Today, for our final episode of the year, I am joined by someone whose life story reads like an atlas: the actor, writer, and now podcast host, Richard E. Grant.

Born in Swaziland, now known as Eswatini, in southern Africa, Richard grew up in a world of big landscapes, no television, and endless imagination. From there he moved to London in the early 1980s, and very quickly became unforgettable figure on stage and screen - from his iconic role in Withnail & I, all the way through to Gosford Park, Jackie, Star Wars, Saltburn, and his Oscar-nominated performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Throughout it all, running beneath the red carpets and film sets, there has been travel. He spent 33 summers at a beloved farmhouse in Provence with his late wife Joan, brocante shopping and watching the seasons change. He’s had close encounters with sharks while scuba diving off Mozambique, checked into seedy hotel suites in Las Vegas, and floated on the still waters of Lake Como.

And now, his travel stories  telling them in a new way. Richard is the co-host, of the brilliant new podcast Hotels with History with travel pr Jules Perowne - a series that dives into the scandals, intrigue, glamour and ghosts of some of the world’s most legendary hotels.

So, sit back, pour something festive, and join me as we step inside the seven travel chapters of Richard E. Grant.

Destination Recap:

• Eswatini (Formerly Swaziland) 
• London, England 
• Mozambique
• Provence, France 
• Masai Mara, Kenya and Tanzania 
• Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
• Passalacqua, Lake Como, Italy
• Ritz Paris, France 
• The Mark Hotel, Manhattan, New York, USA
• Mkhaya Game Reserve, Safari, Swaziland
• Israel
• Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Giza, Egypt 
• Space

Richard is co-host of the Hotels with History podcast, Season 1 out now 

I'll be back with a new season of the podcast in the Spring.

With thanks to...

Citalia - If you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – if, like many of our guests, you’re dreaming of an alpine escape rooted in harmony with nature, visit forsthofgut.at to start planning today.

Beaverbrook Hotel - Escape the everyday and discover Beaverbrook for yourself, a truly indulgent country-house retreat just outside London. Find out more and book your stay at beaverbrook.co.uk.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me next time, 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 165 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a very special festive edition of The Travel Diaries. Today I’m joined by the legendary chef, restaurateur and writer, Rick Stein.

Rick is returning to the podcast for the first time in five years, and I can’t think of a better guest to bring a little culinary sparkle to our Christmas Special.

This year, Rick is celebrating the release of his beautifully personal and utterly joyful new book, Rick Stein’s Christmas - a treasure trove of festive recipes, stories, traditions, and reflections on what this time of year really means. In our conversation, we dive into his own Christmas rituals in both Cornwall and Australia, the dishes that embody comfort and nostalgia for him, the lessons he learned while cooking - and occasionally improvising - his way through last year’s festivities, and the deeply human side of the season that he weaves into the book.

We also travel far beyond the Christmas table, hearing about Rick’s recent adventures filming in the Australian outback, the food gems he uncovered there, his newest favourite destinations, and the UK restaurants he’s loving right now.

So pour yourself something warm and cosy, settle in, and enjoy this festive journey with the wonderful Rick Stein.

Destination Recap: 

• Thailand
• Australia
• The Niagara Café, Gundagai, NSW, Australia
• Île de Ré, France, France
• Riva, Barnes, London, England 
• Riley’s Fish Shack, Tynemouth, England
• Porto, Portugal
• Douro Valley, Portugal 
• Laigueglia, Liguria, Italy, Italy 
• Hotel Windsor, Laigueglia, Liguria, Italy
• Trieste, Italy 
• Tbilisi, Georgia
• Argentina
• Peru
• Brazil
• Lake Como, Italy 

If you’d like to explore more of Rick’s stories, tips and recipes, his new book Rick Stein’s Christmas is out now. I

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks, on the 30th, with a very special guest to close out the year - actor and national treasure Richard E. Grant.

Until then, have a cosy, joyful Christmas, and thank you so much for listening to The Travel Diaries.

With thanks to...

Citalia - If, like Rick, you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – if, like many of our guests, you’re dreaming of an alpine escape rooted in harmony with nature, visit forsthofgut.at to start planning today.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a very special edition of The Travel Diaries, where we’re heading to a country that has enchanted so many of my guests over the years: Morocco.

