AI can generate an itinerary in seconds. What it cannot do is sit with your story, hear what a place means to you, or notice the detail that changes everything. That is what this conversation is about.

Tracy and Cate from My Germany Vacation explore why the most unforgettable trips are built on personal meaning, not perfect lists, covering:

• Cate's 2019 Germany road trip with Aaron and why sharing meaningful places made it extraordinary
• Travel as time travel, and what happens when your destination includes your own history
• Where AI travel planning falls short and what human expertise actually gives you
• The £500 design meeting story and why expert input pays for itself
• What Cate offers for Germany travel and what Tracy and Doug offer for UK travel: custom itineraries, consults, video reviews and more

Planning a trip to the UK? Visit uktravelplanning.com for resources, podcast episodes, and to book a consult with Tracy and Doug.

Planning a trip to Germany? Visit mygermanyvacation.com to explore Cate and Aaron's services.

Full links and show notes at globaltravelplanning.com/episode-98.

Get in touch via the Speakpipe link in the show notes, and if you enjoyed the episode, a review on your favourite podcast app helps more travellers find the show.

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!

£25 for a 14-hour sleeper train with beds, a sink, and power points. £6.50 for a seven-hour scenic ride across central Türkiye. If you've ever assumed Türkiye is a fly-and-spend destination, this episode is here to change that picture entirely.

Tracy is joined by Sinead, a York-based travel blogger and passionate train traveller, to walk through her family's 12-day loop: Istanbul, down to the Aegean coast and the ruins of Ephesus, overnight to Konya, across to Cappadocia, up to Kayseri, into Ankara, and back to Istanbul. Mostly by train, on a real budget, with honest advice on what it actually costs.

✅ Building a Türkiye itinerary around each person's must-sees

✅ Booking Turkish rail through TCDD, sleeper availability, and mid-route delays

✅ What train travel is actually like, from sleepers to high-speed first class

✅ Visiting Ephesus and why the scale and preservation stand out

✅ Hiking in Cappadocia, finding cave churches, and watching balloons at sunrise for free

✅ A low-cost mosaic lamp workshop that turned out to be a trip highlight

✅ Eating well for less and saving money on flights with a reverse search strategy

✅ Packing light, carrying lira, using Revolut or Wise, and choosing an eSIM

If this episode has got you thinking about your own adventure, our free workbook, Plan Your Dream Trip with Ease, is a brilliant place to start.

If you enjoyed the show, leaving a review on your favourite podcast app helps more travel lovers find us.

Guest - Sinead Camplin from Map Made Memories and York Travel Expert
Show notes - Episode 97

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!

Scotland's Outer Hebrides don't forgive poor planning. Ferries sell out, accommodation is limited, and the roads demand your full attention. But get it right and you're rewarded with some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. In this episode Tracy has just returned from Lewis, Harris, and Skye and is sharing exactly how she put the trip together so you can do the same.

We cover the full route from the Midlands up through Glencoe to Ullapool, what the CalMac ferry crossing to Stornoway is actually like, and why you absolutely book ferries before anything else. We also get into the realities of driving on single-track roads with passing places, livestock on the road, Sunday closures, and Scottish Gaelic road signs.

Then it's the good stuff: the beaches of Lewis and Harris that genuinely stop you in your tracks, the Callanish Standing Stones, the blackhouses at Carloway, local Harris Tweed, and a couple of restaurants and places to stay that are worth going out of your way for. We finish with an honest conversation about Skye, what it's like now, whether it's still worth it, and how it compares to the quieter islands.

Part 2 on Mull and Iona is coming soon. Subscribe so you don't miss it.

Show notes - Episode 96

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!

Travel has shaped everything about who I am, and I wanted to get personal and answer the questions you’ve been sending in: why I travel so much, how it all began, what destinations I love most, and how I actually plan a trip without turning it into a stressful project. If you enjoy honest stories and practical travel planning, this solo chat is for you.

I talk through the places that keep calling me back, including Morocco, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Scotland, plus the destinations that still tug at my heart when I think about the memories and the people I met. You’ll hear why I’m not interested in ticking off countries, how returning for a deeper experience changes your itinerary, and why Morocco in particular completely exceeded my expectations, from the souks to the Sahara to the Atlas Mountains.

We also get into the planning side: what I always do when I arrive (food tours are my favourite first move), the biggest mistake travellers make when building an itinerary, and how I break trip planning into clear steps so it doesn’t feel overwhelming. I also share how I balance booking the essentials with leaving room for spontaneity, plus five travel tips I live by, including shoulder season travel, travel insurance, staying central, booking key experiences early, and learning a few words of the local language.

If you've got a trip on the horizon, download our free trip planning workbook - it'll help you turn all of this into a plan you can actually use.

And if you enjoyed this episode, sharing it with a fellow traveller is the best way to help more people find the show.

Show notes - Episode 95

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!

