Travel Goals Podcast

Do you love a breakfast buffet feast when you're travelling? In this episode, we're chatting about why hotel buffets are brilliant with TV personality Sam Thompson. He's best known for his role on the E4 reality show Made in Chelsea, appearing on our TV screens since 2013. You might have also seen him on Celebs Go Dating and Celebrity Big Brother.

Sam discusses why starting your day with a selection of eggs, fruits, pastries, juices, teas, and coffees in unlimited portions provides the perfect fuel for a long day of sightseeing on your travels and why he goes back up to the buffet multiple times!

Through his television work, Sam has travelled to some incredible places and he's currently working with Hotels.com on their new campaign to find their first-ever 'Chief Buffet Officer', we chat about why hotel breakfasts are awesome, along with what it's like to travel with a TV crew and what makes a great hotel stay?

If the buffet breakfast is one of your favourite parts of a holiday, then Sam has all the details on the dream job for you!

A 'Chief Buffet Officer' role means you get to stay in hotels around the world for free, and all you need to do is review the breakfast options when you wake up in the morning. How amazing is that?

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Head to Hotels.com now to find out more on how to enter and of course, to book your next holiday!

Make sure to also connect with Sam on Instagram – @samthompsonuk to follow his hotel and travel adventures around the world.

Don't forget to also check out our show sponsor - RoomSteals and use the coupon code travelgoals to save 20% on a RoomSteals subscription.

For show notes, head to travelgoalspodcast.com

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Hi, I'm your podcast host, Pip Jones, [also known as Portia Jones] and I'm a freelance travel writer, podcaster and presenter. I've travelled extensively around the world and I'm available for hire for writing and podcasting. You can see my online travel journalism portfolio here.

Are you a destination or travel brand that wants to sponsor the Travel Goals Podcast? Email me to discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities on Travel Goals.

Make sure to connect with me online as well, I'm @travelgoalspod and @pip_says on Twitter and @pipsays and @travelgoalspodcast on Instagram.

If you love the show and would like to support Travel Goals, I'm a huge fan of vanilla lattes, you can buy me a coffee online so that I can stay well caffeinated for the show.

Enjoy the podcast!

Just how do you make friends when you travel? Do you just walk up to someone and say hi? In this episode, we take a deep dive with travel pros on how to make friends when you travel.

One of my favourite things about travel is that you can meet different people from all over the world that perhaps we would never normally encounter back home? From locals to other travellers on the road, there's always someone new to talk to and make a connection with, but is it really that easy?

It can feel a little daunting to approach strangers when we're on our travels and strike up a conversation. I spoke to a range of travel experts about their experiences of meeting new people on the road, whether they are locals or fellow wanderers. We discuss everything from group travel, making online connections and how to form meaningful friendships as a solo traveller.

Make sure to check out our show sponsor - RoomSteals and use the coupon code travelgoals to save 20% on a RoomSteals subscription.

For show notes, head to travelgoalspodcast.com

***

Hi, I'm your podcast host, Pip Jones, [also known as Portia Jones] and I'm a freelance travel writer, podcaster and presenter. I've travelled extensively around the world and I'm available for hire for writing and podcasting. You can see my online travel journalism portfolio here.

Are you a destination or travel brand that wants to sponsor the Travel Goals Podcast? Email me to discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities on Travel Goals.

Make sure to connect with me online as well, I'm @travelgoalspod and @pip_says on Twitter and @pipsays and @travelgoalspodcast on Instagram.

If you love the show and would like to support Travel Goals, I'm a huge fan of vanilla lattes, you can buy me a coffee online so that I can stay well caffeinated for the show.

Enjoy the podcast!

What exactly is slow travel and why is it a growing travel trend? In this episode, we take a deep dive into slow travel with Cat Jones, the founder and CEO of Byway, which offers flight-free holidays. We discuss how slow travel is an immersive approach to more sustainable and reflective travel. It's a type of travel that emphasizes connection to a destination through people, cultures, food and leisurely journeys.

We also chat about how slow travel is an emerging travel trend, how companies can avoid greenwashing and how we as travellers can take small steps to become more mindful and eco-friendly in our adventures.

