Today I’m joined by the iconic Celia Imrie. Celia is, of course, one of Britain’s best-loved actresses, with an extraordinary career spanning more than five decades. From her unforgettable collaborations with Victoria Wood, to Bridget Jones’s Diary, Calendar Girls, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and, more recently, The Thursday Murder Club. She's one of those performers who has been part of our lives for as long as I can remember.

But what you might not know about Celia is that she is a completely insatiable traveller. She's happiest when she's on the move, whether that's aboard a glamorous ocean liner, travelling across America by train or setting off on an adventure somewhere entirely unexpected - because as you’ll soon discover, Celia doesn’t fly, so this makes for a particularly interesting episode.

Her lifelong love of travel is at the heart of her new book, The Elegant Hustler: Adventures from a Life on the Move, which is out now, a collection of stories from a life spent exploring the world.

Destination recap

• Middleton-on-Sea, West Sussex, England
• Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
• Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
• Delhi, India
• Melbourne, Australia
• Sydney, Australia
• Los Angeles, California, USA
• Washington, D.C., USA
• Toronto, Canada
• Singapore
• Paris, France
• Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, France
• Nice, France
• Hôtel Negresco, Nice, France
• Villeneuve-Loubet, France
• Menton, France
• Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Isle of Wight, England
• Southampton, England
• Queen Mary 2, Cunard, Southampton to New York
• New York City, USA
• Coast-to-coast railway journey, USA
• San Luis Obispo, California, USA
• Los Angeles, California, USA
• Ice hotel, Norway
• Japan
• China

The Elegant Hustler: Adventures from a Life on the Move, which is now.

If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

I’ll be back on Sunday with another episode of Unpacked, this time with Design & Travel Editor, Amira Hashish,

With thanks to...

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host.

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

Today I’m joined by the brilliant Suzannah Ramsdale, Lifestyle Director at The Standard, whose job involves knowing exactly where’s worth going and what’s worth your precious time off.

And there’s so much inspiration in this conversation. If you’re already dreading the clocks going back, Suzannah has some very tempting ideas for extending your summer, with a little help from her Spanish family connections. There’s the seaside spot she returns to again and again, and a food-filled Italian escape that had me mentally checking flights before we’d finished talking.

We also hear how a rather adventurous first meeting led to some extraordinary dates around the world, including a trip to New Orleans, which ties in beautifully with this week’s Louisiana Destination Special.

And my Hotel of the Week is a Greek island favourite that promises to solve a few of those familiar family holiday dilemmas. Having finally been myself, I’ve got plenty to tell you.

Destination Recap:

• New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Inns of Aurora, Aurora, USA
• The Peligoni Club, Zakynthos, Greece
• Villa Kallista, Zakynthos, Greece
• Nobelos Bio Restaurant, Zakynthos, Greece
• Eliamos, Kefalonia, Greece
• Piazza Maggiore, Bologna, Italy
• Cremeria Santo Stefano, Bologna, Italy
• Cremeria La Vecchia Stalla, Bologna, Italy
• Cremeria Cavour, Bologna, Italy
• Palacio Bucarelli, Seville, Spain
• Cristine Bedfor, Seville, Spain
• Royal Alcázar, Seville, Spain
• Seville Cathedral, Seville, Spain
• Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
• María Luisa Park, Seville, Spain
• Triana, Seville, Spain
• La Viña, Cádiz, Spain
• Casa Manteca, Cádiz, Spain
• La Caleta, Cádiz, Spain
• Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
• Seoul, South Korea

If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok, I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

With thanks to...

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host

I’ll be back on Tuesday.

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

From the jazz clubs and Mardi Gras parades of New Orleans to the swamps, dance halls and small towns of Acadiana, this Destination Special explores a side of Louisiana, USA that many visitors never get to see.

We travel west along Interstate 10 into the heart of Cajun and Creole country, a region shaped by its French language, distinctive music, extraordinary food and deep connection to the surrounding bayous.

Louisiana travel and culture writer Herman Fuselier shares the traditions behind Jazz Fest and Mardi Gras, introduces the sounds of Cajun and Zydeco music, and explains why the true heart of Cajun country lies beyond New Orleans.

Cajun French musician Jourdan Thibodeaux joins me from his home on Cypress Island, overlooking the Atchafalaya Basin. We discuss language, identity, life in the swamp and the importance of experiencing South Louisiana authentically.

Finally, Lori Johnson Walls of Johnson’s Boucanière in Lafayette introduces the dishes every first-time visitor should try, from crawfish étouffée and po’boys to beignets and a proper Louisiana boudin.

• New Orleans, USA
• Baton Rouge, USA
• Acadiana, USA
• Atchafalaya Basin, USA
• Lafayette, USA
• Breaux Bridge, USA
• Opelousas, USA
• Eunice, USA
• New Iberia, USA
• Lake Charles, USA
• Sunset, USA
• Arnaudville, USA
• Washington, USA
• Cypress Island, USA
• Henderson, USA
• Mamou, USA
• Avery Island, USA
• Vacherie, USA

• New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, New Orleans, USA
• French Quarter, New Orleans, USA
• Café du Monde, New Orleans, USA
• Eunice Cajun Mardi Gras, Eunice, USA
• La Poussière Cajun Dancehall, Breaux Bridge, USA
• Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, Breaux Bridge, USA
• El Sido’s Zydeco & Blues Club, Lafayette, USA
• Festivals Acadiens et Créoles, Lafayette, USA
• Johnson’s Boucanière, Lafayette, USA
• Dwyer’s Café, Lafayette, USA
• Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn, Lafayette, USA
• Olde Tyme Grocery, Lafayette, USA
• Borden’s Ice Cream Shoppe, Lafayette, USA
• Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival, Opelousas, USA
• DezMeaux’s Boudin, Opelousas, USA
• Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant, Washington, USA
• Hotel Klaus, Washington, USA
• Fred’s Lounge, Mamou, USA
• Cypress Cove Landing Houseboats, Henderson, USA
• TABASCO Factory and Avery Island, Avery Island, USA
• Laura Plantation, Vacherie, USA

To find out more about visiting Louisiana, go to ExploreLouisiana.com.

If you’d like to find out who’s joining me next Tuesday, come and follow me on Instagram and TikTok. I’m @hollyrubenstein and I’d love to hear from you.

I’ll be back on Sunday with another episode of Unpacked, this time with Suzannah Ramsdale, Lifestyle Director for The Standard.

With thanks to...

Airbnb - Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much at airbnb.co.uk/host.

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