The Better Travel Podcast

We’re wrapping up Season 3 with a moving conversation with Dr. Tonya Matthews, the president and CEO of the International African American Museum (IAAM), which is due to open in Charleston, South Carolina later this year. Dr. Matthews talks about the inspiration for the museum; how the museum approaches storytelling; and how she hopes the museum will inspire courage in its visitors. She also shares how the IAAM will help to shape Charleston’s tourism landscape. Plus, listen up at the end of the episode, when Paige offers a preview of what to expect for Season 4. Thanks so much for listening! Links and things The IAAM website: https://iaamuseum.org/ Paige’s interview with Dr. Matthews for The New York Times (unlocked link): bit.ly/3I9T4gg IAAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iaamuseum/ IAAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/iaamuseum

How do you think about the climate impact of travel? For a lot of people, this is a complex question — both technically and emotionally. Our guest this week, Christina Beckmann, is here to help us navigate this topic. Christina is the co-founder of Tomorrow’s Air, a collective of travelers who are investing in the scale-up of carbon removal from the atmosphere. Christina talks about how technologies like direct air capture are evolving, and shares how individuals can help support a long-term shift toward a healthier climate. Links and things Tomorrow’s Air website: www.tomorrowsair.com Tomorrow’s Air on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tomorrowsair_ Tomorrow’s Air on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrows-air Christina Beckmann’s website: www.christinabeckmann.com Paige’s NYT article on aviation and climate change: bit.ly/3HgSigX (unlocked link) Some extra info from Christina As Christina mentions in the episode, Climeworks is one of the companies that Tomorrow’s Air supports. Climeworks’s direct air capture service has become so popular that most of the company’s carbon credits have now been spoken for. Because of Tomorrow’s Air’s early commitment to Climeworks, it represents one of only a very few channels that allow individual travelers to invest in direct air capture carbon removal with permanent storage. Tomorrow's Air also invests in Pacific Biochar, a company that produces a type of high-carbon residue that, when inserted into the soil, stores the carbon underground, where it does not contribute to global warming.

What does “immersive travel” actually mean, and how can you try this yourself? That’s the question we’re exploring in today’s episode, and here to help us is Miyuki Seguchi, a travel adviser, tour guide, podcast host, and creator of the Japan Travel Essentials Course. Miyuki talks about what immersive travel means to her and how travelers can embrace these experiences themselves. She also shares her thoughts on overcoming language barriers; offers tips on cultural experiences that you can have in Japan; and shares her thoughts on “overtourism” in one of Japan’s most popular destinations. Thanks so much for listening! Links and things Grab Miyuki's free Japan Travel Guide: the 7 steps to creating your unique immersive experience Find out more about The Japan Travel Essentials course and Japan Experts Podcast Get Japan travel inspiration on Miyuki's Facebook group, Instagram and Website

It's been a big year for travel, so I thought we'd wrap up 2022 with an episode that looks back at 3 big travel takeaways from the year. These are trends that I've seen cutting across countries, destinations and sectors of the industry, and they're forces that I think will continue to shape the travel world in the year ahead. Plus, listen up for a special invitation from me at the end of the episode! What do you think? What were your travel takeaways from this year? Thanks so much for listening, and hope you have a great start to 2023! Say hello Send me an email: hello@paigemcclanahan.com Message me on Instagram: instagram.com/bettertravelpodcast Links to a few resources mentioned in the episode How can we travel mindfully in an unequal world? (Better Travel Podcast episode) bit.ly/3Wq3EUJ What's going on with tourism in Venice? (BTP episode) bit.ly/3XNlqCA Barcelona takes on Airbnb (by me for The NYT, unlocked link): bit.ly/3VpFYP9 Kyoto wants you back, but it has some polite suggestions (NYT, unlocked link): bit.ly/3hSCt66 What's it like to go on a safari in Europe? (BTP episode): bit.ly/3WQ8z1j

Award-winning journalist and author Shafik Meghji joins the show to share what he finds so captivating about Bolivia, a nation rich in culture and history that’s also home to deserts, jungles and snow-capped mountains. Shafik — who has written and reported from six continents — also talks about his career as a journalist and guidebook writer, and reflects on how the right kind of travel writing can empower people to have more positive and meaningful experiences when they travel. Thank you so much for listening! Links and things Shafik’s book, Crossed off the Map: Travels in Bolivia bookshop.org/p/books/crossed-off-the-map-travels-in-bolivia-shafik-meghji/18346909?ean=9781909014251 Shafik’s website: shafikmeghji.com Find Shafik on Instagram: instagram.com/shafikmeghji And on Twitter: twitter.com/ShafikMeghji

