Travel With Ren

Cruise destination: Vigo, Spain

2012-05-24T08:41:00.000+10:00

My partner Donna and I recently enjoyed an 11 night cruise from Southampton (UK) to destinations in Spain, Portugal, Gran Canarie and Canary Islands on Royal Caribbean's super-sized ship 'Independence of the Seas'. I had my trusty camcorder on hand to record the many colourful scenes in ports enroute. This is the first episode of my cruise destination video series: featuring the western Spanish port of Vigo. The next destination, Lisbon, Portugal will be 'in the can' in the near future!

Great wines, good food and Turnberry, Scotland

2012-05-16T09:36:00.000+10:00

Another edition of Travelradio Australia is online for your listening enjoyment. In this show:

Ren Zwiers has news on tourism growth in New Zealand
John Crook provides details of Cirque de Soleil's forthcoming tour to Australia
Frances Beasley reviews a new cookbook: 'Little Paris Kitchen'
David Gordon visits Turnberry, Scotland
John Crook interviews Tess Fisher of Yalumba Wines

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Whitsundays, Innsbruck and Philip Island

2012-05-08T10:48:00.000+10:00

The latest edition of our travel podcast features a variety in destinations. Firstly, I present the latest updates on what's happening in the Whitsundays region of Queensland. Our European reporter Frances Beasley then visits Innsbruck (Austria). Thirdly, our intrepid Australian contributor, John Crook travels to Philip Island (Victoria) where he chats with tourism officer Kim Storey and calls in at a chocolate factory run by a colourful character.

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Montmartre still has a village feel

2012-04-26T10:12:00.001+10:00

Montmartre is probably one of the most colourful districts in Paris. It still has that vibrant village feel about it with a myriad of cafés, little shops and interesting locals wandering the streets.

Our base for a two night stay was the very cute and comfortable Hotel des Arts in Rue Tholoze, a typical narrow Montmartre street a five minute walk from the renowned Moulin Rouge, metro stations and the main stop for 'Le Petit Train' which will take you to the Sacre Coeur cathedral high above the Paris skyline. The Hop On, Hop Off tour doubledecker tourbuses also stop just up the road from the Moulin Rouge. The video in this post will explain the story much better than can be put in words, so I hope you enjoy viewing it.

Hairy Bikers, Orange (NSW), European trains and Florence villa-stay

2012-04-25T10:19:00.000+10:00

A new edition of Travelradio Australia is now online.

In this episode Frances Beasley chats about her favourite TV travel/cooking show, 'Hairy Bikers'; John Crook provides details of the new Orange Wine and Food Guide; Frances then reviews some train rides through Europe. Lastly, John has details of a superb villa stay in Florence, Italy.

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Cruising on Amsterdam's canals

2012-04-17T10:51:00.000+10:00

On my recent European trip I made a point of stopping in my birth city Amsterdam for a couple of nights. Of course, it's almost obligatory and do the tourist thing in this city, and that's hopping onboard a canal cruiseboat.

My partner Donna had never been to Amsterdam before, so that gave an extra reason for taking this easy and quick tour of Amsterdam. Especially as our accommodation, Hotel van Gelder was right across the departure point on the Damrak!

I had the video camera with me so shot some city scenes along the way. Hopefully the pictures of gliding through the waterways don't prove too boring! The video is posted below...

Outback 'eventures' in Queensland

2012-04-10T11:05:00.007+10:00

There are plenty of spring 'eventures' ahead in Queensland's outback and on the latest edition of Travelradio Australia I list some of these events.

Also on the show: John Crook has news of a Food Week festival at Orange (NSW); David Gordon enjoys a dram (or two) of whiskey on the island of Jura, Scotland; Frances Beasley describes her Eurostar rail experiences; Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull chat with Rory Boland about living in Hong Kong (segment courtesy of Around the World) and John Crook takes listeners on an audio tour of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

Listen on the audio player below:

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Travelradio Australia is back!

