I like to listen to travel podcasts at work. It makes me feel like I may, perhaps, at some point in my life, possibly have a vacation that lasts longer than a week. I think about Seville. I think about Canberra. I dream and plot and scheme about Orvieto. Here are my favorite, (and least favorite) travel podcasts:
Tips for Travellers If you want to know about the least efficient, most expensive, and farthest from the ground ways to travel, this is the place. Gary Bembridge advocates never taking the subway in New York (too complicated). Instead, he suggests taking a cab. Everywhere. Wanna take a cruise? How about the Queen Mary? I only managed to make it through 3 of these before his complete lack of connection to the places he was traveling turned me off.
The Amateur Traveler Chris Christenson works really hard on his podcasts, and it shows. While he talks about a destination, pictures come up on your Ipod screen of the things he is talking about. He always interviews people who are just back from places, getting fresh perspective, suggested itineraries, and great tips. The programs are a mix adventure, self-guided, and tour trips. Whale watching in Tsonga, biking in Tuscany, visiting temples in Myanmar. I get really excited when a new one of these shows up in my inbox.
Travel with Rick Steves Rick made Europe accessible to regular folks, and his books are in the hands of nearly everyone you see in Italy. It’s for good reason, and most of the reason is that he’s so easy to like. He’s built an empire on his cult of personality, even if that personality is of the slightly naive, bumbling American. Don’t get me wrong, I like Rick too, but sometimes his “aww, shucks” demeanor gets on my nerves. His show plays to the housewives in Peoria who may only get that one trip across the pond, and he repeats himself a lot. That being said, he has great ideas about traveling, about finding the best restaurants, and about my own personal weakness, meeting people and making friends. Also, Rick does things like imitate sheep dogs. Where else are you gonna find that?
