in restaurants, hustling, and trying to find his way in New York, and what it felt like when the show suddenly changed everything.And, of course, we dive into his new National Geographic series, Best of the World with Antoni Porowski, which takes him to Paris, Mexico City, London and New York.Destination Recap:Holly: AKI Family Resort, Italy Pennsylvania, USANew York City, USAPhiladelphia, USAMontreal, CanadaSeptember Cafe, Montreal, CanadaRotisserie Italienne, Montreal, CanadaMcGill University, Montreal, CanadaMount Royal, Montreal, CanadaOutremont, Montreal, CanadaLe Merc, Montreal, CanadaBilboquet, Montreal, CanadaCape Hatteras, North Carolina, USADirty Dick’s Crab House, Cape Hatteras, USAThe Labrador, Cape Hatteras, USACanadian Hole, Cape Hatteras, USAKitty Hawk, North Carolina, USAWest Virginia, USAVancouver, CanadaFlorence, ItalyRome, ItalyMexico City, MexicoRoma Norte, Mexico City, MexicoRosetta, Mexico City, MexicoCanals of Mexico City, MexicoAlebrijes Festival, Mexico City, MexicoMuseo de Arte Popular / Folkloric Museum, Mexico City, MexicoBorneo, MalaysiaKuching, MalaysiaIban longhouses, Sarawak, MalaysiaKuching waterfront / canal, Kuching, MalaysiaKuching food kiosks, Kuching, MalaysiaFire Island, New York, USALong Island, New York, USAIbiza, SpainIcelandIstanbul, TurkeyMorocco Patagonia, Argentina/ChileBest of the World with Antoni Porowski premieres June 7 on National Geographic and will be available to stream June 8 on Disney+ and Hulu. With thanks to...Richard Haworth - Discover their luxury hotel-quality bedding, towels and table linen at Richard Haworth At HomeAirbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostIf you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.

Today’s guest is an adventurer, filmmaker, writer and one of the most extraordinary travel storytellers of her generation.Eva zu Beck's life reads like something from a film. She was Oxford-educated, working in travel media, married, successful, and living the kind of polished, high-achieving life so many people are told to want. But behind the scenes, she knew something wasn’t right. So she walked away from it all. The marriage, the career, the security, the neatly mapped-out future, and bought a one-way ticket to Nepal.Over the past nine years, Eva has travelled almost constantly, often to some of the wildest, most remote and most misunderstood places on earth. She has crossed the Mongolian wilderness on horseback, travelled through the mountains of Pakistan living alongside local families, spent months on the otherworldly island of Socotra in Yemen during lockdown, and driven her old Land Rover Defender, Odyssey, from Mexico through Central America and the United States, all the way to the northernmost point of Alaska.You’re going to love this one guys.Destination recap:Holly - Forestis, Dolomites, ItalyCarpathian Mountains, PolandMarrakech, MoroccoNepalMongoliaUlaanbaatar, MongoliaGobi Desert, MongoliaPakistanNorthern Pakistan, PakistanHimalayas, PakistanKarakoram Mountains, PakistanArabian Sea, PakistanUnited StatesMontana, United StatesAlaska, United StatesMexicoDalton Highway, United StatesDeadhorse, United StatesRomaniaCarpathian Mountains, RomaniaTransylvania, RomaniaTransalpina, RomaniaMaramureș, RomaniaSocotra, YemenCentral AsiaRussiaCentral AfricaSaharaNorthern Canada, CanadaPatagonia, Argentina and ChileEva’s new book, The Wilder Way, is out now, and if you loved this conversation, I think you’ll absolutely love the book too.With thanks to...Richard Haworth - Discover their luxury hotel-quality bedding, towels and table linen at Richard Haworth At HomeAirbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostIf you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.

