AI is transforming the way we travel, from how we plan our trips to how we book hotels and trains. But is it really sustainable?

In this solo episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken explores the climate footprint of artificial intelligence and its growing role in tourism. From ChatGPT to Gemini, she looks at how AI tools can both harm and help our planet - AND how travelers can use them responsibly.

We break down:

• How much energy AI actually consumes compared to Google
• Tips on how to use ChatGPT to plan your sustainable travel
• What travelers can do to limit the footprint of their tech use
• How AI can improve route planning, eco-hotel booking & local experiences
• Tools like EasyTrips, Biliki AI, GoodWings, Exploreo and Komoot making travel greener
• Why AI might one day fix its own carbon problem
• The balance between tech innovation and climate anxiety

This episode is for curious travelers, digital nomads, and eco-conscious listeners who want to explore smarter, without guilt.

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Have you ever imagined camping for free in someone’s backyard? In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Manon from "Welcome To My Garden", the Belgian non-profit platform that connects travelers with locals who offer their gardens as camping spots.

Together, we talk about how the project started, why it’s revolutionizing slow travel, and what it means for the future of sustainable tourism in Europe. Clara also shares her own experience cycling across Belgium and staying at Welcome To My Garden spots.

📌 In this episode:

• How Welcome To My Garden was born and what it stands for
• Why free camping empowers both locals and travelers
• The rise of community-led sustainable travel
• How to find or host your own garden on the platform
• Lessons learned from cycling from Belgium to Tokyo
• How small ideas can reshape tourism systems
• Difference between Welcome To My Garden and campsites or courchsurfing
• Future goals for the community

Whether you’re a cyclist, hiker, or just someone who loves meaningful travel, this episode will inspire you to slow down and reconnect, with nature and people.

🎧 Episode 44 of Travel Devil is out now on all podcast platforms!

sustainable travel • slow travel podcast • welcome to my garden • WTMG • eco travel • belgium travel • free camping europe • green travel ideas • cycling in belgium • responsible tourism • community-based travel • travel differently • backyard camping • local travel tips • travel devil podcast • clara francken podcast 

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When we think about sustainable travel, we often picture avoiding flights or packing eco-friendly gear. But what if the real danger lies in something we can’t even see - in microplastics?

In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Dana Zhaxylykova, a microplastic researcher from Kazakhstan and co-founder of the Microplastic Free app, about how travel habits contribute to microplastic pollution. We discuss topics from tire dust on roads to the “paper” cups we drink from on planes.

Dana shares her journey from the Aral Sea region to studying microplastics across Europe, uncovering how even our most “harmless” travel routines leave invisible traces behind.

In this episode we cover:

• How microplastics form and why they’re dangerous
• The hidden microplastics in airplanes, buses, and tires
• Why a “recyclable” coffee cup might not be so innocent
• The truth about plastic water bottles and travel gear
• What fabrics shed microplastics and which ones are good alternatives
• How to reduce plastic waste when traveling
• Are bioplastics and silicone really better alternatives?
• The impact of laundry and clothing on plastic pollution
• Why microplastics affect every ecosystem, even how it reacts in snow
• Practical tips for sustainable, low-plastic travel

Episode 42 of Travel Devil is out now on all podcast platforms.

More of Dana’s work:

• Connect with Dana on Instagram
• Check out her Microplastic Free App

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When you think of traveling through Southeast Asia, do you imagine hopping on a quick flight between islands?  In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Eva Werners from Eva & The Planet to talk about the real side of slow and sustainable travel in Thailand and Laos.

Eva shares her stories from night buses, VIP buses, overnight trains, and the legendary two-day slow boat along the Mekong River. Together we dive into what it means to travel like a local and why the bus so often beats the train.

In this episode you’ll hear about:

• Buses vs. trains in Thailand & Laos: which one truly works better
• Difference between the VIP bus,
• The reality of the famous two-day slow boat on the Mekong River
• Why locals often choose buses over trains
• The ups & downs of night buses and night trains
• Lessons learned from long, unpredictable journeys
• VIP Night Bus (Bangkok–Chiang Mai) vs the Standard Night Bus (Bangkok–Chiang Mai)
• Day Buses vs Minibuses (Chiang Mai–Pai)
• Long-Distance Buses vs the new train in Laos

Whether you’re planning a trip to Thailand or Laos, or just curious about slow, conscious travel, this episode will inspire you to rethink how you move across borders.

More from Eva:
Website: evaandtheplanet.com
Instagram: @evaandtheplanet

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From documenting the world’s largest sailing ship, the Royal Clipper, to walking on mega cruise liners with thousands of passengers, Joe Sills has seen both sides of the ocean travel spectrum. 

In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken sits down with Joe Sills, journalist and photographer, to dig into one of travel’s most controversial industries: cruises. Together, they explore the environmental cost of cruising, the rise of greenwashing in tourism, and whether sailing ships and boutique cruises could offer a better way forward.

What we cover in this episode:

• The difference between mega cruise ships and sailing vessels
• What responsible travel means in 2025
• How small-scale cruises support local economies (and why mega ships can overwhelm them)
• CO₂ emissions of cruise ships vs airplanes and trains
• Why Antarctica should be a no-go for mass cruises
• Greenwashing in the cruise industry and how to spot red flags
• Alternatives: local sailing yachts, small river cruises, boutique ships
• Joe’s Arctic expedition experience, and how climate change cut it short
• Practical tips on how to pick a more sustainable cruise

If you’ve ever wondered “are cruises worse than flying?”, or if sailing ships could really be a sustainable option compared to regular cruises, this episode gives you a deep dive into the truth.