Venice is often described as a classic example of "overtourism" in Europe. But what's really going on in this famous Italian city? This week, Italian journalist Anna Momigliano joins the show to talk about the history and evolution of tourism in Venice, and to share how visitors to this beloved city can actually have a positive impact during their stay. As Anna explains, it all comes down to how, when, and *for how long* you visit the city. Listen up for her specific suggestions for how to plan a fun and meaningful trip to Venice. Thanks so much for joining us! Subscribe to Paige's newsletter: paigemcclanahan.com/newsletter Some of Anna's recent journalism on tourism in Venice Venice Tourism May Never Be the Same. It Could Be Better, The New York Times (unlocked link, good for 2 weeks): https://bit.ly/3Fexupf Venice and Cruise Ships: A Delicate Balance, The New York Times (unlocked): https://bit.ly/3VANMhw ‘Little Venice’ Finally Gets its Moment, The New York Times (unlocked): http://bit.ly/3GVYvis Follow Anna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/annamomi Lots of Venice info from Anna Venice Sustainable Tourism is run by the association of tourist guides who support sustainable tourism. They focus on organized tours in areas that are less crowded and might actually need extra visitors. In some cases, some of the proceedings go to the restoration of art that was damaged in the 2019 flood. Try emailing them to ask what tours are available venicesustainabletourism.com Edipo Re organizes cultural events and boat tours of the lagoon edipore.it Slow Venice is a tour operator focusing on “slow” experiences in Venice and its surrounding lagoon slowvenice.it/en Three Venice museums that could use more visitors: Museo di Palazzo Grimani. It’s in the Sestiere Castello (or Castello district). A medieval palazzo that was redecorated in the 1500s, it has a stunning architecture and art collection. Also hosts exhibits polomusealeveneto.beniculturali.it/musei/museo-di-palazzo-grimani Jewish Museum of Venice. The Sestiere Cannareggio (or Cannareggio district) is home to the Jewish Ghetto, a very lively place with plenty of restaurants and nice architecture to walk around. Don’t miss the museum museoebraico.it/en/museum Scuola Grande di san Rocco. Perhaps the most famous of the “Scuole Grandi” of Venice, despite being in the San Polo district this place is (relatively…) overlooked by tourists, despite the fact that it’s pure Venice in all its splendor scuolagrandesanrocco.org/home

Fatima Haidari joins the show this week to talk about the rich history and culture of Afghanistan, her home country, and to share why she became a tour guide despite facing intense pressure not to do so — from society, as well as from her own family. Fatima’s compassion and courage shine through as she describes her dedication to tour guiding, as well as the threats to her life that she faced when she left Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover last year. It's rare that an interview stops me in my tracks, but this one certainly did. I hope that you'll take some time to hear Fatima's story. As always, thank you so much for listening! Links and things Fatima featured on CNN: https://cnn.it/3tsRGgp Fatima on Instagram: instagram.com/fatima.haidari786 Untamed Borders: untamedborders.com Sign up for a virtual tour of Herat with Fatima on Jan 17: http://bit.ly/3TFU7a1

This week, we're delighted to welcome American travel guru Rick Steves back to the show. Rick is a radio host, the owner of a tour company, and the author of dozens of guidebooks, but he considers his latest project -- a six-episode TV series about European art -- to be his "opus magnum." In this episode, Rick describes how we can all have more rewarding travel experiences by taking some time to learn about the art of the places we visit. He also talks about what he learned while filming the series and shares some of his favorite stories of personal encounters with art in Europe. Thanks so much for listening! Links and things Stream Rick's six-episode series, Art of Europe, for free: ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/art Sam Anderson's NYT Magazine profile of Rick: https://nyti.ms/37Se3i7 Paige's Q&A with Rick for the NYT (unlocked link): https://nyti.ms/3UaUqdI More about Rick and his work: ricksteves.com Listen to Rick's first appearance on The Better Travel Podcast: https://apple.co/3FuXqxu