Today we’re heading to the sun-soaked Southern California coast in the USA, arriving at Newport Beach.Now, if you’re listening in the UK and thinking, hang on, where exactly is Newport Beach? - it’s just south of Los Angeles, in Orange County. For a lot of you listening, that name might immediately conjure up The O.C., or the The Real Housewives of Orange County - it’s one of those places that really captures that classic California coastal lifestyle: long sandy beaches, a beautiful harbour dotted with boats, waterfront restaurants serving the freshest seafood, surf culture, spectacular houses, and that sense that life is lived largely outdoors.It’s glamorous, yes, but it’s also very accessible for all price points and surprisingly varied once you get to know it - and that’s what this episode is all about.I’m joined today by Gary Sherwin, a Newport Beach local for the last 25 years, travel expert and CEO of Visit Newport Beach - he knows the area inside out. He shares the places, experiences and little details that really give you a feel for the destination. Because this isn’t just somewhere to come for a quick beach stop. It’s a destination in its own right, and one that seems to offer a really lovely mix of things: that classic California coast feeling, yes, but also a lot of variety within it - from smart hotels and great food to beach days, boat days, family-friendly experiences, little pockets with their own personality, and plenty of ways to slow down and enjoy being by the water.So whether you’re plotting a wider California trip, looking for a different side of Southern California, or just in the mood for a little armchair travel to somewhere sunny and coastal, this should give you a very good feel for it.Destination Recap:Newport HarborGulfstream RestaurantLouie’s by the BayA Restaurant21 Oceanfront RestaurantBalboa Bay ResortPendry Newport BeachVEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort & SpaThe Resort at Pelican Hill (becoming A St. Regis Estate in 2027)Crystal CoveBalboa IslandInspiration Point, Corona del MarMastro’s Ocean ClubBlackie’s by the SeaFashion IslandBack Bay (Upper Newport Bay)You can discover more about Newport Beach here.As always, thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed it, do share it with someone who’s planning a California trip, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your podcast app so you never miss an episode.I’ll be back on Tuesday.

Today's guest is one of the most distinctive and brilliantly funny voices in British comedy. Born in Cornwall by accident, raised in Hull with pride, Lucy Beaumont has built a career out of finding the strange, hilarious and deeply human moments in everyday life. You’ll know her from shows like Would I Lie To You?, Taskmaster, Meet the Richardsons, The Celebrity Traitors, and so much more, as well as from her acclaimed stand-up and writing.In today’s conversation, we travel from an out-of-season teenage trip to Magaluf, to sneaking off to Torquay in search of surfers, falling in love with Menorca, finding magic in New York and New Orleans, and the spiritual pull of Robin Hood’s Bay. We also talk about Hull, panel shows, pad Thai on tour, Celebrity Traitors secrets, travelling with Johnny Vegas, and her brilliant new tour, Bad at Quiz Shows, Good with Weirdos, which begins this September.Holly's Destination RecapCoworth Park, EnglandLucy's Destination RecapMagaluf, Mallorca, SpainTruro, Cornwall, EnglandTorquay, Devon, EnglandNewquay, Cornwall, EnglandHull, EnglandHornsea, Yorkshire, EnglandCiutadella, Menorca, SpainDeià, Mallorca, SpainKavos, GreeceIbiza, SpainNew York City, USABrooklyn, New York, USANew Orleans, Louisiana, USARobin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire, EnglandWhitby, Yorkshire, EnglandMontenegroCroatiaMaldivesSt LuciaTickets are available for Lucy's new tour, Bad at Quiz Shows, Good with Weirdos, which begins this September.Thank you to the London Marriot County Hall for having us to film the episode. With thanks to...Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostIf you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.

Today’s guest is one of the defining reality TV stars of the last decade. Charlotte Crosby first burst onto our screens on Geordie Shore, one of the biggest reality shows of the 2010s - a show that became a global phenomenon and completely changed the course of her life, taking her from the north of England to filming and working all over the world. Since then, she’s built a huge international following, particularly in Australia, where she’s become a familiar face on primetime TV. And as you’ll hear, travel has completely shaped who she is today. From Southshields to Sydney, Spain to Canada, I know you’re going to love this oneHolly's Destination Recap:The Glass house, Lakes by Yoo, England, UKDestination Recap:Sunderland – England, UKWolsingham – England, UKWhitley Bay – England, UKSouth Shields – England, UKTunisiaSydney – AustraliaBondi Beach – AustraliaCoogee – AustraliaDarling Harbour – AustraliaCairns – AustraliaGreat Barrier Reef – AustraliaArctic Circle – Norway / Arctic RegionHutterite Communities (Canada) – CanadaAltea – SpainBeni Jofré (Benejúzar area) – SpainIos – GreeceBahamas – BahamasBestselling author and reality TV star Charlotte Crosby teams up with Loveholidays to encourage Brits to get reading on holidayWith thanks to...Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostIf you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.