This is my 100th episode and I wanted to make it a very special episode, so I am delighted to have Christina Ybarra of Palacio Portocarrero in Palma del Rio, Cordoba, Andalusia, Spain.

Christina's story is a story of Andalusia taking in Roman, Moorish and Christian heritage, history, archaeology, architecture, culture and art.

Palma del Rio is a town with the most stunning countryside surrounded by orange groves between Seville and Cordoba once called “the garden of Andalucia” by a visiting Spanish King.

The Cordoba Region

Most tourists go to the cities like Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga but there are small villages and towns between these cities are real gems full of character including Carmona and Ecija, Alcalá de Guadaíra, Cazalla de la Sierra, Almodovar del Rio, Palma Del Rio and Montilla.

The region is made for a road trip through fields filled with olive and orange grove and vineyards and many beautiful villages with old Moorish Alcazar forts and palaces in the Sierra Morena mountains.

@prodeturprovinciasevilla

Activities

Palacio Portcarrero

Almodovar Del Rio – Old Moorish Castle to visit from Games of Thrones

Montilla – Visit to local winery Alvear 1729

Wine tasting at Bodegas Colonias de Galeón

Stargazing activity (Sierra Morena is a certified Starlight Destination)

El Viso del Alcor - Olive oil tasting at Basilippo

Cycling along the Sierra Morena Greenway, which is part of the upgraded Camino Vertical

Cordoba

Once one of main cities in the ancient Arab world with one of the most famous mosques to rival Mecca – The Mesquita

Food Cordoba

Dinner at Taberna La Viuda

Lunch at La Cazuela de la Esparteria

Stays

Cordoba - Hotel Mezquita Center

Cazalla de la Sierra - Casa Rural Las Navezuelas

Alcalá de Guadaíra - Hotel Oromana

How to get there

Fly with Aer Lingus from Cork and Dublin to Seville 

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Today I am delighted for part 3 of my Belfast special series to have Barney Gribbin - Founder & Tour Guide of the If Buildings Could Talk tour

If Buildings Could Talk Tour reveals all the best kept secret stories wrapped up in the history of Belfast, so if you want a city tour that is a little off the beaten track and full of hidden stories, this is the tour for you. That’s because when you join Barney on this leisurely walk you are guaranteed to see and hear things about Belfast that most visitors will never be aware of. In fact, even to people born and bred in the city, many of Barney’s stories will come as a revelation.

I loved the city so much that I have made this into a three part special series so after this episode make sure to also check out episode 1 with great insider tips from travel writer Erin McCafferty and Belfast hotelier Melanie Harrison.

For more information on Belfast check https://visitbelfast.com and https://discovernorthernireland.com

Accomodation

The Harrison, 45 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RX | Tel: +44 745630965 | www.chambersofdistinction.com| Twitter & Instagram: @harrison_belfast The Harrison

Activities

Black Taxi Tour with Blue Badge Guide Billy Scott,

Contact: +44 77 9860 2401 | www.touringaroundbelfast.com | X: @TouringBelfast

Titanic Museum Belfast

www.titanicbelfast.com | Instagram @titanicbelfast

Food

Deanes at Queens, 1 College Gardens, Belfast, BT9 6BQ |T: +44 28 9038 2111| https://www.michaeldeane.co.uk/deanes-at-queens/| Instagram @deanesatqueenbt9

Wolff Grill, Titanic Hotel, Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT, T: +44 28 9508 2000 | www.titanichotelbelfast.com | X: @titanicbelfast | Instagram: titanichotelbelfast

Saga, 43 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RX | Tel: +44 7495467341 | https://sagabelfast.com | Instagram: @sagabelfas

Coco, 7-11 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8AA | Tel: +44 2890311150 | www.cocobelfast.com | Instagram @cocobelfast_

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

I am delighted to have renowned hotelier Melanie Harrison for part 2 of my Belfast Special series.

Melanie's hotel is the Harrison Chambers of Distinction which is located in the heart of the vibrant Queen’s Quarter of Belfast and is a restored, landmark Victorian merchants’ residence dating from 1879 designed to serve the culturally curious traveller.

This is a boutique hotel is curated by the charismatic and vivacious owner Michelle Harrison whose personality is reflected in the Victorian style where every room is different and often named and styled after artists reflecting the bohemian character and mischievous tongue in cheek humour of Melanie with eccentric curios and surprises and every corner and in every unique room.

