Podcast Review: Travel Genius

Last Updated on January 28, 2020

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This is a no-spoilers podcast review of Bloomberg’s Travel Genius podcast.

I recently started listening to Bloomberg's new podcast called Travel Genius. I think it was a featured podcast in PocketCasts (my podcast player of choice), and I remember sort of begrudgingly hitting Subscribe.

I don't know why I was so hesitant. As a lover of all things travel, I should have been thrilled to see a new podcast on the topic. But I had low expectations.

When I first started this blog, I was already a regular listener to several travel podcasts. They were full of tips about travel and stories about far-flung destinations that my husband and I could aspire to visit.

I'm not sure when it happened, but one day, all those travel podcasts started to sound the same. Maybe you've listened to travel podcasts and thought the same thing.

Everyone on these podcasts is a "digital nomad", telling you why you need to travel solo as a women. Each host insists that you should travel with carry-on only, and immerse yourself into the local culture.

The thing is: these are not new concepts to me. I already pack light and efficiently. My husband and I have learned how to work remotely in order to squeeze in more travel opportunities. And we always live more like locals than tourists when we visit a place.

Also: sometimes I just want to go on VACATION, to relax on a beach (that's NOT in Thailand) and not be carrying a backpack around 24/7. (If you listen to a lot of those podcasts, they make you feel like Thailand is the ONLY travel choice).

So, I kind of got tired of travel podcasts. I didn't want to listen to any more "you should be doing this" lessons. I feared that travel podcasts full of tips for "the rest of us" had already become a thing of the past.

And that's how I went into the first episode of Travel Genius.

What Is Travel Genius

Travel Genius is a podcast by Bloomberg. The show's tagline is, A clever podcast for the smartest travelers.

It's hosted by two people I had never heard of before: Nikki Ekstein and Mark Ellwood. Turns out that they are both journalists who specialize in travel. They have great chemistry, and Nikki, in particular, was blessed with a great voice for podcasting.

The show format features 5 minutes of topical chatter between Nikki and Mark, followed by an interview with a guest who has extensive travel knowledge and experience.

Episodes of Travel Genius are released weekly and average about 32 minutes in length.

Although you could just listen to Travel Genius in your favorite podcast app, I do recommend checking out the show's webpage for the cute and funny illustrations for each episode. Here are a couple of my favorites:

What I Like About Travel Genius

The thing I like best about Travel Genius is how the hosts and guests remain focused on their main goal: to provide travel hacks.

One way that they do this is by structuring guest interviews around "genius" tips. Nikki actually rings a bell every time a guest drops an awesome travel hack. This makes the guests want to "score points".

The result in interviews that are light, fun, and full of real tips that anyone can apply the next time they travel.

Episode 1 featured an interview with TV travel host Samantha Brown. I've always been a fan of Brown, so I knew the interview would be good, but it was even more fun with the added element of the game. (Side note: this is a great episode for parents, as Brown talks about her strategy for flying with twins.)

The format of the show also allows for a lot of travel topics to be covered. They don't get stuck on one topic for 30 minutes. The 5-minute chats that start each episode are both entertaining and thought-provoking.

One episode included a short discussion about over-tourism. My first reaction was that this topic might be too deep for a listener who takes only one or two vacations per year. But Nikki and Mark kept the topic light and non-judgemental, and (most importantly) provided recommendations for alternative places you should visit.

Another episode discussed how the travel industry is trying to appeal to teenagers (another great episode for the parents), and yet another tackles the question that may never die: When is the best day/time to buy a flight?

More Than Just Someone Else's Travel Stories

I appreciate hearing other people's stories about travel; the good, the bad, and the ugly. But travel podcasts in which the hosts wax on about which beach they visited on Monday, and which gelato stand they snacked at on Tuesday start to lack relatability.

I mean, I'm probably not going to go to that exact beach and seek out that gelato stand. The average person can't do anything with the information in most travel podcasts.

Nikki and Mark introduce themselves as "the travel geniuses", but I think the purpose of the show is to help YOU become a genius when it comes to travel.

Between Nikki, Mark, and their guests, you'll learn how to make travel easier, more fun, and less expensive. They stay focused on travel hacks and tips, as well as destinations you might not have considered traveling to.

[bctt tweet="Planning to do some travel this year? Check out this review of the Travel Genius podcast" username="Podcast_Maniac"]

Travel Genius is Entertaining & Informative

This podcast totally surprised me. I think that I expected it to be "uppity". Like, "These are the must-visit 5-star restaurants that you simply HAVE to dine at this year." Afterall, Bloomberg.com is all about stocks, bonds, and the economy.

The podcast is totally not like that.

Travel Genius is casual and fun, and accessible to all types of listeners and travelers. You don't have to be a digital nomad or know airport codes by heart. You don't have to have Diamond Status with an airline to enjoy listening and learn travel tips.

Whether you are a frequent traveler or simply take flights home to visit family, there are tips and tricks from this podcast that can help you (like the episode where they discourage you from buying travel insurance on Expedia).

I'm enjoying Travel Genius so much that I've actually had to stop myself from binging the episodes I haven't listened to yet.

Even if you don't have plans to go anywhere soon, I recommend subscribing to Travel Genius. It's both entertaining and chalk full of information that you'll use the next time you book a flight or plan a trip. I recommend this podcast for just about everyone (even kids - I'm several episodes in and it's been totally kid-friendly).

Your Turn

Have you listened to Travel Genius? What did you think? Leave a comment below with your reactions & thoughts.

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