The Travel Diaries – Details, episodes & analysis

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The Travel Diaries

Holly Rubenstein

Society & Culture

Arts

Frequency: 1 episode/14d. Total Eps: 187

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.

Recent rankings

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Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
21/08/2026
#7
🇺🇸 USA - placesAndTravel
21/08/2026
#99
🇫🇷 France - placesAndTravel
21/08/2026
#37
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
20/08/2026
#8
🇫🇷 France - placesAndTravel
20/08/2026
#20
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
19/08/2026
#7
🇫🇷 France - placesAndTravel
19/08/2026
#27
🇨🇦 Canada - placesAndTravel
18/08/2026
#76
🇬🇧 Great Britain - placesAndTravel
18/08/2026
#5
🇺🇸 USA - placesAndTravel
18/08/2026
#100

Spotify

No recent rankings available

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https://thetraveldiariespodcast.com/
40 shares
http://thetraveldiariespodcast.com/
28 shares
http://airbnb.com/
12 shares

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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 84%

Publication history

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Lisa Faulkner

Season 12

Tuesday, August 13, 2024 • Duration 47:52

Hello and welcome to today’s summer season finale of The Travel Diaries. Today, we have a very special guest joining us, the lovely Lisa Faulkner, a multi-talented actress, presenter, and chef, who has graced our screens for over two decades.

Born in London, Lisa’s journey into the limelight began at the tender age of 16 when she was scouted by a modelling agency. Her career quickly transitioned from modelling to acting, where she built a reputation for her compelling and versatile performances in shows like Holby City and Eastenders, before winning the hearts of viewers as the champion of "Celebrity MasterChef" back in 2010. Not only did the show see Lisa reinvent herself as a TV chef and author of several best-selling cookbooks - she also met her now husband, Masterchef judge, and former guest of The Travel Diaries John Torode, and together they are now the hosts of John & Lisa’s Weekend Kitchen on ITV.

Lisa is an avid traveler with a deep love for exploring new cultures and cuisines. Her travels have taken her to the far corners of the globe, from the bustling streets of Tokyo to the wild landscapes of Western Australia. Uncovering hidden culinary gems and soaking in the rich history of her favourite destinations, Lisa’s travel diaries take us from Paris and Greece, to Japan, Vietnam, Australia and beyond.

Destination recap:

Ikos Resort, Thessaloniki, Greece
Paris, France
Japan
Kyoto, Japan
Ho Chi Minh, City, Vietnam
Western Australia
Margaret River, Western Australia
Alberta’s, Busselton, Western Australia
Dubai, UAE
Westerns Laundry, London, England
Nashville, Tennessee, USA

You can catch Lisa exploring Western Australia on John and Lisa’s Food Trip Down Under - the full series is now available to watch on ITVX.

And that’s a wrap for Season 12. I'll be back towards the end of September with Season 13, and lots more brilliant guests, and destination specials!

To celebrate today’s season finale, I also have a fabulous competition running on my Instagram page @hollyrubenstein where you can win a 2 night stay at Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall, one of the most unique hotels in England. Good luck!

Wishing you all a fantastic rest of your summer (or winter, depending on where you are listening!) and wherever you’re heading, safe travels.

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

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Ed Jackson, from tragedy to triumph, one step at a time - Epic Adventures

Season 12

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 • Duration 48:17

Today is the first of a new kind of episode. Just like my destination specials are a slightly different format, today is the first in a series of "Epic Adventures" where my guest may not necessarily be a household name, but has achieved remarkable feats in the world of travel and adventure. Ed Jackson is the perfect guest to kick this off, as someone whose story is bound to leave you inspired and in awe.

Once a professional rugby player, Ed's life took a dramatic turn in 2017. He’s here in part to talk about his new documentary film, "The Mountain Within Me," which chronicles his journey from the rugby field to the mountaintops. The film isn't just about physical challenges; it's about the mental and emotional mountains we all face and how we can overcome them. In this episode, we'll dive deep into Ed's story, exploring the highs and lows of his recovery, his newfound passion for mountaineering, and the profound lessons he's learned along the way, as well as touching on some of his travel diaries chapters in the latter half of the episode, too.

From tragedy to triumph, one step at a time, here are the epic adventures of Ed Jackson.

