The Travel Diaries

OMG we've reached 200 episodes! And to celebrate we have some big news to share. Plus my husband Alex - who is as passionate about travel and hotels as I am - joins me for a big old chat, and debrief on my guests, their travels, our travels, my hotel of the week - The Danai in Greece - and more. As always, if you enjoyed today's episode, please do follow the podcast and leave us a five-star rating or review. It really does make such a difference.And don't forget, I'll be back on Tuesday with another episode of The Travel Diaries.Until then, happy travels!With thanks to...SANI - Discover what’s new at Sani Resort for 2027, including stunning new family suites and exclusive early booking offers, with savings of up to 15%. Explore the offers here.UNA - Discover your next Italian short break with UNA Italian Hospitality at unaitalianhospitality.comIf you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.I’ll be back on Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is someone who has quite literally reached the very top of the world. And if his name isn’t immediately familiar to you, I can almost guarantee you’ll know some of his extraordinary work.Jimmy Chin is one of the world’s most accomplished adventurers. He’s a professional mountaineer, climber, skier, National Geographic photographer and Oscar-winning filmmaker. He’s spent more than two decades exploring some of the most remote and dangerous corners of our planet, achieving feats that most of us could barely begin to imagine.He’s completed pioneering climbs across the Himalayas and the Karakoram, and his photographs have graced the cover of National Geographic. But it’s perhaps his filmmaking that has brought his extraordinary world to a wider audience. Alongside his wife, Jimmy directed Free Solo, the breathtaking documentary following climber Alex Honnold as he attempts to scale Yosemite’s enormous El Capitan without ropes. The film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2019. Together, they’ve also made the acclaimed documentaries Meru and The Rescue, about the incredible rescue of a boys’ football team from a flooded cave in Thailand.I met Jimmy in London while he was promoting his latest film, Everest: The Other Side, which is in cinemas now. It tells the deeply moving story of ski mountaineers Jim Morrison and Hilaree Nelson, and their seemingly impossible dream of skiing down the treacherous north face of Mount Everest. It's a film about love, loss, resilience and the lengths to which humans will go in pursuit of a dream.This interview was recorded during a busy film press junket, so we weren't in our usual studio environment, and the sound quality isn't quite up to our normal standard. But I really didn't want you to miss the opportunity to hear from someone quite so extraordinary.So, from Yosemite to the Himalayas, let's get started on the travel diaries of Jimmy Chin.Destination Recap:Minnesota, USAYosemite National Park, California, USAEl Capitan, Yosemite, California, USAKarakoram Mountains, PakistanThe Himalayas, AsiaSierra Nevada Mountains, California, USATeton Range, Wyoming, USACanadian Rocky Mountains, CanadaMount Everest, Nepal/TibetLhotse, Nepal/TibetMount Everest North Face, TibetEverest Base Camp, NepalEverest: The Other Side, is out now.With thanks to...SANI - Discover what’s new at Sani Resort for 2027, including stunning new family suites and exclusive early booking offers, with savings of up to 15%. Explore the offers here.UNA - Discover your next Italian short break with UNA Italian Hospitality at unaitalianhospitality.comIf you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.If you've enjoyed today's episode, please do subscribe to The Travel Diaries and leave us a rating or review. It really does make such a difference in helping other people discover the podcast.And if you'd like to find out who's joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I'm @hollyrubenstein on both, and I'd love to hear from you.Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you then. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome to The Travel Diaries Unpacked, the show where we bring you the latest travel news, trends, inspiration and insider tips from some of the most knowledgeable people in the industry.Today, I'm joined by someone who really does have her finger on the pulse of the travel world: Jacqui Gifford, Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure, one of the world's most influential travel magazines.Jacqui first joined me on The Travel Diaries back in 2020, and goodness, how much has changed since then! She's been in London for Travel + Leisure's inaugural international World's Best Summit, held at The Dorchester this week, bringing together some of the biggest names in hospitality and travel to explore the trends shaping the future of the industry.And that's exactly what we're diving into today. From the rise of coolcations and the return of slow travel to multigenerational holidays, the impact of AI and what truly exceptional hotel service looks like. Jacqui also shares some of her most memorable recent trips, including a spectacular escape to Brazil, a very special journey aboard Britain's newest luxury sleeper train, and the London hotel that reminded her what great hospitality is really all about.It's a fascinating conversation packed with travel inspiration and some genuinely brilliant insights into how and why we're travelling.Destination recapLondon, EnglandThe BahamasAlbany, The BahamasRosewood Baha Mar, The BahamasAlaska, USAIndiaRome, ItalyRome Cavalieri, RomeBritannic Explorer, A Belmond Train, EnglandThe Lake District, EnglandCornwall, EnglandWalesCartmel, The Lake DistrictBrown’s Hotel, LondonRaffles London at The OWOSwedenDenmarkNorwayIcelandVancouver, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaStockholm, SwedenToronto, CanadaMuskoka, CanadaItalyGreeceSpainPortugalSt. Moritz, SwitzerlandGrand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, St. MoritzBadrutt’s Palace Hotel, St. MoritzSanta Catarina, BrazilAwasi Santa Catarina, BrazilSão Paulo, BrazilPalácio Tangará, São PauloSan Miguel de Allende, MexicoOaxaca, MexicoMexico City, MexicoCabo San Lucas, MexicoTulum, MexicoCartagena, ColombiaFour Seasons Hotel