This week, we explore one of the most powerful potential benefits of tourism: bringing jobs and income into rural communities. Our guest is Manisha Pande, the co-founder and managing director of Village Ways, an Indian tour company that was set up with the specific aim of helping villages benefit from the tourism that was already coming to their regions -- but that wasn't (yet!) doing any good for their communities. In this episode, you'll learn: Thank you so much for listening! Links and things Sign up for Paige's newsletter: paigemcclanahan.com/newsletter The Village Ways website: villageways.com Village Ways on Instagram: instagram.com/villageways The Responsible Tourism Partnership: responsibletourismpartnership.org Dr. Harold Goodwin, head of the Responsible Tourism Partnership: haroldgoodwin.info

This week, we're joined by Husam Jubran, a Palestinian tour guide and peace worker who has helped to lead a movement toward more meaningful tourism in the region that he calls home. In this episode, you'll learn: If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode with a friend. Thank you so much for listening! Links and things Husam's interview with Rick Steves: https://blog.ricksteves.com/blog/husam-jubran/ Hands of Peace: https://handsofpeace.org/ Mejdi Tours, originator of the dual narrative: https://mejditours.com/ Better Travel Podcast interview with Mejdi co-founder Aziz Abu Sarah: https://apple.co/3fMYTV2

Zakia Moulaoui Guery, CEO of Invisible Cities, shares how her company creates exceptional travel experiences that allow visitors to give back to the people and places they visit. Thanks so much for listening! Links and things Invisible Cities website: https://invisible-cities.org/ Zakia’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWITmCWSZrw The International Network of Social Tours: https://inst.ngo/ Link to register for free Sept 23 Zoom event on travel with purpose: https://bit.ly/3UrEXXs

Why is the beach synonymous with paradise for so many of us? How do beach resorts change the communities around them? And will they manage to survive rising sea levels? In the first episode of Season 3, Paige speaks with Sarah Stodola, author of “The Last Resort: A Chronicle of Paradise, Profit and Peril at the Beach,” for a deep dive on one of humanity’s favorite travel destinations. Thanks so much for listening! Links and things Sarah’s website https://sarahstodola.com/ Sarah’s book https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-last-resort-sarah-stodola?variant=39703502389282 Flung, Sarah’s travel magazine: https://flungmagazine.com/ Sign up for Paige’s newsletter: www.paigemcclanahan.com/newsletter

Welcome to Season 3 of The Better Travel Podcast! Hosted by Paige McClanahan, a travel journalist and lifelong travel addict, this is the show that gives you a deeper understanding of the world of travel. Come along with us in Season 3 as we meet innovators, entrepreneurs and activists around the world who are challenging the status quo in the travel industry and making sure that travel gets us out of our comfort zones and opens our minds. Hit subscribe now. Episode 1 drops on September 8!

For the Season 2 finale, Paige speaks to Bruce Poon Tip, who is both the founder of a major adventure travel company and an executive producer of “The Last Tourist,” an award-winning documentary that makes the case for why we need to dramatically rethink the way we travel. Bruce shares the film’s origin story and explains why he wanted the movie to convey a message of hope: that travel — done right — can bring wealth into some of the world’s poorest areas, creating jobs and alleviating poverty. Bruce also talks about G Adventures, the travel company he founded in 1990, and shares the company’s innovative approach to making sure they give back to the communities they visit. Plus, listen up for a (somewhat spicy) language lesson in Greek! That’s a wrap on Season 2! Thank you so much for listening. We hope you’ll follow along on Instagram or Twitter to stay in the loop for Season 3! Resources The Last Tourist website (includes links to streaming services) G Adventures Information on the G Adventures Ripple Score

This week, we’re talking about safari tourism — but not the kind of safari you might be thinking of. Instead of looking for giraffes, lions and elephants on the savannas of Kenya or Tanzania, we’re heading to Italy to go wolf tracking and to Romania to spy wild European bison. Our guide here is Aukje van Gerven of the European Safari Company and Rewilding Europe. Aukje tells us about rewilding trends in Europe and describes how wildlife tourism is opening up new opportunities — both for visitors, and for the people living in Europe’s rural areas. Plus, Paige gets a fascinating history lesson and language lesson from Sierra Leonean star Vickie Remoe! Thanks so much for listening. We’ll be back next week with the final episode of Season 2! Resources The Vickie Remoe Show Vickie Remoe on Twitter and Instagram The European Safari Company Rewilding Europe Comment piece on tourism and rewilding from Justin Francis of Responsible Travel

