The Travel Expert with Simon Calder

Ranking history

About the show

Latest episodes

• What the Flydubai incident tells us about airline safety

  October 2, 2026 · 29 min

  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…

• An insider's secrets to booking the ultimate winter sun escape

  September 25, 2026 · 36 min

  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…

• Michael Palin on the Philippines, over-tourism and his Python-era travel tales

  September 18, 2026 · 45 min

  This week, Simon Calder and Greg Dickinson are joined by the legendary Sir Michael Palin to discuss his latest adventures in the Philippines, his close encounter with the Chinese coastguard in the South China Sea, and his memorable…

• How 9/11 reshaped travel forever and what the future holds for airport security

  September 11, 2026 · 30 min

  This week as a catastrophic air traffic control meltdown disrupted 300,000 travel plans, Simon Calder and Greg Dickinson discuss whether regular aviation chaos is the new normal. Greg takes us behind the scenes to the highly secure NATS…

• North vs. South: Settling the ultimate staycation debate

  September 4, 2026 · 28 min

  Following a major cybersecurity breach at Manchester Airport, Greg and Simon discuss whether it’s ever truly safe to log on to airport Wi-Fi - and the essential steps you must take to avoid “juice jacking” while charging your devices on…

• Exposed: The terrifying risk of lithium batteries exploding on planes

  August 28, 2026 · 31 min

  Following a high-stakes experiment at a laboratory in Warwick, Greg reveals why airlines are so terrified of lithium battery fires - and the essential safety rules you need to know before you fly. Plus, we explore the world’s first…

• The forgotten corners of Spain hungry for more tourists

  August 21, 2026 · 30 min

  Looking for a quick getaway? This week, Simon and Greg dive into the rise of the “micro-cation” - the trend of squeezing maximum adventure into minimum time, and whether it’s a sustainable way to travel. Plus, with bank holiday weekend…

• Will you soon be catching an overnight train direct from Scotland to Paris? Plus the rewards (and risks) of taking a gap year

  August 14, 2026 · 33 min

  All aboard! This week, Simon and Greg debate the future of rail travel as we examine the feasibility of a direct overnight train from Scotland to France. Plus they look at further Eurostar developments—including the upcoming stop in…