• March 7th - "We want to make cruising sexy again"
    Mar 7 2025

    Explora Journeys might sound like an overland adventure company, but in fact it is an upmarket cruise line.


    The president of the organisation, Anna Nash, told me how it differs from mass-market cruise firms, and says she welcomes competition from land-based companies such as Ritz-Carlton dipping a toe into the water and offering voyages.


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    7 mins
  • March 6th - Could the UN World Tourism Organisation finally get a female leader?
    Mar 6 2025

    Gloria Guevara is campaigning for the post of Secretary-General of the United Nations body that works to promote sustainable tourism around the world. She told me why she is the person for this tricky role.


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    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    7 mins
  • March 5th - Wednesday 5 March is the first day that Europeans can apply for the UK ETA
    Mar 5 2025

    I've been looking into Electronic Travel Authorisation ahead of the 2 April 2025 deadline – after which every foreign visa-exempt visitor to the UK, with the exception of the Irish, will need to pay £10 and register online.


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    7 mins
  • March 4th - Travel: Things can only get better
    Mar 4 2025

    March hasn't started brilliantly on the travel disruption front, with ultra-long passport queues at Stansted, a delayed flight from Gatwick and a cancelled train.


    But I had an appointment to talk to Decius Valmorbida, president of travel for technology firm Amadeus – and finally caught up with him at McDonald's opposite Strasbourg station.


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    9 mins
  • March 3rd - Roaming the railways of Italy
    Mar 3 2025

    For the past five days I have been rattling around the southernmost province of mainland Italy, Calabria. Most of the ground has been covered by train, which is a joy: affordable, usually reliable and with superb scenery. I reckon you should stick to the cheap, “classic” network rather than the high-speed trains.


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    6 mins
  • February 28th - Annual increase of rail fares across England and Wales
    Feb 28 2025

    On Sunday 2nd of March, rail fares across England and Wales will rise by 4.6 per cent. Alex Robertson, chief executive of the consumer watchdog Transport Focus, has been telling me that passengers need to feel that they are getting value for money – by increasing reliability of trains.


    Also a reminder to buy that railcard on 28 February or 1 March, before they increase by £5 to £35.


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    7 mins
  • February 27th - Cash is king – but where are the best deals?
    Feb 27 2025

    Despite the spread of contactless payments around the world, it's always useful to have some cash. And, more broadly, where are the locations where you might be wise to change some money now for a trip later in the year.


    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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    6 mins
  • February 26th - Heathrow eyes a third runway by 2035
    Feb 26 2025

    Heathrow has just announced record passenger numbers for 2024 – but it has a much bigger prize in its sights.


    I have been talking to Thomas Woldbye, the chief executive of the UK's busiest airport, about his plans for the future – and the natural environmental concerns about expansion.


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    4 mins