Belfast feels like a young, vibrant city full of life with great food, nightlife, festivals and of course history. It feels like a city on the cusp of something special with lots of new hotels and bars opening and the Irish Fleadh coming there in 2026.

I loved the city so much that I have made this into a three part special series so after this episode make sure to also check out episode 1 with great insider tips from travel writer Erin McCafferty and the brilliant tour guide Barney Gribbin of the famous If Buildings Could Talk Tour. 

For more information on Belfast check https://visitbelfast.com and https://discovernorthernireland.com

Accomodation

The Harrison, 45 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RX | Tel: +44 745630965 | www.chambersofdistinction.com| Twitter & Instagram: @harrison_belfast The Harrison

Activities

Black Taxi Tour with Blue Badge Guide Billy Scott,

Contact: +44 77 9860 2401 | www.touringaroundbelfast.com | X: @TouringBelfast

Titanic Museum Belfast

www.titanicbelfast.com | Instagram @titanicbelfast

Food

Deanes at Queens, 1 College Gardens, Belfast, BT9 6BQ |T: +44 28 9038 2111| https://www.michaeldeane.co.uk/deanes-at-queens/| Instagram @deanesatqueenbt9

Wolff Grill, Titanic Hotel, Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT, T: +44 28 9508 2000 | www.titanichotelbelfast.com | X: @titanicbelfast | Instagram: titanichotelbelfast

Saga, 43 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RX | Tel: +44 7495467341 | https://sagabelfast.com | Instagram: @sagabelfas

Coco, 7-11 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8AA | Tel: +44 2890311150 | www.cocobelfast.com | Instagram @cocobelfast_

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

--

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

I am delighted to have Irish travel writer Erin McCafferty to tell us all about the highlights of her recent trip to Belfast including the Titanic Music and a Black Cab tour with Billy Scott.

Belfast feels like a young, vibrant city full of life with great food, nightlife, festivals and of course history. It feels like a city on the cusp of something special with lots of new hotels and bars opening and the Irish Fleadh coming there in 2026.

I loved the city so much that I have made this into a three part special series so after this episode make sure to also check out episode 2 with great insider tips from the Harrison hotel owner Melanie Harrison and the brilliant tour guide Barney Gribbin of the famous If Buildings Could Talk Tour. 

For more information on Belfast check https://visitbelfast.com and https://discovernorthernireland.com

Accomodation

The Harrison, 45 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RX | Tel: +44 745630965 | www.chambersofdistinction.com| Twitter & Instagram: @harrison_belfast The Harrison

Activities

Black Taxi Tour with Blue Badge Guide Billy Scott,

Contact: +44 77 9860 2401 | www.touringaroundbelfast.com | X: @TouringBelfast

Titanic Museum Belfast

www.titanicbelfast.com | Instagram @titanicbelfast

Food

Deanes at Queens, 1 College Gardens, Belfast, BT9 6BQ |T: +44 28 9038 2111| https://www.michaeldeane.co.uk/deanes-at-queens/| Instagram @deanesatqueenbt9

Wolff Grill, Titanic Hotel, Queens Road, Belfast, BT3 9DT, T: +44 28 9508 2000 | www.titanichotelbelfast.com | X: @titanicbelfast | Instagram: titanichotelbelfast

Saga, 43 Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 6RX | Tel: +44 7495467341 | https://sagabelfast.com | Instagram: @sagabelfas

Coco, 7-11 Linenhall Street, Belfast, BT2 8AA | Tel: +44 2890311150 | www.cocobelfast.com | Instagram @cocobelfast_

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

--

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I have always loved the idea of the great American road trip, romanticised in so many films and books. So, this episode I am delighted to have photographer Ben Geier to tell us about his decade traveling America on the road, his tips for the perfect great American road trip, and the nostalgia of America's forgotten towns.

Ben shares his tips for the perfect cross-country road trip, why the architecture and design work of the 50s and 60s still speaks to us today, and why America is still a magical place to get a little bit lost.

There's no doubting the beauty of the design and architecture of the '50s and '60s America. From bright teal, sun-splashed and gleaming motel signs to cherry red diner seats, these two decades have held America’s attention for 75 years.

