Welcome back to The Travel Diaries podcast! I’m your host, Holly Rubenstein, and I’m so thrilled to be back with you for the first of three Christmas specials to bring bit of festive sparkle to your holiday season. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be bringing you conversations with some truly wonderful guests, and who better to start us off than the brilliant Sandi Toksvig?

Sandi is a comedian, writer, broadcaster, actor, activist, and, of course, a beloved TV presenter. You’ll know her from QI, where she made history as the first female host of a major British TV quiz show, from Channel 4’s Extraordinary Escapes, and from The Great British Bake Off.

Beyond her TV roles, Sandi has written numerous books, been a vocal advocate for equality and LGBTQ+ rights, and has a passion for adventure. Born in Copenhagen to a father who was a foreign correspondent, she spent her childhood living across the globe, from the African bush to NYC, sparking a lifelong love of travel. Her travel diaries today take us from the rivers of Africa to the Arctic Circle, the jungles of Costa Rica to her beloved Denmark —Sandi’s travels are as fascinating and varied as she is.

Sandi Claus Is Coming to Town is a family-friendly LGBTQ+ Christmas show hosted by national treasure, Sandi Toksvig. It’s taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 18 December (tickets from royalalberthall.com)

Destination Recap: 

• Copenhagen, Denmark 
• Zimbabwe
• Zambezi River, Africa
• Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica 
• Lofoten Islands, Norway 
• Henningsvær, Lofoten, Norway 
• Sudan
• Copenhagen, Denmark:
• Host Restaurant
• Restaurant Grøften /Tivoli Gardens
• The Round Tower
• The Kissing Bench
• Eilean Sionnach, Scotland
• Wolf Lodge, Norway 
• Nebraska, USA
• The Oregon Trail, USA
• Aarhus, Denmark 
• Villa Provence, Aarhus, Denmark 
• Sydney, Australia
• Japan

With thanks to the Langham Hotel for hosting the interview.

*COMPETITION* Win a luxury 4-night stay for two at the newly refurbished Shangri-La Le Touessrok in sunny Mauritius. For details on how to enter, head to my Instagram @hollyrubenstein. The competition closes on December 30th. Good luck. 

With thanks to Bibury Farm Barns in the Cotswolds. These barns are perfection—there are five in total ranging from 3 - 5 beds, each thoughtfully designed and beautifully styled. The location is ideal, right in the heart of the Cotswolds, making it a fantastic base for exploring this stunning part of the country. We loved revisiting charming villages like Bibury, Burford, and Stow-on-the-Wold, with their honey-coloured stone buildings and rich history. But it was the little moments back at the barn that made it truly special: mornings by the fire, countryside walks straight from the door, late-night hot tub soaks, and that deep, peaceful quiet you only find in the countryside.

If you want to be the first 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 want until then remember there’s the first 13 seasons to catch up on, that's over 140 episodes to keep you busy there.

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