The Top Travel Destinations with Kevin Flanagan

Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world… but in peak season, it’s unbearable. The heat, the crowds, the queues. So the question is—where do you go instead without losing the magic? Kevin has a great example this episode

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Kevin is planning to take his two grandkids on the Camino Way and in this episode he looks at the reasons we should all become pilgrims again.  

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Is it possible for an inanimate object - especially one the size of a city - to actually love you? On a recent visit to Venice Kevin had the extraordinary sensation of being loved by a collection of bricks, mortar and water! Listen here to wonder and perhaps . . . feel the love

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Kevin takes you by the hand and shows you how to get the most from a visit to one of the world’s greatest and most intimate art galleries.

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A stone’s throw from the Peggy Guggenheim you will find one of the best (and cheapest) places to eat and drink in all of Venice. It is also the friendliest.

Yes, I am talking about The Corner Pub in Dusodoro, where you can  start the day with fantastic coffee and end it caught up in an impromptu party. Listen to find out what really rocks in Venice!

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

I am often asked where to go when you visit a fantastic destination like Venice - which, we have to admit, is coming down with tourist attractions.

But when it comes to Venice I have no doubt in recommending one place: The Peggy Guggenheim Collection.

Why? Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful - the view onto the Grand Canal will take anyone’s breath away. It is also inspiring. Peggy Guggenheim broke the mould and I have learnt so much from her. Listen to find out why Peggy G’s life has inspiring lessons for us all!  

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More and more travellers are swapping passive holidays for something richer — skillcations, trips where you return home with a new skill as well as memories. 

The idea is simple: travel with purpose. Instead of just observing a culture, you participate in it. Skillcations are growing in popularity because they combine adventure, learning, and connection with local people — and they often create far deeper memories than a typical sightseeing trip. In this episode Kevin shows how to holiday with a purpose!

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One of my most memorable skillcation experiences happened just outside Bangkok, where I spent a morning learning how to cook Pad Thai in a floating market kitchen beside a mangrove swamp.

Our teacher, a wonderfully charismatic Thai chef who had once cooked for the royal household, showed us the art of balancing sweet, sour, salty and spice. We chopped garlic and shallots, soaked rice noodles, tossed prawns and tofu in a blazing wok, and finished the dish with tamarind, lime, palm sugar and crushed peanuts.

Later that evening, only twenty minutes from central Bangkok in a small riverside arts café, I learned the elegant movements of traditional Thai dance — the slow turning wrists, the curved fingers, the storytelling gestures. It was the perfect skillcation day: food, culture, laughter and learning something completely new.

Step 1 Soak rice noodles in warm water for about 30 minutes until soft but not mushy.

Step 2 Mix the sauce:

• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
  

• 2 tbsp fish sauce
  

• 1 tbsp palm sugar
  

This is the heart of the dish.

Step 3 Heat a wok or frying pan with oil.

Step 4 Add chopped garlic and shallots. Cook until fragrant.

Step 5 Add tofu or prawns.

Step 6 Push everything to the side and crack in one egg. Scramble it quickly.

Step 7 Add the softened noodles.

Step 8 Pour in the Pad Thai sauce and toss the noodles.

Step 9 Add bean sprouts and garlic chives.

Step 10 Serve with:

• crushed peanuts
  

• lime wedge
  

• chilli flakes

  
  Authentic versions have lots of extra “bits” like dried shrimp, tofu and bean sprouts to add flavour and texture

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

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Kev’s Pad Thai recipe!

We often assume that the safest places must also be the most predictable — tidy, orderly, maybe even a little dull. But after travelling through some of the world’s safest countries, I discovered something more interesting. Safety doesn’t remove adventure; it simply changes its shape. Strong institutions, trust between citizens, and well-run infrastructure create a different kind of freedom for travellers. The real question isn’t whether safety makes a place boring — it’s how to find the perfect balance between security and discovery.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev

Turn on the news and you might think the world is falling apart… wars, conflicts, geopolitical tension everywhere. Yet airports are full, flights are operating normally, and millions of people are travelling every day. The question for listeners is: Is the world really more dangerous to travel in? In this short podcast Kevin tries to answer that burning question.

You can also follow The Top Travel Destinations on social media for updates: 

Instagram: ⁠@thetoptraveldestinations⁠

X: ⁠@becreativekev