You should have been there

Enjoy our latest head-to-head: Scottish Island versus Greek Island. Which is the better holiday destination? Simon is on location in Lerwick, while Zante's champion is Julia Lo Bue-Said, Chief Executive Officer of the Advantage Travel Partnership

We showcase listeners' suggestions for travelling situations that warrant inclusion in our TRAVEL OLYMPICS. Plus a head to head contest between Zimbabawe and Zambia for the "worth visiting" medal. 

With Simon reporting live from sunny St Pancras station, we attempt to navigate the latest twists and turns in the government's controversial "traffic light" travel scheme. And it's Slovenia (colourful capital: Ljubljana ) versus Slovakia (world's most castles!) in our new Olympic travel competition.  

This edition is all about listener's formative travel experiences- from a first distant view of the Himalayas to a wild camping trip to Pembrokeshire. Special thanks are due to Rebecca and to Dr John Mason. 

Never mind those space billionaires, we are joined by a much more knowledgeable guest to talk about eclipses, meteor showers, Northern Lights and other heavenly phenomena. Dr John Mason MBE, astronomer extraordinaire, discusses what to look out for and and where best to see it. You can find out more about his work by searching online for the "South Downs Planetarium"

What was your first trip aboard like? Where did you go? Did anything amazing happen? Simon and Mick compare their first times and their memories, but we want to know about your experiences. Do get in touch by audio message on Anchor.fm/youshouldhavebeenthere or via Twitter: @youshouldhaveBt

We discuss the sometimes surprising delights of the world's underground railway systems and make a spurious case for claiming Gareth Southgate as one of our own.  

We attempt to hack our way through the red tape and labyrinthine protocols surrounding foreign travel. Fortunately we are joined by an expert guide, Julia Lo Bue-Said, who is chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership-the UK's largest group of independent travel agents.  Follow Julia on Twitter at @jlo_said 

The heart of any self-respecting town or city is its square. So which is the world's best square, what are the essential ingredients for a good one and why are we in the UK so bad at them? Simon offers his opinions from the not very renowned Kings Cross Square in London though I thought the Piazza del Duomo in Pisa was a bit more photogenic!  

Mick's prejudices about the world's largest country are robustly challenged by Simon and the travel writer and photographer, Frances Linzee Gordon. Enjoy her tales of smiling policemen, two-way mirrors and learning to fire a Kalashnikov.