Unravel Travel

Malc and Dave
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Unravel Travel is a weekly British travel podcast featuring honest stories, practical advice and plenty of humour from lifelong travellers Malcolm and David. Expect independent travel, walking holidays, trekking adventures, city breaks, longer journeys and the realities of living overseas. Malcolm and David met at school when they were 14 and, by some miracle, are still friends more than 40 years later. Their travels together began with an Interrail trip after university, but both have continued exploring the world throughout their working lives and into semi-retirement. Malcolm has travelled extensively for work and pleasure, lived in Singapore and now divides his time between the UK and Czechia. He has also been an Airbnb host for several years. David combined a career in accounting and financial services with ambitious long-distance trips before retiring early and starting a business offering walking and group holidays. He now spends much of each winter travelling in warmer parts of the world. Each episode draws on their own experiences—from famous cities and classic journeys to remote treks, cabin life and travel before smartphones. They are regularly joined by friends with remarkable travel stories of their own.

  1. 7h ago

    Chiang Mai Live: Street Food & What Your Money Buys in Thailand

    Send us Fan Mail David joins Malcolm live from Chiang Mai, Thailand, with an update from his six-week trip through Southeast Asia. With northern Thailand first and Indonesia still to come, he shares the food, travel costs and practical discoveries of his opening days — including a £320 one-way flight from the UK and a Thai street-food dinner with a Chang beer for just over £3.50. Getting there meant flying China Eastern Airlines via Shanghai: a cheaper ticket, a longer journey and an unexpected encounter with China’s internet restrictions. Now settled near Chiang Mai’s Old City, David is exploring food markets, enjoying the swimming pool and planning the next stages of his trip. In this episode: • Flying to Chiang Mai via Shanghai: David’s experience of China Eastern Airlines, the food and entertainment, his airport connection and whether the savings justified the journey. • Exploring Chiang Mai’s Old City: the moat, surviving city walls and gates, getting around on foot and plans for a walk linking several temples. • Thai street food and local markets: minced pork with Thai basil, Chang beer, the north gate food market and a conversation about larb. Plus, why David’s first meal in Thailand was actually a burger. • Spending money in Thailand: David compares his experiences of changing pounds into Thai baht, airport exchange rates, ATM charges and card surcharges — and explains why he makes a detour to a trusted money changer. • Plans for Chiang Mai day trips: hiring a private driver to explore the surrounding valleys, temples and viewpoints, arranging white-water rafting and booking a two-night elephant sanctuary stay with an unusual breakfast encounter to look forward to. • Onward travel to Pai, Lombok and the Gili Islands: how David’s route is taking shape, why he’s flying into Lombok and the planned overnight airport pod stay in Kuala Lumpur. • Travel admin and unexpected errands: an Indonesian e-visa application that refused to cooperate, arrival-form frustrations and a £45 dental hygiene appointment in Chiang Mai. Back home, Malcolm has a Ryanair schedule change and an airport parking headache. David shares his own experience of a cancelled flight connection and chasing a refund through eDreams, alongside a more straightforward flight change with Air India. The episode opens with the poem “Thai Girl on a Motorcycle” by Ian J McKenzie inspired after David's Chiltern walk holiday to Thailand.  Ian has published several other poems as 'Going To Montana in My Mind: Poems from a coffee shop' - copies available from  https://www.lulu.com/shop/ian-j-mckenzie/going-to-montana-in-my-mind/paperback/product-956n6e2.html?q=Ian+j+McKenzie&page=1&pageSize=4 Join Malcolm and David for a conversation about travelling in Thailand, making your money go further and the small frustrations that come with a longer Southeast Asia trip. Follow Unravel Travel for David’s next live update from Pai, when he’ll report back on his adventures around Chiang Mai If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Chiang Mai Live: Street Food & What Your Money Buys in Thailand

