The Travel Diaries

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.

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.

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

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

I’m back with a brand new episode, and today I’m thrilled to be joined by Eugene Levy - the Emmy-winning actor, writer, and total comedy icon. For many of us, he’ll forever be known as the bewildered dad from American Pie, or as the impeccably dressed Johnny Rose in Schitt’s Creek, the multi-award-winning show he co-created with his son Dan that became a lockdown lifeline for so many of us.And more recently, he’s found himself in a rather unexpected new role - that of travel presenter - as the host of The Reluctant Traveler, which is now in its third season on Apple TV+. I’m sure you’ve seen it everywhere over the last couple of weeks, because on one of the episodes, he interviews British royalty, interviewing Prince William.I spoke to Eugene last week while he was here in London, in Soho in one of those classic junket hotel setups, a bit like the Notting Hill Horse & Hound moment, if you know what I mean. So we had less time than usual, back in the day this would have been what I’d call a short haul episode - so we cover his 6 travel chapters today, but I still jumped at the chance to sit down with him and hear about the destinations that have made a lasting impression on him, particularly while filming his new show, and of course to ask him about the prospect of a Schitt’s Creek reunion, which, I have to say, I think he was pretty positive about - let me know if you agree? Fingers crossed!From the Maldives to Seoul, Utah to Italy, here are the travel diaries of Eugene Levy.Destination Recap:Kudadoo, The MaldivesVenice, Italy Utah, USAThe Grand Canyon Italy Seoul, KoreaLouisiana, USAKruger National Park, South Africa Season 3 of The Reluctant Traveler is out now on Apple TV+. With thanks to...Titanic Belfast - Discover the world’s most authentic Titanic story at Titanic Belfast - where history, heritage and experience come alive.Citalia - If, like Eugene, you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.The Family Suite - Start planning your next family getaway with The Family Suite, the new platform curating the world’s most beautiful luxury hotels that truly welcome families, without compromise.Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm bringing back some treasures from the Travel Diaries archive, while I take a little time off on maternity leave. And this one has to be one of the best - a name synonymous with travel, Dame Joanna Lumley. Joanna's appetite for adventure was deeply engrained from childhood. She was born in Kashmir in the last days of British India, the daughter of an army officer who served with the Gurkhas. Throughout her childhood her parents lived in Asia, moving to Hong Kong and Malaysia, while she spent term times at school in England.From her early days as a fashion model, gracing the covers of magazines and strutting down runway, Joanna Lumley was destined for greatness. But it was her iconic role as Patsy in the hit TV series "Absolutely Fabulous" that truly catapulted her into the hearts of millions. I love Wikipedia’s description of Patsy - “an alcoholic, a chain smoker, and a frequent recreational drug user. She carries drugs with her at all times, storing joints in her trademark beehive."After surviving solo on a desert island, on the groundbreaking show Girl Friday, Joanna soon became as synonymous with travel as she was with Ab Fab, setting off on epic journeys that would make even the most seasoned globetrotter green with envy, from Japan and India to the Caribbean and the Silk Route. What makes her so remarkable is not just her fearless spirit but her genuine love for the people she meets along the way. She champions causes close to her heart, advocating for the rights of the Gurkhas, supporting endless charities, and shedding light on the important issues affecting our world.So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready as we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and awe-inspiring travels of Joanna Lumley, from Malaysia to Uzbekistan, Italy to Indonesia.Holly's travel diary: Heckfield Place, Berkshire, EnglandJoanna's Destination Recap:Kashmir, India Hong KongMalaysiaBatu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia MadagascarDelhi, IndiaUzbekistan Tash Rabat, Kyrgzystan Sienna, ItalyBanda Islands, IndonesiaSudanRomaniaThank you so much for listening today. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you’re on Apple Podcasts, tap follow, so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week.To be the first to know who’s joining me next week, follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @hollyrubenstein. I’d love to hear from you.And if you can’t wait until then, there are already 15 seasons to catch up on, with more than 160 episodes to keep you busy. You’ll also find all the destinations mentioned by my guests in the episode show notes and on my website: thetraveldiariespodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's Season 15 finale, we are joined by the brilliant Stephen Mangan - actor, presenter, writer, and someone with a truly adventurous travel spirit. You’ll know him from a vast array of TV , film and stage hits - The Split, Green Wing, Episodes, Portrait Artist of the Year - and most recently, as the host of ITV’s Caribbean-set hit game show The Fortune Hotel, which is back for its second season.Stephen is a natural storyteller, and in this conversation we really get to go on a journey. From long, cassette-filled car trips back to his family’s roots in wild, windswept County Mayo - where he has 53 first cousins! - to body surfing in the Atlantic with his kids, sleeping under the redwoods in California, living on £4 a day while interrailing across Europe, and living in an ultra luxury hotel in Grenada for a month - Stephen has truly embraced travel in all its forms.Destination Recap:County Mayo, Ireland Sonoma County, California, USABeltane Ranch, Sonoma, USADerwent Water, Lake District, UKFalkirk Wheel, Scotland GrenadaIndiaBhutan MoroccoJapanThe Fortune Hotel S2 continues Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th August on ITV1 and ITVX. You can also catch up on the first two episodes of the series on ITVX now.Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me next time, come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 155 episodes to keep you busy.I'm now on maternity leave for a few months but keep an eye out for some special episodes dropping into your feed from time to time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I’m so pleased to welcome back someone who you all loved the first time around on the podcast - the brilliant author and travel writer, Monisha Rajesh. Her passion for trains, and for the way rail travel slows you down and opens you up to new worlds, was just infectious. And I’m so excited to say that she’s back with a gorgeous new book called Moonlight Express, which takes us deep into the magical world of sleeper trains. In this new adventure, Monisha journeys across Europe, the Americas and beyond, trading airports for railway platforms and following moonlit tracks through some of the most cinematic landscapes on Earth, which we have the pleasure of chatting about today. From the soft snow and candlelit calm of the Norwegian night trains to the fairy-tale villages of Transylvania, glimpsed at sunrise through the window of a creaky couchette on the Dacia Express. Or to the pastel-painted streets of Savannah, Georgia, in the US, reached on Amtrak’s Silver Meteor. She takes us high into the Andes too, aboard the luxurious Belmond Andean Explorer from Cusco to Arequipa, where the train carves through deserts and towering peaks, so close to everyday life you feel like you could touch it. And back in Britain, she celebrates her mum’s 70th aboard the Royal Scotsman, sipping whisky in the observation car as the Highlands go past.She reminds us what makes train travel so unique: the romance, the community, and the chance to simply sit by the window and watch the world roll by.Destination Recap: Oslo to trondheim, Trondheim to Buda, NorwayTransylvania, Romania FinlandPeru - Belmond Andean Explorer - Cusco to ArequipaBelmond Royal Scotsman Caledonian Sleeper Train, London to Edinburgh Cornish Riviera trainSilver Meteor - Orlando, Florida to Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia, USAMoonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train by Monisha Rajesh is published by Bloomsbury (28 August).With thanks to Airbnb for their support of today's episode.Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 155 episodes to keep you busy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.