simon the travel expert

814 episodes

Simon Calder is the Independent’s travel correspondent, the UK’s leading travel journalist. From news updates to discussions with experts, Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast will bring you all you need to know from the world of travel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast The Independent

• Society & Culture
• 22 APR 2024

April 22nd - Heathrow strikes Alert: what you need to know

I unpack the impending strikes at Heathrow Airport, scheduled by PCS and Unite union members. I'll delve into the potential impact on travelers and discuss the roles of the UK Border Force and AFS Aviation refueling service staff. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• 19 APR 2024

April 19th - Reevaluating wildlife tourism with Paul Goldstein

Over 20 years in the travel industry, Paul Goldstein has gained a reputation as a forthright commentator on all things related to travel. In today’s travel podcast, the wildlife guide and photographer shares forthright opinions on "eco-tourism", the value of visitors in preserving wildlife, and the value – or otherwise – of influencers. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• 18 APR 2024

April 18th - Stranded at Dubai: a travel crisis examined

I, Simon Calder, break down the crisis at Dubai International Airport where a storm has left many travelers stranded. I'll cover your entitlements and the broader impacts on global travel, providing essential advice for navigating disruptions and securing your rights as a traveler. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• 17 APR 2024

April 17th - Global wanderer Arvi Bahal on his holiday in one of the world’s most dangerous places

It's possible that no one's bucket list is more complete than Arvi Bahal's. He is one of the rare human beings who has travelled to every single country on earth - and not just the tourist spots. I talk to the global wanderer about his lust for extreme travel, and why he chose to holiday in Mogadishu, Somalia - one of the world’s most dangerous places. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• 16 APR 2024

April 16th - What to know if you're flying to the Middle East

I'm at Heathrow airport – assessing the prospects for travellers who are flying to and from the Middle East, Asia and Australasia in the light of increasing tensions. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• 15 APR 2024

April 15th - Is JFK the worst airport in the world?

Some say New York JFK is not the worst airport in the world. It's my first visit here since early 2020, and I hoped the main US gateway had improved. But it's even worse. And if you take the Airtrain (one good thing about it), beware the Jamaica jive. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• © The Independent

Top Podcasts In Society & Culture

You might also like.

Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Society & Culture

Members save 10% or more on over 100,000 hotels worldwide when you’re signed in

Lobnya travel guide.

Visit Lobnya

Check lobnya hotel availability, popular places to visit.

You can learn about the history of Moscow with a stop at Red Square. Experience the area's fascinating museums and acclaimed theatre scene.

• Moscow Kremlin

Visit the most iconic square in Russia, which is bordered by many of the city’s most famous landmarks.

• Bolshoi Theatre

A centerpiece of the Russian arts scene, this theater’s magnificent auditorium and top-tier productions will impress even the most jaded theatergoer.

St. Basil's Cathedral

Think of Russia and you probably picture this iconic building, whose onion-shaped domes overlook the Moscow skyline.

• Lenin's Mausoleum

Mourners and curious visitors stream to the grave to see the embalmed Vladimir Lenin, the famous revolutionary and one-time leader of the Soviet Union.

Armoury Chamber

Visit one of Moscow’s oldest and most revered museums and discover more about Russian royal life and military history.

• Cities near Lobnya

• Places of interest
• State Historical Museum
• Ostankino TV Tower
• Minin and Pozharsky Monument
• Triumphal Arch
• Moscow Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Visit Lobnya

Check lobnya hotel availability, popular places to visit.

You can learn about the history of Moscow with a trip to Red Square. Experience the area's fascinating museums and acclaimed theater scene.

• Moscow Kremlin

Visit the most iconic square in Russia, which is bordered by many of the city’s most famous landmarks.

• Bolshoi Theatre

A centerpiece of the Russian arts scene, this theater’s magnificent auditorium and top-tier productions will impress even the most jaded theatergoer.

• St. Basil's Cathedral

Think of Russia and you probably picture this iconic building, whose onion-shaped domes overlook the Moscow skyline.