2012-03-29T09:31:00.002+10:00

The first new podcast since I returned from overseas is now online. It features a review of Caraffini Restaurant, London by Frances Beasley; John Crook returns to the show with a report on the forthcoming Scarf festival in Australia, and from the ATW show in the US, Eric Weinstein chats about movie set location tourism. Hear the show on the player below

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Return from halfway around the world

2012-03-28T12:57:00.000+10:00

Posing for a snapshot in front of a Paris landmark.

I’ve covered a lot of kilometres (or nautical miles, in some cases) over the past month visiting some great destinations in Europe. The highlight of the epic journey was an 11-night voyage on the huge Independence of the Seas, until recently the world’s biggest cruise ship boasting a full complement of almost 4000 passengers.

Royal Caribbean International treated us to a return cruise from/to Southampton visiting many Spanish and Portugese ports along the way. Our stops included Vigo, Lisbon, Las Palmas, Tenerife and Funchal and La Coruna.

I have always been very impressed with the quality of service delivered by Royal Caribbean aboard its ships and this cruise did not disappoint. Along with great service, good quality food and reasonably priced drinks, the cruise was a memorable event.

Not surprisingly, most of the passengers were British. I’m pleased to say, overall the term of endearment ‘whinging poms’ we often lavish upon Britons here in Australia did not apply. Sure there were a few obnoxious passengers onboard, but their nationality was not identified, they could have been Aussies for all I know!

All jokes aside, it was a very pleasant cruise and we will definitely return for more before we get much older. Thank you Royal Caribbean for providing us with a great time.

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas moored at Funchal, Madeira.

Praise should also go to Etihad Airways for getting us everywhere on time and safely, although that last leg from Abu Dhabi to Sydney in Economy Class was a task I’m not keen to repeat in a hurry.

However, if you live in Australia and want to visit Europe, there is no choice but to endure about 25 hours upwards of laborious travel.

And now I’m back at my desk – almost ready to record another podcast in the Travel Radio Australia series. Keep an ear and an eye out for the next show!

Luckily on the outward route from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow we paid a small fee to upgrade to vacant Business Class seats which also included entry to the Etihad lounge in AD…well worth the money! Unfortunately the finances did not permit another upgrade on the return leg, even though they phoned several times to offer the opportunity to upgrade.

-Ren Zwiers

It's travelling time!

2012-02-22T14:31:00.000+10:00

The regular Travel Radio Australia podcasts will take a break for a few weeks as I'll be hitting the 'road' (well, actually 'the air', 'the road', 'the train' and 'the ship').

I'll be visiting 'exotic' destinations like Luton and Southampton in the UK, Amsterdam (Netherlands), Paris (yep, the one in France) followed by an 11-night cruise on Royal Caribbean's mighty Independence of the Seas to ports in Spain, Portugal and almost near Africa - the Canaries.

No doubt this trip will provide me with plenty of fodder for both my youtube travel video channel and Travelradio Australia podcast upon my return.

Meanwhile, I'll enjoy some time away from my computer! We'll renew acquaintance late next month!

Queensland fresh, Hunter Valley wines, Passion of Oberammergau and Idaho adventure

2012-02-14T09:33:00.000+10:00

On the latest Travel Radio Australia podcast host Ren Zwiers takes listeners on a farm-fresh trip around Queensland, Australia. Wes Crook tastes the wines from the Hunter Valley. Frances Beasley describes the passion play which takes place in Oberammergau, Germany once every 10 years, attracting half-a-million visitors. From our sister show Around the World, hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull chat with Steve Letz about his adventure tours in Idaho.

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Kalahari Salt, and Hawaii - all in one show!

2012-02-07T09:10:00.000+10:00

In this week's audio podcast host/producer Ren Zwiers opens the show and presents the latest travel news. Frances Beasley then visits a wine and food show in Munich, Germany where she discovers the merits of salt from the Kalahari. The final segment is a recent grab from our sister program in the US, 'Around the World'. Co-hosts Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull chat with regular contributor Max Hartshorne from Gonomad.com about Maui, Hawaii.