Holly’s Destination Recap:

Papaioannou. Mykonos, Greece
Cali Mykonos, Greece

Ed’s Destination Recap:

Fiji
Mt Snowdon, Wales
Nepal
Matterhorn, Switzerland
Primošten, Croatia
Montepulciano, Italy
Patagonia, Argentina

The Mountain within me is in UK cinemas from 23 August, with Preview Q&A Screenings from 19 August

Julia Bradbury

Season 11

Tuesday, April 2, 2024 • Duration 56:07

Today we are joined by a name synonymous with adventure, exploration, and a deep passion for the great outdoors. Julia Bradbury's love affair with nature began at a young age, nurtured by family hikes and camping trips in the rugged landscapes of the Peak District.

She started her career as a show business reporter for breakfast TV in Los Angeles, becoming a household name as the presenter of BBC’s Countryfile alongside co-host Matt Baker - her boundless enthusiasm for the countryside endeared her to audiences across the UK. She is perhaps best known for turning her lifelong passion for walking into prime-time TV, with shows including Britain’s Best Walks, Cornwall and Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury and Wainwright’s Walks in the Lake District.

But Julia's thirst for adventure extends far beyond the borders of Britain, and over the years, she’s embarked on countless adventures to some of the world's most remote and awe-inspiring destinations. Her travel diaries today take us from Greece to South Africa, Iceland to Costa Rica.

I also really enjoyed talking to Julia about health and wellbeing, she has a huge wealth of knowledge that she accumulated while writing her Sunday Times Bestseller Walk Yourself Happy, and also because of the lifestyle shift she herself adopted after being diagnosed with breast cancer for which she underwent a mastectomy in 2021. I think that you’ll find this an inspiring, energising and wanderlust-inducing conversation.

Destination Recap:

Agia Marina, Athens, Greece
Chios, Greece
Skiathos, Greece
Skopelos, Greece
South Africa
Peak District, England - Stanage Edge, Buxton, Mam Tor
Landmannalaugar trail, Iceland
Costa Rica
Lake District, England
South America

Walk Yourself Happy is available from all good bookshops and online, and you can book her Lake District retreat, which is called Walk Yourself Happy Wellbeing Retreat on theOutdoorGuide.co.uk .

James Cracknell

Season 3

Tuesday, August 11, 2020 • Duration 42:34

Today, I’m joined by the sportsman, adventurer and double Olympic gold medallist, James Cracknell. We first got to know James as part of the coxless four rowing team, alongside Steve Redgrave, that won gold at the Sydney Olympics. Several world titles later, James went on to take part in countless feats of endurance, from becoming the highest ever placed Brit to run the Marathon des Sables, the hottest hardest race in the world, to rowing the Atlantic in a two man boat, and racing to the South Pole with his friend Ben Fogle, who you might have heard on the podcast earlier this season.

Then, in 2010, James’s life was turned upside down. While cycling in a race across America, he was struck by a lorry and experienced a serious brain injury that left him in a coma. As we discuss, his journey to recovery has been anything but straightforward, but his story is one of sheer determination and resilience, ultimately leading him to return to university - Cambridge, no less - where he became the oldest ever winner of the famous Oxbridge boat race.

Travel has been hugely important to James. Of course he’s spent a lot of time on some of the world’s most beautiful lakes and rivers - and I love being by the water, so I really enjoyed hearing about those. And his Slovenian hidden gem is a spot that I’ve now added to my travel wish list, and I’m sure you might do too.

Destination Recap:

Biarritz, France
Lac d’Aiguebelette, France
Galtür, Austria
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Annecy, France
South Pole, Antarctica
Rowing the Atlantic Ocean
Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Maggiore, Italy / Switzerland
Grand Canyon National Park, USA
The Amazon
Tepui Table Top Mountains, Venezuela

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Don’t forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m and I’d love to hear from you. And visit for everything else podcast-related.

