Travel Podcasts That Take You Places

What happens when you actually unplug and go somewhere. The hosts explore the relationship between travel and work-life balance in ways that feel relevant to anyone who has ever checked email from a beach. Destinations get covered but the real focus is on how travel changes your perspective and recharges your creativity. Conversations with travelers who made big life changes after trips are particularly compelling. Makes you want to book something immediately.

Budget travel wisdom from someone who went from broke to globe-trotting and documented the entire journey. Jason Moore shares strategies for traveling long-term without a trust fund. Guests include people who found creative ways to fund travel - from remote work to house-sitting to teaching abroad. The advice is practical and tested rather than theoretical. Good for anyone who wants to travel more but thinks they can not afford it. Proof that money is less of a barrier than most people assume.

Condé Nast Traveller's audio extension brings luxury travel journalism to your earbuds. Editors and writers share insider knowledge about destinations that goes beyond what any guidebook offers. The production is polished and guests include hoteliers, chefs, and cultural figures who shape how we experience places. Skews aspirational but the insights are useful even if your budget is more hostel than hotel. Good for armchair travel and actual trip planning in equal measure.

Family travel advice from parents who actually travel with their kids. The tips are battle-tested and honest about what works and what sounds good in theory but falls apart with a toddler. Destinations are evaluated through a family-friendly lens without being boring. Budget considerations are real and the hosts share both wins and disasters. If you have ever tried to plan a vacation that works for adults and children simultaneously you know how valuable this perspective is.

One of the longest-running travel podcasts and consistently one of the best. Chris Christensen interviews travelers about specific destinations with an interview style that extracts genuinely useful information. Each episode is basically a mini-guide to somewhere you might want to visit. The amateur in the title is misleading - the show is professionally produced and the guest selection is excellent. The back catalog is a goldmine if you are planning trips anywhere.

The godfather of travel broadcasting brings decades of European expertise to audio. Rick Steves interviews locals, expats, and travel writers about destinations with the curiosity of someone who never gets tired of discovering new places. His practical tips come from actually doing the thing rather than just writing about it. Some episodes focus on specific cities while others explore broader travel themes. The tone is friendly and accessible without dumbing things down. Essential for anyone planning a trip to Europe.

Ten-minute travel episodes for people who want destination insights without the hour-long commitment. Each episode covers one place with efficiency that respects your time. The format forces focus which means you get the essential information without filler. Good for quick research or for stacking a few episodes to cover a region. The brevity is the feature not the limitation. Perfect podcast for building a trip itinerary on a lunch break.

Women sharing honest travel experiences in a world that still has different rules depending on your gender. The conversations cover solo travel safety, cultural navigation, packing philosophy, and the specific joys and challenges women face on the road. Guests range from adventure athletes to digital nomads to weekend warriors. Refreshingly honest about the less Instagram-worthy moments of travel. Strong community feeling that extends beyond the episodes themselves.

A straightforward travel show that covers destinations and travel tips without overcomplicating things. Each episode picks a topic or place and gives it focused attention. The no-frills approach works well for listeners who want information without excessive personality or production. Good for building basic knowledge about places you might want to visit. Not the most distinctive travel podcast but reliable and consistently useful.

Travelers sharing the single journey that altered the course of their lives. Every episode is essentially a personal transformation story with a passport stamp as the catalyst. Some stories involve dramatic adventures while others are quietly profound moments in unexpected places. The format works because travel really does change people and hearing exactly how it happened to others is compelling. You finish most episodes either inspired or slightly envious or both.

Destination recommendations from travel writers and locals who know the difference between tourist traps and genuine experiences. Each episode focuses on a specific place and delivers enough insider knowledge to actually improve your trip. The hosts have a talent for finding angles on well-known destinations that feel fresh. Lesser-known places get equal attention which is refreshing in a travel media landscape obsessed with the same twenty cities.

Broad coverage of travel topics without specializing in any particular niche. That generalist approach works well for listeners who want variety - one episode might cover safari planning while the next discusses airport lounge strategies. The hosts are experienced enough to be credible and curious enough to keep exploring. Good podcast to subscribe to when you want regular travel content without committing to a specific angle or destination focus.

Travel deals and points strategies explained by people who are genuinely obsessed with getting the best value. If you have ever seen a cheap flight alert and wondered how people find those, this show explains the system. Episodes cover airline miles, hotel points, credit card strategies, and fare sale hunting. The tone is enthusiastic without being salesy. Practical enough that you can implement tips immediately. Good for turning travel from expensive dream into affordable reality.

Budget travel strategies from hosts who prove you do not need to be rich to see the world. Episodes cover specific money-saving tactics alongside destination guides and travel philosophy. The name references airline snacks and that scrappy energy runs through everything. Guests include long-term travelers, digital nomads, and travel hackers sharing their most creative strategies. Encouraging and practical without sugarcoating the challenges of budget travel.

Deep dives into the world of travel points and miles from certified obsessives. If maximizing credit card rewards and booking first-class flights for pennies sounds appealing, this podcast walks you through exactly how to do it. Episodes get specific about which cards to use, when to book, and how to stack promotions. The learning curve for points travel is steep and this show flattens it considerably. Pays for your listening time in saved money.

Industry-focused travel journalism from the team behind Skift, one of the most respected travel business publications. If you want to understand why airline prices change, how hotel chains make decisions, or where the travel industry is heading, this is your show. Less about personal travel experiences and more about the systems and business behind tourism. Useful for travel professionals and deeply curious travelers who want to understand the machine.

A group of friends planning and reviewing trips together with the kind of honest opinions that only come from traveling with people you actually know. The group dynamic means you get multiple perspectives on every destination. Disagreements about what worked and what didn't are genuine and useful for trip planning. They cover logistics, budgets, and the social dynamics of group travel with equal attention. Fun energy that makes you want to plan a trip with your own squad.

Italy through the eyes of someone who moved there and never left. The podcast covers destinations, culture, food, and practical tips with the depth that only comes from actually living in a place rather than just visiting. Episodes go beyond Rome and Florence into regions most tourists never discover. The passion for Italy is genuine and infectious without being naive about the country's challenges. Essential pre-trip listening and excellent armchair travel.

Extremely niche and extremely useful if Switzerland is on your list. The podcast covers Swiss destinations, transportation, seasonal activities, and budget strategies with granular detail that generalist travel shows can not match. You get advice about specific train routes, mountain passes, and hidden towns from someone who knows the country intimately. The narrow focus is the strength - by the time you visit you will feel like you have already been there.

Aviation geeks and travel enthusiasts unite in this podcast about planes and the places they take you. Episodes cover airline reviews, airport experiences, aviation news, and destination guides. The combination works surprisingly well because how you get somewhere is part of the trip experience. Good for anyone who finds the travel itself as interesting as the destination. Flight reviews are particularly useful for choosing airlines on routes you have never flown.