Simon talks to Sue Marchant about New Zealand.

Photo by Ömer Faruk Bekdemir on Unsplash

Simon talks to Rich Beal, co-founder of Absolute Nomads, about the beautiful country of Mongolia.

Photo by Bolatbek Gabiden on Unsplash

Simon talks with fellow Radio Bath presenter about his recent visit to Cambodia and Vietnam to compete in the Ceroc Pan-Asian Dance Championships.

Photo by George Bakos on Unsplash

Ahead of World Ocean Day Julie Church, co-founder of Seas4Life talks to Simon about the importance of marine diversity off the coast of East Africa.

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Simon talks to Loraine Cotterhill about the communist past of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.

Photo by Alexandr Bormotin on Unsplash

King Charles delivers a masterclass in diplomatic language during his Washington visit; Italian airport strikes threaten summer travel plans; Japan Airlines trials robots at Haneda to tackle its luggage handling crisis; a YouGov poll reveals majority support for Bristol Airport's expansion; the world's best beaches for 2026 are revealed, and a personal connection to the top five; and a visit to the Sydney Opera House, one of the world's great architectural icons, and the troubled history behind its creation.

Simon talks to Karma Choden of Simply Bhutan about her beautiful Himalayan home.

Photo by Aaron Santelices on Unsplash

Welcome back to The Travel show with Simon McNeill-Ritchie.

Simon will be talking with today’s guest, Karma Choden, who will be telling us about her homeland of Bhutan, the lesser-known Himalayan kingdom that lies to the east of Nepal, and otherwise bordered by two even bigger neighbours, India and China.

The Travel Show with Simon McNeill-Ritchie

A roundup of international travel and aviation news covering: UK inflation dropping to 3% with airfares as a key driver; transatlantic flight prices for the 2026 World Cup in North America, with mixed news for England and Scotland fans; the proposed renaming of Palm Beach International Airport to President Donald J. Trump International Airport; Spain's DORA 3 airport charge dispute between operator Aena and airlines; a slowdown in Spanish tourism with shifts toward inland and shoulder-season travel; a careers fair at Bristol Airport offering 150+ roles; postponed Italian airport strikes rescheduled for 26 February; planned disruption at Brussels Airport on 12 March; and Jet2 expanding capacity at Gatwick by 27% for summer 2027.

From the high-stakes pressure of air traffic control to the surprising financial windfall of a Caribbean URL suffix, host Simon McNeill-Ritchie explores the evolving landscape of global travel. This episode delves into the growing trend of overseas weddings, the impact of new electronic travel authorizations, and the diplomatic hurdles facing football fans heading to the 2026 World Cup.