On today’s destination special we’re travelling far away to the warmer climes of South East Asia. To a country renowned for its opulent monuments, ancient ruins, floating markets, palm-fringed tropical beaches, turquoise seas, lush jungle, sumptuous cuisines and a people so friendly that the country is nicknamed The Land of Smiles. Of course, today we’re heading to Amazing Thailand.I’m thrilled to say that chef and TV presenter John Torode returns to the podcast, having been so passionate about his extensive travels in Thailand back in Season 5 to share his Thai travel diaries, from Bangkok the bustling capital in the middle of the country, to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the mountainous north, to its famous jungle-topped tropical islands that lie off its two golden sand coastlines in the south.And then, I am joined by the wonderful Kay Plunkett-Hogge. Kay is a cookery writer, travel journalist and broadcaster who is Thai, she was born and raised in Bangkok, bi-lingual, and she now lives in the mountains of Chiang Dao, which is in the Chiang Mai province of the country, and she spoke to me from her home there.I have never been to Thailand - it's somewhere I've always wanted to go, and so I ask Kay, as someone who has lived in Thailand most of her life, where I should go and what I should do on my first trip there. She takes us through a fantastic two week round trip itinerary for first timers, beginning and ending in Bangkok, as well as sharing some of her favourite spots and hidden gems. John Torode's Destination Recap:Pak khlong talat (Flower Market Bangkok)The Thai House, BangkokPeninsula Hotel, BangkokChiang MaiChiang RaiKing’s Project, Chiang RaiHyatt, Chiang MaiSouthern Thai islandsKay Plunkett-Hogge’s Destination Recap:Chiang Dao BangkokChakrabongse Villas, BangkokOld Chinatown, BangkokChiang RaiPhu Chaisai, Ching RaiChiang DaoChiang MaiPhuong Tong Restaurant, Chiang MaiOld day train, Chiang Mai to BangkokPhuketBaan Bayan, Hua HinAksorn Restaurant, Bangkok100 Mahaseth (Si Phraya), BangkokMadrid Bar, BangkokIsanPhanom Rung Historical ParkWhat an incredible flavour of an incredible country, thank you so much to both John and Kay for sharing their knowledge and passion for Amazing Thailand. If you’re inspired to find out more about Thailand, visit fanclubthailand.co.uk and check out your favourite travel magazines and newspapers who will no doubt offer some comprehensive destination guides.And come and follow me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein. Have a very Happy New Year and thanks so much for listening.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Travel Diaries

Amazing Thailand with John Torode - Destination Special

Today, we’re embarking on a journey to the far north of Europe. To a place of summer midnight sun and the magical northern lights of the winter. The Land of a Thousand Lakes. A place where saunas are as common as cafes. And, with just a few days to go until Christmas, I imagine it’s a hive of activity given that Lapland in the north of the country is the home of Santa Claus and his elves. Of course, I’m talking about Fantastic Finland.And I’m joined by two wonderful guests today to help bring this diverse and beautiful country to life. First, we’ll hear from the actress Tracy-Ann Oberman. You’ll know Tracy-Ann from shows like EastEnders, Friday Night Dinner, It’s A Sin and Ridley Road. She has a special connection to Finland, which she'll tell us about when she shares her Finnish travel diaries, coming up.And then, we’re joined by Finland Destination Expert, and food and travel writer, Bre Graham, who has travelled extensively around the country, and shares so many brilliant different recommendations and tips, for places to visit, stay, eat, and what to bring home in your suitcase. Tracy-Ann Oberman’s Destination Recap:Temppeliaukio Church, HelsinkiRestaurant Nasinneula, TampereMuseum Centre Vapriikki, TampereSuomenlinna, HelsinkiMoomin World, Naantali Bre’s Recap: Löyly Helsinki sauna, HelsinkiGoodio Chocolate Factory, VantaaNolla Restaurant, Helsinki Finnish LaplandLake Inari, SápmiAlbina Ravintola & Viinibaari, Kallio, HelsinkiSt George Hotel, Helsinki Lapland Hotel, HelsinkiIf you would like to read more about Finland head to visitfinland.com. If you enjoyed today’s episode don’t forget to subscribe. And come and follow me on Instagram - I’m @hollyrubenstein. Have a very Happy Christmas and thanks so much for listening.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fantastic Finland Christmas Special with Tracy-Ann Oberman - Destination Special