  2. Oct 17

    Bratislava Beyond the Bars: Art, Castles and Hidden Gems

    Send us Fan Mail Bratislava, Slovakia, has beautiful cobbled streets, impressive castles, excellent art galleries and plenty of cheap beer. But is it worth more than a quick stop on a Danube river cruise? In this episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm takes David on a journey around Slovakia's capital, drawing on his many visits, including a recent eight-hour exploration of the city. They also revisit their memorable day together in Bratislava with their friend Merlin — although David admits he remembers rather more of the beer than the sightseeing. From the historic Old Town and Bratislava Castle to the ruined Devín Castle overlooking the confluence of the Danube and Morava rivers, Malcolm explores the city's remarkable location, turbulent history and unexpected attractions. At Devín, there's even a 55-metre-deep castle well where visitors can discover just how long it takes for water to reach the bottom. There's much more to Bratislava than castles and cheap beer. Malcolm explores the city's thriving art scene, including the Slovak National Gallery, the unusual circular layout of the Nedbalka Gallery and the spectacular Danubiana modern art museum and sculpture park beside the Danube. Meanwhile, David recalls the bars, the steep climb to Bratislava Castle and a rather unsuccessful attempt to order a margarita. Other highlights include the UFO observation deck and restaurant high above the Danube, a quirky bar with an old tram built into its interior, and Žil Verne, a favourite craft beer bar with 22 beers on tap. They also discuss Bratislava's growing reputation as a stag-party destination, finding quieter places to drink and eat, the challenges of Slovak cuisine for vegetarians, and the city's convenient and inexpensive public transport. And there's a surprise from Malcolm's latest visit: an unexpected 300-drone light show that proved so entertaining he ended up late collecting his friends from the airport. Along the way, expect the usual Unravel Travel diversions — from James Bond's The Living Daylights and its Bratislava setting to some inexplicable Star Trek connections, ice hockey and possibly the most spectacularly positioned men's toilets in Europe. Places and attractions discussed Bratislava Old Town, Bratislava Castle and St Martin's CathedralDevín Castle and the Danube–Morava confluenceUFO observation deck and restaurant on the SNP BridgeSlovak National Gallery and Nedbalka GalleryDanubiana Meulensteen Art Museum and sculpture parkBratislava's Blue Church and historic opera houseŽil Verne craft beer bar on Panská StreetBeblavého Street and its atmospheric barsFreedom Square and the striking Slovak Radio BuildingWhether you're planning one day in Bratislava, a short city break, or a stop between Vienna and Budapest, Malcolm and David offer an entertaining introduction to a compact European capital with far more to discover than its drinking reputation suggests. Coming to YouTube: Malcolm's companion video, Eight Hours in Bratislava, showing some of the attractions discussed in this episode. https://youtu.be/hBpA1W4mqbI?si=arCfmoV_I6XH6Np5 Join Malcolm and David for more travel stories, experiences and the occasional diversion on Unravel Travel. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Bratislava Beyond the Bars: Art, Castles and Hidden Gems

  3. Oct 10

    Cambodia: Angkor Wat, the Killing Fields and Travel Tales

    Send us Fan Mail Cambodia is a country of extraordinary contrasts. Spectacular ancient temples, beautiful landscapes and memorable travel experiences sit alongside one of the darkest chapters of modern history. In this episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm talks to David about travelling through Cambodia, exploring what makes the country so fascinating while confronting the legacy of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. The conversation takes in Cambodia's extraordinary temples, the Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng, the former prison that now serves as a museum documenting the horrors of the Khmer Rouge regime. These are difficult places to visit, but they form an important part of understanding Cambodia and its people. There is plenty of more traditional travel conversation too, from Cambodia's attractions and experiences to comparisons with neighbouring Thailand. And, as usual with Malcolm and David, the conversation is punctuated by humour, diversions and the occasional irreverent observation. Even the Dead Kennedys' Holiday in Cambodia gets a mention. This episode reflects the different sides of travel: discovering remarkable places, learning about uncomfortable history and finding moments of amusement along the way. The serious subjects are treated seriously, but the conversation doesn't lose the humour that regular Unravel Travel listeners will recognise. Topics include: Cambodia travel, the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, the Killing Fields, Tuol Sleng, Cambodian temples, Southeast Asia travel and the contrasts between Cambodian and Thai destinations. Content note: This episode includes discussion of genocide, political violence and disturbing historical events. Join Malcolm and David for another episode of Unravel Travel, exploring the places, experiences and stories that make travel so rewarding, challenging and occasionally ridiculous. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Cambodia: Angkor Wat, the Killing Fields and Travel Tales

  4. Oct 3

    Cotswolds vs Chilterns: Pretty Villages, Walks & Country Pubs. But which wins?

