The Travel Diaries

Welcome to a brand new season of The Travel Diaries - I’m so excited to be back!

My guest today is comedian, writer and broadcaster Dom Joly. You’ll of course know him from Trigger Happy TV - one of the most iconic comedy shows of the early 2000s - now celebrating its 25th anniversary, with Dom back on tour across the UK through to 2027.

But beyond comedy, travel has been a defining thread throughout Dom’s life. He’s visited 108 countries, and his story begins in Lebanon, where he grew up during the civil war, with what he describes as a “front-row view” of the conflict. His early experiences shaped a lifelong curiosity about the world, particularly places often misunderstood.

Dom is widely credited with bringing “dark tourism” into the mainstream, exploring destinations associated with history, conflict and tragedy, and we also talk about his concept of the “bad news gap”: the difference between how places are portrayed in the media and the reality on the ground.

In this episode, his travel diaries take us from Lebanon and Syria to North Korea, Cambodia, Iran, Canada and beyond.

I hope you love this one.

Destination Recap:

Palmyra, Syria
Lebanon
Rome, Italy
Prague, Czech Republic
Cambodia
Iran
North Korea
Rishikesh, India
Copenhagen, Denmark
Muskoka, Canada
Zermatt, Switzerland
Morocco
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Swindon, England
Weston-super-Mare, England
Algeria

Dom is currently on tour with the Trigger Happy TV 25th Anniversary Tour across the UK until 2027. You can also find his latest book, The Conspiracy Tourist, at domjoly.tv.

This episode was recorded at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall.

With thanks to…
Saily - Download SAILY in your app store and use our code traveldiaries at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase
Sovereign - Visit sovereign.com to speak to a personal travel planner today to curate your perfect Sani holiday this summer

If you’re enjoying The Travel Diaries, don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.

You can also follow me on Instagram @hollyrubenstein and on TikTok for more travel inspiration and behind the scenes.

See you next week!
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A new travel chapter begins next Tuesday March 31. Join me every Tuesday for unforgettable travel tales. It's wanderlust guaranteed! See you then everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, for our final episode of the year, I am joined by someone whose life story reads like an atlas: the actor, writer, and now podcast host, Richard E. Grant.

Born in Swaziland, now known as Eswatini, in southern Africa, Richard grew up in a world of big landscapes, no television, and endless imagination. From there he moved to London in the early 1980s, and very quickly became unforgettable figure on stage and screen - from his iconic role in Withnail & I, all the way through to Gosford Park, Jackie, Star Wars, Saltburn, and his Oscar-nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Throughout it all, running beneath the red carpets and film sets, there has been travel. He spent 33 summers at a beloved farmhouse in Provence with his late wife Joan, brocante shopping and watching the seasons change. He’s had close encounters with sharks while scuba diving off Mozambique, checked into seedy hotel suites in Las Vegas, and floated on the still waters of Lake Como.

And now, his travel stories telling them in a new way. Richard is the co-host, of the brilliant new podcast Hotels with History with travel pr Jules Perowne - a series that dives into the scandals, intrigue, glamour and ghosts of some of the world’s most legendary hotels.

So, sit back, pour something festive, and join me as we step inside the seven travel chapters of Richard E. Grant.

Destination Recap:

Eswatini (Formerly Swaziland)
London, England
Mozambique
Provence, France
Masai Mara, Kenya and Tanzania
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
Ritz Paris, France
The Mark Hotel, Manhattan, New York, USA
Mkhaya Game Reserve, Safari, Swaziland
Israel
Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Giza, Egypt
Space

Richard is co-host of the Hotels with History podcast, Season 1 out now

I'll be back with a new season of the podcast in the Spring.

With thanks to...

Citalia - If you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – if, like many of our guests, you’re dreaming of an alpine escape rooted in harmony with nature, visit forsthofgut.at to start planning today.

Beaverbrook Hotel - Escape the everyday and discover Beaverbrook for yourself, a truly indulgent country-house retreat just outside London. Find out more and book your stay at beaverbrook.co.uk.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me next time, come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 165 episodes to keep you busy.

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Welcome to a very special festive edition of The Travel Diaries. Today I’m joined by the legendary chef, restaurateur and writer, Rick Stein.

Rick is returning to the podcast for the first time in five years, and I can’t think of a better guest to bring a little culinary sparkle to our Christmas Special.