Today’s guest is the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, Brian Chesky, an interview that has been years in the making, and a real honour.For billions of us, including myself, Airbnb has completely changed the way we travel. It opened up people’s homes, creating an army of Superhosts in the process, bringing tourists and locals far closer together. It’s no short of lie that Airbnb created a travel revolution. So you could say today’s episode is both Brian’s and Airbnb’s. For a CEO of his magnitude, it’s clearly hard for him to separate the two. The story of how Airbnb came to be, is not what you’d expect. Brian went to design school, he’s an artist, and came from humble beginnings. In fact, it was cereal boxes that first got Airbnb off the ground - you’ll have to stay tuned to hear Brian explain more about that, as part of the fascinating and surprising twists and turns on the path to Airbnb’s global domination. Brain’s answers are very philosophical and a goldmine of both travel and business wisdom. As he says himself, he was a host before he was a traveler and many of his answers reflect that mindset. Travel for him is about getting into a locals POV. You won’t get luxury hotels, you’ll get stories of people and experiences. We also hear at the end how Airbnb are pivoting to drive the next revolution in travel.I hope you enjoy it.Destination Recap:St Louis, Missouri, USARhode Island School of Design (RISD), USALos Angeles, California, USASan Francisco, California, USAFlatbush, Brooklyn, New York, USATokyo, JapanThe Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco, California, USAIf you want to follow in mine and Brian's footsteps and become a host on airbnb you can go to airbnb.com/host to sign up, and try out airbnb.co.uk/askasuperhost to speak to other UK hosts for advice.Thank you to today's sponsor, DK Eyewitness. Find their guides on special offer at wordery.com - simply enter the code DKEYEWITNESS at checkout for a 10% discount.If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brian Chesky, Airbnb Co-Founder & CEO

Today, I’m joined by a legend of the culinary world, the chef, restaurateur and broadcaster, Michel Roux Jr. Michel was practically born in a kitchen when his mother went into labour during service at his father’s restaurant. He’s the son of Albert Roux and the nephew of Michel Roux, brothers who revolutionised the restaurant business in the UK when they opened Le Gavroche in 1967, famously becoming the first establishment in this country to gain one, two and then three Michelin stars. When his father retired in 1993, Michel Jr took over the world-famous restaurant, quickly becoming a household name on TV shows like Masterchef The Professionals, Remarkable Places to Eat and he now has a new TV show, set in Provence, which he’ll tell us all about. Chefs tend be very well travelled, and Michel is no exception. His travel diaries take us on a delectable journey from Lyon to Hong Kong, The Seychelles to Las Vegas.Destination Recap:ScotlandShipbourne, Kent, EnglandFairlawne Estate, Kent, EnglandParis, FranceLyons, FranceHong KongAberdeen, Hong KongWest Coast of USASpago Restaurant, San Francisco, USAChez Panisse, San Francisco, USAThe Seychelles Bird Island, Seychelles Marie Antoinette restaurant, Mahe, SeychellesLas Vegas, Nevada, USAMacauArdèche, France Pont Sant Espirit, France IndiaSouth America Watch Michel Roux's French Country Cooking as a boxset exclusively on Discovery+.Thank you to my sponsors - The Tourism Authority of Thailand welcomes you to join them for Visit Thailand Year 2022 - Amazing New Chapters. Find the A-Z of amazing things to see and do in Thailand and the latest travel advice at www.fanclubthailand.co.uk Naladhu Private Island, an exclusive luxury island resort in the Maldives. Visit naladhu.com to find out more and book that trip of a lifetime.To find out who’s joining me next week, follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin to Heston Blumenthal. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michel Roux Jr