    Send us Fan Mail Which is better for a countryside break: the Cotswolds or the Chilterns? Malcolm and David compare two much-loved corners of England in a six-round, Top Trumps-style contest packed with local knowledge, travel ideas and friendly rivalry. Malcolm champions the Cotswolds, while David argues the case for the Chiltern Hills. From pretty villages and woodland walks to cosy country pubs, local food and famous residents, each destination goes under the spotlight. The winner earns its own future Unravel Travel episode — but agreeing on the scores is another matter. Our six rounds cover: • Postcard factor: Cotswold favourites including Castle Combe, Burford and Chipping Campden meet Chiltern villages such as Hambleden and Turville. We compare beautiful streets, countryside views and places that make you reach for the camera. • Boots on the ground: Walking in the Cotswolds and Chilterns, from the Cotswold Way to the Chiltern Way and the Ridgeway. Expect escarpment views, beech woods, bluebells, chalk streams and a little debate about red kites. • The perfect pub: Open fires, good beer and somewhere to settle in after a walk. The Chequers in Chipping Norton, the Wild Rabbit in Kingham, the Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden and the Frog at Skirmett are among the pubs discussed. • Local flavour: Gloucester cheese, Stinking Bishop, local lamb, trout, watercress, breweries and markets. We talk Hook Norton beer, the Rebellion Brewery, Stroud Farmers’ Market and Moreton-in-Marsh market. • Escape factor: How easy is it to find peace and quiet? We compare busy beauty spots with quieter footpaths, discuss escaping the crowds around places such as Bibury, and weigh up the benefits of walking midweek. • Fame factor: Roald Dahl, famous residents, Blenheim Palace and film and television connections, including The Vicar of Dibley, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Midsomer Murders and Father Brown. Along the way there’s plenty of humour, some enthusiastic defending of home territory and the occasional challenge to what actually counts as being “in” the Cotswolds or Chilterns. We also touch on visiting by train from London. Whether you’re planning an English countryside weekend, a walking holiday or a day out exploring villages and pubs, join us for ideas from two people who know these areas well. Which would get your vote: the Cotswolds or the Chilterns? Listen for the verdict, then tell us whether you agree. Follow Unravel Travel for more travel stories, destination ideas and honest conversations with Malcolm and David. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Cotswolds vs Chilterns: Pretty Villages, Walks & Country Pubs. But which wins?

  5. Sep 26

    Paris City Break: The Louvre, Moulin Rouge and is the City of Love Worth the Hype?

    Send us Fan Mail Is Paris worth the hype? From the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre to café culture and a night at the Moulin Rouge, Malcolm and David revisit the French capital with humour, hazy memories and rather different levels of enthusiasm. This week on Unravel Travel, we look back on Paris city breaks, an Interrail adventure and business trips that involved rather more eating than sightseeing. David needs convincing about the city’s charms. Can Malcolm’s memories of art, riverside walks and Parisian cabaret change his mind? Our first visit involved an overnight train from Nice, climbing the Eiffel Tower, visiting Jim Morrison’s grave and a dangerously literal approach to crossing the road at the Arc de Triomphe. There was an underpass. We discovered it eventually. Malcolm then recalls a three-day trip to Paris with Petra just before Christmas, travelling by Eurostar and exploring much of the city on foot. From the Champs-Élysées to the banks of the Seine, we discuss the pleasure of simply wandering, the crowds around the Mona Lisa and why the Louvre deserves more than a quick dash between its most famous exhibits. There’s also Impressionist art at the Musée d’Orsay, memories of Notre-Dame before the fire, and an evening of dinner and cabaret at the Moulin Rouge. Add snails, oysters, champagne and time spent watching the world go by in cafés, and Paris starts to make a stronger case for itself. Along the way, we talk about: • Visiting the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. • The Louvre, Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and exploring beyond the busiest galleries. • Musée d’Orsay and its Impressionist paintings. • The Moulin Rouge cabaret experience in Paris. • Café culture, French food and our questionable schoolboy French. • Travelling from London to Paris by Eurostar. • The Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye as a trip beyond central Paris. We finish with a taste of travel elsewhere in France: camping near Bordeaux, the Mediterranean coast around Perpignan, walking in the Dordogne, prehistoric cave paintings and the medieval citadel of Carcassonne. One spectacular thunderstorm leads to a rather undignified return to a campsite… Whether you’re planning a Paris short break or remembering your own French adventures, join us for personal travel stories, friendly disagreement and plenty of laughs. Does Paris live up to its reputation for you? Share this episode with your travel companion, and follow Unravel Travel for more trips, stories and conversations with Malcolm and David.  One small recording correction: at around 16:10, the Musée d’Orsay building is discussed—it was originally a railway station, opened in 1900.  Hey, you can't be right all the time... If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Paris City Break: The Louvre, Moulin Rouge and is the City of Love Worth the Hype?