This week, we’re bringing you a conversation with Lonely Planet co-founder Tony Wheeler! Tony joins the show to tell the story of the company’s founding and to talk about how guidebooks have changed the way we travel. He also reminisces about the “Hippie Trail” across Asia in the 1970s and tells us about the strangest place he’s ever been. Plus, listen up for our latest language lesson, in which our producer Artemis learns a beautiful and meaningful phrase in Czech. Next week, we’ll be off for a quick Spring Break! We’ll be back on April 7 with the penultimate episode of Season 2. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Tony Wheeler’s website Tony and Maureen Wheeler’s book, Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story

Uganda’s first wildlife vet, Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, joins the show this week to share how tourism has affected the lives of the wildlife and residents in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in southwestern Uganda. Dr. Gladys, who was recently named a UN Champion of the Earth, is the founder and CEO of both Conservation Through Public Health and Gorilla Conservation Coffee. She joins the show to talk about the important economic opportunities that have come with gorilla trekking, as well the health challenges that have arisen as gorillas and humans have come into closer contact. She shares how Uganda’s gorilla population has grown since tourism began in the area, and explains why they recently had their first gorilla poaching incident in a very long time. Plus, listen up for Paige’s language lesson with a native of a European micro-state that’s famous for its luxury tourism. Thanks so much for listening, and have a great week! Resources Conservation Through Public Health Information on gorilla trekking with CTPH Gorilla Conservation Coffee Find Dr. Gladys on Instagram and Twitter

This week, Paige is joined by Erin Elizabeth Hynes, an experienced and enthusiastic traveler, travel writer and travel podcaster who shares some excellent advice for her fellow women wanderers, as well as some of her travel stories from Venice, Morocco, Greece and beyond. But the episode kicks off with this week’s language lesson (in Japanese!), which is taught by Miyuki Seguchi, a traveler, tour guide and podcast host whose aim is to help people have immersive and transformative experiences when they visit Japan. Did any of Erin’s stories resonate with you? In what ways do you think travel is different for women? I’d love to hear your thoughts and hope you’ll share by sending me a voice message. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Erin’s blog, Pina Travels The Alpaca My Bags Podcast, which Erin hosts Miyuki Seguchi’s website Miyuki’s Japan Experts Podcast

This week, we’re exploring a topic that’s on the minds of a lot of travelers these days: short-term tourist rentals, which is a service offered by a lot of companies, but perhaps the most well known is Airbnb. First up, Dr. Daniel Guttentag of the College of Charleston joins the show to explain why short-term rentals hold so much appeal, and to tell us how these kinds of services have evolved over the years. He also describes some of the impacts of short-term rentals and offers some advice for travelers who are looking to have a positive impact when they book a rental stay. Next, Paige speaks to Jonathan Reyes, co-founder of a cooperative called Fairbnb that is taking a collaborative approach to offering rented tourist accommodation in popular destinations in Europe and beyond. Plus, listen up for a few snippets from Paige’s recent trip to Florence with her family. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Donation page for the UN Refugee Agency's work to support Ukrainian families Dr. Daniel Guttentag and his research on Airbnb Paige’s 2021 story on Airbnb in Barcelona for The New York Times (unlocked link) Fairbnb A 2016 article in The Guardian about Fairbnb

This week, we speak to Mark Smith of the Man in Seat 61 and Anna Hughes of Flight Free UK to find out why a lot of travelers are switching from planes to trains, and to learn about some of the exciting new train routes we can explore. Anna Hughes is the director of Flight Free UK, which is working to inspire people to embrace trains and other forms of travel that have a low-carbon impact – including by asking people to pledge to take a year off flying. She shares how they aim to see the pledge not as a sacrifice, but as an opportunity to explore different (and maybe more rewarding!) forms of travel. Mark Smith is the founder and CEO of The Man in Seat 61, a fantastic online resource with information on train routes, fares and timings in Europe, the UK and beyond. He joins the show to talk about why he’s seeing growing interest in train travel, to offer tips for how train travelers can find good deals, and to share his favorite rail routes in Europe. Plus, listen up for our latest language lesson, in which Paige learns a wonderful phrase in Dutch. Thank you so much for listening! Resources Flight Free UK The Flight Free Pledge The Man in Seat 61