Amateur Traveler Travel Podcast

Hear about travel to Uluru and Central Australia as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel blogger Chris Fry from AquariusTraveller.com about her most recent trip to the red center of Australia. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-uluru-and-central-australia/ Why should someone go to Central Australia? Chris says, "I Like visiting Uluru for the Aboriginal culture, the art, the history, learning about the Dreamtime. I think it's where I first started learning about the Aboriginal history and our First Nations people and it's one of the best places to actually learn about it there. Some of the tour guides are actually Aboriginal, so they will actually tell you their history, how they grew up and everything like that, so yes, I think it's great for Australians, it's great for tourists to actually learn about that first hand from the people who have been living here for 65 million years." Chris recommends this itinerary: Day 1: Arrival in Alice Springs Arrive in Alice Springs and check into your accommodat

Hear about travel to Papua New Guinea as the Amateur Traveler talks to Chris Shorrock from TravelObscure.com about the Milne Bay Province of this exotic island country. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-papua-new-guinea-2/ Why should someone travel to Papua New Guinea? Chris says, "There's a million reasons why someone should go to Papua New Guinea, it's such a varied country. I would say the main reason to go, is the people are amazing and there's A lot of culture there as well. Also, the amazing natural environment. We're talking jungle-clad islands, beautiful coral reefs, dolphins, birds of paradise, pristine rainforest, and then basically no other tourists. So that was a big draw for me, it's quite off the beaten track and obscure." Chris flew to Alatau and then headed to the east cape, the Dento Castro Islands, and the Louisiade Island chain. As a good transition to the country, he stayed at the Tewali Dive Resort for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. While there he took a side trip to a skull

Hear about sightseeing in the island nation of Malta as the Amateur Traveler talks to Michelle and Nikki from cheekypassports.com about their native country. https://amateurtraveler.com/sightseeing-in-malta/ They say, “The island is small and that has its restrictions but it’s also a nice thing to have because you can visit and do a lot of activities in a short span. Nowhere is more than 15 minutes by car. The island is maybe 27 kilometers about 17 miles long and barely 14 kilometers wide. There is a lot of history and culture in Malta. There are small villages you can visit. There are large fortified towns. Visitors usually like the historic aspect of Malta. There are some of the oldest free-standing temples in the world. It is a pleasant island. There are the beaches. There’s a lot to do in Malta despite its size.” Michelle and Nikki lay out a one-week itinerary for us. They start us in the small capital city of Valletta (only 5,000 people). Many of the buildings in Valletta were built by the Knights of

Hear about travel to the Charente region of southwest France as the Amateur Traveler talks to Kylie Lang from LifeInRuralFrance.com about her adopted home. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-charente-region-of-france/ The Charente region, part of Nouvelle Aquitaine in southwest France, is known for its charming sunflower fields, historical chateaux, and rich history. Visitors to the Charente can explore picturesque vineyards, taste world-renowned cognac, and indulge in fresh oysters. The region hosts daily markets offering fresh produce throughout the year, providing an authentic taste of French life. Its quaint villages appear almost frozen in time, creating a sense of stepping back to the 15th century. Eleanor of Aquitaine, a prominent historical figure, played a significant role in this region. She was the only woman to be queen of two countries, France and England. The Charente, which was under English rule for about 300 years, now has a diverse community of English-speaking expatriates. Angou

Hear about travel to Egypt including Cairo and climbing Mount Sinai in the Sinai Peninsula as the Amateur Traveler talks to Greg from ThePresentPerspective.com about their recent trip to see a different part of Egypt. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-egypt-and-mount-sinai/ Why should you go to Egypt? Greg says, "I think there are a million reasons why someone should go to Egypt. Warm and hospitable people. Great culture. Egyptian history obviously is vast, and it's one of the oldest civilizations in the world. There's so much to see in Lower Egypt, in Cairo there's just an endless wealth of treasures to explore but when we visited Egypt, we decided to go a little bit off of the traditional route that a lot of tourists go it's not that we weren't interested in going to Luxor and Aswan and doing a Nile cruise. We enjoy history, but we're not history buffs, and I think, to us, there was enough ancient history in Cairo." "So while Luxor would have been great to visit, we had enough of a time with Egyptian hi

