The new year is coming at us fast: 2026, here we come! At this time of year the reports and articles about travel trends are rife, and I like to look through them all and see what might be happening in tourism and whether or not I like it (by which I mean, of course, does it fit with a thoughtful travel ethos?).

In this episode, I take you through some of the key trends identified by numerous players in the travel industry and also figure out which destinations are being predicted most often as being 2026 hotspots. I also chat with some experts, starting with Brett Mitchell, Managing Director of Intrepid Travel for Australia and New Zealand, who describes key trends Intrepid has identified and discusses their annual "Not Hot" list. I then chat with Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global PR for the Expedia Group, who explains how their "Unpack 26" study has included a new feature this year which I particularly like.

Links:

• Intrepid Travel's Not Hot List 2026 - https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/newsroom/releases/2026-not-hot-list
• Unpack 26 from Expedia - https://www.expedia.co.uk/unpack26/
• Hilton 2026 trends report - https://stories.hilton.com/2026-trends
• Booking.com 2026 trends report https://news.booking.com/the-era-of-you-bookingcom-predicts-the-top-trends-defining-travel-in-2026-with-individuality-taking-center-stage/
• Skyscanner 2026 travel trends - https://www.skyscanner.com.au/travel-trends
• Priceline 2026 travel trends - https://www.priceline.com/partner/pcln-promotions-2026-travel-trends-report-pr
• Explore Worldwide 2026 travel trends - https://www.exploreworldwide.com.au/travel-trends-2026
• Traflagar 2026 travel trends - https://www.trafalgar.com/real-word/2026-travel-trends/
• Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2026 - https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel
• Contiki top 2026 travel destinations - https://www.contiki.com/six-two/article/top-travel-destinations-in-2026/
• Virtuoso best destinations 2026 - https://www.virtuoso.com/travel/articles/the-best-travel-destinations-2026
• Forbes 26 best trips for 2026 - https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2025/08/21/the-26-best-trips-for-2026-according-to-travel-experts/
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/371

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this final episode of the Van Life Diaries: Europe 1985, we return to England, drive through Scotland and Wales, and catch a ferry to Ireland. Then it's back to London, a farewell to our beloved campervan, on to Singapore for a few days and finally we end up back home in Perth, Australia, after six months away. What a strange feeling!

This is the sixth part of a monthly, six-episode series celebrating the fact that exactly 40 years ago this year, my family and I spent six months in a striped motorhome travelling around Europe. I was nine years old and yes, this trip had an enormous impact on my life - I'm sure you wouldn't be listening to this podcast today if Van Life 1985 hadn't taken place! Throughout the series, I'll include chats recorded with my Dad this year, extracts from my late Mum's travel diary from 1985, and of course my own memories and thoughts.

A big thanks to Context Travel for sponsoring this series, and an even bigger thanks to my Dad for agreeing to be part of it.

Links:

• Context Travel - https://bit.ly/contexttravel - use the code THOUGHTFULTRAVEL to get 15% off any online booking. Context Travel operate walking tours in cities around the world, and have interesting and qualified subject-matter experts leading your walk
• Listen to Part 1 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 348 - https://notaballerina.com/348
• Listen to Part 2 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 351 - https://notaballerina.com/351
• Listen to Part 3 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 355 - https://notaballerina.com/355
• Listen to Part 4 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 359 - https://notaballerina.com/359
• Listen to Part 5 of Van Life Diaries: Episode 364 - https://notaballerina.com/364
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/370

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travel and learning other languages often go hand in hand, whether we're cramming in a few words before we visit somewhere for the first time or we are intentionally travelling to practice a language, perhaps even heading to a language school for full immersion.

This episode covers all manner of language experiences, starting with Chris Magnuson who was a brave and confident teenager, boldly striking out on French streets with the goal of just talking French with as many people as possible. Spiri Tsintziras then chats with me about her relationship with Greek - the language spoken in her childhood home in Australia, and a language she wanted to pass on to her children. Next, Ros Belford describes her initial learning of Italian and some tips for new learners of any language, involving focusing on a passion. Finally, Megan Frye talks about choosing a language school when you are specifically taking a trip to practice another language.

Links:

• Preply to find language tutors - https://notaballerina.com/preply
• Chris’s website - https://www.streetviewvagabond.com/
• Streetview Vagabond on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/streetviewvagabond/
• Spiri Tsintziras - https://www.writingspirit.com.au/
• Spiri’s new book Twelve Golden Gifts - https://amzn.to/4mWCqCa
• Ros Belford - https://rosbelford.com
• Ros’s book Children of the Volcano - https://amzn.to/4dq2vpz
• Megan Frye - https://www.meganfrye.com/
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/369

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special episode is the audio of the Facebook Livestream of the October 2025 meeting of the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, speaking with author Monisha Rajesh about her book "Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train" - https://amzn.to/4nAkyNx

If you'd like to join the Thoughtful Travellers Book Club, sign up for our updates at https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com/

You can also read more about it at https://notaballerina.com/bookclub, and you can keep up with all the thoughts about our current books in the Thoughtful Travellers Facebook Group at https://facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bangkok called my name again in September, and this episode recaps my experiences spending five days in the Thai capital, for a mix of work and fun purposes (of course, even the work parts were fun!).

Along with explaining what activities I got up to in Bangkok, I decided to rate each day in terms of how much of a "thoughtful traveller" I was, so listen in to see my daily score out of ten, and my final result.

