Travel Writers Radio has been ranked 8 in the World’s Top 100 Travel Podcasts

This is huge recognition for Travel Writers Radio, as Host Graeme Kemlo explains.

“We received an official email last week informing us that Travel Writers Radio has been rated as one of the World’s Top 100 Travel Podcasts And not only that, our little radio show from down under has been ranked #8 in the world. We are honoured to be recognised up near guys like Rick Steves who has been broadcasting on travel for a lot longer than Travel Writers Radio.. We reckon that’s petty cool.”

View the full list at Feedspot’s Top 100 Travel Podcasts

Recently, our Sydney-based correspondent Bridgett Leslie left Australia to live and work in New York City. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to call her this week and ask how she is acclimatising to the Big Apple…sounds like she’s fitting right in, as she moves in to an apartment on Wall Street.

Tune in to listen to our reporter Bridgett Leslie in conversation with Graeme Kemlo.

Photo: Bridgett Leslie gets to know the neighbours – New York Stock Exchange.

Reporter Carolyne Jasinski was last heard of heading into the central Australian outback on a solo trip in a four-wheel drive, with a two-way radio and a personal locator beacon for safety.

We at Travel Writers Radio were a bit apprehensive about this off-road experience. As it turns out, so was she.

Carolyne saw few motorists en route but dozens of wild brumbies roaming free, and she she has lived to tell the tale as she explains to Graeme Kemlo.

Photo by Carolyne Jasinski – Unusual road traffic hazard – the outback brumbies roam freely.

Flying to Europe is quite a journey; so the decision on the airline as well as the day that you choose to fly is important.

I live in Melbourne and I prefer to fly with one of the three Middle Eastern airlines operating out of Melbourne Airport.  Their flight times and routings suit my personal travel patterns. They all depart late, somewhere between 7.30pm and 3.00am and the longest leg (almost 14 hours) is the first one.  I get on board after a full day; then enjoy a late dinner, a drink, a movie and with luck I then sleep for up to eight hours.  I arrive in the Middle East in time for breakfast, after which it’s only a short eight hour daylight flight to my destination.  As I arrive in the middle of the day, I find the transition to local time is easier because of the shorter time span before I revert to a “normal” sleep pattern.

Friday is my favourite day for business travel, as I end one working week at home and start another overseas, and that works best for me.  On holiday it is less important but I prefer flying midweek (Tuesday – Thursday) as it often less crowded on board and because I arrive in the middle of a working day, which can mean less crowds and traffic on arrival.

Whoever you choose to fly with make sure that you pick the airline and the departure day that works best for you.

Using your iPhone or other smart phone overseas can cost a fortune due to the way they use data, and the cost of data roaming. Every time your iPhone checks for emails it can cost you over ten dollars, and your phone will do this every minute unless you make changes to your settings!  Bills of over $3,000 are not uncommon for unsuspecting travellers accessing data overseas.

For example an average 1GB movie downloaded from iTunes, charged at a standard data roaming rate of $20 per MB will end up costing you over $20,000!

The key tips to reduce your data roaming charges are: Stick to the basics – only do the minimum required on your smartphone and make sure that you keep data roaming switched off, and only turn it on when you actually want to connect to the Internet.  Use free Wi-Fi hotspots wherever possible. Popular cafes, restaurants and hotels often have free wifi available, especially in the USA and throughout Europe, McDonalds is a great spot for a coffee and a Wi-Fi session.

Buy a prepaid roaming simcard before you leave home, you will get one number and one sim and will save up to 80% on your global roaming bill in over 190 countries. Simply swap sim cards and save. Business options where you are contactable on your number are usually available as well.

There is something about air travel that gets me in, I am not sure exactly what it is but it starts at the airport where I like to check in early, and take my time through the process. I don’t like being rushed or racing through the departure area as the final call announcements are being made. I am happy to sit in the airline lounge or the departure area for a couple of hours, and soak it all in, whilst my wife browses the duty free shopping precinct.
I also believe that the best way to get that elusive and unexpected upgrade is to get there early and to “be ready”! Airlines are more likely to upgrade passengers who have checked in on time, than those who are late. They also tend to favour passengers who are well presented and smartly but comfortably dressed. Airlines will, of course, upgrade loyal clients first, so the higher your status with the airline you fly with the better.
The age old question is do you ask? The correct answer is that depends! On your history with that airline and whether you already have been told that an upgrade “may be possible”. If you think it might be there then ask, the worst they can say is no and they may well say yes. A word though, if it is no, then accept it, do not make a fuss about being promised it would be there, that is a no-no. Do that and believe me, your card could well be marked for life depending on how much fuss you create. It is not worth it.
If you get one, say thank-you and enjoy it, quietly and without making a great fuss, that way you may well get another one on a future flight.

Arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport, after 24 plus hours travelling from Oz; produces all sorts of emotions and those emotions affect almost everything that happens over the next few days.  Most of us arrive gritty and tired, and in need of a long hot shower; we are also a tad disorientated and grumpy.  Which is why choosing you arrival time is so important; and no I do not mean the actual hour you arrive, that for the most part is beyond your control.  I mean the day you arrive relative to what you are doing next.

I have often been asked “what is the best day to fly?” Short of the quick glib answer; the day of the cheapest fare, I guess it really does depend on what you are doing when you get there.  If you are flying to the UK on business then in my view you need at least two sleeps to prepare.  So to work on Monday arrive on Saturday morning, spend the day quietly getting settled have a good night’s sleep, have a normal day on Sunday then catch up on some more sleep and you are ready to face the world.  When you are on holiday you may need less recovery time, but then you should be less rushed so you can afford to take more time.  Whatever day you fly, pick the one that suits your personal schedule and your body clock best.