Maldives on a Budget
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) In March 2025, me and my travel buddy Laura surprisingly went to Maldives for four nights. Given I'm a budget backpacker who can't swim and gets bored easily, we figured it would make a great concept for a podcast. Very few people think of Maldives as a budget backpacker destination, and we thought we'd talk about how we managed to visit without spending the world. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Why on earth would I go to Maldives * Maldives is small, flat, hot, and ... full of Russians? * Budget travel around Maldives * - mainly on the beach * Budget accommodation in...
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Festivals (Music and Beer)
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This podcast is on Festivals, and as we're coming up to the season where people are likely planning their summer, this feels quite pertinent. It came off the back of my episode from last year about Travelling For Music, where I got a couple of contribs that made me think a dedicated episode on festivals would be a good idea. Topics discussed in this episode are: * The weather in 2012 * The delights of camping * My history of attenting festivals (, , ) * Music festivals in town centres * Local beer festivals * The Great British Beer Festival * Volunteering at festivals * The...
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In which I realise why Paraguay has few guidebooks dedicated to it
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This episode details the second half of my 2-week backpacking trip around South America in October 2024 - this one covers Iguzau Falls and Paraguay. Because everyone wants to go to Paraguay. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Admin caused by a lost phone * The Jesuit Ruins of Argentina and Paraguay * The German influence of SE Paraguay * Iguazu Falls (both sides) * Ciudad del Este and the absence of the Brazil border * Asunción is interesting (derog.) . As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me...
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Tango In The Night
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This episode details the first half of my 2-week backpacking trip around South America in October 2024 - this one covers Uruguay and Buenos Aires. The rest of the trip will follow in my next episode. My voice doesn't really sound that great today, and I'm not quite sure why. Topics discussed in this episode are: * I went to Chester to meet my mother! * Why did I go to South America? * First impressions of Montevideo * The old town, the promenade, and the street market * My accommodation in Montevideo * Uruguayan cash flow issues * Colonia del Sacramento * San Telmo and the pub that...
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Luxury Travel
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This episode is about Luxury Travel. This isn't a topic that comes naturally to barefoot backpackers in general, but sometimes even we put on our metaphorical shoes and drink free champagne. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Running Training & Rate of Percieved Exertion * Future potential backpacking trips * What it means to be a 'barefoot' backpacker * Flying business class on Air Europa from South America * Short-haul business class travel isn't really worth it * Flying business class on Emirates from Sri Lanka is * We need a middle ground option - like a train * First...
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Vienna Calling
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This podcast comes off the back of another press-trip I was sent on by Jet2. This time me and Laura went to Austria to explore the Christmas Markets. While we were there we did a few other things, not all of which involved alcohol. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Pills and Snow * What is a Christmas Market anyway * Our impressions of six of them * Things to eat and drink * Things to do at and around the markets * Schönbrunn Palace * A Night At The Opera * Lots of dead musicians * How to ride the U-Bahn . As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about...
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Repositioning
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) Yeh, I’ve not podded for a while. Had an existential crisis. Still have. It’s fine. Conditional normal. With fog patches. Rising slowly. This episode is all about me, a couple of events I've been to in the past couple of months, and how my content might change in scope going forward. Because I am the UK's leading AroAce Non-Binary Gen-X Travel and Lifestyle Blogger. Arguably. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Small things I did in November * The Traverse Creator Awards 2024 * What is the World Travel Market (WTM)? * What I should do at WTM v what I actually do * My niches *...
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Reddit Travel Topic Discussion
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) This is an episode I've been meaning to do for about three years, but for mainly logistical reasons, this is the first chance I've had. The original idea came from the lifestyle podcast Sounds Fake But Okay; whenever they get stuck for content they scour the AITA forums on Reddit, and similar content in other places, to highlight allonormativity and generally go 'NTA, dump him'. I figured I could do the same for this pod, but looking at things more travel-related, ecen if there's less content about that. However it's not the sort of episode that works well with just one person as it...
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Everywhere Is Interesting
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) I often say "Everywhere Is Interesting", but what do I mean when I say that? What makes a place 'interesting'? Or rather, given any random place in the world, what can make you 'key in' to that location over and above any other? Of course, this could be very personal, or at least subjective, so when I say 'Everywhere Is Interesting', what I mean is that there is something everywhere, in every place, that someone is going to have a connection to, or is related to a hobby or interest that someone has. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Why I was too busy to release this episode on...
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Salford
Travel Tales From Beyond The Brochure
Hello :) So, despite recently moving out of Salford, I felt it was an interesting enough place to do a podcast about. Partly because 'Everywhere is Interesting' and my VA wanted me to prove it. And what could be more interesting than the location of the world's first municipal public park, the world's first bus route, the world's first street lighting, and the world's only canal swing bridge. And the UK's most polluted river, but let's not talk about that, and anyway the other half of it is in Manchester. Topics discussed in this episode are: * Running along country lanes * A potted history of...
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Given recent big concert tours, it feels like the right time to do an episode on 'travelling for music'. It's a subject I didn't think I'd have a lot to say about, given I don't often go to concerts even locally, never mind for travels, but the more I thought about it, the more interesting comparisons and contrasts I could find between my trips.
Topics discussed in this episode are:
* My first concert (Heavenly, 1992)
* The first concert I travelled for (Bon Jovi, 1995)
* Travelling to Paris to listen to French singers ...
* ... three times
* You Look Like Taylor Swift
* Other ways of travelling for music
[This latter point will be expanded and the episode re-uploaded once I get a further contribution]
A PDF transcript of this podcast is available.
As always, if you have anything to say about the topic, or indeed about my podcasting in general, leave a comment or let me know. I have a newsletter with extra content, and where I'll be mentioning future podcast episodes if you want to make your own contribution.
I also have a Patreon - if you like what you hear, and want to access exclusive content (or just to show your appreciation), then head on over.
Contributions in this episode come from:
* my old schoolfriend Alistair,
* Claire, who blogs at Curious Claire, and
* Juliet, who can be found at I Am A Polar Bear
Until next time, bye for now. :)