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The Travel Diaries: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Holly Rubenstein
The Travel Diaries is a weekly interview series where journalist Holly Rubenstein chats to a special guest about their adventures around the world, and the travel experiences and destinations that have shaped their lives.Be transported to exotic and far flung places as Holly and her diverse range of famous guests take you on a journey through the seven chapters of their life's travel diaries, from their earliest childhood travel memory and the first place they fell in love with; to their all time favourite destination, their hidden gem recommendation and what’s at the top of their bucket list. It's wanderlust, guaranteed! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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- Today35 min
Unpacked: World's 50 Best Hotels, Belmond Splendido, AlUla, Listener Q&A & more with travel editor, Lauren Ho
This week on The Travel Diaries: Unpacked, I’m joined by Lauren Ho, one of the world’s most well-travelled luxury hotel experts. Lauren is Travel Director of Wallpaper*, a contributing editor at Country & Town House and the Academy Chair for Western Europe for The World’s 50 Best Hotels.Recorded just days after this year’s list was revealed in Paris, Lauren shares her reaction to the results, why Asian hotels continue to dominate the top 10 and which new entries she was particularly pleased to see recognised.We also journey to AlUla in Saudi Arabia, where ancient Nabataean tombs, dramatic desert landscapes and extraordinary new hotels are putting the destination firmly on the travel map. Lauren shares her recent stay at Six Senses Amaala on the Red Sea and takes us inside her trip to Georgia, from the hidden corners of Tbilisi to Kakheti’s vineyards and traditional amber wine.My Hotel of the Week is the newly restored Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, overlooking the impossibly beautiful harbour of Portofino.Plus, in our listener Q&A, Lauren recommends the perfect luxurious but not completely bank-breaking destination for a special family celebration.Destination RecapThe Peninsula Paris, Paris, FranceRosewood Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaMandarin Oriental, Bangkok, Bangkok, ThailandChablé Yucatán, Chocholá, MexicoUpper House Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaMandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, ChinaRosewood São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilPassalacqua, Lake Como, ItalyAtlantis The Royal, Dubai, UAEFour Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, ThailandCapella Bangkok, Bangkok, ThailandAmangiri, Canyon Point, Utah, USAMonument Valley, USAAlUla, Saudi ArabiaBanyan Tree AlUla, AlUla, Saudi ArabiaOur Habitas AlUla, AlUla, Saudi ArabiaThe Chedi Hegra, Hegra, Saudi ArabiaPetra, JordanThe Peninsula Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaFORESTIS, Brixen, ItalyVilla Treville, Positano, ItalyCarlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, Cannes, FranceSplendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, ItalySix Senses Amaala, AMAALA, Saudi ArabiaRosewood Amaala, AMAALA, Saudi ArabiaTbilisi, GeorgiaThe Telegraph Hotel, Tbilisi, GeorgiaKakheti, GeorgiaEstelle Manor, The Cotswolds, England Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferr
- 5 days ago52 min
Caitlin Moran
Today’s guest is one of Britain’s funniest, most distinctive and most beloved writers, Caitlin Moran.Caitlin began writing her first book at just 13, was published at 16, and became an award-winning Times columnist and the bestselling author of books including How to Be a Woman, More Than a Woman and What About Men?Her brilliant new book is called How to Be Hopeful, and it begins with a feeling I think many of us will recognise: that the world has become overwhelming and the only reasonable solution might be to run away and start an entirely new life somewhere else. In Caitlin’s case, that meant fantasising about a self-sufficient farmhouse in the Welsh mountains, until she discovered quite how expensive Welsh farmhouses actually are. So what happens next? From her wonderfully feral childhood summers she spent living with her seven siblings in a tiny caravan in Wales to a romantic road trip through the Scottish Highlands; the lavish trip to Antigua that taught her luxury travel wasn’t necessarily for her; and why Corfu remains the island she returns to again and again, and much much more, here are the Travel Diaries of Caitlin Moran.Destination Recap:Tregaron, WalesStrata Florida Abbey, WalesYnyslas, WalesUllapool, ScotlandRannoch Moor, ScotlandCornwall, EnglandAntigua and BarbudaTenby, WalesKassiopi, Corfu, GreecePaxos, GreeceAntipaxos, GreeceIcelandJapanese Alps, JapanTokyo, JapanAbergavenny, WalesBannau Brycheiniog, WalesFlorida, USAAustriaScandinaviaThanks so much for listening today. If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. I’ll be back on Sunday with The Travel Diaries: Unpacked and our guest, World’s 50 Best Hotels European chair, and travel journalist, Lauren Ho.If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. With thanks to...Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostHotels with History podcast - Hotels with History is a podcast hosted by actor Richard E. Grant and travel & hospitality expert Jules Perowne, uncovering the scandals, legends and surprising stories behind the world's most legendary hotels. Search Hotels with History wherever you get your podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago33 min