  6. Sep 19

    York & Yorkshire: City Breaks, Coastal Walks & God’s Own Country

    Send us Fan Mail Planning a York city break or a holiday in Yorkshire? Malcolm and David explore things to do in York, walking in the North York Moors and places to visit along the Yorkshire coast — with personal travel stories, childhood memories and plenty of humour. David reports back from a weekend in York, while Yorkshire-born Malcolm explains why his home county deserves its “God’s Own Country” reputation. Expect medieval streets, Viking history, ghost stories, dramatic coastline and the occasional disagreement about just how wonderful Yorkshire really is. In this episode: • YORK CITY BREAK IDEAS — Exploring York on foot, admiring York Minster and choosing a favourite stretch of the city walls for views across the historic centre. Plus the confusing business of gates, bars and streets. • FREE THINGS TO DO IN YORK — Wandering the Shambles, relaxing around the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey and discovering artists and makers at the York River Art Market beside the River Ouse. • VIKINGS, GHOSTS AND RAILWAYS — Visits and memories from the JORVIK Viking Centre, Treasurer’s House and the National Railway Museum, alongside an evening walk through York’s darker history. • FOOD AND WINE — David’s experience at 22 Yards wine bar and memories of dining at Melton’s, with time to enjoy York beyond its headline attractions. • NORTH YORK MOORS WALKING — Moorland scenery, railway connections and memories of a pre-Christmas trip together. We discuss combining walking with visits to places such as Pickering, Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. • THE YORKSHIRE COAST — Whitby’s Dracula connections and ruined abbey, Scarborough, Bridlington and Flamborough Head. There are mentions of Bempton’s puffins, coastal coves, sea fog and the distinctive sound of a foghorn. • HULL AND THE HUMBER — Art, poetry and memories of Hull’s City of Culture celebrations, The Deep, the Humber Bridge and crossing the estuary by ferry before the bridge opened. • MORE YORKSHIRE DAYS OUT — Malcolm’s enthusiasm for Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield, plus memories of Mother Shipton’s petrifying well, Fountains Abbey and Aysgarth Falls in the Yorkshire Dales. Whether you’re planning a weekend in York, looking for Yorkshire holiday ideas or simply enjoy a funny travel conversation between old friends, join us for a personal tour of this much-loved corner of northern England. Useful visitor note: general admission to York’s National Railway Museum is free. See the museum website for visit information and tickets: https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/ Follow Unravel Travel for more travel stories, destination ideas and good-humoured debate with Malcolm and David. Enjoyed this episode? Leave a rating or review, share it with a fellow traveller and tell us which Yorkshire favourite we missed. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    York & Yorkshire: City Breaks, Coastal Walks & God’s Own Country