For show notes, head to travelgoalspodcast.com

***

Hi, I'm your podcast host, Pip Jones, [also known as Portia Jones] and I'm a freelance travel writer, podcaster and presenter. I've travelled extensively around the world and I'm available for hire for writing and podcasting. You can see my online travel journalism portfolio here.

Are you a destination or travel brand that wants to sponsor the Travel Goals Podcast? Email me to discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities on Travel Goals.

Make sure to connect with me online as well, I'm @travelgoalspod and @pip_says on Twitter and @pipsays and @travelgoalspodcast on Instagram.

If you love the show and would like to support Travel Goals, I'm a huge fan of vanilla lattes, you can buy me a coffee online so that I can stay well caffeinated for the show.

Enjoy the podcast!

Ever wondered if group travel is right for you? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the pros and cons of group travel with Brian Young, the MD of adventure travel company G Adventures.

We chat about the positives of small-group tours and if group travel is right for you? How G Adventure creates tours by building meaningful relationships with local communities and how group travel can directly benefit the people and places we visit.

With over 30 years of experience, Brian's career in the travel sector has taken him from a bright-eyed 19-year-old club rep, working for Club 18-30 to Managing Director of G Adventures across the EMEA region.

Brian joined G adventures in 2015 as he was drawn to its unique approach to purpose-driven travel, wide portfolio of tours and travel styles and ambitious company growth.

He gives a brilliant insight into group travel, how we can travel better and why we must positively give back to the people and places we visit.

For show notes, head to travelgoalspodcast.com

***

Hi, I'm your podcast host, Pip Jones, [also known as Portia Jones] and I'm a freelance travel writer, podcaster and presenter. I've travelled extensively around the world and I'm available for hire for writing and podcasting. You can see my online travel journalism portfolio here.

Are you a destination or travel brand that wants to sponsor the Travel Goals Podcast? Email me to discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities on Travel Goals.

Make sure to connect with me online as well, I'm @travelgoalspod and @pip_says on Twitter and @pipsays and @travelgoalspodcast on Instagram.

If you love the show and would like to support Travel Goals, I'm a huge fan of vanilla lattes, you can buy me a coffee online so that I can stay well caffeinated for the show.

Enjoy the podcast!

Learn the best travel hacking secrets with travel expert Nate Ritter. Travel hacking is how savvy travellers save lots of money on travel. It's more than just finding a "deal online, it's a state of mind! In this episode, Nate talks about the best strategies to earn airline miles and hotel points and the best ways to redeem those points, to get free travel, upgrades, and elite status.

Nate is a travel expert, who first got started in 2007 when he was able to fly & stay in Paris for just $300. This super budget travel experience sparked his interest in all things travel hacking through miles, points and finding special deals. On the show, he explains in detail, how you can also start travel hacking and saving money right now.

Nate's been a tech executive and entrepreneur for most of his career, consulting for companies like Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, and Land Rover. He also spends his time building and running his own companies like Perfect Space and Room Steals. When he's not consulting or building his own companies, Nate also helps others like Eventful.com and Hotels for Hope build teams, execute visions, and to scale.

We chat about how you can save tons of money on hotels and flights using a variety of travel hacks and tricks to keep your travels cost-effective. We also take a deep dive into travel technology and whether it enhances or takes away from your travels.

Nate also talks about how and why he founded RoomSteals. A money-saving chrome extension that shows you if a cheaper price for the hotel you're already looking at exists, saving you lots of money on your hotel stays. There's even a special coupon for a RoomSteals subscription, exclusive for Travel Goals listeners, so listen out for it in the show.

***

Hi, I'm your podcast host, Pip Jones, [also known as Portia Jones] and I'm a freelance travel writer, podcaster and presenter. I've travelled extensively around the world and i'm available for hire for writing and podcasting. You can see my online travel journalism portfolio here.

Are you a destination or travel brand that wants to sponsor the Travel Goals Podcast? Email me to discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities on Travel Goals.

Make sure to connect with me online as well, I'm @travelgoalspod and @pip_says on Twitter.

If you love the show and would like to support Travel Goals, I'm a huge fan of vanilla lattes, you can buy me a coffee online so that I can stay well caffeinated for the show.

Enjoy the podcast!

Want to learn more about creating your own travel challenge? We chat about incredible travel challenges and writing on the road with Simon Parker. Simon is a travel writer and broadcaster who has reported from over a hundred countries by the age of 33 for The Telegraph, The Independent and the BBC.