• Lenin's Mausoleum

Mourners and curious visitors stream to the grave to see the embalmed Vladimir Lenin, the famous revolutionary and one-time leader of the Soviet Union.

• Armoury Chamber

Visit one of Moscow’s oldest and most revered museums and discover more about Russian royal life and military history.

• Cities near Lobnya

• Places of interest
• Lobnya History Museum
• Chamber Stage
• Crocus City Hall
• Moscow City
• Crocus Expo Center
• Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy
• Arbat Street
• State Historical Museum
• Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Cathedral of Christ the Savior
• Victory Park
• VEGAS Crocus City
• Ostankino TV Tower
• Minin and Pozharsky Monument
• Triumphal Arch
• Russian White House
• Moscow Botanical Garden of Academy of Sciences

Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• UK Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Betting Sites
• Online Casinos
• Wine Offers

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Travel expert Simon Calder answers nine questions on your next US trip

Rules for teenagers, hawaiian escape, jab certification all explained by our in house travel expert, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts

Get simon calder’s travel email, thanks for signing up to the simon calder’s travel email.

As soon as the US opened up once again to British travellers after a border closure of almost 20 months, the travel correspondent of The Independent returned to continue with his astronaut training course at a secret base in California ahead of his next space mission.

During a brief spell of weightlessness, Simon Calder paused for an hour to tackle key questions from readers about the new rules for transatlantic travel from the UK.

Teenage kicks

Q: We will be in Florida over Christmas. Both my wife and I are double-jabbed and our 15-year-old son has had his single dose.

My understanding is that although in the UK he is considered “fully vaccinated”, this is not the case in the US and so he will need to take a test between day two and five after our arrival.

• Independent Traveller guide to best hotels and short breaks
• Best UK hotels 2022
• Best hotels in Paris for 2023

My question is: how readily available are the required tests in the US ? Are pharmaceutical chains like CVS offering testing at their retail sites?

A: As you say, unvaccinated (or partially vaccinated) under-18s are allowed in without quarantine, but they must take a post-arrival test – actually on day three, four or five of their stay.

In addition, fully vaccinated adults are recommended to undergo such tests, though this is not a requirement.

For the avoidance of doubt:

• The test can be a swift lateral flow (antigen) test.
• There is no obligation for the test to be medically supervised.
• You cannot use a free NHS lateral flow test; tests for international travel must be paid for privately.

I spent some time in the US checking out the testing options for people in your position.

Big airports have testing centres, but prices tend to be high even compared with UK prices. The cheapest airport deal I could find was at Orlando International Airport, where a rapid antigen test with AdventHealth costs $65 (£47). Similar tests at other airports were in the range $75 (£55) to $100 (£73).

While a professionally administered test will give the highest possible chance of an accurate result, I can understand that many families will choose instead to buy lateral flow tests, for example from the giant pharmacy firms, Walgreens and CVS Health. A pack containing two tests typically cost $25 (£18).

Q: I am flying to New York on 17 December with my children (hopefully). They both have had Covid -19last month and recovered. My son is 17 and has the NHS Covid recovery pass. My daughter is 14 and can’t get it from NHS.

How can we prove she has had covid within 90 days of travel, to avoid the testing obligations? It would be much easier if everyone followed the same WHO rules.

A: The World Health Organisation (WHO) does not make rules for individual countries to follow. If it did issue a set of rules that every nation must follow, life would, as you indicate, be so much easier for international travellers.

However, there is very little possibility that governments will surrender their public health powers to an international organisation.

Meanwhile all the traveller can do is comply with the many different policies in force around the world. In your daughter’s case, that means probably having to take a pre-departure lateral flow test. Despite her recent episode of Covid-19, after another five weeks she is most unlikely to provide a “false-positive” result.

Q: We are travelling to San Francisco on Boxing Day via Dublin from Manchester. My 15-year-old son had Covid in September. How can we get proof of recovery from Covid to enter Ireland (the rules are that its accepted 180 days in Ireland)?