Hear about travel to Queensland's Gold Coast as the Amateur Traveler talks to Leanne and Lyle from BeachTravelWine.com about one of their favorite beach destinations. https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-queenslands-gold-coast/ Why should you go to the Gold Coast? Leanne and Lyle say, "We go for lots of different reasons, but I guess the main one would be, the stunning beaches, and I know lots of places have stunning beaches, but this would have to, I think, be Australia's best strip of beaches, and it's the best surfing beach area, in Australia. It has a really interesting nightlife too. It's the nature, it's right there at the mountains as well and it's adventure. It's got a nickname of the Glitter Strip or, our Glamour Strip. It's it's not Las Vegas by any stretch of the imagination, but it's got that feel about it." Leanne and Lyle lay out a week-long itinerary: Day 1: Start your visit in the middle of the Gold Coast, in Surfers Paradise. Explore Cavill Avenue, a pedestrian-only strip with attracti

Hear about a Viking Ocean Bay of Bengal Cruise to 5 countries from Bangkok to Mumbai as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer Elsa Dixon about this East Asia sampler cruise. https://amateurtraveler.com/bay-of-bengal-cruise/ The Viking Ocean Bay of Bengal Cruise travels to 5 different countries: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and India. What Elsa loved about this cruise was experiencing diverse and exotic cultures, including music, food, temples, architecture, and ceremonies in the Bay of Bengal region. The cruise started in Bangkok, Thailand where Elsa and her travel companion did the typical city tour which included the Royal Palace, the Reclining Budha, and the Chao Phraya River. The cruise also offered more demanding walking tours, cooking classes, river cruises, and flower market tours. It also offered a full-day visit to Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On Viking, there is always at least one free shore excursion as well as some with additional costs. The cruise stopped again in

Hear about things to do in Transylvania in Romania as the Amateur Traveler talks to Ela Palmer from WhereNextNomad.com about this historic and beautiful place that has much more to offer than Dracula stories. https://amateurtraveler.com/things-to-do-in-transylvania/ Ela starts this itinerary in Bucharest but immediately hops a train to Sinaia, a beautiful mountain town in the Bussegi Mountains. Sinaia is known for its stunning fall colors and is home to two magnificent castles from the Romanticism movement of the 1800s, Peles Castle and Pelesor Castle. You can explore these castles, enjoy the charming town, and visit the 17th-century Sinaia Monastery. After Sinaia, you can take a train to Brasov, a city in Transylvania that Ela fell in love with.  Brasov offers a variety of museums, and Ela suggests getting a ticket that allows access to 11 different museums in the area. Some notable museums include the Black Church, the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Urban Civilization, and more. The Black Church is kn

Hear about travel to Finland as the Amateur Traveler talks to travel writer Jayne Dear about a one-week itinerary to visit the best of Finland by train. https://amateurtraveler.com/touring-finland-by-train/ Why should you visit Finland? Jayne says, "Many reasons. One of the most notable is that it's the happiest country in the world. For the last six years, it's been declared the happiest country in the world on the World Happiness Report. It's a beautiful country. You probably will have seen more trees than you will have seen in your life." Jayne starts us in the capital of Helsinki. She recommends visiting:  Helsinki Central Station: A stunning Art Nouveau train station with a 48-meter-high clock tower. National Museum of Finland: This museum offers insights into Finland's history, including Viking relics, artifacts, and a Russian czar's throne. Market Square: Located by the harbor in Helsinki, it's a vibrant place to witness the local food scene, buy fresh produce, and try unique dishes like moose burge

Hear about a cruise to Greenland as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rebecca Merrell from manopause.com about this rugged and rapidly changing country. https://amateurtraveler.com/cruise-to-greenland/ Why should someone do a cruise to Greenland? Rebecca succinctly says, “Someone should do a cruise to Greenland if they’re looking to go somewhere remote without a lot of people and if they have an interest in the Arctic.” The cruise itinerary is: Day 1: Departure from Iceland Travelers fly from Iceland or Denmark to Greenland. Arriving in Greenland, travelers land at Kingirlasuak, a former U.S. base that now serves as a large airport in Greenland. Embarkation on the “Ocean Albatross,” the cruise ship operated by Albatross Expeditions. Day 2: Sisimiut The cruise reaches its first destination, Sisimiut, the second-largest city in Greenland after Nuuk (the capital). Sisimiut, which means “foxhole,” has a rich history dating back thousands of years, including various indigenous cultures and traditions. Travelers have t

