This week, Lauren is in the Travel for Curious Minds' hot seat, answering host Abbey Cousins’ quickfire questions on all things Algeria.

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Algeria isn't on most people's travel list. That's exactly what makes it worth talking about.

Jules Verne’s own Lauren Valentine joins host Abbey to share what it’s really like to visit one of the world’s least-visited countries - and why she came back wondering why more people aren’t going.

Lauren started travelling at 18, solo, with no real plan - and spent the best part of four years moving through Australia, Canada, Central America, and beyond before moving into a career in travel. As Jules Verne’s very own ‘explorer’, Lauren tells us why Algeria felt unlike anywhere she'd been:

In this episode:

· A beach in Costa Rica, a sleeping crocodile ten metres away, and a very quick decision to move

· Hiking an active volcano in Guatemala and spending the night watching it erupt

· Constantine - a city built over a gorge, full of bridges, and entirely free of other tourists

· Timgad Roman ruins, where the only sound was the wind

· A village welcome: traditional dress, a song, figs dipped in olive oil, and a ceremony that caught everyone off guard

· The food - couscous, tagines, homemade bread, and a lunch eaten overlooking Roman ruins

· Locals wanting selfies, strangers asking to practise their English, and an airport conversation that set the tone for the whole trip

There's also an honest answer to the question Lauren kept getting asked in Algeria: what are you doing here?

Thinking about Algeria? Discover Jules Verne’s small group tours and explore a destination few travellers have experienced. Visit julesverne.co.uk for details.

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Travel for Curious Minds

As with the full episode, we are revisiting the quickfire round with Eleanor Mills this week.

Eleanor is in the Travel for Curious Minds' hot seat, answering host Abbey Cousins’ quickfire questions on all things travel and adventure.

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There’s a slight change for this week’s episode. With female solo travel such a hot topic right now, we thought it was the perfect time to revisit one of our earlier conversations that truly captures the spirit of adventure and independence.

In one of our very first episodes, we sat down with Eleanor Mills to explore how women are redefining travel on their own terms – embracing freedom, confidence, and new experiences around the world.

Eleanor, an award-winning editor, writer and broadcaster, is the founder of NOON – a community focused on supporting, empowering and reframing the conversation around middle-aged women (aka Queenagers)

Feel inspired as Eleanor discusses everything from NOON’s mission to get women excited about midlife and all the joys that come with it to her experiences of travel’s transformative power.

Since the original broadcast, Eleanor's book has been published and is available on the link below.

To find out more about Eleanor, you can head over to:

Instagram

The Noon Website

Order the book

And you can e-mail Eleanor at: eleanor@noon.org.uk

For more information about travel for your curious mind:

Website - Travel for Curious Minds Podcast

Instagram - Travel for Curious Minds Podcast

YouTube - Travel for Curious Minds

For more about Jules Verne Travel:

Website - Jules Verne Travel

To subscribe to this podcast so you get each new fortnightly episode straight into your inbox the moment it goes live, you can either subscribe on your podcast app (search for Travel for Curious Minds) or go here:

Travel for Curious Minds

This week, Gareth is in the Travel for Curious Minds' hot seat, answering host Abbey Cousins’ quickfire questions on all things South Africa

This is a video podcast also, and you can watch the video on the link here:

YouTube - Travel for Curious Minds

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Step aboard your very own luxurious train with Gareth Van Wyk from Rovos Rail, as he reveals why this legendary journey through Africa is about far more than getting from A to B.

Africa is one of the world's great adventure destinations - but how do you experience it slowly, authentically, and without the noise of modern life? In this episode of Travel for Curious Minds, Gareth shares what makes Rovos Rail a truly unique way to see Southern Africa, and why the journey itself is the destination.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• The Great Gatsby Escape: Why switching off Wi-Fi, television, and radio unlocks the kind of conversation and connection you simply can't find elsewhere.

• Safari from a New Angle: How watching Africa unfold from an open-air observation car - elephants, leopards, and all - creates moments no guided tour can replicate.

• The Heart of the Continent: Why travelling through remote communities like Makumbakko, where children run alongside the tracks waving at the train, is the experience passengers remember most.

• A Table Worth Travelling For: How Rovos Rail blends European culinary craft with African flavours - from Cape Rock Lobster to traditional Koeksister - all paired with hand-picked South African wines.

• Family, Legacy and Love: What it means to be the largest luxury family-owned railway company in the world, and why that makes every journey feel personal.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone who has ever wanted to trade the rush of modern travel for something slower, richer, and more alive. If you believe the best journeys should leave you with stories you'll tell for years, Gareth's world will change the way you think about Africa.

Gareth reminds us that the most memorable experiences don't come from a tight schedule - they come from showing up with a sense of adventure and staying curious about what the next moment might bring.

Listen now to discover why Rovos Rail isn't just a train journey - it's an invitation to see Africa at its most authentic. Perfect for curious minds, adventure seekers, and anyone ready to slow down, look out the window, and let Africa do the rest.

This is a video podcast also, and you can watch the video on the link here:

YouTube - Travel for Curious Minds

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This week, Eleni is in the Travel for Curious Minds' hot seat, answering host Abbey Cousins’ quickfire questions on all things Greece.

This is a video podcast also, and you can watch the video on the link here:

YouTube - Travel for Curious Minds

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Unlock the secrets to a more meaningful Mediterranean escape with Eleni Skarveli, Director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, as she reveals a fresh, sustainable vision for exploring Greece in 2026.

Greece is one of the most loved destinations in the world, but how do you experience it without the crowds, the rush, or the sense of déjà vu? In this episode of Travel for Curious Minds, Eleni shares how Greece is being reimagined for 2026, shaped by slower rhythms, year‑round travel, and deeper local connection.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

· The 365-Day Vision: Why visiting Greece outside of summer is the secret to total success and relaxation.

· The Digital Detox Trend: How to use Greece’s "Sacred Sound Journeys" to feel fully in control of your mental wellbeing.

· Hidden Greece Revealed: Why the lesser-known islands are 2026’s best-kept secrets for authentic connection.

· Sustainable Adventure: How new eco-infrastructure is making it easier to travel responsibly without losing the "wow" factor.

· Local immersion: Why the most memorable stories start with a village "kafeneio" and a conversation, not a guidebook.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone seeking to move beyond the typical tourist path and find a more immersive, intentional way to travel. If you believe that the best journeys should leave you feeling refreshed and inspired, Eleni’s perspective will redefine your next trip to Greece.

Eleni Skarveli reminds us that travel is most effective when it focuses on quality over quantity, helping us feel balanced and present in every moment.

Tune in and learn how to turn your next Greek getaway into a legendary experience by embracing the authentic. Perfect for curious minds, slow-travel advocates, and anyone ready to see Greece with fresh eyes and return home feeling calmer, more connected, and genuinely inspired.

This is a video podcast also, and you can watch the video on the link here:

YouTube - Travel for Curious Minds

And for more for your curious mind, check out:

Website - Travel for Curious Minds Podcast

Instagram - Travel for Curious Minds Podcast