American photographer Ben Geier has spent the last decade traveling the United States to capture the images of his country's once vibrant and now abandoned treasures in his new book Viewing Hours. Evoking a sense of nostalgia and solitude, Geier’s work highlights the modernist architecture, minimalist design, and muted colour palette of the mid-century. 

Check out Ben’s website here https://www.bengeier.com/

Get View Hours here https://trope.com/products/viewing-hours

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

I have a very special episode today with travel journalist Deirdre Mullins to cover the Dalmatian coast of Croatia from Zadar to Split to Dubrovnik.

We chatted about the wonders of island hopping to Korcula, Vis, Hvar and Brac with the Jadrolinija ferry company.

We discuss how each island and town has its own personality that makes this a perfect country to tour by land or boat.

Deirdre also tells us how Croatia has become a hugely popular destination for festivals including the Love International Festival in Tisno.

We cover a lot of ground, so this is the perfect introduction to Croatia if you are trying to decide where to visit next in this wonderful country full of history, culture and the most gorgeous water to swim or just chill by.

For more information

https://croatia.hr/en-gb

https://visitkorcula.eu

https://visitdubrovnik.hr/

https://visitsplit.com/en/1/welcome-to-split

Recommended Ferry for island hopping

https://www.jadrolinija.hr/en

@croatiafulloflife

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

The first guest for Season 8 is feature and travel writer and author Erin McCafferty who talks to Fergal about her recent trip to Bath, on the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth. We hear about the up and coming Jane Austen Festival and follow in the footsteps of the renowned author, who lived there for five years and whose writing was greatly influenced by Bath. 

Erin flew from Dublin to Bristol with Aer Lingus and she also talks about combining a trip to Bath with Bristol, with both cities just 20 minutes apart by train. Erin also talks about the history of Bristol and recommends a Banksy tour.

Bath is an elegant city full of traditional heritage and has been a wellbeing destination since Roman times. Bath has UNESCO World Heritage status and hosts the 24th annual Jane Austen Festival this week from the 12th to the 21stSeptember celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen this year.

For more information on the festival to go https://janeausten.co.uk/

For more information on Bath go to https://visitbath.co.uk

Erin stayed at the Eight in Bath https://visitbath.co.uk

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Welcome to part 3 of my Loire podcast special series and I am delighted to have Serge Desazars who is the owner of the first and largest organic truffle farm in France.

Truffles have a near mythical place in the lore of European food lovers and we discuss all things truffles from their history dating back to the ancient Egyptians and the Romans all the way to Napoleon. We discuss how to grow them, hunt for them, eat them and the best wines to drink with them.

Serge owns the stunning Baron de la Truffe farm beside the gorgeous medieval town of Chinon and he gives great insider tips of where to visit in this lovely part of the Loire valley in France. For more details go to https://barondelatruffe.com/en

The Touraine region in the Loire Valley in France is a magical place of fairy tale chateaux, French renaissance gardens, gastronomic restaurants, historic royal towns and world renowned vineyards.

Places to visit & Stay

https://www.tastingwithnivard.co.uk

https://www.chateau-nitray.fr

https://chateaudenoizay.com

https://loirevalleylodges.com

https://www.chateaudurivau.com

https://www.azay-le-rideau.fr/en

Tours - https://www.labe-hotel.com/en/

Chinon - https://barondelatruffe.com/en

https://www.chateaudecandes.com/en/

Vineyard lunch https://www.domainedegrosbois.com/

Lunch and wine trip on the Loire - https://les-pecheries-ligeriennes.fr/restaurant-la-cabane-a-matelot.html

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

The Touraine region in the Loire Valley in France is a magical place of fairy tale chateaux, French renaissance gardens, gastronomic restaurants, historic royal towns and world renowned vineyards.

Welcome to part 2 of my Loire special series and I’m delighted to say I have the wonderful Geoffrey Vivard of https://www.tastingwithnivard.co.uk/

The Loire is all about locally sourced food and it is famous around the world for its wines and cheeses, so we are lucky to have the previous cheesemonger for the last Queen of England and Clarence House, Geoffrey Nivard to guide us through the best cheese and wines of the Loire.

I got to experience Geoffrey do a cheese and wine tasing at stunning the stunning https://www.chateau-nitray.fr on my recent trip to the Loire. 

