Epic landscapes deserve an equally epic way to travel. We’re diving into the romance and reality of rail: why trains make holidays start at the platform, how sleepers turn miles into memories, and which routes around the world are worth planning your next adventure around.

We start with five reasons trains win: lower emissions and real sustainability gains, genuine comfort with room to move, dining cars and proper beds on night services, centre-to-centre arrivals that beat transfers, and the human connection that long-haul flights often erase. From there, we share our top 10 rides: Norway’s Flåm Railway twisting from fjord to mountain, Scotland’s Highlander leg of the Caledonian Sleeper, the Night Riviera to Penzance with a seaside breakfast, Vietnam’s Reunification Express and its restful private berths, and Japan’s immaculate Shinkansen that makes precision feel effortless. Add New Zealand’s TranzAlpine across the Southern Alps, Switzerland’s UNESCO Bernina route, Sri Lanka’s lush Ella to Kandy journey with open windows and waves, India’s Nilgiri Mountain Railway “toy train,” and Amtrak’s unhurried yet soulful Coast Starlight.

We also open our notebook of dreams. The Ghan across Australia’s red centre calls with big skies and outback tones. Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer tempts us with glass-domed cars through the Rockies. And South Africa’s Rovos Rail pairs classic carriages with sweeping views to Cape Town and beyond. Along the way we share booking tips, comfort hacks, and how to swap premium expresses for local trains without losing the scenery. If you’re craving slow travel, rail itineraries, sleeper train advice, or scenic routes that deliver real immersion, this conversation is your map.

Got a favourite rail journey we missed? Tell us on Speakpipe and help shape a future episode.

📝 Show Notes - Episode 85

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode 141 – Caledonian Sleeper Update [+ Route Choices and Travel Tips]
• Episode 171 – Guide to the Night Riviera Sleeper Train (London to Penzance)
• Episode 54 - Top 10 Tips for UK and Europe Train Travel in 2025 and Beyond

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Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

This week, the mic is flipped. Tracy invites her friend and fellow podcaster Amanda Kendle (The Thoughtful Travel Podcast) to quiz her about the moments that shaped a lifetime of travel. From a grandmother’s pack of postcards that sparked obsession to the Gerald Durrell books that made strangers feel familiar, and a teenage long haul to London that dissolved fear at the airport gate.

What unfolds is an honest map of how curiosity becomes confidence, and why the best lessons hide in everyday routines.

Tracy gets personal and practical: her most vivid early memory isn’t a landmark, but a gîte in rural France, scooters with local kids and river swims that turned language doubt into determination. That thread leads to a year in the French Alps, fluent French, markets by Lake Geneva, and home cooking that treats a meal like a celebration.

They explore the difference between postcard cities and lived-in places. Paris doesn’t top her list, while Malta keeps calling back with blue coves, local buses, and child-friendly evenings on the promenade. And then there is Northumberland, with castles, Lindisfarne’s shifting tides, Hadrian’s Wall, and Barter Books, an overlooked stretch that trades queues for calm.

There is a wow moment too: a self-confessed non-hiker finding awe and peace on New Zealand’s Hooker Valley Track, with swing bridges, winter light, and a glacier-fed lake at the end of a boardwalk. Iceland still tempts, though cost and crowds keep it on the wish list.

And because great travel often depends on the smallest details, Tracy shares one unglamorous but essential tip: wear comfortable shoes you have already broken in. Simple, sensible, and the difference between wonder and blisters.

If you enjoy thoughtful travel stories, candid destination advice, and reflections that make your next trip smoother and richer, hit follow, share this episode, and leave a quick review on your favourite app. Your support helps more curious travellers find the show.

Guest host - Amanda Kendle (The Thoughtful Travel Podcast)

Show notes - Episode 84

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #63 Stamped: Amanda Kendle - How Thoughtful Travel Shapes a Life of Meaningful

Support the show

🎤 Leave us a voice message via SpeakPipe

🗺 Global Travel Planning
Website - globaltravelplanning.com
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🇬🇧UK Travel Planning
Website - UKTravelPlanning.com
Instagram - UK Travel Planning
YouTube - UK Travel Planning

📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact tracy@globaltravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!

This week host Tracy Collins is joined by Queensland expert Melissa, who shares her insider knowledge of where and when to experience Australia’s most iconic wildlife.

Together they uncover the magic of seeing animals in their natural habitats - from kangaroos hopping along the beach at Cape Hillsborough to whales breaching off Hervey Bay, turtles nesting on the Great Barrier Reef islands, and cassowaries striding through the Daintree.

You’ll learn:
• How to match your Queensland itinerary with the wildlife you most want to see
• The best seasons and times of day for spotting whales, turtles, kangaroos and more
• Where to find koalas, cassowaries, platypuses and other rare species in the wild
• How to plan safe and ethical wildlife experiences that support conservation
• Tips for getting around Queensland, from self-drive routes to guided tours

Whether you’re dreaming of sunrise with kangaroos, swimming beside turtles, or catching sight of an elusive platypus, this episode is your go-to guide for planning unforgettable and responsible wildlife encounters in Queensland.

⭐️ Guest - Melissa Delaware from "The Queensland Travel Guide"
📝 Show Notes -Episode 83

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #18: Queensland Travel Tips: Beaches, Outback Adventures, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #32: Brisbane Day Trips: Islands, Wildlife, and Hidden Gems
• Episode #75 – The Ultimate Whitsundays Travel Guide: Best Islands, Whitehaven Beach + Insider Tips

Support the show

🎤 Leave us a voice message via SpeakPipe

🗺 Global Travel Planning
Website - globaltravelplanning.com
Instagram - Global Travel Planning
YouTube - Global Travel Planning

🇬🇧UK Travel Planning
Website - UKTravelPlanning.com
Instagram - UK Travel Planning
YouTube - UK Travel Planning

📍London Travel Planning
Website - LondonTravelPlanning.com

Work With Us - Contact tracy@globaltravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.

Thank you ❤️

Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!