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The joys of travel with kids

2012-01-24T09:02:00.000+10:00

Traveling with kids can be a chore but a website itcheefeet.com can help ease the endurance test. On this week's podcast I chat with the co-originator of this site, well-travelled Australian children's book author Jane Tara who, with her partner boasts a quartet of young children, so has plenty of experience in this field. The website offers games and other solutions for making the next trip with your offspring more bearable, or maybe even 'enjoyable'.

Also on the show I have news of an exciting new public concourse to be constructed fronting busy Kings Cross station in London. Munich-based reporter Frances Beasley has been enjoying some heavy snowfalls in her part of Europe. US-based reporter Diane Covington is enjoying the delights of France.

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2012-01-17T08:58:00.000+10:00

The new format of Travel Radio Australia is now into its second edition and the latest podcast can be heard on the audio player below this post.

We're pleased with the number of people who have downloaded or listened to the podcast online and we will keep producing new shows as material (and spare time) becomes available.

There will be a break in production for a month from late February, as I'll be travelling the high seas on Royal Caribbean's mighty ship 'Independence of the Seas'. Our itinerary will include a range of Spanish and Portuguese ports.

In addition to the cruise I'll be making independent visits to England, Holland and France.

No doubt I'll get plenty of inspiration from that trip for plenty of new podcast segments upon my return. Meanwhile here's is the latest show:

Ren Zwiers has info on what's new in the Whitsundays region, Queensland
Frances Beasley provides some interesting facts on the Bolshoi Ballet.
From our US sister show, Around the World, Karen Ensign visits China.
Ren Zwiers gives an insight into the renewed popularity of Bed and Breakfast establishments in Europe.

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Surfers Paradise is looking much better!

2012-01-12T12:41:00.000+10:00

Ever since first visiting the Gold Coast in the early 1960s, I have seen the gradual decline in Surfers Paradise as being a family-friendly destination.

In more recent years it has become a holiday haven for drunks and louts and it hasn't been a good spot to find a quality restaurant either. Broadbeach, just one suburb southwards, has easily overtaken Surfers in recent years in all those departments.

However, there has been (and still is) much work going on reshaping the Surfers skyline and beachfront - so I eagerly look forward to revisiting Surfers more regularly before too long in the hope that the change in the air is permanent or at least, long lasting.

I spent a day in Surfers Paradise between Christmas and New Year 2011, when the surf was well and truly up (too big to swim in, thanks to king tides coupled with a recent cyclone in the Pacific Ocean) but that didn't stop people heading for the beach to watch the spectacle more reminiscent of an Hawaiian landscape!

I had my trusty camcorder at hand and produced this video for my youtube channel.

New format kicks off 2012 season

2012-01-05T11:14:00.000+10:00

This week we introduce a new shorter and snappier format for the travel podcast.

Travel Radio Australia is now available only as a podcast via our websites travelradioaustralia.com; travelwithren.com; travelcastnetwork.com and as a download from the iTunes store's free podcast department.

We appreciate all the online listeners we have collected to the show over the past four years and hope to build the audience even more in time to come.

Although the show is no longer a weekly event like it has been for the past decade (and longer), it will appear here on a regular basis, so keep checking back, or even better, subscribe and you'll never miss an episode.

On this edition host Ren Zwiers has some travel news involving a wayward tourism manager in Croatia who has been sacked for her comments about Aussie visitors to her country; Frances Beasley celebrates the Christmas season in Munich, Germany and in the final segment, Ren offers some cruise specials from an Australian-based agency.

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Final radio show but we'll be back!

2012-01-04T09:07:00.000+10:00

After more than a decade on the airwaves in Australia we have come to the end of an era. We have produced the final travel radio show to be broadcast on Community Radio Network stations throughout Australia. The show has been taking a few weeks' break over the festive period and will return early in 2012 as a podcast available on this site as well as travelradioaustralia.com and, of course, through the iTunes store. I would like to thank the countless program managers and others who have supported the show in its lengthy career. I look forward to producing and hosting brand new episodes featuring our regular team of contributors in January 2012. Until then, I hope you enjoy this show!

Here's the rundown on this edition....