Places to visit & Stay

https://www.tastingwithnivard.co.uk

https://www.chateau-nitray.fr

https://chateaudenoizay.com

https://loirevalleylodges.com

https://www.chateaudurivau.com

https://www.azay-le-rideau.fr/en

Tours - https://www.labe-hotel.com/en/

Chinon - https://barondelatruffe.com/en

https://www.chateaudecandes.com/en/

Vineyard lunch https://www.domainedegrosbois.com/

Lunch and wine trip on the Loire - https://les-pecheries-ligeriennes.fr/restaurant-la-cabane-a-matelot.html

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

I’m just back from an amazing trip to the stunning Touraine region in the Loire Valley in France.

A magical place of fairy tale chateaux, French renaissance gardens, gastronomic restaurants, historic royal towns and vineyards of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Touraine is said to be blessed by the gods, cherished by the Kings and pampered by Mother Nature. It is said to be the birthplace of the French way of life in a setting dominated by the majestic river Loire, which is listed as part of World Heritage by UNESCO.

I loved the Loire so much that I am going to do a 3 part Loire series over the next few weeks, so keep an eye out next Tuesday for my interview with Geoffrey Nivard, once cheesemonger to the Queen and King of England. And the following week I will interview Serge Desazars, Baron de la Truffe, owner of the largest organic truffle farms in France.

But today I am delighted to have Irish food and travel award winning ournalist Jordan Mooney to share her memories of visiting enchanting chateaux like Rivau, Azay Le Rideau, Noizay, Nitray and Cande. We talk about the great towns to visit like Tours, Chinon, the Royal city of Loches and Chedigny. And the wonderful local food and wine of the famous Touraine, Loire region in France.

Places to visit & Stay

https://www.tastingwithnivard.co.uk

https://www.chateau-nitray.fr

https://chateaudenoizay.com

https://loirevalleylodges.com

https://www.chateaudurivau.com

https://www.azay-le-rideau.fr/en

Tours - https://www.labe-hotel.com/en/

Chinon - https://barondelatruffe.com/en

https://www.chateaudecandes.com/en/

Vineyard lunch https://www.domainedegrosbois.com/

Lunch and wine trip on the Loire - https://les-pecheries-ligeriennes.fr/restaurant-la-cabane-a-matelot.html

Follow @jordanrmooney on Insta fopr great food and travel stories.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Roie McCann is the manager of the stunning and unique Clare Island Lighthouse accommodation so Roie is the perfect guest to give us an insider's guide to the magical Clare Island in Co. Mayo, Ireland. This is a part of the country I know very well and love so this is a great chat all about this beautiful part of Ireland.

Clare Island stands guard at the entrance to Clew Bay, off Ireland’s western Atlantic coast along the Wild Atlantic Way. For almost two centuries, the island’s Lighthouse has been a nautical landmark perched high on the craggy cliffs, watching over Achill, Westport and beyond. Once a safe haven for sailors, this heritage property now offers a sanctuary of a different kind. This architecturally majestic, listed building has been lovingly transformed into fully catered, luxury accommodation, complemented by magnificent sea views and an inspiring, natural environment.

 For more information on the Clare Island Lighthouse check out https://www.clareislandlighthouse.com

I love the Blue Book because they are generally family owned and run Irish Country House Hotels, Manor Houses, castles and restaurants. You really get to see Irish hospitality at its best and the properties are generally old country houses, so you get a real sense of the history of the area you are staying in. A Blue Book voucher would always be my top travel gift recommendation and their website is https://www.irelands-blue-book.ie.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Check out my two part Canary Islands special focusing on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote with the Sunday World correspondent Eamon Dillon. This episode focus’ on Lanzarote and the previous episode was all about Fuerteventura.

I stayed at the Hotel AEQUORA Lanzarote Suites https://slasuites.com

For more information on the Canary Islands -

Canary Islands Tourism Board: www.hellocanaryislands.com 

Fuerteventura Tourism Board: http://www.visitfuerteventura.es/

Lanzarote Tourism Board: https://turismolanzarote.com/

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Check out my two part Canary Islands special focusing on the islands of Fuerteventura and Lanzarote with the Sunday World correspondent Eamon Dillon. This episode focus’ on Fuerteventura and the second episode on Lanzarote.