Today I’m joined by the much loved comedian, musician and actor, Bill Bailey. Known for his hugely inventive stand up, he’s of course such a familiar face on our TV screens, spending several years as team captain on the long running music and comedy BBC panel show, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, making regular appearances on QI and Have I Got News For You, and most recently being crowned the champion of Strictly Come Dancing with partner Oti Mabuse, last year. Bill kicks off his travel diaries having just returned from an incredible trip to Iceland, so he tells us all about; he shares his love of Indonesia where he spontaneously eloped with his wife, and travels back to each year; as a gigging comedian he has discovered every corner of the UK, so he reveals some British hidden gems that could be on your doorstep, and he shares his tips for Strictly this year. He joins me from his West London family home, which he shares with a menagerie of pets, including five rescue dogs, a cat, a parrot, a snake, ducks and hens, which you will occasionally hear laying an egg in the background. This is a really fun one!Destination Recap:Reykjavik, IcelandAkureyi, Iceland Bubble Hotel, Iceland Weston-super-mare, England Bath, England Saunder’s Foot, South WalesMarseilles, FranceArgentinaIndonesiaSumatra, IndonesiaWest Papua, IndonesiaThe Ridgeway National Trail, England BarbadosBaqueira Beret, Spain Sitges, SpainBarcelona, Spain PatagoniaNamibiaKamchatka Peninsula, RussiaBill Bailey’s En Route To Normal tour kicks off in Plymouth on Sun 12 December and runs through to mid January. All the tickets and dates can be found at www.BillBailey.co.ukIf you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone to Heston Blumenthal and Nadiya Hussain. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Bill Bailey

Giovanna Fletcher is one of the UK’s most successful women’s fiction authors. She's the host of Happy Mum, Happy Baby, the chart-topping podcast which sees her interview celeb guests about the highs and lows of parenting. She and her husband Tom Fletcher, from the band McFly have a huge YouTube presence where they perform together; and she’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’s reigning champion, the Queen of the Castle. To say Giovanna is multi-talented, is quite the understatement.Giovanna has been travelling since a very young age as her dad is Italian, so she tells us about her annual trips to visit her family in Italy, she and Tom are a kind of obsessed with Disney and she brings to life the magic and joy of holidays at the Disney parks, and much of her new book is inspired by travel, by the country of Peru. We also chat about her love of trekking; her advice about travelling with three young kids; and what is was like to interview Kate Middleton and the whirlwind of press that came after. Giovanna’s Destination Recap:Valva, Campania, ItalyParis, FranceDisneyland Paris, FrancePeruWalt Disney World, Florida, USAJade Mountain, St LuciaWatergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall, EnglandThree Mile Beach, Cornwall, EnglandTenerife, SpainMt Kilimanjaro, TanzaniaMadagascarAppalachian Trail, USAHolly’s Destination Recap:Belmond British Pullman trainGiovanna’s new novel, Walking on Sunshine, is out now in hardback, priced £14.99If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Jo Malone, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Raymond Blanc . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Giovanna Fletcher

Steve Backshall is a BAFTA-winning presenter, writer, explorer, naturalist and all round daredevil. His big break as a broadcaster arrived when National Geographic offered him the post of Adventurer in Residence and he’s been taking on some of the toughest challenges on earth ever since, gracing our TV screens with shows like Deadly 60, Expedition, and The Lost Land series. On this episode you’ll hear that Steve’s great passion is discovery. Discovery of new places and new animal species - whether that’s uncovering never before seen ancient human art work in a Borneo cave, tracking snow leopards in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, coming extremely close to death while kayaking in Bhutan or diving with sharks in his new show, Shark with Steve Backshall. Holly’s Destination Recap:No. 15 Great Pulteney, Bath, EnglandThree Mile Beach, Cornwall, England Steve’s Destination Recap:ZimbabweColombiaWest Papua BhutanWales - Gower, Pembroke, Snowdonia, Breacon Beacons Scilly Isles, Cornwall, EnglandCoastal Pembroke, WalesCoastal Penzance, Cornwall, EnglandBimini, The Bahamas Kyrgyzstan BorneoBrazilSurinameShark With Steve Backshall continues on Sunday at 8pm on Sky Nature, Sky Showcase and is streaming on NOW TV. Thank you to today’s sponsors:Freddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50The Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa To hear future episodes as soon as they’re released, don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow”. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. And there’s always the first 5 seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Rick Stein, to Jo Malone to Hugh Bonneville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Steve Backshall