This year, Rick is celebrating the release of his beautifully personal and utterly joyful new book, Rick Stein’s Christmas - a treasure trove of festive recipes, stories, traditions, and reflections on what this time of year really means. In our conversation, we dive into his own Christmas rituals in both Cornwall and Australia, the dishes that embody comfort and nostalgia for him, the lessons he learned while cooking - and occasionally improvising - his way through last year’s festivities, and the deeply human side of the season that he weaves into the book.

We also travel far beyond the Christmas table, hearing about Rick’s recent adventures filming in the Australian outback, the food gems he uncovered there, his newest favourite destinations, and the UK restaurants he’s loving right now.

So pour yourself something warm and cosy, settle in, and enjoy this festive journey with the wonderful Rick Stein.

Destination Recap:

Thailand
Australia
The Niagara Café, Gundagai, NSW, Australia
Île de Ré, France, France
Riva, Barnes, London, England
Riley’s Fish Shack, Tynemouth, England
Porto, Portugal
Douro Valley, Portugal
Laigueglia, Liguria, Italy, Italy
Hotel Windsor, Laigueglia, Liguria, Italy
Trieste, Italy
Tbilisi, Georgia
Argentina
Peru
Brazil
Lake Como, Italy

If you’d like to explore more of Rick’s stories, tips and recipes, his new book Rick Stein’s Christmas is out now. I

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks, on the 30th, with a very special guest to close out the year - actor and national treasure Richard E. Grant.

Until then, have a cosy, joyful Christmas, and thank you so much for listening to The Travel Diaries.

With thanks to...

Citalia - If, like Rick, you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – if, like many of our guests, you’re dreaming of an alpine escape rooted in harmony with nature, visit forsthofgut.at to start planning today.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me on next week’s episode come and follow me on Instagram I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. And if you can't wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a very special edition of The Travel Diaries, where we’re heading to a country that has enchanted so many of my guests over the years: Morocco.
This Destination Special is a love letter to a place that casts a lifelong spell. In the first half, you’ll hear unforgettable memories from past guests - Sir Michael Palin, Anya Hindmarch, Lyn Hughes, Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, Amar Latif, and Jacqui Gifford - each sharing the moments that made Morocco magical for them: the colours of Marrakech, the silence of the Sahara, the scent of a tagine in the Atlas Mountains. Together, their voices weave a vivid tapestry of this extraordinary land.

And it’s no wonder UK visitor numbers are soaring. Morocco is that rare combination - just a short flight away, yet a complete change of pace: immersive, sensory, unforgettable.

Then, in the second half, I’m joined by travel writer and Morocco expert Paula Hardy, who splits her time between the UK and Morocco. With over 15 years of experience, she takes us beyond the usual hotspots, from the Mediterranean feel of Tangier and Tetouan, to desert oases near Skoura, coastal towns like Asilah, and hidden Berber mountain villages. We dive into Morocco’s traditions - crafts, cuisine and culture - and its exciting evolution, with high-speed trains, striking new architecture, and preparations for the 2030 World Cup.

Whether you’ve visited before or it’s been on your bucket list for years, this episode will open your eyes to a Morocco you may not yet know, and remind you why so many travellers return again and again.

Destination Recap:

Northern Morocco - Sir Michael Palin on why Morocco is his all-time favourite journey
Marrakech – Designer Anya Hindmarch and Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes on the city of artisans, colour and contrasts
Atlas Mountains - Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, and blind adventurer Amar Latif on Berber villages, snow-topped peaks and mountain escapes
Ouarzazate (the “door to the desert”) - Travel & Leisure Editor Jacqui Gifford on this cinematic frontier town

Paula’s Destination Recap:

Tangier
Villa Mabrouka, Tangier
Asilah
Tetouan
Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay
Dar Ambrosia, Asilah
Mimi Calpe, Tangier
M’Hamid
Erfoud
Iriki
Taroudant
Dar Ahlam, Ouarzazate
Skoura
Marrakech
Oualidia
Riad Mina, Marrakech
Berber Lodge, Marrakech
Riad L’Atelier, Marrakech
Rosemary, Marrakech
Tribalista, Marrakech
The Memory Road

Thanks so much for listening today. I'll be back with some fabulous Christmas specials in December. In the meantime, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. Remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.