I stayed at the R2 Rio Calma Hotel https://r2hotels.com/en/hotel/r2-rio-calma-hotel-spa-conference-en/

For more information on the Canary Islands -

Canary Islands Tourism Board: www.hellocanaryislands.com 

 Fuerteventura Tourism Board: http://www.visitfuerteventura.es/

Lanzarote Tourism Board: https://turismolanzarote.com/

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

I have 3 really special guests to talk about this wonderful Madeira destination special. When I was in Madeira, I kept hearing that Christmas is a magical time of year to visit, so I have Irish travel writer Deirdre Mullins who paints a really evocative image of Christmas on the island. You will also hear from travel writer Rob Rees sharing great activity and golf tips and finally Emily Blandy, of the world famous 7th generation Blandy wine family, gives us some great local insider tips for the island.

Madeira is a lush green tropical mountainous island with towns built dramatically into the hills going up from the sea with breathtaking landscapes, verdant volcanic mountains, lush flower garden and banana trees in very nook and cranny. Recommended stay https://suitehoteledenmarportobay.com-hotel.com/

#visitmadeira

#madeiranowordsneeded

#madeirabelongstoall

#madeiraisland

For further information about Madeira: https://visitmadeira.com

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Irish travel writer Conor Power tells us all about his recent slow boat trip along the tranquil canals and rivers of Brittany. He was blown away by the prettiness of the villages and towns he sailed through - many of them never featuring in any guide book. Conor shares his route on a river/canal system that he describes as one of the prettiest that he has seen after years of doing this around France, Ireland, Italy, Holland and Canada.

Get There

Conor Power was a guest of Brittany Ferries https://www.brittany-ferries.ie, with regular year-round sailings from Cork to Roscoff. A seven-night self-catered stay on board a Salsa B, which sleeps up to 12 people, in October 2024, starting and ending at Le Boat’s base in Messac, costs from €137 pp / €1,649 per boat. For the same boat departing 11 April 2025, it’s €245 pp/ €2,956 per boat. No boating license or experience necessary. See https://www.emeraldstar.ie for trip details around Europe. 

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

We have a very special episode celebrating Ireland's patron saint St Patrick with the acclaimed Armagh tour guide Donna Fox who share the myths and history of Ireland's most legendary saint. Donna also talks about the holy city of Armagh where Saint Patrick built his first church.

Armagh is recognised as the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland and holds a unique connection to St. Patrick. It was here that he established his first stone church in 445 AD, and it remains the only city in the world with two cathedrals named in his honour. The city celebrates his legacy year-round, but particularly during the Home of St. Patrick Festival (March 9-17, which blends tradition with modern celebrations. For more information go to https://www.donnafoxtours.com and https://visitarmagh.com

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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My guest today is debut American novelist Barbara Boyle who tells us all about her new book Pinch Me: Waking Up in a 300-Year-Old Italian Farmhouse.

The author writes in her debut novel about her journey from a busy American life to an idyllic one in northern Italy where she started a new life in Monforte d'Alba, a picturesque town in Piemonte restoring a centuries-old farmhouse. So if you, like me, loved “A Year in Provence” then this book about travel, moving abroad, cultural immersion, food and personal transformation is for you. We chat about the dream of retiring to a village in another country and everthing that comes with that move. For more information on Barbra and her great new good do to https://www.barbaraboyleauthor.com

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Welcome to my winter activities in Gstaad and Interlaken special with the Irish travel journalist Ed Finn. I always say the Swiss Alps are not just for skiers to enjoy. This stunning country has much to offer with snow covered mountainous landscapes, picturesque old world villages, delicious cuisine and activities like show-shoeing, hiking, kayaking and raclette rafting at nighttime and all of these activities are there to be enjoyed by non-skiers and skiers alike.

Listen to Ed Finn as he transports us to the wonderful towns of Gstaad and Interlaken in Switzerland and regales us with all this stunning part of Switzerland has to offer. 

Listen next to Part 1 of this Swiss Special "Skiing in Gstaad" with Rob “Robsski” Rees. Gstaad has an understated classy charm but the real treasure is its stunning, magical Alpine landscape and some of the best skiing in the Alps.