This Destination Special is a love letter to a place that casts a lifelong spell. In the first half, you’ll hear unforgettable memories from past guests - Sir Michael Palin, Anya Hindmarch, Lyn Hughes, Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, Amar Latif, and Jacqui Gifford - each sharing the moments that made Morocco magical for them: the colours of Marrakech, the silence of the Sahara, the scent of a tagine in the Atlas Mountains. Together, their voices weave a vivid tapestry of this extraordinary land.

And it’s no wonder UK visitor numbers are soaring. Morocco is that rare combination - just a short flight away, yet a complete change of pace: immersive, sensory, unforgettable.

Then, in the second half, I’m joined by travel writer and Morocco expert Paula Hardy, who splits her time between the UK and Morocco. With over 15 years of experience, she takes us beyond the usual hotspots, from the Mediterranean feel of Tangier and Tetouan, to desert oases near Skoura, coastal towns like Asilah, and hidden Berber mountain villages. We dive into Morocco’s traditions - crafts, cuisine and culture - and its exciting evolution, with high-speed trains, striking new architecture, and preparations for the 2030 World Cup.

Whether you’ve visited before or it’s been on your bucket list for years, this episode will open your eyes to a Morocco you may not yet know, and remind you why so many travellers return again and again.

Destination Recap: 

Northern Morocco - Sir Michael Palin on why Morocco is his all-time favourite journey

Marrakech – Designer Anya Hindmarch and Wanderlust editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes on the city of artisans, colour and contrasts

Atlas Mountains - Sir Richard Branson, The Hairy Bikers, and blind adventurer Amar Latif on Berber villages, snow-topped peaks and mountain escapes

Ouarzazate (the “door to the desert”) - Travel & Leisure Editor Jacqui Gifford on this cinematic frontier town

Paula’s Destination Recap:

• Tangier 
• Villa Mabrouka, Tangier
• Asilah
• Tetouan 
• Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay 
• Dar Ambrosia, Asilah 
• Mimi Calpe, Tangier
• M’Hamid
• Erfoud 
• Iriki 
• Taroudant 
• Dar Ahlam, Ouarzazate
• Skoura
• Marrakech
• Oualidia 
• Riad Mina, Marrakech 
• Berber Lodge, Marrakech 
• Riad L’Atelier, Marrakech
• Rosemary, Marrakech 
• Tribalista, Marrakech 
• The Memory Road

Thanks so much for listening today. I'll be back with some fabulous Christmas specials in December. In the meantime, come and follow me on Instagram, I’m @hollyrubenstein, and you’ll also find me on TikTok - I’d love to hear from you. Remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

And visit TheTravelDiariesPodcast.com for everything else podcast-related.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on The Travel Diaries we’re revisiting a very special conversation from the archives with national treasures Si King and the late, much-loved Dave Myers, better known to millions as The Hairy Bikers.

Si and Dave were my very first duo on the podcast, and what a joy they were. For more than two decades, they entertained Britain with their infectious humour, foodie expertise and shared love of motorbikes. Their travel and food shows from Asian Adventure to Mediterranean Adventure and Route 66 inspired countless viewers to see the world through flavour and friendship.

When I spoke to them, Dave was in the middle of undergoing cancer treatment. He joined me the night before a round of chemo, having travelled down to London especially, which made their generosity of time and spirit all the more moving. Listening back now, after Dave’s passing earlier this year, it feels particularly poignant to hear his warmth, wit and passion for life come through so vividly. This episode is a celebration of both Bikers’ deep love of travel, of each other, and of the extraordinary journeys they shared with us all.

In this archive chat, we travel together from Namibia to India, Argentina to Estonia, with countless adventures in between.

Destination Recap:

• Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland, England
• Isle of Man, England
• Portugal
• Namibia
• Madurai, India
• Southern Italy
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Patagonia, Argentina
• Valdes Peninsula, Argentina
• Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria
• Atlas Mountains, Morocco
• Mexico
• The Ghats, India
• Japan
• Lithuania
• Riga, Latvia
• Tallinn, Estonia
• Finnish Archipelago
• Southern Turkey
• Machu Picchu, Peru
• Nigeria
• Pan-American Highway

With thanks to...