  7. Sep 12

    Thai Islands: Koh Tao, Phuket & James Bond Island

    Send us Fan Mail Which Thai island should you visit—and is James Bond Island really worth the journey? Malcolm and David return to Thailand to share memories from Koh Tao, Koh Chang, Koh Lanta, Phuket and the spectacular limestone scenery around Krabi and Phang Nga Bay. David recalls a stormy journey to Koh Tao, learning to scuba dive in three and a half days, spending Christmas walking through the jungle and discovering an ocean-view bungalow that cost almost nothing. There are also tranquil mornings on Koh Chang, decidedly less tranquil scooter adventures and thoughts about returning to Koh Lanta for its beaches and diving. Away from the islands, we kayak through Krabi’s mangroves, encounter a barracuda and some persistent macaques, then venture into Khao Sok National Park. Floating cabins, hornbills, a bat nursery, a deadly snake and a swim through a dark jungle cave make this rather more than an ordinary beach holiday. Malcolm takes us back to Phuket in the 1990s and a longtail-boat journey through Phang Nga Bay, stopping at a floating fishing village before reaching James Bond Island—the setting for Scaramanga’s hideaway in The Man with the Golden Gun. The famous location may be crowded, but the extraordinary journey through the limestone islands proves to be the real attraction. Expect honest travel memories, practical observations, spectacular scenery and the usual Unravel Travel humour. Follow Unravel Travel for more entertaining stories and ideas from around the world—and please share the episode with anyone planning a trip to Thailand. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Thai Islands: Koh Tao, Phuket & James Bond Island

  8. Sep 5

    Havana, Cuba: Crumbling Magnificence, Classic Cars and Famous Bars

    Send us Fan Mail Havana is a city of glorious contradictions: elegant Spanish colonial squares and grand hotels, crumbling balconies and improvised daily life, vintage American cars kept running with replacement engines—and music, rum and conversation around every corner. In this episode of Unravel Travel, Malcolm takes David back to his 2016 visit to Havana, Cuba. From the bureaucratic chaos of the airport and the challenge of finding a hidden Cuban homestay to touring the capital in a classic 1950s American car, Malcolm recalls a city that looked remarkably like the Havana seen in films—and unlike anywhere else he had visited. Along the way, Malcolm and David discuss: Drinking a mojito at La Bodeguita del Medio and a daiquiri at El Floridita, following in the footsteps of Ernest HemingwayThe colonial plazas and restored streets of Old HavanaCrumbling apartment buildings, precarious balconies, chickens and bread delivered by basketDriving along the Malecón and through MiramarThe faded glamour of the Hotel Nacional de CubaHavana’s classic American cars and how Cubans keep them runningLobster, black beans, plantains, sugar-cane juice and the unexpected appearance of sponge cake at breakfastCuban rum, cigars and sunset beside Havana harbourThe Museum of the Revolution, Cuban art and a gallery roof leak that might almost have been an exhibitPlaza de la Revolución—and the unfortunate timing that meant missing the Rolling Stones in HavanaReading Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havana and Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the SeaDavid asks the questions while Malcolm explains why Havana’s crumbling magnificence, street life and sense of living history made such a lasting impression. There is also the usual diversion into alcohol, communism, fishing and whether Hemingway’s reputation as an expert drinker makes him a reliable judge of cocktails. This episode is based on Malcolm’s personal experience of visiting Havana in March 2016. Conditions, currencies and entry requirements may have changed, so check current official travel advice before planning a trip. And this is only Havana. A future episode will follow Malcolm and Petra beyond the capital and into rural Cuba, with mountain scenery, coastal villages, snorkelling and diving. If you have a story to share or some feedback to give just contact us at contact.unraveltravel@gmail.com Our theme music is Traveler's Blues by Jerzy Gorecki from Pixabay (with licence) https://pixabay.com/users/jerzyg%C3%B3recki-2233926/

    Havana, Cuba: Crumbling Magnificence, Classic Cars and Famous Bars
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About

Unravel Travel is a weekly British travel podcast featuring honest stories, practical advice and plenty of humour from lifelong travellers Malcolm and David. Expect independent travel, walking holidays, trekking adventures, city breaks, longer journeys and the realities of living overseas. Malcolm and David met at school when they were 14 and, by some miracle, are still friends more than 40 years later. Their travels together began with an Interrail trip after university, but both have continued exploring the world throughout their working lives and into semi-retirement. Malcolm has travelled extensively for work and pleasure, lived in Singapore and now divides his time between the UK and Czechia. He has also been an Airbnb host for several years. David combined a career in accounting and financial services with ambitious long-distance trips before retiring early and starting a business offering walking and group holidays. He now spends much of each winter travelling in warmer parts of the world. Each episode draws on their own experiences—from famous cities and classic journeys to remote treks, cabin life and travel before smartphones. They are regularly joined by friends with remarkable travel stories of their own.

Information

  • Creator
    Malc and Dave
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unravel Travel
  • Show Website
    Unravel Travel