The World Awaits: travel tales to inspire your wanderlust

• EP 124 Last-minute travel Christmas gifts & how to max your holidays in 2026

  Shopping for the traveller in your life this Christmas? Tune in as our tech hound and sound producer Alaisdair Leith teams up with host Belle Jackson to bring you our best last-minute gifts. Also, get planning for your 2026 travels and get holiday maxxing - the art of maximising public holidays to get more time away, without the pay cut. Our Christmas wishlist includes three great Australian designed products from Belle and Alaisdair's Techxmas trio, with a bonus cheapie perfect for summer holidays.Zoomlite Glide top-opening suitcase Ditch the space-hogging clamshell suitcase with this Australian-designed case, a smooth-wheeling, hard shell that opens with a lid (and the traditional clam). In  in seven colours and three sizes including the Glide Lite, Australia's lightest carry-on wheeled case, at 2kg, zoomlite.com.au Bahama Flexibraid Fedora travel hat: Crushable, water resistant, UPF50+, packs flat and stylish, this fedora hides bad hair days and protects your skin on your travels, tinamcopenhagen.com.au Lake Eyre 100% Silk Scarf Take a piece of Australia on your travels with this large format silk scarf featuring the aerial photography of Australian grazier David Taylor, australiascape.com.au Timekettle Translation Earbuds Lost in translation? Translate 42 languages with these earbud, one for each speaker, and the earbud will translate both ways! timekettle.co Baseus Universal Travel Adaptor Charge your phone, watch and laptop all with the one charger, all around the world; includes USB C and USB A ports. In black or white, baseus.comVacbird Travel Bags For the overpacker in your life, these vacuum compression bags come with the tiniest, USB-powered vacuum. Great for stuffing your daybag full, without the bulk vacbird.com and a bonus cheapie that's the best little buy...Torras waterproof phone pouch Before you jump into that lazy river or dive deep in the Maldives, the Torras holds your earbuds, your keys and it floats! Also, touchproof through the watercasing, torraslife.comSend us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au

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• EP 123 How to be a digital nomad in Sicily; the best airline seat for your health & the most affordable five-star stays

  Are you sick of the day-to-day grind and dream of becoming a digital nomad in Italy?This week's pod is for you!  We are chatting to editor and travel writer Carrie Hutchinson who just spent the Australian winter working remotely in Sicily. She explains what the experience was like and provides some of her top tips so you can follow in her footsteps.We also have the lowdown from ex-flight attendant and beauty expert Danielle Louise from Fresha app on the healthiest places to sit on a plane.And, love a bit of luxury but not the top-end price? We run through some affordable five-star stays that'll have you living the high life without breaking the bank.Mr & Mrs Smith budget boutique hotels can be found here: https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/collections/budget-boutique-hotelsSend us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au

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• EP 122 Are the Maldives worth the hype? Tips for Travel Tuesday & would you go broke for a break?

  Are the Maldives worth the hype? This episode, co-host Belle Jackson talks about her most recent visit to the island nation.We're talking about the food, the different types of resorts, their sustainability and, of course, whale sharks. Belle stayed at Niyama Private Islands Maldives for the surfing; niyama.com & Avani+ Fares Maldives for the whale sharks; avanihotels.com/en/fares-maldives Also, travel comparison and booking platform Omio shares some tips for Travel Tuesday, such as knowing your prices beforehand, get your logins and sign up to newsletters! See omio.com And are Australians prepared to go broke for a break? Stay tuned... https://www.finder.com.au/news/action-to-afford-holiday-2025Kirstie's story on https://karryon.com.au/luxury/overtourism-in-africa-help-or-hinder/ Finally, let's start a tea party! Tell us - do you pack tea bags when you travel? Belle's story in the Sydney Morning Herald: https://www.theage.com.au/traveller/inspiration/i-didn-t-want-coffee-so-my-1000-a-night-resort-gave-me-cheap-tea-bags-20251107-p5n8h9.html Send us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au

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• EP 121 Walking, wine and wombats: the Tasmanian lake lodge you need to visit; Australia's best cellar doors & save on Swiss rail passes

  We're celebrating this week as co-host Belle Jackson is once again named Travel Writer of the Year by the Australian Society of Travel Writers! See https://globalsalsa.comBelle takes us to Tasmania's Central Highlands, where wine, wombats and walking are all on the menu at the beautiful Pumphouse Point. Set in the glacial Lake St Claire, the lake lodge has recently opened its new Retreats, which look to the pumphouse. It's also a hub for walkers, wine and wombats; https://www.pumphousepoint.com.au/Also, leading wine reviewer the Halliday Wine  Companion reveals Australia's top cellar door to put on your travel list https://winecompanion.com.au/ and we're sharing some great tips to save when travelling around Switzerland on its Swiss Rail Pass, https://www.swissrailways.com/en And a spot of trivia; what do you think is the most expensive thing left in Brisbane Airport's Lost & Found? Lloyds Auctions recently put all the items under the hammer, including one pretty surprising, pretty pricey item that would be hard to forget...A shout out to Trapper & Smiggins gin from Lake St Clair https://www.trapperandmiggins.com/ And if you'd like to read Belle's three stories that won her the title of TWOTY:Why AlUla is the hottest place to be now, Saudi Arabia https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/why-this-hidden-oasis-is-the-coolest-luxury-destination-right-now-20230905-p5e22i.htmlFlamenco & fino with Inntravel, Spain  https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/this-southern-spain-train-odyssey-is-ruled-by-two-f-words-20240822-p5k4cs.htmlRose Harvest in Oman https://luxuryescapes.com/inspiration/a-journey-through-oman/?srsltid=AfmBOoo6azH50gGVmPuFV-B0Ktoq1fgru_Vfe_-9WgKjncPHagxQBOL8and you can see more on her website https://globalsalsa.comSend us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au

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• EP 120 Cambodia's private island leading conservation; Sweden prescribes a stay & the airline charging you to recline

  If you love a tropical, private island escape and want to do right by the environment, this is the episode for you.Co-host Kirstie Bedford takes us to the stunning island resort of Song Saa in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago. Bought by Australian Melita Koulmandas for US$15k, it has been transformed from knee-deep in rubbish to a luxury retreat with Cambodia’s first protected marine park. Hear from the island’s marine biologist, Anna Sabrina Petry about how it not only supports the ongoing conservation efforts but continues to enrich the area. We also talk about the new 'Swedish Prescription', where you can get a doctor to prescribe a visit to the European nation (yes, please!), and would you pay to recline your seat on a plane? We chat about the airline that's expecting you to.Read Kirstie’s Karryon story about Song Saa: https://karryon.com.au/luxury/song-saa-cambodia-championing-conservation/Send us a textSupport the showVisit us at https://theworldawaits.au

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