Flight of Fancy

Sadly, this will be the final episode of Flight of Fancy. However, we're going out with a bang, bringing back some of your favourite guests - including Rob McFarland, Ute Junker and Flip Byrnes, along with host Ben Groundwater - to reveal the journey, destination or experience that has changed their lives in the most significant way. You won't believe some of their stories.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This area of northern Spain might just be the greatest food destination on the planet, with its mix of pintxos culture and Michelin-starred brilliance. However, there's a lot more to the Basque Country than meets the eye, and on this episode we're taking a deep-dive into the region with two absolute experts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Planning to travel with a partner or significant other? Hoping to survive the experience not just with your relationship intact, but also your sanity? Then you need to listen to this episode. Today, we're discussing the highs and lows, the good, the bad and the ugly of sharing the travel experience with a partner. What to do. What to avoid. And why camping might just be the least sexy travel experience around.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is cash king when you're travelling? Or should you always use cards? And if so, debit cards, or credit? And how do you avoid all those overseas transaction fees? What's a dynamic conversion? And what about travel money cards? If you're confused about how best to manage and access your money while overseas, this episode is for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's one of our favourite destinations on the planet, Ireland, and yet for so long we haven't been able to visit. On this episode we're taking a deep dive into the Emerald Isle, looking at all of the latest developments since the pandemic, the newest attractions, as well as rediscovering the timeless appeal of this land of music, literature, green hills and good times - and so much Guinness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard of the Slow Food movement, but how about Slow Travel? This is the ultimate way to see the world, allowing full cultural immersion and eliminating many of travel's stresses. Today, our expert panel talks you through how to make your next journey a slow one - and why you will love it.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These are some of the most interesting, historic and immersive cultural experiences you can have while you're travelling, and they take place in a bath. From Japanese onsens to Finnish saunas, Turkish hammams to Korean jimjilbangs, on this episode we're talking about bathing, and the most fascinating, hilarious and immersive places in the world where you can kick back and have a scrub. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It doesn't matter if you're a first-time traveller or an absolute expert, all of us make mistakes on the road. And in fact, all of us make the same mistakes. Or at least the same sorts of mistakes. On today's episode we're going to discuss a few of our panel's most spectacular howlers, and tell you how to avoid doing the same things. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode, we're going deep into the Europe you may not know: the off-the-beaten track destinations, the affordable, quiet countries, regions and cities that have so much to offer intrepid travellers. From Georgia to Bulgaria, Albania to the Alentejo, these are the places you need to check out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel really is back – the good bits, but also the bad. The airport delays. The flight cancellations. The monumental disintegrations like we saw in Sydney over Easter. It's not what we missed, exactly, but it does get you thinking, and remembering, the way things have gone in the past. Because if you've travelled for any amount of time, to pretty much anywhere in the world, you've probably got a story of airport-related drama. We, here, certainly do. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International travel is back, but everything has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic: how you plan your trips, what you pack, what you do at the airport, what you do at your destination, even how you get home. On this episode, we're guiding you through the process of international travel now, with advice on how to follow your passion in a way that's as safe and reliable as possible. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Korea is having a moment. Not only is this the country responsible for the "K Wave", the cultural juggernaut that is sweeping the globe, but this is also the latest country to open to international tourism after closing its doors at the beginning of the pandemic. So, what awaits travellers in South Korea? What is there to see and do, to eat and drink, to enjoy and experience? We're about to tell you.