PodVoyage

South Africa’s diverse melting pot of cultures has earned it the nickname the ‘Rainbow Nation’, a moniker that mirrors the country’s colourful local life. The beauty of South Africa is there are so many ways to dive into its culture – Ed and Sarah have both travelled extensively in SA and just love to chat about it...

South Africa’s rich mix of cultures means its cities have a kaleidoscope of neighbourhoods to wander. Cape Town has the rainbow-hued houses of the Bo-Kaap and the trendy bars and cafés of Gardens, while in Johannesburg you can wander the artsy vibes of Maboneng or taste your way around the hip eateries of Braamfontein. In Soweto, make time for the history of Vilakazi Street – the only place in the world where two Nobel Prize winners (Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela) have lived. If you’re exploring Durban, reborn Station Drive Precinct now has a fashionable café culture, while the restored Victorian and Edwardian architecture of Morningside are home to buzzing restaurants and art galleries.

It’s not just the capital that is home to pockets of unique culture, with small towns all over the country hiding a wealth of cultural experiences such as local crafts, food and ways of life. In the foothills of the Maluti Mountains on the western fringes of the Drakensberg, visiting the town of Clarens is like going back in time. Known as the ‘Jewel of the Free State’, the chocolate-box Dutch sandstone architecture feels as if it’s not been touched since the village was first built in 1912 and its quaint high street is a joy to wander in search of pottery, leatherwork and other curios. Similarly, Cradock is another place still keeping old traditions alive. Originally founded in 1813 for migratory farmers, cattle farmers still live and work at this town on the Great Fish River today.

Wildlife lovers should head to Hermanus, known as one of the finest whale-watching hotspots on the planet. You can spot the likes of southern right whales from the shore. Head into the town to discover charming boutique shops and cafes where you can meet the locals and feast on fresh produce.

Even with South Africa’s progressive outlook post-apartheid, there’s still plenty of room for traditional culture to thrive. Nowhere does it burn brighter than in KwaZulu-Natal, the spiritual homeland of the Zulu – South Africa’s largest ethnic group. A visit to a Zulu village in Zululand takes you straight to the heart of daily life, where you can unpick their fiercely proud customs and beliefs. Absorb details about their family structures and patriarchal responsibilities, understand why cattle are so highly prized by the Zulu and learn how their homes are made. You might even have the chance to meet a sangoma, a spiritual healer, who will shed light on their sacred lands and rites.

For tonnes of info on this amazing country visit - www.southafrica.net

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Malaga is the third oldest city in Western Europe after Lisbon and Cadiz, and its historical centre is a pleasure to explore. The streets are covered in marble tiles and there are beautiful buildings around every corner, including the magnificent Cathedral of Malaga. In typical Spanish fashion, the streets are lined with tapas bars where locals gather to socialise – the city is bursting with energy.From beach days to city strolls, Malaga city has so much to offer, however, the region of Andalucia is packed with possibilities too. There are seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites located here, as well as the beautiful cities of Seville and Cordoba.

2923 is the 50th anniversary of the death of Picasso, he lived here in Malaga until he was 12 and never returned.  The Casa Natal where he was born and the Museo Picasso are really worth a visit.  Picasso was influenced by the light and colours of Andalucia and so will you.

There are many day trips from Malaga to choose from. Tours to Rhonda, the Alhambra in Grenada, as well as Tangier in Morocco are the most popular, but I urge you to visit one of Spain’s best kept secrets – the Caminito del Rey.
 
The Caminito del Rey was on our bucket list for many years and we finally got to walk it recently.   It was even more impressive than we imagined and is something that we highly recommend everyone to do when visiting Malaga or the Costa del Sol. The views are spectacular from beginning to end, with stunning gorges, canyons and cliffs around every corner.  Thanks to Sarah for telling me about this wonderful place, the train from Malaga is so easy to arrange to El Chorro and from there a 15 min bus trip to the start of the walk.   www.spain.info

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

It’s possible to spend months in Lisbon and discover something new every day but if you only have a weekend, you can still walk away with a memorable impression of the city.  In this Podcast, we explore Portugal’s capital in 48 hours.  One of the must-do experiences in Lisbon is riding the bright yellow 28 tram. To enjoy it at its best, get up early to avoid the tourist and commuter crowds. These trams are operational antiques, carrying people up and down Lisbon’s hilly streets since the 1930s. Buy a weekend travel pass, catch the tram at Praça da Figueira and bounce between Lisbon’s coolest neighbourhoods. Passing more landmarks in one swoop than any other line, the 28 will take you past the Sé Cathedral (Lisbon’s oldest church) and the Estrela Basilica (a convent constructed on the orders of Portugal’s Queen Mary I). This ride takes only 40 minutes, so there is plenty of time left of your morning to explore.  Please subscribe and leave a comment - Happy Travels - Ed & Sarah