https://amateurtraveler.com/uk-two-week-itinerary-by-train/ Hear about a UK two-week itinerary by train as the Amateur Traveler talks to Tracy Collins from UKTravelPlanning.com about a train trip in the country that invented trains. London We start in London. Spend some time visiting some of the iconic sites like the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey. Visit the great museums of London like Tracy's favorite, the Victoria and Albert Museum. Then we start our journey to see England, Wales, and Scotland from Paddington Station. Bath Visit the historic Roman Baths from which Bath gets its name. Visit the magnificent Bath Abbey. Stroll through the iconic Royal Crescent with its Georgian Architecture. Immerse yourself in Jane Austen's world at the Jane Austen Centre. As a side trip from Bath, consider one of the following Tour the stone circles of Stonehenge and Avebury. Explore the awe-inspiring Salisbury Cathedral. Take a scenic train ride to the picturesque Cotswolds. Cardiff Travel to the capital of Wale

Best Day Trips from Amsterdam (Podcast) - explore the palaces, castles, windmills, parks, and history of the Netherlands https://amateurtraveler.com/best-day-trips-from-amsterdam/ Hear about day trips from Amsterdam as the Amateur Traveler talks to Gopinath from greetingsfromeurope.com about his adopted country. Gopinath argues that too many people only spend a couple of the Netherlands before traveling on to see more of Europe. He lays out a week's worth of day trips that one can make from Amsterdam. He recommends the following places to visit: Located in Gelderland, the Palais Het Loo is often associated with Queen Wilhelmina. Explore its impressive architecture, gardens, and the connection between the Dutch royal family and this palace. Drive from the Palace at Low towards Amsterdam, and you'll come across Muiderslot Castle, dating back to the 13th century, making it the oldest accessible site for visitors in the Netherlands. It's conveniently located less than half an hour from Amsterdam. You can reach th

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-new-york-city/ Hear about travel to New York City as the Amateur Traveler talks to Rebecca Shoval from Not Just Tourists NYC about her adopted home in the city that never sleeps. Why should you go to New York City?  Rebecca says, "I think someone should come to New York for so many reasons. I think it's this incredibly vibrant place. It exudes life and I find walking around the city, it really just gives you energy. It's also this vibrant multicultural place where you can really see the way that there's so much commitment to the city and to the culture and to people really living in something resembling harmony next to each other... or at least ignoring each other and not getting in each other's business. There are so many different things to do." Rebecca says that the city has changed since COVID-19. She highlights how the city has recovered and transformed from the pandemic's impacts, offering a unique perspective on what makes New York a vibrant and dynamic place.

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-belize-and-guatemala/ Hear about travel to Belize and Guatemala on the G Adventures "Classic Belize and Tikal" week-long small group tour: Mayan pyramids, cave tubing, and snorkeling on the Barrier Reef. An adventurous trip to Belize and Guatemala. The tour started in Belize City, traveled to Flores in Guatemala, and then returned to San Ignacio Belize and the Island of Caye Caulker.  One of the highlights was visiting Mayan ruins, including Yaxha and Tikal in Guatemala and Caracol in Belize. I climbed to the top of 4 pyramids in 3 sites while learning about the Mayan Classical age from 200 to 900 AD. We saw Mayan ballcourts, temples, and noble houses. These sites are all in the jungle with the sounds of howler monkeys in the background and spider monkeys and kudamundi wandering the grounds. We saw tucans, turkeys, and other birds.  We stayed in the colorful island town of Flores Guatemala which is a center for tourism for Tikal. We did cave tubing in Belize "near" San Ig

https://amateurtraveler.com/nepal-itinerary/ Hear about a 10-day itinerary for travel to Nepal as the Amateur Traveler talks to Sean Hira about this beautiful country. Why should someone go to Nepal? Sean says, "Nepal's a little bit of an underrated destination. It's a landlocked country in the Himalayas sandwiched between two powerhouses, China. In India. My favorite part about Nepal is really the harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism and seeing those cultures coexist so peacefully from a tourist perspective. A lot of people go there for the trekking and the intense base camp trekking and the first thing that probably comes to your mind is Mount Everest, but there is so much more to Nepal than Mount Everest or Annapurna. The Himalayas are ingrained in the culture there, but you can see so much more than just trekking in Everest." Sean lays out this itinerary: Day 1: Kathmandu Orientation walk around Patan Durbar Square. Explore local bazaars and historical sites. Sunset at a rooftop restaurant overlooking

