The best travel podcasts

Don't forget to pack your headphones

(Image credit: William Dondyk/Alamy Stock Photo)

From "finding the best-priced plane tickets" to "packing like a pro", there's a lot to know about travelling, said Travel + Leisure magazine. "That's where podcasts come in." The best travel podcasts "inform and inspire" and can help you "nail down those hacks, discover your next destination, or daydream about future trips".

Often thought of as "the godfather of travel", American writer, author, and TV personality Rick Steves encourages devotees to explore "less touristy" places in order to experience a country's "true culture". On his weekly podcast, "Travel With Rick Steves", he chats with "guest experts and callers about culture, people, and all things travel". Another place to find destination inspiration is "Armchair Explorer", hosted by travel writer Aaron Millar. Every episode tells a story in "documentary style" which is "set to music" and "complete with cinematic effects". Listeners can get "truly immersed" in the travel experience. "Expect action and thrills."

You "don't have to like flying" to enjoy "Layovers", said Alice Florence Orr on Podcast Review, "but it definitely helps". Where many podcasts "zoom in when exploring a topic", hosts Paul Papadimitriou and Alex Hunter "zoom out", giving a "broader view of the global map". For a real "hidden indie gem", try "You should have been there" from The Independent's travel correspondent Simon Calder and former BBC producer Mick Webb. This show "isn't afraid to get a little erudite about adventure" and explores an impressive range of subjects, from "layover-friendly airports" to an "entire episode dedicated to the niche subject of psychogeography".

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Latest Videos FromThe Week

Watch full video here:

If you're looking for a "hilarious" take on travel, listen to "Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet", said Wanderlust. Presenters Alex and Christine Schiefer "scour the internet" for one-star reviews of travel-related services and "read them out in dramatic voices". Portia Jones hosts the lively and informative "Travel Goals Podcast" which covers a "wide range of topics". Expect interesting experts, advice and "lots of actionable tips". Recent episodes include top travel packing tips and hacks, how to travel to challenging countries, and how to plan a dog-friendly holiday in Britain.

"The Travel Diaries" is a long-established podcast that's like "Desert Island Discs" but with "places rather than records", said Charlie Lindlar in The Guardian. In each episode, Holly Rubenstein meets a celebrity guest to discuss the "holiday spots that mean the most to them", and the "bucket list locations" they hope to visit. "Much more ephemeral but no less addictive" is "Pack Your Bags", in which comedian Russell Kane asks his guests what three things they can't board a plane without. Start with Candice Brathwaite's tales of volunteering in India, or Sue Perkins on her fears of flying and sea sickness. Or, for a "lo-fi and local" travel podcast, try "Ramblings", a BBC Radio 4 series in which Clare Balding goes walking with "everyday heroes and famous guests" to explore off-the-beaten-track spots in this country, from Sheppey to the Hebrides.

Have you missed the biggest news of the week? Or at least the stories which will shape our lives in years to come, when the passing hype of the day's headlines have faded from memory. That's the premise of The Week's own award-winning podcast, "The Week Unwrapped", which seeks out under-reported stories with unexpected consequences, from the world-changing to the small but personally significant.