He has sailed and cycled halfway around the world from China to London, driven a rickshaw the length of India, and is currently cycling 3,000 miles around Britain for an article and video series for the Telegraph.

In this episode, Simon talks about his many incredible adventures and travel challenges around the world. He also talks about the highs and lows of writing and broadcasting on the road, how he broke into journalism and how you can create your own travel challenge.

You can read more about Simon's adventures on his website, or check out his articles in the Telegraph Travel section.

***

Hi, I'm your podcast host, Pip Jones, [also known as Portia Jones] and I'm a freelance travel writer, podcaster and presenter. I've travelled extensively around the world and i'm available for hire for writing and podcasting. You can see my online travel journalism portfolio here.

Are you a destination or travel brand that wants to sponsor the Travel Goals Podcast? Email me to discuss sponsorship and advertising opportunities on Travel Goals.

Make sure to connect with me online as well, I'm @travelgoalspod and @pip_says on Twitter.

If you love the show and would like to support Travel Goals, I'm a huge fan of vanilla lattes, you can buy me a coffee online so that I can stay well caffeinated for the show.

Enjoy the podcast!

How can we support and elevate women in the hotel and travel industry? On this episode, we're talking about women in leadership in the hotel industry with Caroline Klein, Chief Communications Officer for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest, independent hotel brand.

Caroline takes a deep dive into a range of topics including women in the workplace, female role models in the hotel and travel industry and how Preferred Hotels & Resorts champion female leadership?

We also talk about the challenges of getting more women in leadership positions in the hotel industry and how women supporting women is vital in all industries.

As Chief Communications Officer for Preferred Hotels & Resorts, Caroline leads corporate positioning efforts, managing the company's reputation through consistent messaging across all touchpoints; developing new and enhanced communications strategies, and overseeing all aspects of corporate communications.

During her time with Preferred, Caroline has orchestrated extensive campaigns that have successfully elevated the company's industry profile, strengthened brand integrity, and increased awareness of the company and its client portfolio among media audiences worldwide.

Ross Jennings is on an incredible, Celtic musical adventure to play the bagpipes in every country of the world in a world record attempt!

In this episode, we talk about how Ross first began his musical adventure and the challenges of travelling full time with an instrument and pipers attire.

We also talk about how he finances his adventures, how he found a niche income stream whilst on the road and how you can start planning your very own travel challenge.

Ross also documents his adventures on social media and has built a loyal following with his dramatic piping pictures in incredibly scenic places around the world. Make sure to connect with him online, so that you can follow his piping adventures.

On this episode, we chat about challenging travel perceptions with travel writer and TRLT Twitter chat founder, Shane Dallas. In this lively discussion, we talk about perceptions vs reality in travel destinations, what perceptions are most problematic to a destination, politics and travel and what holds people back from travel and how the travel industry and travel writers can help with this hesitation?

With more than 30 years of experience in both public speaking and travel photography, Shane Dallas inspires people around the world to explore the road less travelled.

He actively promotes places away from the usual tourist routes on his website and social media.

Shane has photographed more than 100 countries and has delivered speeches across five continents.

He can be found presenting about travel, tourism, photography and Social Media at trade shows and conferences. Shane is Conference Director for both TBEX Europe and TBEX Asia- the world's largest and oldest conference for online travel media and content creators.

Shane is the founder of TRLT - the Road Less Travelled weekly Twitter chat. TRLT is one of the world's most successful travel Twitter chats and is a place for travellers to share their adventures.

Listen now to take a deep dive into challenging travel perceptions.

What does it take to build a successful digital travel radio station? On this episode, we talk to Travel.Radio director and presenter Leo Jones, who you may recognise from the popular ITV Docusoap Airline, which aired from 1998 to 2007. This flagship show showcased the daily happenings of passengers, ground workers and flight crew of EasyJet.

We get into what it's like to be a radio presenter, as we are both presenters on Travel.Radio, how to convey destinations and travel inspiration through the medium of audio, and how radio and podcasts are key media partners for the travel industry going ahead?

Travel.Radio which is an industry-first global radio station playing music 24hours, available on your smart speaker, online and APP for everyone that loves the world of travel.

Tune in to learn more about how to build a digital radio station and how radio and podcasts can bring the world of travel to listeners at home.