Jessica Nabongo is the first black woman in history to have visited all 195 countries in the world. On top of that, she travelled to 89 of these countries solo. All by the age of 35. She’s an influencer, photographer and businesswoman, and shares with us what she learnt throughout this epic journey. From Tuvalu and Eritrea to Turkmenistan and Djibouti, Jessica’s travel diaries literally take us all over the world.Destination Recap:Punta Mita, Mexico UgandaQueen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda,Lamu, KenyaJapanMt Fuji, JapanHiroshima, Japan Bali, IndonesiaNamibia Islamabad, PakistanLahore, PakistanIran especially IsfahanColombiaCubaMerowe, SudanSenegalEritreaMasawa, EritreaTuvalu Lake Assal, Djibouti The Door to Hell, Turkmenistan South SudanMoldovaBelarusTashkent, Samarkand & Termez, UzbekistanVenice, ItalyGreenlandSantiago de Cuba, CubaFor more of Jessica’s adventures you can pre-order her first book on Amazon. It will be published by National Geographic and is out in May 2022. In the meantime, you can follow her on Instagram @jessicanabongo. Jessica's new project, The Nabongo List: is a new luxury, travel membership that gives you the best in local, luxury and unique experiences all around the world, curated by JessicaA big thank you to today’s sponsors for their support of the podcast.DK Eyewitness - What better way to find that next adventure than with a DK Eyewitness book? Get new editions of their award-winning DK Eyewitness and Top 10 travel guides, or for the intrepid explorer, there’s Outdoor Europe. Click the link, or visit your local bookshop.COMO Hotels and Resorts - COMO's collection of 14 luxury boutique hotels and resorts are in some of the world's most desirable destinations. A new hotel has been announced for 2022, COMO Le Montrachet in Burgundy, France. Find out more about COMO's beautiful hotels and resorts by visiting Comohotels.comAdnams - The home of premium gins. Get 10% off your first purchase with Adnams using code TRAVEL10.Freddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50 at freddiesflowers.comBritish Airways x Visit Florida - Book your trip with confidence at BA.com/FloridaAnd to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jessica Nabongo, first black woman to visit every country in the world

Today’s guest is a broadcasting legend. Whether it’s the Olympic Games, Paralympics, horse racing, Crufts, Wimbledon or so much more, Clare Balding has risen to national treasure status. She’s also a best-selling author, radio presenter and podcaster, in case you didn’t think she was busy enough!Covering so many major TV events has taken Clare around the world, and then some. Her travel diaries take us from Mauritius to Costa Rica, Italy to Iona. She tells us how she once won her weight in champagne as a horse jockey; as a dog lover like me she shares her favourite dog friendly spots in the UK; we hear her take on the future of Emma Raducanu, and about the time the Queen turned up at her house for breakfast. All that coming up on The Travel Diaries.Destination Recap:Chamonix, FranceAspen, Colorado, USAMauritius Four Seasons Hotel, Mauritius Sydney, AustraliaMelbourne, AustraliaRio de Janeiro, BrazilAustraliaNew Zealand Costa RicaHotel Punta Islita, Costa RicaCubaLewa, KenyaGalana, Kenya Tofauti charityLucknam Park, Bath, EnglandWhatley Manor, Wiltshire, England Holbeck Ghyll, Lake District, EnglandRosa Alpina, The Dolomites, ItalyPuglia, ItalyUmbria, Italy Iona, ScotlandNorthumberland, EnglandWigton, Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway Elephant Corridor, Sri Lanka Banyan Tree Mayakoba, MexicoBaltic Sea CruiseFjord CruisePanama Canal CruiseThe Amazon CruiseSouth Pacific CruiseAlaska, USAA big thanks to Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London for hosting us for our interview. Book your winter or Christmas staycation and enjoy Magical Mandarin Moments of delight from £740 per night.To book your dream villa holiday visit The Thinking Traveller. The Thinking Traveller's collection of luxury villas across Italy, The Greek Islands, Corsica and Mallorca are some of the best properties out there for a villa holiday and come in all sizes, whether you're travelling as a couple or for a big family reunion.Freddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50 at freddiesflowers.comBritish Airways x Visit Florida - Book your trip with confidence at BA.com/FloridaTo find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Clare Balding