Unpacked: China, Uzbekistan, Baku, Six Senses & more with travel editor, John O'Ceallaigh
Hello and welcome to our very first episode of The Travel Diaries: Unpacked, your weekend travel fix. Today I’m joined by the fabulous John O'Ceallaigh. John is a travel journalist and consultant to luxury hospitality brands, who previously served as the luxury travel editor for The Telegraph for nearly a decade.We'll be unpacking Nisha's bucket list destination, China; reflecting on my Hotel of the Week, Six Senses London; chatting about John's recent trip to Azerbaijan, and answering your listener question.Destination Recap:ChinaBeijing, ChinaShanghai, ChinaYunnan, ChinaShangri-La, Yunnan, ChinaGanden Sumtseling Monastery, Shangri-La, ChinaYellow Mountain, Anhui, ChinaChengdu, Sichuan, ChinaSt Peter’s Basilica, Vatican CitySix Senses London, Bayswater, London, EnglandThe Whiteley, Bayswater, London, EnglandNotting Hill, London, EnglandDubai, United Arab EmiratesBaku, AzerbaijanCaspian Sea, AzerbaijanFairmont Baku, Flame Towers, Baku, AzerbaijanHeydar Aliyev Centre, Baku, AzerbaijanUzbekistanKhiva, UzbekistanSamarkand, UzbekistanRegistan Square, Samarkand, UzbekistanAll the destinations mentioned are included in the episode show notes and on thetraveldiariespodcast.com If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. With thanks to...Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/hostI’ll be back on Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- 1 weeks ago59 min
Nisha Katona
Hello and welcome to a brand new season of The Travel Diaries. It’s great to be back! I couldn’t think of a more joyful guest to kick off the season than Nisha Katona. A former child protection barrister turned restaurateur, food writer and TV presenter, Nisha is the founder of the hugely successful Mowgli Street Food restaurants, the author of several cookbooks, including her newest release, The Curry Bible, and was a judge on the BBC’s Great British Menu. In this episode, Nisha describes herself as a “culinary evangelist and anthropologist”, and food is the thread running through her extraordinary Travel Diaries. We journey from childhood holidays in Mallorca and the tastes that first awakened her curiosity, to Beijing, her ancestral home of Varanasi, the temples and night markets of Cambodia, and her love for the Amalfi Coast.Our conversation travelled far beyond holidays, taking in family, identity, faith, grief and the ways in which travel helps us understand both the world and ourselves.Destination Recap:Mallorca, SpainTaunus Therme, Bad Homburg, GermanyBeijing, ChinaForbidden City, Beijing, ChinaVaranasi, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaRiver Ganges, Varanasi, IndiaSiem Reap, CambodiaAngkor Wat, Siem Reap, CambodiaJeju Island, South KoreaAmalfi Coast, Campania, ItalyMount Vesuvius, Campania, ItalyPompeii, Campania, ItalyHerculaneum, Campania, ItalyParco dei Principi, Sorrento, ItalyPositano, Campania, ItalyRavello, Campania, ItalyCapri, Campania, ItalyLloret de Mar, Catalonia, SpainBlanes, Catalonia, SpainIbiza, SpainChinaJerusalem, IsraelNisha's fabulous new book, The Curry Bible, is out now. Today’s conversation was filmed earlier this summer at the beautiful London Marriott Hotel County Hall, in the most spectacular room - The Big Ben Balcony Suite - overlooking the Thames and the Houses of Parliament.I’ll be back on Sunday with our first episode of The Travel Diaries: Unpacked with travel editor John O'Ceallaigh. If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. With thanks to...Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 16, 202656 min
Sir Michael Palin returns
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 9, 202649 min
Race Across The World winners, Jo and Kush
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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Jun 2, 20261h 0m
Tom Allen
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- May 30, 202630 min
Matt Tebbutt's Queensland, Australia - Destination Special
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
About The Travel Diaries
The Travel Diaries is a weekly interview series where journalist Holly Rubenstein chats to a special guest about their adventures around the world, and the travel experiences and destinations that have shaped their lives.Be transported to exotic and far flung places as Holly and her diverse range of famous guests take you on a journey through the seven chapters of their life's travel diaries, from their earliest childhood travel memory and the first place they fell in love with; to their all time favourite destination, their hidden gem recommendation and what’s at the top of their bucket list. It's wanderlust, guaranteed! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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