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How do you survive as a vegetarian traveler in a world where menus are often heavy on meat? And what’s the real story behind eco-tourism and “green” hotels? 

In this episode of Travel Devil, I sit down with Caroline from VeggieWayFarer, a sustainable travel blogger who has been exploring the world as a vegetarian for years. She shares her best hacks for finding veggie-friendly food on the road, why eco-hotels are more than just a buzzword, and how conscious choices can transform the way we travel.

We talk about:

• Best and worse countries for being vegetarian abroad
• How one becomes vegetarian, and how to stay one
• Eco-hotels and whether they really live up to the promise
• What eco-tourism actually means (beyond marketing)
• The link between sustainability and authentic travel experiences
• Why small choices (like what we eat & where we stay) matter for the planet
• Tips for making travel conscious but still fun and spontaneous

We cover everything from food tips to choosing accommodations that actually respect the planet. Whether you’re a seasoned vegetarian, a curious flexitarian, or simply interested in more sustainable ways to explore the world, this episode is packed with insights you can use on your next trip.

Connect with the Caroline, the girl behind VeggieWayFarer:

• VeggieWayFarer Instagram
• VeggieWayFarer Blog

vegetarian travel tips · vegetarian food abroad · eco-tourism explained · sustainable travel podcast · eco-hotels · veggie travel hacks · plant-based travel · sustainable tourism trends · conscious travel choices · Travel Devil podcast

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In this episode of Travel Devil, host Clara Francken talks to Julia Weigert from Soulwisdom about her transformative journey through life, travel, and spirituality. Julia shares how her own challenges led her to create Soulwisdom, a platform helping people reconnect with themselves and find deeper meaning in their lives.

We dive into her experiences living abroad, how travel shaped her spiritual path, and the lessons she’s learned about trusting intuition, slowing down, and embracing the unknown. Julia also gives insights into creating more soul-aligned travel experiences and how connecting with different cultures can inspire inner growth.

Whether you’re curious about self-discovery, spirituality, or mindful travel, this conversation will leave you inspired to follow your inner compass.

Connect with Julia: @soul_wisdom_by_julia

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Ever dreamed of cycling across Finland? In this episode of Travel Devil, Clara Francken chats with Henna Palosaari from Bikeland about one of Europe’s most stunning long-distance cycling routes — the EuroVelo 10, also known as the Baltic Sea Cycle Route.

We cover everything from riding along Finland’s beautiful coastlines to exploring Lapland’s wild nature by bike. Henna shares tips on how to plan your trip, the best seasons to ride, how the EuroVelo 10 connects to Finland’s wider Bikeland network, and what makes Finland a unique cycling destination.

We talked about…

• What makes Finland a dream cycling destination
• The EuroVelo 10 / Baltic Sea Cycle Route across Finland 
• Cycling in Lapland vs the southern coastline 
• How to plan your own bike trip in Finland 
• The best seasons for cycling here
• Go-to resource for routes & tips
• Taking the ferry by bicycle
• Taking the train by bicycle
• Sustainable travel & supporting local communities

Whether you’re an experienced bikepacker or just dreaming about your first cycling holiday, you’ll get practical insights, inspiring stories, and reasons why Finland should be your next adventure.

More about today's episode:

• EuroVelo 10 route
• Bikeland website
• @hennapalosaari on Instagram

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In this solo episode of Travel Devil, your host Clara Francken takes you on a journey through memory lane. All the way from hometown Ghent to the seaside, to Christmas markets in Germany. Clara reflects on why she loves train travel, how it shaped her growing up, and shares a few of her favorite (and funniest) moments on the rails, including a sweet story told directly by her grandma.

This episode is about the beauty of slow travel, the joy of strangers, and why we shouldn’t let angry internet comments take away the magic of meaningful moments.

What to Expect in This Episode:

• A personal reflection on growing up with trains in Belgium
• Why Belgian train systems feel so unique (and easy!)
• A heartwarming train story told by my grandmother
• A conductor with an incense cone in a "Räucherhäuschen"
• Christmas cheer in the Erzgebirgsbahn to Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany
• Going viral online and how it (almost) ruined a magical moment
• Why train travel is about more than just getting from A to B
• A reminder to share your own positive travel stories

Please rate the show wherever you listen to your podcast! 🙏

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In this episode, we’re diving into the world of dolphins, whales, and what it really means to observe marine life responsibly. Guest Joana Castro is marine biologist and founder of AIMM – Marine Environment Research Association. She has spent over two decades researching cetaceans (whales and dolphins) along the coast of Portugal and beyond.

We often think of dolphin and whale watching as harmless, even educational, but Joana reveals why that’s not always the case. From noise pollution to chemical contamination, and from plastic to tourism overload, this conversation sheds light on how human presence, even well-meaning tourists, can deeply affect marine mammals.

She also shares the inspiring story of how seeing dolphins as a child shaped her career, what AIMM is doing to bridge research and conservation, and how tourists like you can spot red flags and make better choices.

In this episode, we talked about:

• Why whale and dolphin watching isn’t always ethical
• The science behind dolphin and whale sensitivity to noise
• Different types of pollution (noise, chemical, plastic) and their impact
• Red flags to watch for when booking wildlife tours
• How AIMM collects data, and why it matters for conservation
• The complex role of marine parks: harm, hope, and potential
• How to identify a responsible tour operator as a traveler
• What keeps Joana motivated after 20+ years in the field

Whether you're passionate about marine life or simply planning a trip involving the ocean, this episode offers real insight, clear solutions, and powerful motivation.

🎧 Listen now on all podcast platforms
🔗 More about AIMM: https://www.aimmportugal.org

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