We’re back for Season 6 (how did that happen?!) and what an honour to be joined on our first episode by the Oscar-nominated actor and writer, Stanley Tucci. You’ve seen him in The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, Julie and Julia, Supernova, Fortitude, and The Lovely Bones. He’s directed four movies, and recently won an Emmy for his new food and travel TV series, Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy. As a foodie he’s written two delectable cookbooks, and his new memoir, Taste, is just as delicious. This episode is a love letter to Italy, and of course to food. So let’s get started. Season 6, Stanley Tucci. Here we go!Destination RecapHolly:- Vaison La Romaine, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France- Airelles Chateau de la Messardiere, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France Stanley Tucci:Vermont, USARome, ItalyFlorence, ItalyNew Paltz, Upstate NY, USA, Shonagun Mountains The CotswoldsWatergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall, EnglandMawgan Porth, Cornwall, EnglandCirencester, The Cotswolds, EnglandThe Lake District, England Zermatt, SwitzerlandLake Como, ItalyRome, ItalyEmilio Romagna, Italy Ischia, ItalyIcelandScandinaviaStanley Tucci’s memoir ‘Taste’ is out now.A huge thank you to today’s sponsors, Citalia, Freddie’s Flowers and British Airways x Visit Florida.Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialistsFreddie’s Flowers - Get your first two boxes half price, at just £12.50 each with the code TRAVEL50 at freddiesflowers.comBritish Airways x Visit Florida - Book your trip with confidence at BA.com/FloridaIf you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or “follow” on your podcast app of choice.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stanley Tucci

Today, we’re embarking on a journey to the east of Africa, to a country of spectacular wild and natural landscapes, where the wildlife is abundant, the famous Big 5 roaming free. A country of great plains, mountains, lush forest, and white sand beaches. It has captivated and travellers adventurers the world over. It is of course, Kenya.On today’s episode, we’ll be hearing first from some of my previous podcast guests who have chosen parts of Kenya in their travel diaries, wildlife cameraman Gavin Thurston returns to the podcast to share his experiences having spent so much of his career travelling around and working in Kenya, and we’ll hear from one of my guests coming up on Season 6, too. We’ll be heading on a tour of the country, starting in its capital Nairobi and ending in Samburu National Park in the north. It’s in Samburu that my final guest, Saba Douglas-Hamilton, has lived for the last 6 years. Saba is a conservationist and award-winning TV presenter. Born and raised in Kenya, you might recognise Saba as the presenter of the BBC’s hugely successful Big Cat Diaries, The Secret Life of Elephants and This Wild Life. She’ll be joining us later to reflect on our tour of Kenya, sharing her tales of living and working in the country and her own Kenyan travel diaries.Kenya is now on the travel green list for UK travellers, so I hope this episode inspires you to think about a bucket list experience like travelling to Kenya and experiencing all that it has to offer.Destination Recap: *No hotels or safari camps paid to be part of this destination special.Giles Coren:Giraffe Manor, Nairobi  Diani Beach, MombasaJessica Nabongo:Lamu, Lamu IslandGavin Thurston:Tsavo East National Park Maasai Mara National ReserveGovernor’s Camp, Masai Mara National ReserveLewa DownsWilderness Camp, Lewa DownsSamburu National ParkElephant Watch Camp, Samburu National ReserveGeoffrey Kent:Masai Mara National ReserveAberdare HighlandsMalindi BeachLucy Williams:Sasaab, Samburu National ReserveSaba Douglas-HamiltonNairobiElephant Watch Camp, SamburuMount KenyaLewaKalepo Camp, SamburulandMike's Camp, Kiwahu IslandIf you would like to read more about Kenya or get some more inspiration about where you should go and what you can do there head to www.magicalkenya.com or follow them on social media, or check out the websites of your favourite travel magazines, who normally offer compressive guides.Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe or to “follow” the podcast if you’re using Apple Podcasts.To find out who’s joining me on Season 6, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Sir Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Magical Kenya - Destination Special