Titanic Belfast - Discover the world’s most authentic Titanic story at Titanic Belfast - where history, heritage and experience come alive.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m back with a brand new episode, and today I’m thrilled to be joined by Eugene Levy - the Emmy-winning actor, writer, and total comedy icon. For many of us, he’ll forever be known as the bewildered dad from American Pie, or as the impeccably dressed Johnny Rose in Schitt’s Creek, the multi-award-winning show he co-created with his son Dan that became a lockdown lifeline for so many of us.

And more recently, he’s found himself in a rather unexpected new role - that of travel presenter - as the host of The Reluctant Traveler, which is now in its third season on Apple TV+. I’m sure you’ve seen it everywhere over the last couple of weeks, because on one of the episodes, he interviews British royalty, interviewing Prince William.

I spoke to Eugene last week while he was here in London, in Soho in one of those classic junket hotel setups, a bit like the Notting Hill Horse & Hound moment, if you know what I mean. So we had less time than usual, back in the day this would have been what I’d call a short haul episode - so we cover his 6 travel chapters today, but I still jumped at the chance to sit down with him and hear about the destinations that have made a lasting impression on him, particularly while filming his new show, and of course to ask him about the prospect of a Schitt’s Creek reunion, which, I have to say, I think he was pretty positive about - let me know if you agree? Fingers crossed!

From the Maldives to Seoul, Utah to Italy, here are the travel diaries of Eugene Levy.

Destination Recap:

• Kudadoo, The Maldives
• Venice, Italy 
• Utah, USA
• The Grand Canyon 
• Italy 
• Seoul, Korea
• Louisiana, USA
• Kruger National Park, South Africa 

Season 3 of The Reluctant Traveler is out now on Apple TV+. 

With thanks to...

Titanic Belfast - Discover the world’s most authentic Titanic story at Titanic Belfast - where history, heritage and experience come alive.

Citalia - If, like Eugene, you’re dreaming of your own Italian adventure, visit Citalia.com to start planning today.

The Family Suite - Start planning your next family getaway with The Family Suite, the new platform curating the world’s most beautiful luxury hotels that truly welcome families, without compromise.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Dr Jane Goodall last week. A true legend, Jane was the world’s most famous ethologist and conservationist, whose groundbreaking work in Gombe redefined our understanding of chimpanzees and our connection to the natural world.

At just 26, with no formal scientific training, she moved from England to Tanzania and began observing chimpanzees in the wild. Her discovery that they used tools to feed themselves changed science forever and propelled her to international fame. That study - still running today - remains the world’s longest continuous wildlife research project.

From there, Jane built a global movement, dedicating her life to protecting animals, ecosystems and inspiring future generations. She was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace and made a Dame of the British Empire. But beyond the accolades, she was a tireless advocate, traveling and teaching right up until the end.

It was the ultimate honour to speak with her on this podcast. In her memory, I’m re-releasing that conversation today. I hope her voice - full of humility, wisdom and hope - resonates with you as deeply as it did with me.

Destination Recap:

• Bournemouth 
• Serengeti
• Gombe 
• Germany
• Cape Town 
• Tanzania
• Nebraska
• Malaysia 
• Tendaguru, Tanzania 
• Lubbock ,Texas
• Auschwitz 
• Haiti 
• Death 

If you want to get involved or find out more about Jane’s work, visit www.janegoodall.org.uk and www.rootsnshoots.org.uk

The documentary, Jane, is currently available on Netflix and is a fantastic watch.

With thanks to...

The Family Suite - Start planning your next family getaway with The Family Suite, the new platform curating the world’s most beautiful luxury hotels that truly welcome families, without compromise.

Titanic Belfast - Discover the world’s most authentic Titanic story at Titanic Belfast - where history, heritage and experience come alive.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm bringing back some treasures from the Travel Diaries archive, while I take a little time off on maternity leave. And this one has to be one of the best - a name synonymous with travel, Dame Joanna Lumley. Joanna's appetite for adventure was deeply engrained from childhood. She was born in Kashmir in the last days of British India, the daughter of an army officer who served with the Gurkhas. Throughout her childhood her parents lived in Asia, moving to Hong Kong and Malaysia, while she spent term times at school in England.

