The Travel Diaries

Today’s guest is an adventurer, filmmaker, writer and one of the most extraordinary travel storytellers of her generation.

Eva zu Beck's life reads like something from a film. She was Oxford-educated, working in travel media, married, successful, and living the kind of polished, high-achieving life so many people are told to want. But behind the scenes, she knew something wasn’t right. So she walked away from it all. The marriage, the career, the security, the neatly mapped-out future, and bought a one-way ticket to Nepal.

Over the past nine years, Eva has travelled almost constantly, often to some of the wildest, most remote and most misunderstood places on earth. She has crossed the Mongolian wilderness on horseback, travelled through the mountains of Pakistan living alongside local families, spent months on the otherworldly island of Socotra in Yemen during lockdown, and driven her old Land Rover Defender, Odyssey, from Mexico through Central America and the United States, all the way to the northernmost point of Alaska.

You’re going to love this one guys.

Destination recap:

Holly - Forestis, Dolomites, Italy
Carpathian Mountains, Poland
Marrakech, Morocco
Nepal
Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Pakistan
Northern Pakistan, Pakistan
Himalayas, Pakistan
Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan
Arabian Sea, Pakistan
United States
Montana, United States
Alaska, United States
Mexico
Dalton Highway, United States
Deadhorse, United States
Romania
Carpathian Mountains, Romania
Transylvania, Romania
Transalpina, Romania
Maramureș, Romania
Socotra, Yemen
Central Asia
Russia
Central Africa
Sahara
Northern Canada, Canada
Patagonia, Argentina and Chile

Eva’s new book, The Wilder Way, is out now, and if you loved this conversation, I think you’ll absolutely love the book too.

With thanks to...

Richard Haworth - Discover their luxury hotel-quality bedding, towels and table linen at Richard Haworth At Home

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host

If you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.

And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.

Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re heading to the sun-soaked Southern California coast in the USA, arriving at Newport Beach.

Now, if you’re listening in the UK and thinking, hang on, where exactly is Newport Beach? - it’s just south of Los Angeles, in Orange County.

For a lot of you listening, that name might immediately conjure up The O.C., or the The Real Housewives of Orange County - it’s one of those places that really captures that classic California coastal lifestyle: long sandy beaches, a beautiful harbour dotted with boats, waterfront restaurants serving the freshest seafood, surf culture, spectacular houses, and that sense that life is lived largely outdoors.

It’s glamorous, yes, but it’s also very accessible for all price points and surprisingly varied once you get to know it - and that’s what this episode is all about.
I’m joined today by Gary Sherwin, a Newport Beach local for the last 25 years, travel expert and CEO of Visit Newport Beach - he knows the area inside out.

He shares the places, experiences and little details that really give you a feel for the destination. Because this isn’t just somewhere to come for a quick beach stop. It’s a destination in its own right, and one that seems to offer a really lovely mix of things: that classic California coast feeling, yes, but also a lot of variety within it - from smart hotels and great food to beach days, boat days, family-friendly experiences, little pockets with their own personality, and plenty of ways to slow down and enjoy being by the water.

So whether you’re plotting a wider California trip, looking for a different side of Southern California, or just in the mood for a little armchair travel to somewhere sunny and coastal, this should give you a very good feel for it.

Destination Recap:

Newport Harbor
Gulfstream Restaurant
Louie’s by the Bay
A Restaurant
21 Oceanfront Restaurant
Balboa Bay Resort
Pendry Newport Beach
VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort & Spa
The Resort at Pelican Hill (becoming A St. Regis Estate in 2027)
Crystal Cove
Balboa Island
Inspiration Point, Corona del Mar
Mastro’s Ocean Club
Blackie’s by the Sea
Fashion Island
Back Bay (Upper Newport Bay)

You can discover more about Newport Beach here.

As always, thank you so much for listening. If you enjoyed it, do share it with someone who’s planning a California trip, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe on your podcast app so you never miss an episode.

I’ll be back on Tuesday.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's guest is one of the most distinctive and brilliantly funny voices in British comedy. Born in Cornwall by accident, raised in Hull with pride, Lucy Beaumont has built a career out of finding the strange, hilarious and deeply human moments in everyday life. You’ll know her from shows like Would I Lie To You?, Taskmaster, Meet the Richardsons, The Celebrity Traitors, and so much more, as well as from her acclaimed stand-up and writing.

In today’s conversation, we travel from an out-of-season teenage trip to Magaluf, to sneaking off to Torquay in search of surfers, falling in love with Menorca, finding magic in New York and New Orleans, and the spiritual pull of Robin Hood’s Bay. We also talk about Hull, panel shows, pad Thai on tour, Celebrity Traitors secrets, travelling with Johnny Vegas, and her brilliant new tour, Bad at Quiz Shows, Good with Weirdos, which begins this September.