We're going Completely Caribbean here on The Travel Diaries this week. On today's bonus destination special, we’ll be heading on a sun-soaked tour of the Caribbean islands, in partnership with the British Airways American Express Credit Card.Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most popular destinations to be picked each week on the pod, and in today’s episode lots of my lovely guests from the last five seasons will be recounting their favourite Caribbean travel memories - the islands they love - of course the islands are so diverse, each with their own distinct history, culture and landscape - as well as the best hotels, places to visit and hidden gems, taking us on a tour from the north to the south of the Caribbean.And later we’ll be joined by Caribbean destination expert Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon aka Jet Set Sarah. Sarah is a Caribbean travel expert, award-winning travel journalist, and self-described “Carivangelist”, having visited and written about nearly all of the Caribbean islands. She'll take us through the destinations chosen by my guests, as well as sharing her own Caribbean travel diaries.Destination Recap:David Loftus: The BahamasJamie Laing and Jo Malone: Turks & CaicosFred Sirieix: JamaicaJacqui Gifford: AnguillaAinsley Harriott: DominicaRichard Branson and Ella Eyre: Necker Island, BVIsJet Set Sarah's Destination RecapTurks & Caicos: Parrot Cay, Providenciales, Andros, Long IslandBahamas: Harbour IslandDominicaAnguillaJamaica: Kingston, Trench House, Devon House, Negril, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Port Antonio, KFC Montego Bay!BequiaPetit St VincentGrand CaymanBelizeBonaireMustiqueThank you so much to  the British Airways American Express Credit Card for supporting today's episode. Search BA Amex for more details and check out the world. Representative 24.5% APR Variable, Applicants must be 18 years old or older, Subject to approval - Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. All information including Representative APR is correct as at 14th September 2021.If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.To find out who’s joining me on future episodes, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first five seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Completely Caribbean - Destination Special