From her early days as a fashion model, gracing the covers of magazines and strutting down runway, Joanna Lumley was destined for greatness. But it was her iconic role as Patsy in the hit TV series "Absolutely Fabulous" that truly catapulted her into the hearts of millions. I love Wikipedia’s description of Patsy - “an alcoholic, a chain smoker, and a frequent recreational drug user. She carries drugs with her at all times, storing joints in her trademark beehive."

After surviving solo on a desert island, on the groundbreaking show Girl Friday, Joanna soon became as synonymous with travel as she was with Ab Fab, setting off on epic journeys that would make even the most seasoned globetrotter green with envy, from Japan and India to the Caribbean and the Silk Route. What makes her so remarkable is not just her fearless spirit but her genuine love for the people she meets along the way. She champions causes close to her heart, advocating for the rights of the Gurkhas, supporting endless charities, and shedding light on the important issues affecting our world.

So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready as we embark on a journey through the extraordinary life and awe-inspiring travels of Joanna Lumley, from Malaysia to Uzbekistan, Italy to Indonesia.

Holly's travel diary: Heckfield Place, Berkshire, England

Joanna's Destination Recap:

• Kashmir, India 
• Hong Kong
• Malaysia
• Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia 
• Madagascar
• Delhi, India
• Uzbekistan 
• Tash Rabat, Kyrgzystan 
• Sienna, Italy
• Banda Islands, Indonesia
• Sudan
• Romania

Thank you so much for listening today. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, or if you’re on Apple Podcasts, tap follow, so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week.

To be the first to know who’s joining me next week, follow me on Instagram and TikTok at @hollyrubenstein. I’d love to hear from you.

And if you can’t wait until then, there are already 15 seasons to catch up on, with more than 160 episodes to keep you busy. You’ll also find all the destinations mentioned by my guests in the episode show notes and on my website: thetraveldiariespodcast.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this very special destination edition of The Travel Diaries, where today we’re heading off on a sensory journey to one of the Middle East’s best-kept secrets, the spellbinding Sultanate of Oman. A land of striking contrasts, where golden deserts meet dramatic mountains and turquoise seas, and where a deep-rooted culture of warmth, hospitality and heritage leaves a lasting impression on all who visit.

And who better to take us by the hand and guide us through Oman’s many wonders than my guest today, Dina Macki. Dina is a rising star of the culinary world - you may know her from the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen - and she’s a chef and food writer whose work is a vibrant celebration of Omani cuisine and culture. British-born with Omani heritage, Dina divides her time between the UK and Oman, giving her a rare and intimate perspective on the country, not just through its flavours, but through its landscapes, its people, and its soul. She’s experienced Oman from coast to canyon, from ancient souks to sleek modern resorts, making her the perfect person to lead us through her Omani travel diaries.

In this episode, Dina whisks us from the misty, monsoon-swept hills of Salalah in the far south, where coconut palms line the shore and the air is thick with frankincense, to the rugged peaks of Jebel Akhdar, the Green Mountain, with its rose gardens, deep wadis and sky-high plateaus. Along the way, she shares her favourite hotels, from cliffside hideaways to city sanctuaries; her go-to local restaurants, hidden gems and insider tips that only someone who calls Oman home could reveal.

Whether you’re a foodie, an adventurer, a nature lover, or simply dreaming of a winter sun getaway or an off-the-beaten-track summer escape, Oman promises something unforgettable for everyone.

Destination Recap:

• Salalah
• Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, Salalah
• Alila Hinu Bay, Mirbat 
• Hawana Salalah 
• Mandarin Oriental Muscat 
• Jumeirah Muscat Bay, Muscat
• Nizwa
• Jebel Akhdar 
• Alila Jebel Akhdar
• Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort, Jebel Akhdar
• DusitD2 Naseem Resort Jabal Akhdar, in Oman
• Hotel Indigo Jabal Akhdar Resort & Spa by IHG
• Daymaniyat Islands
• Al Mandoos Restaurant, Muscat 
• Rozna Restaurant, Muscat 
• Al-Ahli Restaurant, Old Muscat
• Ali Thani Restaurant, Old Muscat 
• The Chedi Hotel, Muscat 
• Al Bustan Palace, a Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Muscat
• Wadi Mibam, Al Sharqiyah 
• Khasab, Musandam 
• Six Senses Zighy Bay, Musandam 
• Wahiba Desert Sands
• Bar al Hickman

To start planning your journey, head to experienceoman.om.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 15 seasons to catch up on, that's over 160 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's Season 15 finale, we are joined by the brilliant Stephen Mangan - actor, presenter, writer, and someone with a truly adventurous travel spirit. You’ll know him from a vast array of TV , film and stage hits - The Split, Green Wing, Episodes, Portrait Artist of the Year - and most recently, as the host of ITV’s Caribbean-set hit game show The Fortune Hotel, which is back for its second season.

Stephen is a natural storyteller, and in this conversation we really get to go on a journey. From long, cassette-filled car trips back to his family’s roots in wild, windswept County Mayo - where he has 53 first cousins! - to body surfing in the Atlantic with his kids, sleeping under the redwoods in California, living on £4 a day while interrailing across Europe, and living in an ultra luxury hotel in Grenada for a month - Stephen has truly embraced travel in all its forms.

Destination Recap:

• County Mayo, Ireland 
• Sonoma County, California, USA
• Beltane Ranch, Sonoma, USA
• Derwent Water, Lake District, UK
• Falkirk Wheel, Scotland 
• Grenada
• India
• Bhutan 
• Morocco
• Japan

The Fortune Hotel S2 continues Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th August on ITV1 and ITVX. You can also catch up on the first two episodes of the series on ITVX now.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to find out who is joining me next time, 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 155 episodes to keep you busy.

I'm now on maternity leave for a few months but keep an eye out for some special episodes dropping into your feed from time to time.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest can conjure entire worlds through her writing. Whether she’s evoking the salty tang of the Lofoten Islands, the rustic flavours of rural Normandy, or the buzz of a New York kitchen, her words are rich with atmosphere and emotion - it is of course, Diana Henry, one of Britain’s most celebrated food writers.

She's a James Beard Award winner, long-time Sunday Telegraph columnist, and author of bestselling books like Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons, How to Eat a Peach, and Around the Table, a new audio collection of essays spanning decades of food, travel and life.

As you’ll hear, Diana’s wanderlust was born not from glamorous holidays, but from imagination. Growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, she escaped into books and encyclopaedias, dreaming of faraway places long before she ever had the chance to visit them.

In this episode, we trace her journeys from Dublin to the Dordogne, Spain to Maine. We talk about foraging for mushrooms in France and eating cod’s heads in Iceland, She shares why she reads restaurant menus for fun, and the deep emotional connection she feels to the places she’s travelled, through taste.

I spoke to Diana last month, and although we hadn’t met before, I instantly warmed to her. I loved the way she speaks about travel, through a different lens, shaped by flavour and feeling. I think you’ll really enjoy this one.

Holly's recap: Beaverbrook Hotel, Surrey, England

Destination Recap:

• Dublin, Ireland 
• Dordogne, France 
• Colombey les Deux Églises, Haute-Marne, France 
• Spain 
• Le tonneau, Normandy, France 
• New York, USA
• Union Square Cafe, New York, USA
• ABC Kitchen, New York, USA
• Estela, New York, USA
• Los Angeles, California, USA
• Lofoten Islands, Norway
• Iceland
• Nebo Lodge, North Haven, Maine, USA
• Morocco
• Japan

Around the Table - 52 Essays on Food & Life, Mitchell Beazley is available now in audiobook and will be published in hardback on 2nd October.

To win a holiday to Trisara, in Phuket, Thailand, head over to my Instagram page here.

With thanks to Airbnb for their support of today's episode.

Thanks so much for listening today. If you want to be the first to 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 wait until then, remember there’s the first 14 seasons to catch up on, that's over 155 episodes to keep you busy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.