Narelle Mather joins Tracy to share how she planned and took a three-and-a-half-week multi-country train trip through Europe with her husband, sister, and a close friend.

Starting in London and finishing in Warsaw, the group travelled through France, Switzerland, Austria, and Poland using a first-class Eurail pass bought at a discount more than a year in advance.

Narelle covers everything from choosing routes and booking seat reservations to managing luggage, finding accommodation near stations, and eating well across different countries.

She also shares some deeply meaningful stops along the way, including the Australian war memorials in Normandy, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the Eagle's Nest near Salzburg.

Show notes - Episode 94

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!

How to Plan an Independent Trip to China: Trains, Apps, Payments & Real Tips

When you think of China, you probably think of Beijing, Shanghai, or the Great Wall. But planning an independent trip across such a vast and culturally different country can feel overwhelming.

In this episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, Tracy Collins is joined by traveller Lucy, who shares insights from her recent independent adventure across China with her long-time travel partner Joe.

Together, Tracy and Lucy unpack what it is really like on the ground, from high-speed rail journeys and cashless payments to language barriers, food discoveries, and cultural surprises. Lucy also reflects on how travelling as a pair shaped their experience, from planning logistics to navigating busy stations and unfamiliar technology.

Moving beyond the “big three” cities, Lucy and Joe explored destinations such as Pingyao and Yangzhou, offering honest insight into what first-time visitors truly need to know before they go.

If China feels exciting but intimidating, this episode will give you practical tools and the confidence to plan your own independent adventure.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How to realistically plan long-distance travel across China
• What booking high-speed trains is really like (and why Trip.com helps)
• How China’s passport-linked, paperless ticketing works
• Why nearly everything is cashless - and how to set up Alipay or WeChat before arrival
• Essential apps including Amap, Didi, translation tools, and VPN-enabled eSIMs
• How to navigate menus without English
• Why booking flexible hotels matters
• What to expect from public toilets and cultural etiquette
• How to structure an itinerary beyond Beijing and Shanghai

Guest - Lucy England
Show notes - Episode 93

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #22 – A Journey to Central China: Unique Gastronomy, Stunning Landscapes, and Cultural Delights
• Episode #15 – Insider’s Guide for First-Time Visitors to Singapore
• Episode #14 – Visiting Japan: Top Tips for First-Time Travellers

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!

In this episode of the Global Travel Planning Podcast, host Tracy Collins and co-host Doug Collins swap roles with special guest interviewer Amanda Kendle as they share their firsthand trip report from the Philippines.

The conversation centres on their ten-night stay at Moalboal Eco Lodge, located a few hours southwest of Cebu. Tracy and Doug share what it was like staying in an eco-conscious accommodation and why this peaceful corner of the Philippines made such a strong impression on them during their first visit to the country.

Along the way they discuss the warmth and friendliness of the Filipino people, local culture and cuisine, and what daily life was like during their stay in Moalboal. From snorkelling experiences to relaxed eco lodge living, the episode offers an honest look at travelling in this part of the Philippines.

They also talk about the practical side of visiting the country, including arriving in Cebu, getting around, money and connectivity, and some of the cultural surprises they encountered, including the local love of karaoke and the visible commitment to animal welfare in many communities.

If you are curious about the Philippines or interested in sustainable travel experiences, this trip report offers an authentic glimpse into what it is really like to stay in an eco lodge and explore this beautiful part of the world.

Show notes - Episode 92

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #29– From England to the Philippines: The Journey Behind Moalboal Ecolodge with Angie Briggs

Moalboal Eco Lodge

• 🌴 Book a stay at Moalboal Ecolodge
• 🌴 Instagram – MoalBaol Ecolodge

Dog Sanctuary

• 🐕 Instagram – Moalboal Animal Welfare

Spay & Neuter Charity

• 🐶 Support the charity

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!

This week Tracy is joined by Japan travel specialist Helen Foster to share expert advice on visiting Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Universal Studios Japan in Osaka.

If you are planning your first Japan trip and considering adding a theme park, this episode covers what you really need to know before you go.

Helen draws on nine trips to Japan to explain how each park differs, how ticketing systems work, what catches first-time visitors out, and whether Japan’s theme parks are worth it if you are not a huge “theme park person”.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The differences between Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Universal Studios Japan
• How far in advance you need to book tickets and hotels
• How Disney Premier Access and Universal Express Pass work
• Common planning mistakes to avoid
• Whether you need a full day for a theme park
• What to expect during busy seasons like Golden Week
• Cultural differences inside Japanese theme parks

If you want to avoid long queues, understand the booking systems, and plan a stress-free visit, this episode will help you do exactly that.

⭐️ Guest - Helen Foster (Japlanease)
📝 Show Notes - Episode 91

🎧 Listen to next

• Episode #38 – Top Tips and Insights for First-Time Travellers to Tokyo Japan
• Episode #13 – Discovering Japan: A 21 Day Itinerary
• Episode #14 – Visiting Japan: Top Tips for First-Time Travellers

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!