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

Maine is home to many mountains and several state parks but there is only one mile-high Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, located in the glorious Baxter State Park. Located right “next door” is the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.  We were joined on Travel Talk recently by Eric Goodwin the strategic Consultant for Katahdin Tourism.  "These incredible places are right here in the Katahdin Region"

Located in the east central portion of the state, known as The Maine Highlands, the Katahdin region boasts scenic vistas and abundant wildlife throughout north-ern Penobscot County’s hilly lake country, the rolling farm country of western Pe-nobscot, and southern Aroostook’s vast softwood flats. The area is home to incredi-ble wildlife; including our local celebrity the moose, as well as osprey, bald eagles, blue herons, beaver, black bear, white-tailed deer, fox and more.

Visit in spring, summer and fall to enjoy miles of hiking trails—from casual walks to challenging hikes, kayaking and canoeing on pristine lakes, white water raft-ing with up to Class V rapids, world class fishing for trout, landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass, birding, nature photography, mountain biking and much more.

Visit in winter to enjoy Katahdin’s spectacular snowmobiling, cross-country ski-ing, snowshoeing, ice climbing and dog sledding. Our backyard features groomed and scenic XC ski trails to accommodate beginners through experts. There are miles of back-country XC skiing and snowshoeing in and around Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument as well. Snowmobilers enjoy over 350 miles of groomed trails with welcoming lodges, food and gas to keep the fun going.

You can even see the Northern lights in Katadhin
https://youtu.be/9g0yP-2PhvU

For more information on this fantastic region visit - 

https://www.katahdinmaine.com/

https://www.nps.gov/kaww/index.htm

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

The Liberties has become Dublin's hottest hood.   The Hyatt Centric is a great place to stay here and I really enjoyed their wonderful hospitality.  In this special podcast on the Liberties,  I first chatted with the hotel's MD, Declan Curtis,  I met Dean William Morton and Freda Doyle from St.Patrick's Cathedral.  We called in to see Amy Ryan from Marsh's Library and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of whiskey tasting and sightseeing at the award winning Pearse Lyons distillery with Bernard and Grant.

The Liberties truly is the beating heart of Dublin.  I had a terrific few days being a tourist in my own city and staying at the Hyatt Centric Hotel,  part of the Hodson Hotel Group.   Declan Curtis the MD at the Hyatt told me the very interesting story about building the Hotel. 

Don't miss their special Mad hatter's Afternoon Tea.   

I had a wonderful visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral meeting Freda Doyle and Dean William Morton.  At Marsh's Library, Amy Ryan tells me about the incredible history of this still working library.  Marsh's Library. Perfectly preserved library of the early Enlightenment in central Dublin. Opened in 1707 and still welcoming visitors, tourists and scholars. We had a wonderful visit and whiskey tasting to Pearse Lyons Distillery with Bernard Birmingham and Grant.   Pearse Lyons Distillery is Dublin’s only independently, family-owned distillery. Located in the former St. James Church in the heart of Dublin’s Liberties, the award-winning distillery produces Pearse Irish Whiskey.

During the late 18th and 19th century, The Liberties was dominated by great brewing and distilling families, most notably the Guinness family, who from 1759 built and developed the world’s largest brewery at St James’s Gate.  Renowned distillers Powers, Jameson, Millar and Roe were all located here, creating a Victorian cityscape of chimneystacks, mills, malthouses and bustling streets.  The area even had its own harbour linking it to the Grand Canal, and a mini-railway through the St James’s Gate brewery to the River Liffey quays.

However this industrial wealth and prowess went hand in hand with dire poverty and often horrendous living conditions. The 19th century Liberties had notorious slums which in turn spurred a number of enlightening housing developments by the Earl of Meath and the Guinness and Power families in the latter years of the century.  The now-charming enclaves about Gray Street and John Dillon Street were originally examples of modern new homes built for the working class by the Dublin Artisan Dwelling Company, while the Iveagh Trust Buildings on Patrick Street remain beautiful examples of the first ‘flats’ built for Dubliners.