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let us take you on a journey today to a place you may never have visited, to an ancient place, a historic place, a place of amazing cultures and traditions, a place of artists and poets, of foodies and coffee fiends, of inventors and adventurers. Let us take you to the Middle East, a maligned and sometimes controversial destination, to tell you everything you need to know about travel in some of the most amazing places in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you're only exploring the world above ground level, you're missing out. You're missing out on wildlife, on scenery, on history, on wonder. This episode is dedicated to exploration of the underwater world, and how it can change your travelling life. We're talking scuba-diving, free-diving and snorkelling with people who live for this stuff: where to do it, why to do it, and how pretty much anyone can get involved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With almost all state borders now open and the Omicron wave passing, 2022 might just be the perfect time to travel in Australia. On this episode we're hitting you with 40 minutes of solid Oz travel inspiration, from the reef to the rainforest, from wineries to great walks: where to go this year, what to do, what to see and what to experience, even for those who feel like they might have done it all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, you've chosen to stay in a home-share property. What should you bring with you: clothes? Food? How about your own bed linen, garbage bags, toilet paper and detergent? Do you have to clean at the end, or is that someone else's job? On this episode of Flight of Fancy we're looking into the world of Airbnb, figuring out what's fair and what's ridiculous, and how to make sure you're getting the perfect property. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the big question: what will the next 12 months hold for Australian travellers? Will this be the snap-back we've been hoping for? Will domestic travel be key, or is now the time to plan an overseas trip? Is Omicron going to ruin everything? And what can you do if that happens? As Flight of Fancy returns for 2022, we seek to answer these key conundrums. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To wrap up Flight of Fancy for 2021, we're taking a look back at the year that was for travellers, from vaccine "stroll-outs" to burst bubbles, from border restrictions to a very gradual and timid reopening - plus, you know, floods and earthquakes and mouse plagues and the like. Join host Ben Groundwater, Traveller's digital editor Craig Platt, and our own "stranded Aussie" Flip Byrnes to recount 2021. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's impossible to be unaffected by Antarctica: there's something mystical about this vast continent, something primal, something that taps you straight into the spirit of explorers and adventurers and seekers of the unique. And now, it's opening to travellers once again. But how will the experience of visiting Antarctica change in the post-COVID world? And how do you get the best out of your journey? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getaway host Catriona Rowntree and Antarctic explorer David McGonigal join us to share hard-won wisdom accumulated over two lifetimes of incredible travel experiences. From riding a motorbike around the world to navigating cultural norms to realising that we're all brought together by the music of Celine Dion, there's so much to learn from these absolute experts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For so many young travellers, a bus tour of Europe is a rite of passage, a formative and occasionally drunken escapade in which sights are seen, friends are made, and innocence is lost. But what happens behind the scenes on those tours? What are these trips really like? Today, we're joined by a host of former guides to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Australians, travel is back on. However, there are still a lot of questions that need answering. What will the experience be like now? What do you need to take? What will you be covered for? What if borders close? What if you get COVID-19? In this episode, our panel of experts will tackle these questions and many more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever dreamed of riding the Trans-Siberian or the Trans-Mongolian? This is your ultimate guide to one of the world's truly great adventures: when to go, where to go, where to stop, what to eat, how to book, and how to survive life on board. We're chatting to a whole range of experts, including "The Man in Seat 61", Mark Smith, and UK-based author Monisha Rajesh, to discover everything there is to know about this truly bucket-list experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this special bonus episode, brought to you by Celebrity Cruises, we're taking a look at the future of cruising. How is one of the most popular forms of travel bouncing back? Where are passengers going to be heading next? What will the experience be like in the post-pandemic world? And how long until we can actually do this again?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It shoudn't make a difference, of course, to your travel experience. How you identify, whether you're part of the LGBTQI+ community or not, shouldn't alter the way you see the world. The trouble, however, is that it does. It can determine where you choose to go, and what you choose to do. On today's episode, we're chatting to three travellers who know a thing or two about travel for the LGBTQI+ community to find out how to do it best. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do you draw the line on travel? Which countries or regions would you refuse to visit as a form of protest? Which experiences would you turn down because they're just plain wrong? On this episode we're delving into the politics of travel, finding out where our guests draw the line, and why you should too. With: Ben Groundwater, Craig Platt and Ute Junker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long-haul in economy? Airport coffee? Hotel mini-bars? Dodgy cab drivers? There are some things we really miss about travel in this COVID-enforced down time - and some things we really, really don't. In this episode we're taking a long, hard look at the travel experience and deciding what is great, and what is definitely not.