My trip included some networking and education with Tourism Cares, many wonderful Thai meals, great chats with friends, a sightseeing outing to Ayutthaya, and best of all, I finally had the chance to spend time in person with my dear friend Vincie Ho, founder of Rise Travel Institute. We've worked together online for years but never before seen each other in real life!

Links:

• Google Map of places I mention https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1B6yO5RH-U8jG3Rv16gE1A6yhoVAOp1c&usp=sharing
• Rise Travel Institute - https://www.risetravelinstitute.org
• Tourism Cares - https://www.tourismcares.org/
• Curious Tourism - White Lotus recaps - https://voyascape.com/curious-tourism/the-white-lotus-recap-s3e1-same-spirits-new-forms/
• 304 Bangkok Travels with Friends - notaballerina.com/304
• 302 Chiang Rai - Thailand’s Far North - notaballerina.com/302
• 111 Secret Thailand: Phrae and Nan - notaballerina.com/111
• My Substack post on visiting Thailand many times - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/p/do-you-travel-to-the-same-place-over
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/368

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that we're worried about crowds and overtourism, the idea of visiting lesser-known places is a real winner. I've always loved to go to the places that aren't listed frequently on travellers' itineraries and maintain that many of the best experiences happen there - and the stories from the three guests in this episode seem to confirm that.

First up, I chat with Jonny Wright about his love of going to places nobody knows about. He explains an experience in eastern Turkey, and the circuitous route he took to end up on a little-known island off the coast of Hiroshima, Japan.

Pam Petro is obsessed with Wales - itself not an entirely lesser-known place, though how she ended up there is not a usual way - but it led to an especially intriguing trip around the world visiting all the places where Welsh is spoken, including an unsuspecting part of South America.

Finally, Barefoot Backpacker has returned to tell me their tales of visiting Paraguay. I think they are the only person I know to have stories about travelling to Paraguay, and I was thus very intrigued to hear them!

Links:

• Jonny Wright on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/goandfindoutpod/
• Jonny's podcast Go And Find Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/go-and-find-out/id1807777446
• Pam Petro - https://www.pamelapetro.com/
• Pam’s book Travels in an Old Tongue - Touring the World Speaking Welsh https://amzn.to/3VMIVvZ
• Ep 323 Language Learning Through Travel and Immersion - https://notaballerina.com/323
• Simon Wilson’s visit to Welsh Patagonia - https://youtu.be/H9Z-m763gWc?si=gntUzp8jd9Gscukz
• The Barefoot Backpacker blog - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/
• Travel Tales from Beyond the Brochure - Episode 99 about Paraguay - https://barefoot-backpacker.com/category/podcast/
• https://barefoot-backpacker.com/podcast-099-paraguay-iguazu/
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/367

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is travel good for your mental health? If you believe my guests in this episode (and me), then it's a resounding yes. I chat first with Kaila Yu who explains some of what she thinks helps your mental health when travelling, including some chat about the miraculous quiet of being under the sea when scuba diving. Next, Heidi Brown describes her mental journey before, during and after a trip, identifying some of the precise reasons that she believes her travels have improved her mental health. Finally, Diane Hartmann describes some of what happened to her on her first trips abroad - all solo - and how these challenges contributed positively to her mental health. A content warning: some of our conversations include references to depression and in the final part of the podcast, suicide, so skip this one if you'd rather not hear these discussions.

Links:

• How travel makes me feel more like myself - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/p/how-travel-makes-me-feel-more-like
• Kaila Yu - https://kailayu.com/
• Kaila’s memoir Fetishized: A Reckoning with Yellow Fever, Beauty, and Feminism - https://amzn.to/40EL7ID
• Heidi Brown - https://www.heidikristinbrown.com/
• Heidi’s memoir The Map I Draw: A Memoir of Travel as a Passport to Self - https://amzn.to/44Mky6T
• Diane Hartman https://dianehartmanauthor.com/
• Diane’s new book Getting Lost On My Way: Self Discovery on Ireland’s Backroads - https://amzn.to/45Q9Awp
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/366

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chatting with author and journalist Monisha Rajesh was just as delightful as I expected (and I had high expectations!). Long-distance train travel is basically synonymous with being a thoughtful traveller, and our chat ranged from a favourite train (you are allowed to have favourites!) through some of the most interesting passengers she's met and a little taster about the thrills of sleeper train travel, which she delves into more in her new book Moonlight Express.

If you're listening to this shortly after publication, don't forget you can join us live to chat with Monisha on 10th October for our Thoughtful Travellers Book Club - Moonlight Express edition.

Links:

• Monisha’s website https://monisharajesh.com/
• “Moonlight Express” book club with Monisha - https://www.facebook.com/events/730399343332753
• Moonlight Express: Around the World by Night Train - https://amzn.to/4mm4UEN
• Our previous book club chat on Around the World in 80 Trains - https://youtu.be/9WsdgaAUaGs?si=F7k3iR8K6-__SjON
• Episode 313 - Train Travel in Australia - https://notaballerina.com/313
• Monisha’s Around India in 80 Trains - https://amzn.to/469DcGA
• Around the World in 80 Trains - https://amzn.to/4gqtGSA
• Join our Facebook group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://www.facebook.com/groups/thoughtfultravellers
• Join our LinkedIn group for Thoughtful Travellers - https://notaballerina.com/linkedin
• Sign up for the Thoughtful Travellers newsletter at Substack - https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com
• Thoughtful Travellers Book Club mailing list - https://thoughtfultravellersbookclub.substack.com
• Show notes: https://notaballerina.com/365

Support the show: https://thoughtfultravel.substack.com/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.