The ancient ‘liberties’ were finally abolished and subsumed into the city in the 1840s, however the name ‘The Liberties’ remained and became primarily to mean the old Earl of Meath’s Liberty.  

While the fortunes of the area declined in the 20th century, Thomas Street and Meath Street remained the quintessential heart of Auld Dublin, renowned in song and story.  The area has produced its fair share of storytellers, master musicians, street characters and thespians.

Today, it retains its distinctive character and curious detachment from the life of the wider city.  It’s a place to discover and enjoy: a place of evocative place names, engaging architecture, vibrant street life and strong community spirit. 

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

It's no secret that I'm just wild about Florida so today on the Travel Lounge,  I’m delighted to be speaking with the co-founder of Wild Florida, Sam Haught and Director of Sales, PJ Brown, who are here to tell us all about their amazing Wildlife and Safari Park which is an absolute ‘must do’ when you visit Orlando and Florida.  This "hidden secret" is a terrific day out and a great way to explore the natural reserves and beautiful wildlife that this area has to offer AND all within minutes of well known theme parks.  

When it comes to Orlando airboat rides "Wild Florida is simply the best" so the guys tell me.  Just a short drive from the Orlando and Disney area, they offer beautiful airboat day tours, relaxing sunset tours and exciting night tours which are a great favourite with guests of all ages. This is Natural Florida at its best!  They guarantee that you won’t see any development or homes on your airboat ride, just you and nature!

I was lucky enough to have experience Wild Florida’s airboat rides myself a couple of year’s ago and I was captivated by the incredible sense of freedom you experience as you watch the sunset over this beautiful and natural reserve, it was incredible to be immersed in nature just a few miles from the hustle, bustle and lights of the big theme parks.   Since my visit they have added an amazing drive through safari and walk through gator park with unique experiences like feeding the giraffes and meeting some laid back sloths.  So some real ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences to try out.

For more information check out the website   - www.wildfl.com

There's also a cool video to watch - 

http://wildfloridairboats.com

For more ideas on where to stay when planning your holiday check out nearby Kissimmee in the Orlando area, there are some great villa options as well as hotels and resorts which are perfect when planning a trip with family and friends.

Best Place to Stay | Experience Kissimmee

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

Today, I’m joined by Tik Tok sensation and luxury hotel expert Marcos Toscani. 
Marcos is a content creator and founder of @expertoenhoteles.  Hailing from Argentina, he focuses exclusively on luxury hotels worldwide.   Marcos has been named the Meliá TikTok Luxury Expert, the company's first ambassador on TikTok, after also being named "Visit Mexico's" first luxury tourism ambassador in 2020.   His podcast "Hotel Expert" became the most popular podcast about hotels in Spanish only weeks after its launch.

Marcos Toscani and Meliá Hotels International

With almost 400,000 followers on TikTok,  Meliá has launched the new channel with a strategic focus on its luxury products. Hotels such as Gran Meliá Iguazu (Argentina), Paradisus Grand Cana (Dominican Republic) and ME Cabo (Mexico) are among the first hotels chosen by Marcos.  “As a Hotel Expert, my goal has always been to experience and show first-hand the best luxury hotels in the world, and I’m very excited to start this partnership with Meliá, where I have already started to choose their most amazing hotels, suites and experiences. TikTok is the top emerging platform and is seeing surprising growth, and I’m really happy to be able to bring my point of view to a hotel chain that I admire and that is always one step ahead, this time in my new role as Meliá TikTok Luxury Expert” said Marcos Toscani, Expert in Hotels. 

Tik Tok
TikTok is a mobile app that started in China and now offers millions of users around the world the chance to share videos.  It currently has more than a billion users in 150 countries around the world in 75 languages. Before even opening its own channel on TikTok, Meliá already had more than 12 million views.

Meliá London Kensington

In the heart of fashionable Kensington, this refurbished, 4-star boutique hotel offers Victorian elegance with modern comforts. Gloucester Road Tube Station and London’s museums are just a few minutes’ walk away.  Kensington Palace, Hyde Park and Knightsbridge are all just 0.5 miles’ walking distance from Meliá London Kensington Member of Meliá Collection. London tour buses also depart from the hotel's entrance to all of the major attractions.  Beautifully appointed, air-conditioned rooms have satellite TV and luxurious, exclusive Dream Beds, custom-designed for the hotel.  Guests at the Meliá London Kensington can reach Westminster and the South Bank with just a 10-minute tube ride from Gloucester Road Station.  The SW7 restaurant and bar has a sleek, minimalist design with food inspired by traditional British dishes mixed with Mediterranean flavours.

