Rephonic
Artwork for The Travel Expert

The Travel Expert with Simon Calder

The Telegraph
Aviation Security
Ryanair
United States
North-South Divide
9/11 Attacks
Flydubai
Travel
Air Traffic Control
Schengen Area
Qantas
Lonely Planet
Greek Islands
Lithium Batteries
England Travel Destinations
Philippines
Caribbean
Indian Ocean
Facial Verification At Airports
UNESCO
Air Travel Safety

Join veteran travel journalist Simon Calder for an exciting new adventure - The Travel Expert, a new weekly podcast from the Telegraph.

Alongside fellow travel writer Greg Dickinson, Simon will explore destinations from the Alps to Zanzibar, plus the inside track on the latest travel news - and importantly, how it all affects your next trip.

And Simon and Greg will answer your burning questions, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes21Founded5 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Places & TravelAviationLeisureSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Travel Expert

Latest Episodes

This week, we're joined by Britain's foremost hotelier and star of Channel 5's The Hotel Inspector, Alex Polizzi, to share her views on the biggest challenges facing the hospitality industry, her favourite hotels in the world, and what it really take... more

This week, as British airports prepare to introduce "contactless borders" with facial recognition at e-gates, Simon Calder and Greg Dickinson discuss whether passport checks are finally becoming a thing of the past and how the new technology will wor... more

This week, following a terrifying 14,000 ft drop in altitude and a violent cockpit altercation on a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv where a pilot was stabbed, Simon Calder and Greg Dickinson discuss airline safety, pilot security, and whether ... more

This week, as air traffic control meltdowns and NATS software defects continue to make headlines, Simon Calder and Greg Dickinson discuss whether ongoing aviation chaos is becoming the new normal.

Greg also reports back from watching robots park ca... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Rob Burgess
Founder of Head for Points
Head for Points
Episode: The UK airports ditching passport checks for facial verification
Rachel O'Reilly
Doyen of travel professionals, expert on exotic destinations
Various including LUNPOLI, KUONI and independent work
Episode: An insider's secrets to booking the ultimate winter sun escape
Michael Palin
Sir Michael Palin, veteran travel presenter/actor
Writer/Presenter
Episode: Michael Palin on the Philippines, over-tourism and his Python-era travel tales
Rosa Silverman
Senior features writer at The Telegraph
The Telegraph
Episode: North vs. South: Settling the ultimate staycation debate
Nuria Cremer-Vazquez
Spain expert, Telegraph Travel
Telegraph Travel
Episode: The forgotten corners of Spain hungry for more tourists
Michael O'Leary
Chief Executive, Ryanair Group
Ryanair
Episode: Ryanair ‘will not wait for anybody’ as Britons prepare for summer of border chaos
Tony Wheeler
Co-founder of Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet
Episode: The best (and worst) of US travel, according to the co-founder of Lonely Planet

Hosts

Simon Calder
Host of The Travel Expert; long-time travel journalist with broad coverage of destinations, aviation, and travel policy.
Greg Dickinson
Co-host and travel writer, provides field reports, host banter, and Greece expertise.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 65 ratings
  • Top man

    Ryan

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Holderness days
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Fantastic

    This has quickly turned into one of my favourite weekly podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    berkeleysq
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Difficult listen

    I enjoy the content of the podcast and the knowledge of both presenters, but the presentation means I can’t listen to a full half hour. Simon’s staccato style makes it very difficult to listen to and digest the information. I appreciate it’s difficult to alter that but it doesn’t suit a discussion podcast. Don’t fall into the same style Greg!

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Benarchie
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • good tips for holidays

    enjoyed the first show, gives a lot of practical advice as well as destination inspiration

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PeggyLou1989
    United Kingdom4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value practical tips and destination ideas from real travel experiences.
Discussions on travel disruption resonate with frequent flyers and industry professionals.
Guests and topics are seen as credible and informative by many.
Some listeners wish for smoother, slower pacing during host discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The UK airports ditching passport checks for facial verification
Q: Does this new facial recognition system change the passport rule?
The Home Office says travellers must still carry a valid passport, but experts expect further evolution where airlines' data and biometric checks could simplify how travellers are processed in the future.
What the Flydubai incident tells us about airline safety
Q: Dye asks for unusual things to do in London. What would you recommend beyond the obvious tourist spots?
Simon suggests quirky experiences such as visiting The Long Player art/music installation at Trinity Buoy Wharf and the Horniman Museum, highlighting offbeat cultural options in the city.
What the Flydubai incident tells us about airline safety
Q: John asks about using a UK blue badge in Florida for disability parking when visiting in December. Can it be accepted abroad?
Greg and Simon confirm that a valid UK blue badge is widely accepted in many destinations, including Florida, as long as it is visible, with cautions to verify rules in other countries.
What the Flydubai incident tells us about airline safety
Q: Christine asks, I really wanted to travel on the Trans-Siberian railway. I had partially planned it before COVID, but now it just seems impossible. Do you have any ideas?
Simon outlines alternatives by suggesting Chinese classic routes and a single authentic overnight journey involving antique rolling stock, providing a concrete itinerary and practical tips for those seeking an immersive train experience.
Michael Palin on the Philippines, over-tourism and his Python-era travel tales
Q: What practical advice do you have for travelers today, especially those seeking authentic experiences?
Palin emphasizes reduced reliance on large tour groups, engaging with locals, choosing quality over quantity, and prioritizing genuine listening and language efforts to understand cultures more deeply.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Travel Expert

What is The Travel Expert about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A pragmatic travel conversation hosted by veteran writers, pairing practical trip planning with big-picture industry insight. Regular hosts discuss destinations, airline news, border controls, and evolving travel infra, while answering listener questions on value, points, and practical tips. The tone blends accessible banter with data-driven context, often featuring guest experts who bring region-specific perspectives or industry leadership. A standout for listeners who want timely travel intelligence, candid industry commentary, and actionable advice for planning trips and navigating travel disruption. The format tends to balance gear-focused tips with broader trends in aviation, tourism, and global travel culture, making it useful for bot... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Travel Expert?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Travel Expert. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Travel Expert and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Travel Expert get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Travel Expert, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Travel Expert?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Travel Expert, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Travel Expert have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Travel Expert has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Travel Expert?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Travel Expert:

1. The Martin Lewis Podcast
2. The News Agents
3. Newscast
4. Electoral Dysfunction
5. The Rest Is Politics

How many episodes of The Travel Expert are there?

The Travel Expert launched 5 months ago and published 21 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Travel Expert?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Travel Expert?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Travel Expert from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Travel Expert?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Travel Expert. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Travel Expert?

Recent guests on The Travel Expert include:

1. Rob Burgess
2. Rachel O'Reilly
3. Michael Palin
4. Rosa Silverman
5. Nuria Cremer-Vazquez
6. Michael O'Leary
7. Tony Wheeler

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days