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever wondered how the pros take such amazing travel photos? Ever wanted to transform your own holiday snaps into Instagram-friendly, wall-worthy masterpieces? Then this is the episode for you, as we chat to two professional photographers to get their tips on lifting your travel photography game. There's advice here for all levels of photographers, on everything from gear, to composition, to editing and even selling images. Happy snapping! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's not always easy to get into WA right now, but this is one huge state that is certainly worth the effort, with incredible beaches, iconic wilderness areas, great food and wine, and so much more. Join the Flight of Fancy team to find out where to go and what to do on your next West Australian adventure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Olympic Games upon us, Ben Groundwater presents an unashamed love letter to one of the world's truly great travel destinations: Tokyo. Ben is joined by a host of Japanophiles, including TV host Adam Liaw and author Jane Lawson, to try to explain this huge and nebulous city, to pass on all of their knowledge and share the love for Japan's incredible capital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here's the question so many of us ask ourselves: can you still be a hardcore traveller once you have kids? The answer, as we discover on this episode, is yes, and no. It's all about how you approach your holiday. Join Ben Groundwater, Flip Byrnes and Sheriden Rhodes to find out how to pursue your travel dreams, even with kids in tow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever dreamed of going on a serious adventure, of veering way outside your comfort zone and throwing all caution to the wind? Travel writers Flip Byrnes and David McGonigal live for these experiences, and on this episode they explain how to make your big dreams a reality. Plus: how to get out when it all goes wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel in Europe is on. For international visitors and domestic guests. It's happening right now, and one of Flight of Fancy's favourites, Germany-based travel writer Flip Byrnes, is calling in from the cobbled streets of Rome to tell us what travel is like in a post-vaccine world.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now more than ever, it's so nice to feel like you're in another country, even if you aren't. And the great news for Australians is we can do just that through the humble meal, through local restaurants, cafes and markets that will take you instantly to another culture, to another country, to another world. Join Ben Groundwater, Sofia Levin and Ute Junker to find out where to go. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now is the perfect time to book a trip to the Northern Territory, but the big question is, what do you do once you get there? In this episode we look at everything from Kakadu to Uluru, from Litchfield to Larapinta, plus get a special insight into the NT's Indigenous tourism scene from local guide Trent Lee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you want to hit the snow for some ski action, curl up by a fire with a glass of red, or head north for some sunshine, winter is almost upon us in Australia, and now is the time to book that getaway. On this episode we cover all of the best winter experiences, and reveal how to get the most out of them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the last-ever A380 takes off from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, we're taking a special deep-dive into every traveller's favourite aircraft: what's it like to pilot an A380, what's it like to work on one, and why has this amazing plane already reached the end of its shelf-life? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the trans-Tasman bubble opens and overseas travel resumes, we welcome a very special guest - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - to hear about her favourite destinations in her homeland, as well as her take on how the bubble will work, and what to expect if things go wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever dreamed of moving overseas? Have you fantasised about picking up your life and shifting it to a foreign country, immersing yourself long-term in a completely different world? These two travellers have done it - albeit in vastly different ways - and they're here to share their stories. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

International travel is back! Following the announcement of the New Zealand travel bubble with Australia, this bonus episode examines what the bubble is, what it means, how it will work, and which countries could be opening up next.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you capture the overseas travel experience right here in Australia? How do you have the same excitement, the same bewilderment, the same cultural clashes and wild experiences? Host Ben Groundwater is joined by Rob McFarland and Sue Williams to find out.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine visiting every country on Earth. Every single nation. It's only been done by a few hundred people in human history; and only by a handful of women. On today's episode we're meeting Marty and Rach, who have almost achieved that amazing feat, to find out what they've learned about travel, about the world, and about themselves. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.