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-svalbard-norway/ Hear about travel to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Cherie Gonzales from itscheriegonzales.com about her home north of the Arctic Circle. Why should you go to Svalbard? Cherie says, "Someone should go to Svalbard if you are adventurous and you love being outside and you want to experience the natural beauty and just really connect with nature without any interruptions. Then Svalbard is really the perfect destination for you. It has new landscapes, new experiences, in the summer." "You'll experience midnight sun, and then in the winter, you'll experience polar night. And the nature is literally outside your door. The apartment where I live right now, it's 2 kilometers away from the center of the town. But it's less than a kilometer walk and you're already at the start of the trail that goes to a glacier, goes to an ice cave, and all that." Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, is nestled between mainland Nor

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-the-galapagos-islands-ecuador https://amateurtraveler.com/galapagos-cruise-on-quasars-evolution/ Hear about travel to the Galapagos Islands as Chris Christensen, the Amateur Traveler himself, talks about a live-aboard cruise of the Galapagos Islands on Quasar Expeditions M/V Evolution. The Galapagos is a singular destination. People describe other places as the 'Galapagos of Mexico or the Galapagos of some other place' but the Galapagos doesn't try and compare itself to anywhere else. This is a must-see destination for people who want a vacation to see wildlife. People can tell you how the wildlife here is different because it does not fear humans but until you are standing by a giant tortoise, walking through a booby nesting ground, or swimming with sea turtles and sea lions, it is hard to understand what that really means. This is a place where you come to see giant tortoises or iguanas, but it is also a place to see interesting bird species like Nasca boobies, blu

https://amateurtraveler.com/azerbaijan-itinerrary/ Hear about an itinerary for travel to Azerbaijan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Australian journalist Emily Lush who is based in nearby Kutaisi, Georgia. Why should you visit Azerbaijan? Emily says, "It's really fascinating from a cultural point of view. Being in the Caucasus, it's got those great mountain areas for hiking. It's a misunderstood country in a lot of ways. It's quite young and it has this really Interesting history with all different influences." "And then the oil stuff, so maybe people know it's a wealthy country with really outlandish modern architecture, but then there are also quite a few UNESCO sites that are really, very old and very interesting. It's a very complicated country with a little bit of everything, like this region." We start in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, which is situated on the Caspian Sea, below sea level. Explore the Old Town (Esher Esher) with its historic architecture, including the Shivan Shah Palace. Visit

Hear about travel to Hikone and Gifu in Central Japan as the Amateur Traveler talks to Miyuki Seguchi from the Japan Experts Podcast about he home region of Japan where she is a tour guide. Why should you visit Central Japan? Miyuki says, "A lot of travelers from North America or the West when they travel to Japan, they will stay in Japan for two to three weeks, and they usually travel from the eastern part of Japan to the western part of Japan or vice versa, but most of them do not stop off at the central region especially the southern part of Gifu to the eastern part of Shiga. So this part of Japan is simply not as well known as major tourist destinations, but there are a lot of places to visit, and these places are usually less busy and easy to access by public transport. If you want to explore some unique local areas with hidden gems that give you a great idea of authentic local life." The journey begins with a visit to Hikone, a city located in the Chubu region, home to the well-preserved Hikone Castle,

Hear about travel to Cartagena and Northern Colombia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Inge from DestinationExplorer.world about this South American country that her family fell in love with. Why should you go to Colombia? Inge says, "I think first of all, if you are a nature lover, you should go to Colombia because it's amazing nature you will find there. It's still quite authentic. You have amazing wildlife. If you like bird watching it's the country to go to. You have mountains, beaches, desert, jungle." "And if you are a city lover, there are also big cities. I think the people are amazingly friendly. My daughter lived with the local people, which we visited when we went to Colombia. And it was such warm hospitality. I never felt it before. Then the colorful culture. I like dancing. They have a lot of music there. They're dancing from the morning till the evening." "Then the coffee. If you're a coffee lover, you should also go there." "Many are concerned about the safety of the country. That was the questi