He is showing as negative on a lateral flow test, but he still may show as infected on a PCR. The NHS aren’t issuing recovery certificates for under 16s and my son’s GP won’t provide anything either, and just refer us to the NHS 119 service.

My thinking is for purposes of entering Ireland he will be fine with a recovery certificate and for entry into US with a negative lateral flow test.

A: Travelling to the US via Dublin is a valuable option for many people in Great Britain: there are excellent connections from a wide range of airports, and fares can be low.

In addition, Ireland is very much on the way to America, so you won’t undergo the wasteful situation of flying away from the US to Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Paris to pick up your flight, which then may fly directly over the very airport you left three hours earlier.

However, in your specific case there is a serious drawback: Dublin airport does not adopt the same policy as other big hubs, where the general rule is that there is no need to meet the conditions of the intermediary nation for a very brief stop.

The tricky situation your son finds himself is a result of the odd and arbitrary UK decision that you mention: not to offer recovery certificates for under-16s.

By the time you travel to the US, though, it will have been 90 days since your son had Covid and therefore it is most unlikely he will show up as positive. So I would plan to take a PCR test on the morning of departure from Manchester and use that for entering the US as well – no point in getting duplicate tests.

Q: Supposed to be going to the US in 2022 and to Malta in 2022 for a wedding. One of my sons is only 15 and so will only have the one jab. I understand that neither allow single jabs. Any news/views on whether this will change?

Must be thousands of us in the same boat.

Brad Bourbon

A: Thousands in the same boat? I would say millions of people are affected by the divergence between the UK’s vaccination policy for under 16s and overseas countries’ definitions of being fully jabbed.

The current situation looks pretty unsustainable in the long term, and so I believe an accommodation will be reached to make it possible for young people to travel without undue problems. You can possibly accelerate the progress by writing to your MP and urging them to take up the issue.

Q: I’ve noticed that we have to sign an attestation form to verify that what we say is true prior to checking in. The link on the BA “manage my booking” seems to be six pages long, whist America, United and Virgin Atlantic link to basically just the one CDC original form.

Do you think that BA would accept the shorter CDC original form?

A: The only attestation form I know to be acceptable is the five-page CDC version here .

My understanding is that it needs to be printed out and signed by the passenger (or a parent if appropriate). I cannot imagine British Airways will reject this official form.

On a wider point: I have encountered problems uploading documents for a number of different BA trips, and always seem to have to go to the desk at the airport to have documents checked before departure. I wonder how long this cumbersome system will prevail?

Long-distance information

Q: We’re hoping to fly out to the US next year, firstly to New York, on to Hawaii and finally San Francisco. What are the current regulations/requirements to enter Hawaii?

A: To answer your direct question: as from last Monday, 8 November, the Pacific island state came into line with the rest of the US, welcoming fully vaccinated and tested international visitors.

More broadly, I should point out that the current rules may well have changed agin by the time you travel to the US – so do keep checking.

If you are travelling off-peak (ie outside the UK school holidays) there is no great need to book flights more than a few weeks or even a few days in advance.

North of the border

Q: Looking at going to Canada. Currently 12-15 year olds are only allowed on Covid vaccine in the UK. But Canada is insisting they have two vaccines or have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

Do you think Canada will bring in the same entry rules for under 18s as the US – ie with no quarantine – before Christmas?

A: I am afraid that the position the UK has adopted for under-16s – they need only one vaccine – is causing significant problems for families travelling to many parts of the world. I believe that there will be some rational convergence towards what is acceptable proof of a traveller’s low-risk status, but I would be surprised if it were to happen by Christmas.

To be blunt, Canada is unlikely to be in a hurry to find an immediate solution for a relatively small proportion of British visitors.

I recognise it is probably of little comfort to you, but the UK represents the second-largest group of foreign visitors to Canada after the US, so I imagine by next summer restrictions will be eased.