Wanderlust Magazine's Lyn Hughes

Season 3

Tuesday, August 4, 2020 • Duration 38:17

Today, I’m joined by Lyn Hughes, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of one of the UK's best-loved travel magazines, Wanderlust. In the early nineties Lyn and her late husband were bored on a flight to South America, so they schemed out their dream travel magazine on the back of a sick-bag. The idea stuck and, returning to the UK a few months later, they launched Wanderlust magazine from their spare bedroom, with Lyn as editor and her husband, Paul, as publisher. The magazine gradually grew through word of mouth, and now, years later, it’s one of the UK’s leading travel magazines. Of course, through her work with the magazine, Lyn has travelled all around the world, and has her finger on the pulse of what’s hot and what’s not when it comes to travel. I particularly love her hidden gem in this episode and along with her travel diaries we cover wildlife travel, future travel trends, and of course a little bit of travel during Covid - it’s hard to escape it at the moment. As usual, though, the plan is to transport you far away from all those worries, so from New Zealand and Borneo, to Macedonia and Morocco here are the travel diaries of Lynn Hughes.

Destination Recap:

Southport, Merseyside, England
Exmoor, Devon, England
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England
Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore trip
Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia
African safaris including Zambia
Caiman Lodge, The Pantanal, Brazil
Kaikoura, New Zealand
Marrakech, Morocco
Number 43, Cumbria, England
Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
St Naum Monastery, North Macedonia
Japan
Sumatra, Indonesia
Sabah, Borneo

Wanderlust Magazine is available in all good newsagents as well as online at wanderlust.co.uk

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Giles Coren

Season 3

Tuesday, July 28, 2020 • Duration 50:03

This week, I’m joined by the food writer and TV presenter, Giles Coren. Giles has been a restaurant critic and columnist for The Times for 17 years and alongside chef Monica Galetti, he is the presenter of Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby, which sees him travel the globe, visiting some of the world’s most incredible hotels, rolling up his sleeves to work alongside their staff. As well as some fabulous hotels, stay tuned for some fab foodie recommendations too.

I loved chatting to Giles - his take on travel amused me from start to finish. I hope you enjoy it too!

Destination Recap:

MGM Macau
Kenyan safari
Andalucía, Spain
La Petite Maison, London, England
Chewton Glen, Hampshire, England
Le Gavroche, London, England
The River Cafe, London, England
Min Jiang, London, England
Gymkhana, London, England
Palmers, London, England
Scott’s, London, England
J Sheekey, London, England
Inter-railing around Europe
Tourettes-sur-loup, France
Corsica, France
Giraffe Manor, Kenya
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
Schloss Elmau, Germany
The Brando, French Polynesia
The Bell Inn, Langford, England
Kerala, India
Cuba

Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby is out now on BBC 2, and is also available on BBC iPlayer.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Ed Stafford

Season 3

Tuesday, July 21, 2020 • Duration 45:25

On today’s episode, I’m joined by the explorer and survivalist Ed Stafford. In 2010, Ed became the first person to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, a feat that took 860 days and put him on the map as one of our most prominent and exciting adventurers. From there here’s gone on to present and self film more massive challenges, like living in complete isolation on a desert island for 60 days without food, clothes or equipment, or being left for dead in various extreme environments around the world from Madagascar to Mongolia. These became incredible TV series that I’ve watched religiously and couldn’t recommend more.

Ed is someone I’ve wanted to interview for the very beginning but like so many of my dream guests he’s normally always travelling so I was lucky to finally get this time to speak with him and I hope you enjoy what I think is a really raw and honest account of the spiritual and emotional development that comes with travel - as well as hearing about some inspiring destinations along the way.

Destination Recap:

Henfaes, Aberdaron, Wales
Leicestershire, England
Aldeburgh, Suffolk, England
Walking the length of the Amazon river
Olorua, Fiji
Argentine Patagonia
Northern Thailand
Ibiza, Spain
Antarctica

Ed’s new podcast, Dangerous Minds, is out now

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

And don't forget to hit subscribe so that every week a new episode will appear in your library.

To find out who’s on next week’s show, come and find me on Instagram. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you. And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

Huge thanks to The Lygon Arms hotel for their support for today’s episode - you can follow them

Sir Michael Palin

Season 3

Tuesday, July 14, 2020 • Duration 56:11

Sir Michael Palin - where do you start! He’s a legendary comedian, part of pop culture history as one of Monty Python. He’s a BAFTA-winning actor, a best-selling author, and one of our most loved travel documentarians and travel writers. His journeys across the world, beginning with Around the World in 80 Days, followed by Pole to Pole, Full Circle, Sahara, Himalaya, Brazil and more, were a key part of how many of us discovered the world growing up, through his eyes, and through his warmth and curiosity with whoever he encountered along the way.