On today’s Season 5 Finale, I’m joined by one of the UK’s leading broadcasters and most recognisable voices, Jeremy Vine. Jeremy began his journalism career as a BBC reporter for the Today show before becoming the BBC’s political correspondent at Westminster, and the BBC’s Africa correspondent based out of Johannesburg. He worked alongside Jeremy Paxman as a presenter on Newsnight and back in 2015 he donned his dancing shoes becoming a hugely popular contestant on Strictly Come Dancing - although his first dance with partner Karen Clifton was scored a ‘2’ by judge Craig Revel-Horwood. These days, Jeremy’s based back in the UK, and along with his eponymous daily topical programme on Ch5, his daily BBC radio 2 programme is the most listened to news show on UK radio. He’s also an accomplished author and tells us about his latest novel, which is set in Spain. Given his day job involves chatting to anyone and everyone, it’s no surprise that Jeremy had no shortage of conversation today and we have a great time dashing around the world today with his travel diaries, from the Channel Islands to an island off Canada, Siberia to Oman. This is a fun one, I really hope you enjoy it. So, Let’s get started. Destination Recap: - Jersey, England - Alderney, England - The Blonde Hedgehog, Alderney, England - Johannesburg, South Africa - Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA - Siberia, Russia - Oman - Appledore, Devon, England - Glasgow, Scotland - Dali Museum, Figueres, Spain - Cadaques, Spain - Sitges, Spain - Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland, Canada Jeremy’s novel The Diver and The Lover is out now in paperback - a great read for a summer holiday. A huge thank you to today’s sponsors, DK Eyewitness and The Thinking Traveller. September sees the launch of DK Eyewitness’s new series Like A Local, travel guides to the world’s biggest cities featuring the best local hangout spots, hidden haunts and independent businesses. Listeners to The Travel Diaries can now get 10% off the books over at wordery.com. Simply enter the code 'LIKEALOCAL' at the checkout to receive your discount. To book your dream villa holiday visit The Thinking Traveller. The Thinking Traveller's collection of luxury villas across Italy, The Greek Islands, Corsica and Mallorca are some of the best properties out there for a villa holiday and come in all sizes, whether you're travelling as a couple or for a big family reunion. And with that, it’s a wrap for Season 5. Thank you so much to all my lovely guests for transporting us all around the world. And most importantly, thank you, my incredible listeners, for tuning in each week, for taking the podcast over one and a half million downloads, across 160 countries - what a dream come true. If you’re enjoying the podcast, leaving a review or five star rating is the best way to show your support, on your podcast app of choice. All the destinations mentioned by my guests are always included in the episode show notes, on my website thetraveldiariespodcast.com and also on my Instagram page @hollyrubenstein where I publish and save weekly guest guides, which plot out all the locations that have been discussed. And it’s not long until I’m back - we’ve got a couple of wonderful destination specials coming up, the first in a couple of weeks celebrating all things Caribbean, so keep an eye out for that. I’m off to Cornwall, again, and then to Provence in France. You can follow my travels on social media and as ever I’d love to hear from you. Season 6 will return in the autumn. Have a wonderful rest of your summer, and I’ll be back soon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jeremy Vine

Welcome to this Inspiring Ireland Destination Special where, alongside legendary Irish DJ and broadcaster Annie Mac, we celebrate all things island of Ireland. Annie’s been in the news a bit recently, because after 17 years as one of BBC Radio 1’s most loved DJs, she has left the station, and the video of her playing her final song went viral online, I think simply because she is such a legend in the industry, and a big part of the lives of so many music lovers, so this farewell was a huge deal. We talk about how she became a DJ and presenter, and her illustrious career and what that involved - and then her travel diaries chapters are all focussed on destinations across Ireland - the place where she grew up, travels back to as much as she can, and knows so well. And then later, I’m joined by travel writer and Ireland expert, Aoife O’Riordain who shares some really brilliant tips, in particular some amazing foodie recommendations and a hotel that I’d never heard, on an Irish island that I’d also never heard of, of that has gone straight to the top of my hotel wish list. Oh and Aoife’s husband was actually the producer of Normal People (you know the show we all watched last summer) so she gives us a little insight into the making of that too!DESTINATION RECAPAnnie Mac’s Destinations:Dublin, Rep. of IrelandRasharkin, Co. Antrim, Northern IrelandBelfast, Northern Ireland Roundstone, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland The Burren, Co. Clare, Rep. of IrelandThe Gaeltacht, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland Dog’s Bay, Co. Galway, Rep. of IrelandDingle, Co. Kerry, Rep. of IrelandDingle Benners Hotel, Co. Kerry, Rep. of IrelandThe Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry, Rep. of IrelandLoch Na Fooey, Co. Galway, Rep. of Ireland County Donegal, Rep. of IrelandInishmore, Rep. of IrelandAoife O’Riordan’s DestinationsWest Cork, Co. Kerry and Coastal Donegal parts of Wild Atlantic Way driveDublinDublin and Wicklow MountainsGlendalough, Co. WicklowSandycove, DublinForty foot, DublinBray, County WicklowThe DART commuter trainCo. KerryRing of Kerry driving routeDede at the Custom’s House, West Cork, Co. CorkMisunderstood Heron, Leenaun, Co. Galway Paddy Bawn Brosnans Bar, Dingle, Co. KerryBally Bia, Co. CorkGreat Western Greenway, Co. Mayo The Royal Canal GreenwayThe Aran Islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer, Co. GalwayInis Meáin, Restaurant & Suites, Co. GalwayThanks so much for listening today. If you’ve enjoyed the episode, leaving a review or five star rating is the best way to show your support, on your podcast app of choice. And to find out who is on next week’s episode, the Season 5 finale, come and find me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubensten and as ever, I’d love to hear from you. To find out more about visiting the island of Ireland, head to ireland.com and check out the travel pages of your favourite newspapers and travel magazines which are always great resources for the latest travel news, new openings and must see spots. Have a great week and I’ll be back on Tuesday.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Inspiring Ireland with Annie Mac - Destination Special

