Travel with Amateur Traveler Podcast

Hear about travel to Dublin, Ireland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to tour guide Garvan Rushe from DublinTourGuide.ie about the capital and largest city of Ireland.

This week's show is supported by the new Smart Travel Podcast. Travel smarter — and spend less — with help from NerdWallet. Check out Smart Travel here.

Why should you go to Dublin?

Garvan describes Dublin as approachable and human in scale, a capital that feels more like a town than a sprawling metropolis. Visitors often find a sense of connection here, whether or not they have Irish ancestry. The city’s story reflects its complex past: British rule for over 700 years followed by independence only about a century ago, leaving visible traces in architecture, monuments, and institutions.

Practical Orientation

Stay on the south side of the River Liffey for convenience and quieter nights.

Avoid lodging in Temple Bar if you want sleep, though it is worth visiting for nightlife.

Dublin’s small size makes it easy to explore on foot or via guided walking tours.

If arriving on a red-eye from North America, ease into sightseeing with a shorter itinerary.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-dublin-ireland-2/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Northern France (and a day in Flanders) as the Amateur Traveler talks to Craig Anderson about his trip into the historic towns and sites of the Pas-de-Calais region.

Why should you go to Northern France?

Craig describes an itinerary that includes the Hundred Years' War, the Napoleonic Wars, WWI, and WWII history, historic monasteries, gothic cathedrals, chalk cliffs, and wonderful old walled towns.

Craig’s Recommended Northern France / Flanders Itinerary

Overview:

Base yourself in northern France (Craig used Boulogne-sur-Mer) with a rental car, explore outward in loops, and start by pairing the trip with nearby Belgian WWI sites. 

Day 1 — Ypres & Flanders Fields (Belgium)

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-northern-france/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Puebla, Mexico as the Amateur Traveler talks to Scott Thompson from Livit Immersion Center about his adopted home in this historic colonial city in central Mexico.

Why should you go to Puebla?

Scott says, "Puebla's kind of an outlier. It's the one big city that nobody's ever heard of. So there's not a lot of tourist industry. The international tourist industry, especially. The city is a world heritage city, and it's recognized by UNESCO since 1987. So it's full of history and architecture and culture and food. There's 2,600 historic buildings and monuments in the city center."

Scott Thompson’s Recommended Itinerary for Visiting Puebla, Mexico

Day 1: Get Oriented in Historic Puebla

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-puebla-mexico/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Bern, Switzerland, as the Amateur Traveler talks to Jack Baumann from Guidester and the Europe Travel 101 Podcast about a city he fell in love with early in his travels.

Why should you visit Bern?

Jack says, "I would say Bern epitomizes the blend mixture of natural beauty, culture, and history that Switzerland is known for. It's on the river Aare, it's surrounded by the Bern oberland, so you can get from the city center to a mountain in about 15 minutes. On a clear day, you can see the Alps."

Jack’s Recommended 7-Day Itinerary for Bern, SwitzerlandDays 1–2: Historic Bern (UNESCO Old Town)

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-bern-switzerland/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hear about travel to Sardinia as the Amateur Traveler talks to Shannon O'Brien from shannon-obrien.com about her visit to this island corner of Italy.

Why should you go to Sardinia?

Shannon says, "It's Italian, but it's a very different vibe as well from mainland Italy. There's insanely beautiful beaches. Some argue some of the most beautiful beaches of the world. The water is crystal blue; it looks like Windex. The white sand beaches. The interior of the island has these huge mountains that kind of bleed into the ocean. Winding coastal roads up and down both sides of the island with insane views. It exceeded my expectations for sure." Shannon’s Recommended Sardinia Itinerary (West Coast Focus, 7–10 Days):

Start: Cagliari (1–2 nights)

Fly into Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital.

Explore the Castello district, including Saint Remy Bastion and Cagliari Cathedral.

Wander cobblestone streets, historic fortifications, and viewpoints.

Shannon recommends keeping this short; it’s a gateway, not the main event.

...

https://amateurtraveler.com/travel-to-sardinia/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices