The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust

Travel has taken a huge hit with the Middle East crisis now entering its fifth week, and it can be challenging to keep up with what you should and shouldn't do with travel plans during these significant and devastating world events.

This week on our Hot Take, hosts Belinda Jackson and Kirstie Bedford bring you the good and the bad news to help you navigate this uncertain time when it comes to travel plans – with some positive solutions.

Our tip is for all the the aviation geeks out there. We’re sharing the best runway rooms at Australasian airports; so if the sight of a plane taking off gets your blood pumping, this is the list for you. 

And if you can't get enough #avgeek, listen in for Belle's tarmac tour of Melbourne Airport; the airport does occasionally offer similar tours, see melbourneairport.com.au/community/airport-tours

Download SAILY in your app store and use our code 'theworldawaits' at checkout to get an exclusive 15% off your first purchase; see saily.com

Here are links to the stories Kirstie mentions.:

Accor's Middle East CEO

Virtuoso Australia New Zealand forum stats

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Toby Venus of the Point Hacks podcast joins us this episode to demystify frequent flyer points – how to earn, how to burn and creating a checklist to keep your points in good shape and working for you.   

Coming to you from the Novotel Melbourne Airport, Toby shares some sneaky hacks, and we're talking gift cards, credit cards, hotel loyalty programs and the difference between rewards seats and the perils of the points-plus-pay scheme, so buckle up, avgeeks!

We also have a giveaway for a night's stay and buffet breakfast at the Novotel Melbourne Airport - jump on our instagram competition post to enter!  

Also, which of the world's most visited cities gives you best bang for your buck on hotel stays, and how to prepare for the new border rules for entry to the EU - saily.com shares some tips on getting prepped. 

And stay tuned for Kirstie's super exciting news, as well as the announcement of the winner of two Andrea Barton crime novels. 

freepoints.com.au 

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New Zealand is renowned for its spectacular scenery, and the Marlborough Sounds on the northern tip of the South Island will not disappoint.

Come with host Kirstie Bedford as she hikes and bikes the Queen Charlotte Track, and kayaks in the glassy waters of the Marlborough Sounds, where seals and dolphins are your only neighbours, then beds down in lodges only accessible via the track, boat or helicopter.

She explains how to get there, why this is one of the best places to hike in New Zealand, and where to stay pre- and post your hike. 

Also, an Australian city has for the first time made the top 50 best cities list by Time Out. Find out where it is, and we give our personal recommendations of some of the best things to do while you're there!

And, love to travel but don't want to leave your furry friend behind? We have the rundown of the best places around the country for those wanting to travel with their pooch.

Check out some of the stunning images and footage of Kirstie's trip here. 

Find out more here: https://www.wildernessguidesnz.com/sea-kayaking/3-day-bike-hike-kayak-combo/ and here: https://marlboroughnz.com/

The full list of Time Out’s 50 Best Cities 2026 can be found here.

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She's the queen of the roadtrip, and bestselling author and travel writer Lee Atkinson joins us to talk about her latest adventure, motorbiking across the European Alps. 

A self-described 'pillion princess', Lee and husband Bill shipped their Suzuki V-Strom tourer to the UK to ride 10,000km through the mountains over three months. Lee shares the trials of ultra-light packing and the joys of kevlar jeans. 

Her latest book, Ultimate Backroads & Detours: Australia is for lovers of road trips, but haters of traffic, and is out now. Visit leeatkinson.com.au
  ​
Also, some personal anecdotes about getting out of the Middle East as war takes hold of the region, and the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA) says not to panic-cancel your upcoming European trip.

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This week, we are taking you through the colourful, decadent, sordid, and scandalous histories of famous hotels with D'Etta and Yael, hosts of the Hotel History podcast.

They launched the podcast to explore the history of hotels and their interplay with culture, society and politics.

We talk about some of the most interesting hotels they have covered, from the haunted to the downright bizarre. 

Find the Hotel History podcast here: www.hotelhistorypodcast.com

Also, Money.com research has revealed Aussies are saving big by using frequent flyer points – we look into what the research shows and how you can save using frequent flyer points.

And, we chat about Southern Cross Travel Insurance's latest data on travel insurance claims, how much we are claiming, and why monkeys keep popping up as an ongoing problem. 

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Audio editing by Alaisdair Leith. You can follow him here

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This week, we’re launching our new segment, Hot Take! Kirstie and Belle are hacking out lost travel experiences - things you may have done in a former travelling life but are now no longer possible. Let’s wallow in the nostalgia!

Think climbing the Pyramids, or smoking on planes; just how golden was the Golden Age of Travel? What about animal interactions such as elephant rides, or scrambling up the metal poles that led to the top of Uluru. Some travel experiences are lost because they were simply bad, others because we’ve thought twice about them and realised that we may just be treading all over someone else’s beliefs and culture. 

Also, let’s talk about Virtual Packing – how you pack your electronic documents so they’re safe when you're on the road. And don’t forget to enter our competition to win a crime novel by Andrea Barton – enter on our instagram or facebook page; just like, follow and tag. 

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Andrea Barton started her career as an electrical engineer, but when her husband was offered a job overseas, it changed the entire course of her career.

Now award-winning author of the Jade Riley Mysteries, owner of a book editing company called Brightside Story Studio, and Vice President of the Mansfield Readers & Writers festival, Andrea bases all her books on the places she has lived around the world. 

From Nigeria, the US and Qatar to Melbourne, we chat about why these destinations are so pivotal to the stories she tells, and she has some writing advice for those who want to follow in her footsteps. Follow Andrea at https://andreabartonauthor.com/.

Enter our giveaway to win one of two of Andrea's books by clicking here.

Also, Skyscanner has launched what it calls the 'Cheapest Destination Planner' to help you plan a trip on the cheap. We chat about how to use it and what it offers, and our tip this week is about what to do to avoid diseases when you travel, with some top advice from Smartraveller.

Australia's newest luxury travel magazine, which Kirstie will edit, is here: https://karryon.com.au/luxury/karryon-launches-luxury-travel-magazine/

Skyscanner's Cheapest Destination Planner is here: https://www.skyscanner.com.au/travel-trends/cheap

The Smartraveller link we mentioned is here: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/managing-risk-infectious-disease-when-you-travel

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Audio editing by Alaisdair Leith. You can follow him here

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Before he founded the Peninsula Hot Springs on the Mornington Peninsula, 21 years ago, Charles Davidson began exploring thermal springs sites around the world.

His quest has now taken him to 57 countries to explore their bathing cultures, from Iran to Japan, Tanzania to Yemen.

"I really wanted to understand that hot springs had nothing to do with money or wealth, it was all to do with nature and human connection," says Charles of his experiences in Yemen, one of the world's poorest countries. "The gift from mother Earth is universal." 

Listen as Charles shares some truly unique and beautiful experiences in hot water. See peninsulahotsprings.com

Also, we talk about the changes to entry to the UK and Ireland for dual citizens, and the UK's new Electronic Travel Authorisation. 

And finally, let us save your skin! With airplane cabins drier than the Sahara desert, it's no surprise to learn flying ages your skin. We're here to help, along with some expert advice from health and wellness expert Dr Vincent. 

Register here for Karryon's TravMedia webinar, which Kirstie refers to: travmedia.com/meetsaus/karryon

The bathing locations Charles mentions in this episode include:

NT Bitter Springs, Mataranka nt.gov.au/parks/find-a-park/elsey-national-park/bitter-springs 

SA Dalhousie Springs southaustralia.com/products/flinders-ranges-and-outback/attraction/dalhousie-springs-witjira-national-park 

NZ Maruia Hot Springs maruiahotsprings.nz/  

JAPAN Kusatsu onsen visit-gunma.jp/en/discover/destinations/kusatsu/ 

INDIA Kheerganga hot springs, Himchal Pradesh

IRAN Gavmish Goli hot springs, Sareyn

YEMEN Damt thermal springs

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Audio editing by Alaisdair Leith, you can follow him here

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This week, we're chatting with UTracks hiking guide Jaclyn Beagley, who leads guests along the Le Puy Camino, also known as the French Camino. 

Jaclyn talks about why you should consider the French section of the Camino, and what it offers that differs from other hikes in the network of ancient pilgrimage routes across Europe.

We also chat about the historic house she bought in Umbria, and she has some top tips for those considering buying a European holiday home.

Also, we cover the latest report from Omio about Europe’s fastest-growing, lesser-known hotspots, and our tip this week is about discovering what’s new on the Sunshine Coast, including its first new-build all-service hotel in more than three decades.

Omio travel report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QTceRcvMLOWwRSxKkX5dRo8UgUY0-LMs/view

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Bushwalker.  Author. Advocate. Rescuer. 

Our guest this week is Caro Ryan, who has just been awarded an Order of Australia Medal for 14 years of service in bushwalking safety and community support in the Australia Day Honours 2026. 

Caro leads a 60-person strong specialist Bush Search and Rescue team for the NSW SES in the Blue Mountains, where she lives. And her book, How to Navigate teaches people just that - the art of navigation and map reading, which she says is essential for safe bushwalking and getting people outdoors, connected to and caring for nature. 

Caro runs navigation courses including the upcoming Introduction to Navigation with Caro Ryan: Flinders Island Edition with Tasmanian Expeditions. And we ask for her best one-day and multi-day walks in Australia and overseas. See lotsafreshair.com 

Also, we announce the winners of our giveaway of two of the best travel hat ever (tried and tested by the podcast team!) Tune in to listen to see if you won a Bahama Flexibraid Fedora by Australian designer Tina M Copenhagen!

And finally, Airbnb reveals five travel trends that it says will dominate 2026 and our tip this week is about discovering what's new in Victoria this coming year. Whew! 

Read Belle's forecasts in the Australian Financial Review: https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/travel/the-best-restaurants-hotels-and-happenings-coming-to-victoria-in-2026-20260106-p5ns67 

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