I had a terrific stay here, the staff couldn't do enough for me and it felt like a home from home.  I loved the welcome bubbles for guests on arrival and the breakfast was delicious.  I flew with Aer Lingus to Heathrow and a quick tube ride on the Piccadilly line had me into Gloucester Road station which was all of two minutes walk to the hotel.  A big thanks to Giorgia and all the team for a wonderful stay. 

Click here for Meliá offers

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

This week we are bringing our listeners some great tips and advice on ways to save time, money and to enjoy stress free travel.  How to breeze through airports, avoid baggage problems, save time on queues,  save €€€ on airfares and tours.... and much more.  These are little secrets of the trade that we have picked up over our many years of travelling.  Happy Travels

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

Lanzarote is unlike anywhere else on earth, with its beautiful climate, jaw-dropping scenery and dramatic volcanic history. Three hundred years ago, the island suffered the longest and most brutal volcanic eruption the planet has ever seen - it was a raging cauldron for six years - and yet today Lanzarote is a holiday paradise.  On this week's Ambassadors to Spain series
we meet Geraldine Mc Fadden who has lived here for over 14 years.   Geraldine tells us about some of her favourite places on Lanzarote like the beautiful fishing village of El Golfo and she reveals the best way to get the most from your holiday on this truly special island.   The number one destination for the Irish, Lanzarote has become a go to destination these days with its balmy eternal spring climate, amazing value and award winning wineries.  For more information visit www.spain.info or https://turismolanzarote.com/en/. - Geraldine is the General Manager at the Aqua Suites Hotel - https://www.aquasuiteslanzarote.com/ - The tourist board has produced a wonderful video to discover the island - https://youtu.be/IgQjI7yLg2g

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!

In this week's Ambassadors for Spain series we meet Eoin Flynn in Gran Canaria.  Here is an island full of surprises with its volcanic landscape, lush pine forests, secret rocky coves and swathes of sand dunes.  Year round good weather, historic towns, a calendar of unusual festivals and superlative cuisine and wines.   Eoin Flynn moved to Gran Canaria 10 years ago.   An Irish International Mountain runner and an english teacher,  he reveals the locals insider track on this beautiful Island.
 
Vitamin Sea
There’s more to Gran Canaria than just great value food and drink and lots of Vitamin Sea and sun.    Eoin takes on a trip to a land of lunar vistas high above the clouds.  He tells us how to discover the real food and culture of this stunning place.  Eoin is also a well known commentator in the media for the best trail running races in the world and specially the famous "Transgrancanaria" over 160 kilometres long - the next one is due to happen on March 4th 2022 -  Eoin also tells us about the famous festival which takes place here every September in the local villages with full traditional Canarian dress.   There's even a strawberry festival and an avocado festival.    

This festival, which takes place in the town of Agüimes in Gran Canaria, attracts a multitude of visitors each year, as it brings one of the oldest Canary Island traditions back to life. This is the “traída del agua y el gofio”, a lively, joyful event that re-enacts the old custom of taking corn, barley, or wheat to the mill to be ground into gofio, a kind of flour that’s used in many different ways and is still an essential part of Canary Island cuisine today. On this day, people head for the mills, and along the way gofio is distributed and there’s music and dancing. Afterwards it’s back to the town, and water is sprinkled down on everyone from the balconies of the houses.

Camino de Gran Canaria?
Did you know that Gran Canaria even has a part of the Camino de Santiago! Check out the www.jacobeogalder.es   Yes indeed - 23 hours and 66 kilometres make up the Camino de Santiago in Gran Canaria. A good part of this route was already traveled by the ancient canaries in communications from the south to the north of the island, and later, it was used as a livestock route for cattle,  pilgrims and "romeras".  For lots of info on Gran Canaria - check out www.spain.info and www.grancanaria.com

PodVoyage is brought to you in association with Hilton
Discover thousands of the most unique hotels in the world and uncover unexpected stays that leave you wondering: Is this Hilton? 
Hilton.com

From iconic city hotels to beautiful resorts around the world, Hilton has been welcoming travellers for more than a century. And wherever the journey takes us, the right place to stay can make all the difference.

So it's all aboard and PodVoyage!