Cartagena, ColombiaBermudaHamilton, BermudaPassalacqua, Lake Como, ItalyMandarin Oriental Mayfair, LondonAfricaEgyptEaster Island, ChileMachu Picchu, PeruAustraliaPeruUzbekistanA huge thank you to Jacqui Gifford for joining me again on The Travel Diaries. I always find it so fascinating hearing her perspective on where the travel industry is heading, and I particularly loved what she said about there being no right or wrong way to travel. Sometimes the most meaningful experiences are the simplest ones.As always, if you enjoyed today's episode, please do follow the podcast and leave us a five-star rating or review. It really does make such a difference.And don't forget, I'll be back on Tuesday with another episode of The Travel Diaries.Until then, happy travels!With thanks to...SANI - Discover what’s new at Sani Resort for 2027, including stunning new family suites and exclusive early booking offers, with savings of up to 15%. Explore the offers here.UNA - Discover your next Italian short break with UNA Italian Hospitality at unaitalianhospitality.comIf you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.I’ll be back on Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I'm joined by one of the funniest women in British comedy, Maisie Adam. Since winning the prestigious So You Think You're Funny competition at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, she's become a familiar face on shows including Mock the Week, Taskmaster and Last One Laughing, as well as selling out her own stand-up tours across the UK and beyond.Born and raised in North Yorkshire, Maisie's career has taken her all over the world, and as you'll discover, she's an incredibly enthusiastic traveller. Today, we're heading from her childhood holidays in Blackpool and Tenerife to the cobbled streets of Prague, a solo interrailing adventure through Italy, her love affair with New Orleans, and a rather unfortunate case of mistaken identity in Norway.I loved this conversation, and I hope you will too.Destination RecapLjubljana, SloveniaLake Bled, SloveniaTenerife, Canary Islands, SpainBlackpool, Lancashire, EnglandBettys Café Tea Rooms, Harrogate, EnglandIlkley Moor, West Yorkshire, EnglandCow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley, EnglandBolton Abbey, North Yorkshire, EnglandFountains Abbey, North Yorkshire, EnglandGoathland, North Yorkshire, EnglandWhitby, North Yorkshire, EnglandHumble Pie 'n' Mash, Whitby, EnglandWhitby Abbey, Whitby, EnglandRobin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire, EnglandBerlin, GermanyPrague, Czech RepublicMilan, ItalyVenice, ItalyPisa, ItalyFlorence, ItalyNaples, ItalySorrento, ItalyAmalfi Coast, ItalyNew Orleans, Louisiana, USABourbon Street, New Orleans, USAFrenchmen Street, New Orleans, USAPreservation Hall, New Orleans, USAGarden District, New Orleans, USAKristiansand, NorwayDubai, United Arab EmiratesBrazilIf you'd like to see Maisie live, she's currently touring the UK with her brand-new stand-up show, Whatsherface, with dates running through to March 2027. You can find all the dates and book tickets at maisieadam.com. You can also check out Maisie's brilliant podcast, Big Kick Energy, wherever you get your podcasts.With thanks to...Visit Isle of Wight - from breathtaking coastal scenery and beautiful beaches to charming villages, exceptional local food and unforgettable experiences, all just a short journey from the mainland. Start planning your island escape at visitisleofwight.co.uk.SANI - Discover what’s new at Sani Resort for 2027, including stunning new family suites and exclusive early booking offers, with savings of up to 15%. Explore the offers here.UNA - Discover your next Italian short break with UNA Italian Hospitality at unaitalianhospitality.comIf you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.I’ll be back on Sunday with a new episode of Unpacked with Travel & Leisure Editor, Jacqui Gifford.If you've enjoyed today's episode, please do subscribe to The Travel Diaries and leave us a rating or review. It really does make such a difference in helping other people discover the podcast.And if you'd like to find out who's joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I'm @hollyrubenstein on both, and I'd love to hear from you.Thanks so much for listening, and I'll see you then. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello and welcome back to The Travel Diaries Unpacked, your weekly weekend dose of wanderlust. Joining me this week is Isabella Craddock, she’s the founder and editor of Near+Far magazine, former editor at Condé Nast Traveller Middle East and the Middle East Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Hotels. Raised between Cape Town and the UK, and now based in Dubai, Isabella comes from a family of hoteliers, so you could say that a love of travel and beautiful hotels is quite literally in her blood.Today, we’re heading north to the Arctic Circle, as Isabella takes us to Tromsø in Norway and shares the extraordinary experience of witnessing the midnight sun.For my Hotel of the Week, we're swapping Norway for Paris, as I share the details of a very special stay at the iconic Hôtel de Crillon.We’re also discovering a completely different side of Dubai, as Isabella takes us to the rugged mountains of Hatta and a brand-new luxury glamping retreat.And we have our listener Q&A.Destination Recap:Tromsø, NorwaySommerøy, NorwayAlta, NorwaySvalbard, NorwayHôtel de Crillon, Paris, FranceJardin des Tuileries, Paris, FranceBar Les Ambassadeurs, Paris, FranceBar Hemingway at The Ritz, Paris, FranceHatta, Dubai, UAECaravan by Habitas, Hatta, UAEThe Red Sea, Saudi ArabiaKyoto, JapanVienna, AustriaSchloss Fuschl, Salzburg, AustriaMoar Gut, Grossarl, AustriaAKI Family Resort PLOSE, South Tyrol, ItalyMake sure you check out Near+Far, for lots more inspiration, particularly if you're planning a trip to the Middle East.With thanks to...SANI - Discover what’s new at Sani Resort for 2027, including stunning new family suites and exclusive early booking offers, with savings of up to 15%. Explore the offers here.UNA - Discover your next Italian short break with UNA Italian Hospitality at unaitalianhospitality.comIf you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.I’ll be back on Tuesday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.