Cruise control

Q: In December, we are flying out to Florida to join a cruise the following day. How does my unvaccinated eight-year-old do the “day 3-5”post-arrival test?

Also timelines dictate that we will need to do a pre-travel test on Christmas Day which means we won’t have access to any of the usual retail options. So will a video supervised test suffice?

A: The quick and easy answer to your first question is that your eight-year-old can’t comply with the rule. Getting on board the plane to the US will probably be easier if you simply sign the attestation saying that you will arrange the necessary test.

Since the test will not be necessary, that is a reasonable solution for a tangled situation.

Next, I am puzzled that you say: “Timelines dictate that we will need to do a pre-travel test on Christmas Day:”

The Americans are very flexible about the timing of pre-departure tests. If you are booked to travel on Boxing Day, for example, then the tests can be carried out on 23, 24, 25 or 26 December. So that should give you plenty of options.

A reminder that a lateral flow test is acceptable – no need for a slow and expensive PCR test.

You also ask: “Will a video supervised test suffice?”

Only if it is approved by the US authorities and conducted with an American company. While in theory you could arrange such a test, in practice it will be much easier to get a professionally administered UK-based test – for example offered at the airport on your day of departure.

Q: I’m flying out to New York this Saturday, to spend six weeks in the northeastern US. There is enormous excitement here after a two-year wait!

Have you had any issues with using your NHS Covid Pass to access venues in New York, given that they have their own system (the Excelsior Pass)?

If so, what do I need to do to make sure my experience is as seamless as possible?

A: I was in New York State this week but not in NYC. This single state provides an excellent example of how fragmented things are in the US: while in upstate New York, mask-wearing is optional for anyone who is fully vaccinated, and I faced no controls entering premises, in the biggest American city things are very different.

New York City Covid rules stipulate that for indoor dining, museums, aquariums, zoos and performance venues, “people 12 and older are required to show identification and proof they have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine”.

The Excelsior Pass you mention is actually a state-wide scheme that promises: “Secure proof of an individual’s Covid-19 vaccination record and negative test results.” But I have not been able to identify any way for a foreign visitors to access the scheme.

So how do you prove your vaccine status? Well, in the US, everything seems pretty analogue.

Unlike the European Union, where the (really very successful) EU Digital Covid pass is ubiquitous, there is no coherent nationwide system in the United States – despite an attempt by New York State to promote such a scheme (known as Blueprint) based on its Excelsior Pass.

Carrying your NHS Covid Pass letter, which conveniently is in English, should be sufficient. You can get it from the NHS in the UK nation you live in.

Always carry your passport, too, because some people will want to see it as well as your vaccination certificate.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Want an ad-free experience?

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

Simon Calder

This is the official site of travel journalist and broadcaster Simon Calder

Family Travel

By Simon‘s wife, Charlotte

Simon and I have travelled with our two daughters since they were very young.  Our first trip with a baby was a long weekend to Lille on Eurostar; what an easy and joyous first foreign trip to take if you are new parents!

When the children were small they were relatively easy to travel with, although we’d always have more luggage than we liked.  But, from the age of four, when they started to have opinions about what they wanted to do and where they wanted to go, travelling with the children has become increasingly interesting and increasingly valuable as a lesson to us all about compromise.

Our children are now young teenagers and we have undertaken a wide range of research trips with them, at different ages.  Of course, some were more successful than others and on this page we wanted to look at those which really worked or were a highlight, in case you’re after any school holiday inspiration.  We also thought we’d post some pictures from any recent trip we’ve done with the children and let you know if we’d recommend it for families.

