Are you the type of traveler who loves to get off the beaten path? Who values experiences over things? Who believes travel goes deeper than a fantastic meal? Then the Postcard Academy travel podcast is for you.
Each week, I interview people who packed up everything to start a new adventure in another part of the world. You’ll get their insider travel recommendations on the best food and cultural experiences in the most interesting places around the globe. You’ll also discover travel hacks to find cheap flights and travel deals, and hear personal expat stories that offer guidance on how to live, work, volunteer, and travel abroad.
I’m your host, Sarah Mikutel, an American who’s been living, working, and traveling around Europe since 2010 (and visiting long before that). Enjoy the show!
Fellow veggie beach lovers, I have found our paradise: Folkestone, England. Take the train south from London, and in an hour, you can be indulging in vegan cheese cake at a pub quiz, or a full English breakfast with veggie sausage and halloumi instead of meat. Every restaurant has veggie options, and you’ll also find several vegetarian- and vegan-only restaurants, which is incredible considering this is a small town.
Read MoreWhen tourists visit England, they usually stay in London. Maybe they’ll do a daytrip to Stonehenge or, if they’re feeling extra glam, take the Eurostar to Paris. If they wanted to experience something extra special, they’d take the train south to visit the beautiful coastal town of Folkestone.
Read MoreTraveling through the Balkans can be tough for vegetarians and vegans (hope you like bread!). Thankfully, more restaurants are catering to veggie needs and offering more diverse menus. However, in Albania, a number of their local dishes have always been vegetarian. Here are some of the foods you need to try.
Read MoreTravel writer Nardia Plumridge says Bangkok is “a blend of east meets west. Street food next to rooftop bars, modern galleries across the street from old temples.” So you can enjoy a great meal for less than $1, or live it up in one of the fanciest hotels. Or, better, do both!
Read MoreIf you like to add a splash of culture to your boozing, you’ll find plenty of options in London, from theatre to live music to late-night museums. Here’s a list of some of my favorite places to go out at night in the Big Smoke.
Read MoreLondon is a fantastic city for vegetarians. Not only will you find veg versions of British classics like fish and chips and the full English breakfast, you’ll also enjoy foods from around the world since the Big Smoke is packed with expat and immigrant entrepreneurs. Here’s a list of my favorite veg-friendly restaurants in London.
Read MoreKaelene Spence, an American expat who now calls Iceland home, came on the Postcard Academy podcast to share her insider tips on where to find the best food and drink in Iceland. Kaelene blogs about her Icelandic adventures at Unlocking Kiki.
Read MoreNew Orleans celebrates its 300th anniversary this year, and since it’s almost Halloween, I thought this was the perfect time to talk about this haunted Southern city. On the Postcard Academy podcast, Hope Kodman, a tour guide with French Quarter Phantoms, joined me to talk about the history of the Big Easy; the origins of Mardi Gras; the difference between cajun and creole; and other fun stories. Of course, we tell you where to find the best: food and drinks, quirky shops and museums, burlesque, jazz, ‘female-owned romantic boutique,’ and more.
Read MoreIf you’re anything like me, you enjoy wine but are fairly uneducated about it and usually forget everything you learn at wine tastings. That’s OK. With this list of the best Tuscan wines, you’ll know what to order in Italy, or at your local wine shop.
Read More“That olive oil costs how MUCH? Why would I spend $15 when I can spend $4?” You’ve likely said this to yourself at some point. So what’s the difference between expensive olive oil versus the cheap stuff? Does it really matter? Yes. Toni Mazzaglia, founder of the food tour company Taste Florence came on the Postcard Academy podcast to explain how to find the best olive oil, when you should use it, and when you definitely should not.
Read MoreItalians usually rush at breakfast, dowing espresso at the counter and eating cornetti, which “looks like a croissant but delivers disappointment...It’s like a croissant and a brioche had a bad one-night-stand.” Here’s how to make sure the pastry you buy in Italy is fresh and delicious.
Read MoreAll summer, the streets of Florence swell with tourists, tired and hungry from museum binges and promenades under the Tuscan sun. Desperate for something to eat, they settle for stale panini in the city’s worst tourist traps. More than 10 years ago, American expat Toni Mazzaglia said, “Basta!” and started the food tour company Taste Florence to help visitors discover the best food in her adopted city. Here are her top recs.
Walk around Macedonia’s capital city, Skopje, and you’ll find yourself in three primary areas: the bohemian district, the old town, and the redeveloped downtown, which has been compared to Vegas kitsch on steroids. After snapping your photos of the 72-foot-tall (and unofficially named) Alexander the Great statue and those of his parents, you’ll want to focus your time on the first two areas.
Read MoreA few years ago the Colombian government signed a historic peace deal with the FARC rebels to end decades of violence, though Andrew Dier, author of the Moon Colombia travel guide, says the country has been a safe place for tourists for years. Here’s your insider list on where to eat and what to do in Colombia’s capital city, where Andrew, an American expat, has lived with his husband for 20 years.
Read MoreI expected to find falafel in Istanbul, but I was fantastically wrong. To set the record straight on Turkish cuisine for other travelers, I asked food and travel writer Robyn Eckhart to come on the Postcard Academy podcast to discuss traditional Turkish recipes and Istanbul food culture. We have a lovely chat about her new cookbook: Istanbul and Beyond: Exploring the Diverse Cuisines of Turkey, and create a food guide for your next trip to Istanbul.
Read MoreIf you like food porn, this week’s podcast guest will have you screaming from the rooftops. Cenk Sönmezsoy is an award-winning food blogger, photographer, and self-described shameless chocoholic from İstanbul, Turkey. He’s also author of the masterpiece, The Artful Baker: Extraordinary Desserts From an Obsessive Home Baker.
Read MoreWhen in Rome, you need to try these traditional foods with a twist. Culinary expert Katie Parla tells us exactly what to eat in the Eternal City.
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