Frances Beasley discovers the popularity of Australian wines in Europe and particularly her home country of Germany.
John Crook chats with his 'cruise junkie' mate Phil Kirby about his latest adventures on the high seas.
From our US affiliated show 'Around the World', Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull discover the Kohala Coasy, Hawaii.

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Aussie wines, arts in Munich and Montpellier, France

2011-12-20T09:27:00.000+10:00

On this week's 'Travel Radio Australia' podcast John Crook chats with Australian wine ambassador George Samios. Then we feature our European-based contributor Frances Beasley 'going arty' in her home city of Munich, Germany. The third segment features gonomad.com travel editor Kent St John talking about his recent visit to Montpellier, France.

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Aussie wines, Hawaii, Switzerland and northern England

2011-12-14T08:08:00.004+10:00

As the year draws to its conclusion we will have two more podcasts online before the end of 2011.

Edition number 50 features John Crook reviewing Stockman's Wines from Australia.

US reporter Carrie Blanc recently visited Maui, Hawaii and reports on her trip.

Our own European contributor Frances Beasley has discovered that 'wellness' is an 'occupational hazard' in Switzerland. Listen to her commentary to find out all about this topic.

In the final segment Irish-based contributor David Gordon (who is also our voice-over man), visits northern England.

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Surf's up in the heart of Munich

2011-12-07T13:09:00.001+10:00

Catching a wave in the heart of Munich, Germany? Yes, it's possible and very popular! In this week's podcast our European-based contributor Frances Beasley explains how you can do this quite successfully. Also on this edition of the podcast Arthur von Wiesenberger and Martha Bull take us touring to Spain (in and around Cadiz). In conclusion, our Aussie correspondent John Crook interviews Peter Perry, the director of the Castlemaine Art Gallery and Museum, Victoria.

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Focus on Anchorage, Alaska

2011-11-30T13:42:00.001+10:00

What's it like living in an out of the way place like Anchorage (Alaska)? One of the locals, Jack Bonney' tells us all about it in the current edition of our travel podcast. Also on the show John Crook reviews Lowe Wines from Mudgee (NSW); Frances Beasley chats with Hans Peter Groot from Constantia Wines at an industry function in Munich; gonomad.com editor Max Hartshorne visits Wales (UK).

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Film locations popular with tourists

2011-11-23T08:20:00.001+10:00

US-based correspondent Jennifer Merin has been visiting many of the popular film destinations recently and in this week's Travel Radio Australia podcast she tells us about some of these sites which have since become renowned tourist haunts. Also on this show John Crook reviews wines from Kingston Estate (South Australia); Frances Beasley describes St Leonard's Day celebrations in Germany and Bruce Salam takes listeners skiing in Canada.

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Podcast focus on Germany, Italy and Norway

2011-11-16T08:06:00.001+10:00

Another edition of Travel radio Australia has been posted online. It has the following segments for your listening pleasure: Kirsten Schmidt takes listeners on a tour around Berlin, Germany. John Crook has details of mardi gras time in Italy next year. Gonomad.com owner Max Hartshorne visits Norway.

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A 'seadream' survives its first decade

2011-11-09T12:43:00.000+10:00

It's a tough life onboard Seadream II during

a Mediterranean cruise several years ago.

My favourite luxury cruise company, Seadream Yacht Club is celebrating its first decade of cruising its two small luxury liners (holding less than 100 passengers each) to some of the world's favourite destinations. Our Australian contributor on Travel Radio Australia John Crook tells the success story of Seadream Yacht Club which is celebrating its 10th birthday, despite a major setback weeks after it launched trading.

In other segments on this edition, yours truly (Ren Zwiers) lists some of the world's most haunted hotels.

Frances Beasley provides an update on Olympics 2012 in London.

Arthur von Wiesenberger visits Spain.

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Smartphone roaming 'not so smart'

2011-11-02T08:17:00.002+10:00

On this week's podcast, yours truly, Ren Zwiers has survey results from Europe on why many people in that part of the world won't use their smartphones for international roaming. US-expatriate Karin Clark reports on London, England which is now her hometown. John Crook discovers Quebec, Canada. Asian expert Richard Torin visits Hong Kong and Macau. Listen to the show on the player below.

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