Holly's Destination Recap
Coworth Park, England

Lucy's Destination Recap
Magaluf, Mallorca, Spain
Truro, Cornwall, England
Torquay, Devon, England
Newquay, Cornwall, England
Hull, England
Hornsea, Yorkshire, England
Ciutadella, Menorca, Spain
Deià, Mallorca, Spain
Kavos, Greece
Ibiza, Spain
New York City, USA
Brooklyn, New York, USA
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Robin Hood’s Bay, Yorkshire, England
Whitby, Yorkshire, England
Montenegro
Croatia
Maldives
St Lucia

Tickets are available for Lucy's new tour, Bad at Quiz Shows, Good with Weirdos, which begins this September.

Thank you to the London Marriot County Hall for having us to film the episode.

With thanks to...

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host

If you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.

And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.

Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is one of the defining reality TV stars of the last decade. Charlotte Crosby first burst onto our screens on Geordie Shore, one of the biggest reality shows of the 2010s - a show that became a global phenomenon and completely changed the course of her life, taking her from the north of England to filming and working all over the world. Since then, she’s built a huge international following, particularly in Australia, where she’s become a familiar face on primetime TV. And as you’ll hear, travel has completely shaped who she is today. From Southshields to Sydney, Spain to Canada, I know you’re going to love this one

Holly's Destination Recap:
The Glass house, Lakes by Yoo, England, UK

Destination Recap:
Sunderland – England, UK
Wolsingham – England, UK
Whitley Bay – England, UK
South Shields – England, UK
Tunisia
Sydney – Australia
Bondi Beach – Australia
Coogee – Australia
Darling Harbour – Australia
Cairns – Australia
Great Barrier Reef – Australia
Arctic Circle – Norway / Arctic Region
Hutterite Communities (Canada) – Canada
Altea – Spain
Beni Jofré (Benejúzar area) – Spain
Ios – Greece
Bahamas – Bahamas

Bestselling author and reality TV star Charlotte Crosby teams up with Loveholidays to encourage Brits to get reading on holiday

With thanks to...

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host

If you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.

And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.

Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is someone whose voice - and face - I think most of us know instantly. Dermot O'Leary has been such a constant in British life for years now, from hosting The X Factor, to his Friday slot on This Morning, to his weekend shows on BBC Radio 2.

He’s had this really varied career - presenting everything from major live events like the Brit Awards and BAFTAs, to documentaries, and his more recent travel and food series Taste of Ireland with Dermot O’Leary on ITV, which is back for a second season.

What I loved about this conversation is how much of his life has been shaped by travel. He grew up in an Irish family, going back and forth between England and Ireland, with those long childhood journeys to Wexford becoming some of his earliest memories. And that sense of place, of identity, of belonging really runs through everything he talks about in this episode.

So today, we’re diving into the seven chapters of Dermot’s travel diaries, from those childhood summers in Ireland, to travelling solo across America, winter escapes to Norway to the Italian region that’s completely stolen his heart.

Holly’s Destination Recap:
- Priesteregg Resort, Leogang, Austria

Dermot’s Destination Recap:
Soneva Fushi, Maldives
Wexford, Ireland
Curracloe Beach, Ireland
Cahore, Ireland
St Davids, United Kingdom
Fishguard, United Kingdom
Dordogne, France
Atlantic Coast France, France
Norfolk, United Kingdom
Bodrum, Turkey
Donegal, Ireland
Sligo, Ireland
Causeway Coastal Route, United Kingdom
Ballycastle, United Kingdom
Portrush, United Kingdom
Portstewart, United Kingdom
Derry, United Kingdom
Coleraine, United Kingdom
New York City, United States
Washington DC, United States
New Orleans, United States
Los Angeles, United States
Hermosa Beach, United States
Seattle, United States
Puglia, Italy
Salento, Italy
Oslo, Norway
Bygdøy, Norway
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Bergen, Norway
Kirkenes, Norway
Prague, Czech Republic
Japan, Japan
South Korea, South Korea
New England, United States
Maine, United States

DERMOT O'LEARY'S TASTE OF IRELAND kicks off on Saturday 2nd May on ITV 1 and ITVX, in partnership with Tourism Ireland

With thanks to…
Citalia - Discover the real Italy with Citalia, the UK’s leading Italian holiday specialists. Let the Italy Experts craft the perfect holiday for you and experience Italy like a Citalian.

EZRA - You can use the code EzraUK300 for £300 credit towards a scan.

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host

If you enjoyed this episode, please hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening. It really helps the podcast grow, allows me to keep bringing you these incredible guests - and it means you’re delivered a fresh dose of wanderlust each week.

And if you’d like a little more Travel Diaries in your life, you can find me on Instagram and TikTok @hollyrubenstein.

Thanks so much for listening, and I’ll see you next week.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.