From Saharan Africa and the Amazon, to western Scotland and North Korea, it was such an honour to hear the travel diaries of Sir Michael Palin. I hope you enjoy them.

Destination recap:

Sheffield, England
Norfolk, England
Solden, Austria
Venice, Italy
Barbados
Morocco
Mauritania
Chinguetti, Mali
Persian gulf to Indian Ocean dhow boat trip
West coast of Scotland including Glencoe
Aberfeldy, Scotland
New York, USA
Istanbul, Turkey
Kolkata, India
Pongo de Mainique, Peru
North Korea
Algiers
Vietnam
Gulag camps, Kolyma, Russia
Mongolia and the 'Stans
Altai Mountains
Walking in the Dolomites, Italy

Michael Palin’s North Korea Journal is out now, and available from all good bookshops.

Thank you so much for listening. If you haven’t yet left a rating or a review, why not do so now? Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast.

Hit subscribe and every week a new episode will appear in your library.

Beautiful Destinations founder, Jeremy Jauncey

Season 3

Tuesday, July 7, 2020 • Duration 42:10

Jeremy Jauncey is the founder and CEO of the world’s largest online travel community, Beautiful Destinations, which has a combined social following of over 25 million people.

The jaw-dropping photos on Beautiful Destinations’s Instagram feed have provided me with endless travel inspiration and undoubtedly influenced some of my travel choices.

And what was once a passion project has become a global business, with Beautiful Destinations offices based out of the US, UK and Asia.

While it might look like Jeremy spends most of his time being photographed in some of the most epic locations around the world - meditating on North Island in the Seychelles, hugging giant pandas in China, posing on a horse rearing in front of a pyramid in Egypt - most of the time he is actually consulting with major travel brands and tourist boards, helping them to tell inspiring stories through social first content.

This conversation gives a deep insight into the business of travel and travel marketing, of the power of imagery, and the power of human connection.

From New Zealand and Japan to the Philippines and Norwegian Fjordland, these are the travel diaries of Jeremy Jauncey.

Destination recap:

Perth, Scotland
New Zealand
Colombia
Panama
Rwanda
Singapore
New York City, USA
Tokyo, Japan
Palawan, Borocay and El Nido, Philippines
Siargao, Philippines
Scandinavia, in particular Norway including Fjordland and Lofoten Islands

You can follow Jeremy on Instagram @jeremyjauncey and of course @beautifuldestinations, too.

Thank you also to CV Villas - you can browse and book their stunning villas around the world, here

If you’ve enjoyed this episode today then don’t forget to subscribe and leaving a review or a rating really helps others to discover the podcast. And to find out who’s on next week’s show come and find me on Instagram, I’m - I’d love to hear from you.

Fabulous France - Destination Special

Season 3

Wednesday, July 1, 2020 • Duration 42:40

Bonjour! As quarantine-free travel is soon to be announced between France and England, here is a bonus episode celebrating Fabulous France to whet your appetite and inspire your future travel plans.

As well as hearing from some of my favourite guests from the past two seasons, today’s show is introduced by Nicola Williams, France expert for The Telegraph and Lonely Planet. She shares her experience of living in France during lockdown and her top tips and hidden gems to visit across the country now that we can travel freely again.

Destination Recap:

Nadiya Hussain - Paris
Rachel Khoo - Paris
Conde Nast Traveller’s Melinda Stevens - Le Bristol Paris hotel, La Reserve Paris hotel
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa
Rick Stein - Clermont-Ferrand, Auvergne; Jura; Collioure and Perpignan
Ella Eyre - La Clusaz
Jo Malone - Grasse; Mougins; La Colombe d’Or Hotel, St Paul de Vence, France
Raymond Blanc - Provence

Nicola Williams on…

Ile de Ré
Le Martiniere Ice Cream shop, Ile de Ré
Haute-Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Nernier, Haute-Savoie
Château de la Treyne, Lots, Dordogne
Les Prés d'Eugénie, Eugénie-les-Bains, Les Landes

Thank you so much for listening today. If you haven’t yet left a 5 star rating or a review, why not do so now! Your support is so greatly appreciated and most importantly, helps others to discover the podcast. Come and find me on Instagram, I’m and I’d love to hear from you. And to delve into the back catalogue, visit