I think we all agree that travel is one of the most beautiful, transformative and educational things life can offer. But, you don’t have to look far to see the bad side of it: multi-national hotels paying their staff a pittance, local people struggling to find a home in their own city, or pollution caused by air travel. But don’t be disheartened by that. In this conversation we talk about how the everyday traveller – someone with just a short time to enjoy a place - can reduce their negative...

I loved Hong Kong so much that it became the setting of my second novel. I’ve always loved visiting Asian cities. I love the chaos, the noise, the assault on the senses, the multitude of cultures thrust together in a crazy and interesting place – Hong Kong has all this and more. In this episode, I talk about why the visit inspired me to set my novel there, what to expect should you make a visit there, and I’ll share some extracts from the novel. The podcast is sponsored by...

You’ll find the Trans-Siberian railway on any self-respecting list of the World’s Ultimate Train Journeys. Today we're talking about the Trans-Mongolian leg of the journey from Moscow to Beijing. Officially known as the Trans-Mongolian Express, this train journey is anything but an express. Covering over 2,000km, a non-stop journey can take over a week, although to experience some of the cultures you’re passing, getting off the train is a must. Chris Oldfield made the journey as part of a...

For the first EVER proper live episode, I spend a day in Brighton.  Brighton's a beautiful city on the South Coast of England. I grew up quite nearby so have always been fond of it, but in recent years I've found a new love for the place. It's quirky, bright and infinitely interesting. And, there are great pubs around every corner!  In this podcast I take you on a full walking tour of the city. We'll wander through the Lanes, past the Pavilion, check out the pier,  and stroll down the...

Leah has travelled the US, Canada and Europe volunteering on organic farms. In this interview she talks about why it's a great way to travel, how it provides a unique perspective on a new place, connects you with great people, and builds up a really good appetite.  I've found every interview I've done on this podcast inspiring. But after talking to Leah, I've actually booked a few days volunteering on a farm here in England. I love the idea of trying something I've never done before, and...

Renate spent four weeks walking over 500km of the Camino Frances and is planning to go and finish the rest in the next year or so. A few episodes ago I spoke about three long multi-day walks I’d love to do across the UK - this conversation takes that to the next level!  We talk about how to prepare for such an long adventure, what mindset you need for such a challenge, what to expect from the accommodations along the trail, and what you should take with you. It’s a really interesting and...

Over the last year, while not travelling very much, I've become interested in what it is I like so much about being away from home.  Why is it, when I'm travelling, I'll happily sit on a bus for 10 hours, yet 20 minutes of traffic back from the shops drives me crazy?  I think that's because when you're on holiday or travelling you see things differently. It's like a new paradigm, or mindset - I'm calling it an "Adventure Mindset".  In this podcast, I talk about two ways that adventure...

Ane de Preez is originally from South Africa, but has been living in Thailand for the last four years. I’m always festinated by the ex-pats' perspective of a place because I feel it’s very different to that of a tourist or a local. That's especially true in a place like Thailand, which has been visited by so many travellers – myself included – for a few weeks or months, but not to many call it home. Something I also love about this interview is that you can hear the traffic noise from Ane’s...

This episode is all about my debut novel, which is set in and titled, Kathmandu. I discuss why a visit to Kathmandu inspired me to write the book, what to expect should you make a visit there, and I'll share some extracts from the novel.  Here's what Kathmandu (the novel) is all about:  Leo’s jobless, crippled by anxiety, and obsessed with a girl he hasn’t seen in two years. Just as things reach an all-time low, Leo’s thrown a lifeline. A politician’s missing daughter has been traced to...

I've got really into walking in the last few months. Several times a week I pull on some really old running shoes (I haven’t been running for at least five years) and head out into the Nottinghamshire countryside.  I've also done a fair amount of reading and listening on the subject of walking and have realised how many serious walking trails are.   From those that span whole continents, to crossing high mountain passes, to coastal routes – it seems you can go on a walking holiday in just...

Today I'm talking with Denzil de Cristo about a trip he took to Albania in the spring of 2018. Denzil's a comedian - I mean he’s literally a comedian – so I had great fun having this conversation with him. I'm interested in Albania because it’s a place I’ve never thought about visiting. In fact, it’s a place I had to admit that I knew very little about. Places like that, in my experience, make great travel destinations. We talk about the beauty of exploring these largely unchartered...

Solo travel is something I’ve done many times over the years. I love it. There are so many reasons why exploring a new place on your own makes it more vibrant, exciting and interesting. In fact, I now feel as though I’ve travelled solo so much, that when I visit somewhere with other people, after a day or so always need a bit of solo time. This episode is intended as a high-five to you if you’ve done any solo travelling, or to be reassuring to you haven’t. You might be travelling alone, but...

Today I'm talking New York with Maddy Street. Both Maddy and I have visited New York and, as is clear in the conversation, both loved it. Maddy went for ten days in spring 2019, while I just spent a weekend there in the summer of 2018. We talk about how to live like a local in the city that never sleeps, what real must do tourist attractions there are, how to do NY on a budget, and how best to eat and drink your way through the big apple. Have you got a story to share? Have you planned the...

I live in Nottingham (ay up), which (if you don't know) is a small city about 120 miles north of London, England. After speaking with a friend of mine who lives in Perth, Australia, I've realised how lucky we are in Europe that we can visit so many places in a short amount of time. For my friend in Perth, it's several hours to get anywhere that's not Australia. With wall-to-wall sunshine I don't feel too sorry for him, though! But it got me thinking, I can be in countless countries and...

When my brother announced he was getting married on the Caribbean island on St Lucia in 2018, I built a month-long trip around it. Some things worked out brilliantly, and others I would now do differently. I’ll also tell you how I got a free weekend in New York on the way home! Links and contact: Have you got a story to share? Have you planned the trip of a lifetime and want to tell me about it? [email protected] www.instagram.com/lukerichaa Get to know me, my writing at...

I’m talking with Jason from www.thenomadexperiment.com. Aged 39, and having barely left the USA, he decided his life needed a change. He booked a single flight to Mexico and hasn’t looked back. We talk about why Mexico is a great country for the first-time traveller looking to jump straight into the deep end, how you should plan some things but leave other up to chance, and what sort of attitude a trip to a country like Mexico requires to do it justice. I’ve never been to Mexico, but after...

In this podcast, I talk about something which I’ve done many times – travelled to destinations off season. By going off season, you’ll get more out of your trip. It’ll be cheaper, less crowded, and you’ll see a unique and interesting side to the place. Imagine the Taj Mahal under the brooding skies of the monsoon rains, or the Eiffel Tower in the February snow. This way you’re also helping travel become more sustainable, you’ll meet local people, and find some distinctive photo...

Travel is such a big and important part of my life. It may sound pretentious, but I think travel has totally changed me and the way I see the world. I definitely wouldn’t write the books I do had I not been inspired by some incredible places. In this first episode of the Travel Now Podcast, I'm sharing with you the three places that I think have inspired me the most.  Links and contact: Have you got a story to share? Have you planned the trip of a lifetime and want to tell me about...