Information on Switzerland

Gstaad Holiday Region For more information on Gstaad, visit gstaad.ch

Interlaken Holiday RegionFor more information on Interlaken, visit interlaken.ch

Travel Switzerland

Travel Switzerland’s Swiss Travel Pass offers international visitors to Switzerland unlimited travel on consecutive days across the rail, bus and boat network, plus scenic routes (seat reservation fees apply) and local trams and buses in around 90 towns and cities. It also includes the Swiss Museum Pass, which grants free entry to 500 museums and exhibitions, visit travelswitzerland.com

GoldenPass Belle Epoque from Zweisimmen to Saanenmöser

The GoldenPass MOB Belle Epoque train that runs on the Zweisimmen-Montreux line offers a journey with a romantic, retro-style ambience. Its coaches are inspired by the Golden Mountain Pullman Express from the 1930s, a luxury train in the style of Orient Express. The current train is a reproduction of the Belle Epoque style of its predecessors. mob.ch/en/stories/belle-epoque 

Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad****,

Saanenmöser

golfhotel.ch/en

Lunch at the Lochstafel mountain restaurant lochstafel.ch

Lunch at Miradi in Gstaad's newest hotel, The Mansard miirohotels.com/the-mansard

Dinner at the Restaurant La Gare Bernerhof in Gstaad bernerhof-gstaad.ch/en/gastronomy/restaurant-la-gare

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

Listen to Rob “Robsski” Rees tell us all about skiing in the wonderful Swiss ski resort of Gstaad. Gstaad is long associated with the glitz, glamour of 5 star hotels like the fairytale Disney like castle Gstaad Palace and celebrities like Hemingway, Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and most famously Julie Andrews.

The town has an understated classy charm but the real treasure is its stunning, magical Alpine landscape and nature and some of the best skiing in the Alps.

Check out part 2 next week when Irish broadcaster of the year Ed Finn tells us all about the wonderful winter activities in Gstaad and Interlaken.

Information on Switzerland

Gstaad Holiday Region For more information on Gstaad, visit gstaad.ch

Interlaken Holiday RegionFor more information on Interlaken, visit interlaken.ch

Travel Switzerland

Travel Switzerland’s Swiss Travel Pass offers international visitors to Switzerland unlimited travel on consecutive days across the rail, bus and boat network, plus scenic routes (seat reservation fees apply) and local trams and buses in around 90 towns and cities. It also includes the Swiss Museum Pass, which grants free entry to 500 museums and exhibitions, visit travelswitzerland.com

GoldenPass Belle Epoque from Zweisimmen to Saanenmöser

The GoldenPass MOB Belle Epoque train that runs on the Zweisimmen-Montreux line offers a journey with a romantic, retro-style ambience. Its coaches are inspired by the Golden Mountain Pullman Express from the 1930s, a luxury train in the style of Orient Express. The current train is a reproduction of the Belle Epoque style of its predecessors. mob.ch/en/stories/belle-epoque 

Golfhotel Les Hauts de Gstaad****,

Saanenmöser

golfhotel.ch/en

Lunch at the Lochstafel mountain restaurant lochstafel.ch

Lunch at Miradi in Gstaad's newest hotel, The Mansard miirohotels.com/the-mansard

Dinner at the Restaurant La Gare Bernerhof in Gstaad bernerhof-gstaad.ch/en/gastronomy/restaurant-la-gare

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 130 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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

I’m delighted to say that Irish travel journalist Conor Power returns to tell us all about his recent trip to the Maldives – a place he calls “paradise". Conor paints a magical picture for us on what it is like staying in those over tropical water villas in two hotels – the Kandima Maldives https://kandima.com and Nova Maldives https://nova-maldives.com. You can see pictures of these exquisite resorts on my @traveltaleswithfergal Instagram page.

This is the 5th year and 7th season of this podcast and for any new listeners, I would point you to over 80 great episodes of destination specials, adventurer stories and celebrity travel recommendations. I’ve some great trips already planned for 2025 that I’m looking forward to sharing with you over the year.

If you haven’t already, I'd ask you to give me a follow on whichever platform you listen to your podcasts and you will be the first to get a new episode. Fergal O’Keeffe is the host of Ireland’s No.1 Travel Podcast Travel Tales with Fergal which is now listened to in 120 countries worldwide. The podcast aims to share soul-lifting travel memoirs about daydream worthy destinations.

Please follow me on

Instagram @traveltaleswithfergal

Facebook @traveltaleswithfergal

Twitter @FergalTravel

YouTube @traveltaleswithfergal

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