So, looking back, CITY BREAKS that have been particularly successful with the children include: Porto with its beautiful Douro river and fascinating metal, double-decker Dom Louis I Bridge; Granada and its tasty chocolate & churros in Plaza Nueva followed by the Alhambra which is great for families to explore (though some of the walls are quite low so take precautions with young ones); Vancouver , where we hired bikes and cycled along the seawall in Stanley Park; Washington, which has great museums and delicious cupcakes in Georgetown;  Seattle where the Space Needle doesn’t disappoint and kayaking in Union Lake alongside the seaplanes is not your everyday experience;  Los Angeles, where an ideal day starts with the early Warner Bros studio tour (Friends and Big Bang Theory), breakfast over the road at Bob’s Big Boy restaurant and a hike up to the Hollywood sign;    Luxor , where, as much as we hate to say it,  the best view of Luxor Temple comes from eating at the McDonald’s;   Aswan , a delightfully low-key city where it’s easy to get on the river, visit the islands and see the Unfinished Obelisk; Shanghai, which is fascinating for older children who love to shop,  watch in awe at the Chinese acrobats  and soak their toes in the Jacuzzi at the best rooftop bar in the world (Vue Bar, Hyatt on the Bund);  Vienna , where young children love the Imperial Butterfly House and dropping into morning exercise class at the Spanish Riding School; Dubrovnik , where the car-free old town is a delight; Lille , which has a great Christmas Market with a huge Ferris Wheel;  Funchal , where children will delight in its renowned New Year’s Eve firework display;  Singapore (including Sentosa Island ), where you can experience the rainforest on high walkways, visit the zoo at night and go zip-wiring, trampolining or luging on nearby Sentosa Island, also home to Universal Studios; and Edinburgh, which has the Museum on the Mound where you can ogle at the £1million in £20 notes and can then wonder at the camera obscura and trickery of The World of Illusions.

RESORTS that we like include: Lyme Regis in Dorset, where no-one in our family ever tires of trying to find fossils on the beach; Naples, the home of fabulous pizza and the Cloisters of Santa Chiara lined by trees laden with oranges; San Sebastian which, in our opinion, is one of the finest resorts in Europe for young children as it has everything (an aquarium, a small working harbour, fabulous beach, playgrounds everywhere, a long promenade perfect for buggy-pushing and a quaint Old Town with no cars); and Split, home to the marbled alleyways of  Diocletian’s Palace and world-class ice cream.  You may regard the latter two as more like city breaks but they both have credible beaches and a resort atmosphere.

Read more…

Thoughts on our recent family trip to…

NEW YORK: Scream it loud, my main big tip is that if you wish to visit the Statue of Liberty Crown you need to book at least three months in advance. We didn’t do this and could only get access to the Pedestal, which was still a wonderful experience, but who wouldn’t want to get access to the Crown if you could?

Six days in New York over October half-term with two teenagers was fabulous. We stayed in Greenwich Village, close to Union Square, which was a very convenient location as you’re at the mid-point of sights to the north and the south.

Some of the least obvious things we did which worked really well with youngsters were: getting the subway to Brooklyn and walking back over Brooklyn Bridge (particularly for those studying A View from the Bridge); eating at the Food Mall below Grand Central Station; browsing the vast array of teenage fiction in Barnes & Noble on 5 th Avenue; checking out how the jewels sparkle at Tiffany’s on 5 th Avenue; indulging in a manicure in Greenwich Village (there are lots of cheap places there); visiting the New York National Library on 5 th Avenue where the Rose Main Reading Room recently re-opened after several years of renovation (ever since Harry Potter libraries are cool); descending into the underground Apple store below its transparent shop-front cube opposite the Plaza Hotel (Bride Wars) near Central Park; and, of course, visiting all the Friends and Gossip Girl film locations.

The least successful were: 102 nd Floor of the Empire State Building – you pay extra to get up there but it’s small and enclosed and nothing can beat the 86 th floor where you can walk around outside – we went up at sunset and so saw the city in the late afternoon glow and then in the dark; the One World Observatory at the World Trade Center – this was expensive and disappointing because there are lots of high views in New York and here your photos are full of reflections from the glass; we also didn’t go to a Broadway show as the prices seemed high in comparison with theatre in the UK.

The most touching experience was, of course, the 9/11 Memorial. The girls and I didn’t know that every day white roses are placed beside the names of those who should have celebrated a birthday. It’s incredibly moving.