Today I’m joined by the UK’s leading hotel critic, Fiona Duncan. Fiona has been writing about and reviewing hotels for 35 years. She began her career writing travel guides before launching her own book series with her husband The Charming Small Hotels Guides back in the 1980s.In the late 90s she was asked to write about hotels for the Telegraph, which she continues to this day, with a weekly hotel column in the Sunday Telegraph. They call her the Hotel Guru, Country & Town House Magazine call her the Hotel Wizard, for which she is also travel editor and the editor of their great British hotels guide.I spoke to Fiona last week in London, and it was so lovely to reconnect with her - Fiona has been a real mentor to me as a travel writer, which has been life changing to be honest, and I’ve learnt so much from her, so this episode means a lot to me. It also means a lot to finally have a female guest on this season, I wanted to have a completely gender balanced season this time, and just the way things have panned out annoyingly with people’s availability and covid, that just hasn’t been possible. But next week also we have fantastic female guest joining us which I’m really looking forward to as well. This is an episode for hotel lovers, Fiona has visited well over 600 of them just for her column alone, and if you’re looking for recommendations here in the UK and in Europe, she has some great tips to share, and ones that won’t break the bank too.DESTINATION RECAP:Orient Express to Venice Le Sirenuse, Positano, Italy Seaview, Isle of Wight, EnglandMallorca, SpainAntigua and the CaribbeanFormentera, SpainGecko Beach, Formentera, SpainHambleton Hall, Rutland, EnglandGravetye Manor, West Sussex, EnglandLangar Hall, Nottinghamshire, England The Lamb at Shipton-Under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire, EnglandGlebe House, Devon, EnglandThe Goring Hotel, London, England Howtown Hotel, Ullswater, England Santa Catarina, Amalfi Coast, ItalyLocanda Cipriani, Venice, Italy Limewood, New Forest, England Lake Nagin, Kashmir, IndiaGulmarg, IndiaVilla Mahal, Kalkan, Turkey The Fish Shack, Kalkan, TurkeyKathmandu, NepalTiger Tops, NepalMexicoRavenna, Italy GeorgiaTransylvaniaKoufonisia, GreeceAmorgos, Greece Thank you so much for listening today. If you’re enjoying the podcast, then it would be wonderful if you could leave a rating or a review on your podcast app - it really makes a big difference because it helps other people to discover the podcast. And to hear future episodes as soon as they’re released don’t forget to hit subscribe.To find out who’s joining me on next week’s episode, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein - I’d love to hear from you. If you can’t wait until then, there’s always the first four seasons to catch up on, with guests from Michael Palin and Heston Blumenthal, to Sir Ranulph Fiennes to Hugh Bonneville. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fiona Duncan, Hotel Critic

The Travel Diaries is a weekly interview series where entertainment and travel 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 eight key 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!

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