The Travel Expert with Simon Calder

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 cars at Gatwick Airport, while Michael O'Leary warns that cheap flights are up by 14% as airlines cut back schedules. Plus, we are joined by fellow travel expert Rachel O'Reilly for a winter sun special comparing the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean, exploring closer-to-home escapes like the Canaries. And finally, the team answers your travel questions. Simon and Greg offer advice on car rental for older travellers with Europcar and Zipcar, and recommend the wild landscapes of the Southern Carpathians as an alternative hiking holiday to Everest base camp. Send your questions to [email protected]. Let The Telegraph Travel newsletter from Simon Calder be your guide to inspiring destinations at home and around the globe. Every week, Simon and our team of experts will send you the latest news, features, opinion and advice. Sign up here. Video Producer: Carla Mercer Producer: Georgia Coan Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Head of Travel: Ben Ross Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Highlights: Air traffic control meltdowns: Is aviation chaos the new normal? Winter sun special: Caribbean vs Indian Ocean with Rachel O’Reilly Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, last-minute meeting with President Bongbong Marcos. From his iconic journeys in Around the World in 80 Days to his favourite Python-era travel tales, Michael reflects on a lifetime of exploration, the realities of roughing it off the beaten track, and how travel has changed in a hyper-connected world. Plus, the team explores his career as a trailblazing presenter, his routine as a committed diarist, and his happy places in the UK and beyond. Send your questions to [email protected]. Let The Telegraph Travel newsletter from Simon Calder be your guide to inspiring destinations at home and around the globe. Every week, Simon and our team of experts will send you the latest news, features, opinion and advice. Sign up here. Video Producer: Carla Mercer Producer: Georgia Coan Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Head of Travel: Ben Ross Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Highlights: Python to the Philippines: Michael Palin on a lifetime of trailblazing travel Overtourism & extreme travel: Is there pressure to go further off the beaten track? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 headquarters, and Simon proposes an ingenious camp-bed solution to rescue stranded passengers. Plus, 25 years on from the tragic events of 9/11, we reflect on how that day permanently reshaped aviation and airport security. From the introduction of liquid rules and reinforced cockpit doors to the surprising rise of Ryanair in the aftermath, we discuss the legacy of these changes and look ahead to the future of biometrics and relaxed rules at the gate. And finally the team answers your travel questions. This week one listener is on the hunt for an accessibility-friendly summer birthday destination in Portugal next year, and Greg and Simon share their top three South American countries to visit. Send your questions to [email protected]. Let The Telegraph Travel newsletter from Simon Calder be your guide to inspiring destinations at home and around the globe. Every week, Simon and our team of experts will send you the latest news, features, opinion and advice. Sign up here. Video Producer: Carla Mercer Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Head of Travel: Ben Ross Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Highlights: Air traffic chaos: Is it time to get used to regular ATC meltdowns? 25 years since 9/11: How the tragedy reshaped travel and what the future holds for airport security Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the go. And is September still the bargain travel time we all hope it is, or are prices finally catching up to the peak summer rush? We break down the latest data to see if your autumn escape is still a steal. In the second half of the show, we settle the great English debate: where exactly is the North-South divide? We’re joined by the Telegraph’s Rosa Silverman to fight it out - from coastal gems like Whitby vs. Whitstable to the best city breaks in the country - to decide which half of the UK should host your next trip. As ever, the team tackles your travel questions – this week, a reader's search for the perfect solo getaway in November. Send your questions to [email protected]. Let The Telegraph Travel newsletter from Simon Calder be your guide to inspiring destinations at home and around the globe. Every week, Simon and our team of experts will send you the latest news, features, opinion and advice. Sign up here: http://telegraph.co.uk/travelnewsletter Video Producer: Carla Mercer Producer: Georgia Coan Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Head of Travel: Ben Ross Studio Operator: Chris January Highlights: North vs. South: Which half of England is better for your next UK staycation? The death of the shoulder season: Are cheap autumn holidays finally extinct? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 round-the-world holiday by private jet. At £173,000, we discuss whether it’s the ultimate bucket-list trip, or if there are far more affordable ways to see the globe without the six-figure budget. And, dealing with a potential "passport catastrophe" for travel between Britain and Ireland, this week Simon and Greg dissect whether the seamless travel era is coming to an end. As ever, the team answers your travel questions, including a reader's search for the perfect family villa holiday in 2027 that doesn't break the bank. Send your questions to [email protected]. Let The Telegraph Travel newsletter from Simon Calder be your guide to inspiring destinations at home and around the globe. Every week, Simon and our team of experts will send you the latest news, features, opinion and advice. Sign up here: http://telegraph.co.uk/travelnewsletter Video Producer: Carla Mercer Producer: Georgia Coan Executive Producer: Louisa Wells Head of Travel: Ben Ross Studio Operator: Meghan Searle Highlights: Passport catastrophe: Is the end of seamless travel to Ireland finally here? £173k for a private jet tour: Bucket-list adventure or overhyped extravagance? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.