Kated Travel Podcast

Wander though a mountain town full of blue, every cobblestone lane a different hue. This is Morocco's most distinct destination, a glorious ode to colour and tradition. Then explore Morocco's artisanal heart, Meknes, an imperial capital that continues to stay off the tourist radar. Join your host Stephen Bailey in discovering this corner of Morocco, on an evocative journey that also includes Roman ruins and an Islamic pilgrimage site.

It's normal to have travel anxieties. Today's guest Alice Nettleingham has travelled solo to countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan. She driven the Mongol Rally through Kazakhstan and is full of entertaining travel tales. As a trained psychologist, Alice helps people overcome their travel anxieties and become more adventurous, something that takes less time than you may think. Read more about her travels on the excellent Tea Cake Travels and connect with Alice directly via her Instagram.

Travel to Hvar and spend ten minutes on a glorious island, exploring Venetian history, Marco Polo, Greco-Roman architecture, lavender fields, olive groves, vineyards and beaches. Hvar is a sublime little island in the Adriatic and has been a popular destination for hundreds of years. But that doesn't mean it's lost any authenticity, as your host Stephen Bailey will explain. If you like the podcast please leave a review so more people can be inspired.

Food requirements should not dictate whether you can or can't travel. Today's special guest Elikqitie hosts the Travel Gluten Free Podcast, inspiring travellers to explore, with their gluten allergies and food requirements. It's a fascinating conversation, as you discover destinations and cuisines that are better for gluten free travellers, as well as get tips and tricks for travelling safely with food allergies. Elikqitie also authored the Guide to Traveling Gluten Free. 

Tonga is one of the five least visited countries in the world. But it's an amazing destination. Join your host Stephen Bailey as he recalls a week spent in Tonga, an archipelago in the South Pacific. Explore white-sand beaches, discover great surf waves and some of the world's biggest trees, take a scenic flight over the Pacific, and uncover the culture in this remote nation. Tonga may be a little unknown but it's as fascinating as any other island in the world. 

Most often we remember who more than we remember where. Yet our guides, the people most responsible for our travel experiences, are rarely spoken about within the travel industry. There are disconnects everywhere. Today's special guest is Nikki Padilla Rivera and she gives invaluable insight into what we can do as both travellers and travel providers, to help improve the quality of tour guiding. Nikki works with travel providers to improve their guiding and travel experience, through her company Trip Kinetics. She also recently organised the first virtual Guide Week. She's a fascinating speaker who will make you think a little differently about your travels. 

If you've watched Narcos or read about Pablo Escobar you may think you know Medellin. But the city is completely different to the drugs and violence of the early 1990s. It was and now is, one of South America's proudest cities, a place of vibrant energy, endless art, and a beautiful location. Join your host Stephen Bailey as he recalls meeting Pablo Escobar's brother in Medellin, then exploring the real city, far beyond the cocaine history. 

Listen to some incredible stories from over 50 years of travel, as today's special guest Leyla Alyanak takes us from Morocco to Burma, Kyrgyzstan to Nigeria. Leyla inspires women over 50 to travel through her superb blog Women on the Road, online since 2006. She's full of wise travel tips for everyone and teaches us all how to travel smarter, safer and more local. Her logic and wisdom will help you feel more adventurous and less scared about adventurous travel, whatever your age or background. 

Travel to the far south of Italy today, as your host Stephen Bailey recalls a trip to Puglia. Explore coastlines, villages, olive groves, vineyards, cafe terraces, and the laidback rhythm of this beautiful Italian region. Go to Brindisi, Lecce, then get lost on the coast. Italy is packed with stunning destinations yet most first-time visitors are following the same route through famous destinations, so destinations such as Puglia stay off the radar and make for very authentic travel experiences. 

The fastest growing segment in the tourism industry is hugely under-serviced and often ignored, by destinations and operators. Today's special guest is Soumaya Hamdi from the excellent Halal Travel Guide, advocating how to provide better experiences for Muslim travellers. These travellers stay longer, spend more, and are very tuned into sustainability and supporting local businesses. So why is Muslim travel rarely discussed? Find out more in this inspiring episode, full of insight and practical tips from Soumaya.