In this edition of TravelWise, join Phil Blizzard as he ventures off the beaten track in Hua Hin, Thailand. to visits the Wildlife Friends Foundation, a sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating animals in need. He joins Richard Jackson from Surf Radio for their weekly live radio show. So in this special podcast get behind the scenes of their vital work and find out what visitors can expect when supporting this incredible cause

"The morning starts with elephant breakfast and a blinking mixer light. We’re broadcasting from the terrace of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, a vast sanctuary inland from Hua Hin where apes call across an island and volunteers gather at first light.

This is a travel story with teeth: ethical tourism in practice, a working wildlife hospital, and the logistics of caring for more than 900 animals without turning them into attractions. Founder Edwin Wiek joins us to share the sanctuary’s mission and its limits: rescue and rehabilitation are possible, but release is often blocked by injuries, human imprinting, or vanishing habitat. He breaks down the reality of elephants in Thailand—wild populations are strictly protected while captive elephants are treated as livestock—and explains how WFFT builds better lives within that framework. We explore the scale of care across elephants, bears, big cats, gibbons, and macaques; the rules that keep interactions ethical; and the choice to open a small lodge that funds welfare without staging encounters. A fully staffed hospital handles daily emergencies, many from outside the centre, reinforcing the sanctuary’s role in regional conservation.

Alongside the animal work, the Surf Radio kit powers a four-hour English-language show that brings listeners practical travel intelligence. Expect route updates after a recent expressway collapse, a rundown of Hua Hin events, and a sense of the place you can hear: bus tours rolling out, birds and apes in the background, and volunteers swapping notes over coffee.

A guest from Illinois shares how he found the sanctuary on TripAdvisor, what stood out on the tour, and how Hua Hin works as a gentler coastal base for exploring Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. We wrap with clear ways to visit, volunteer, or book a stay through WFFT’s site and major platforms, plus where to stream Surf Radio worldwide.

Subscribe for more stories that pair real travel with real impact, share this episode with someone planning Thailand, and leave a review to help others find ethical wildlife experiences.

Looking for Thailand without the noise? We escape to Pranburi, the quiet stretch south of Hua Hin where pine trees shade a coastal bike path, fishing boats rest on the sand at low tide, and breakfast is served with warm, homemade bread and jars of jam made from the market’s best fruit. Joined by Nico, the multilingual “Swiss army knife” behind the Beach Boutique Hotel Resort, we explore how a small seaside property can feel like a hub for authentic travel: eight rooms in a main building, a few bungalows, a palm-framed pool, and a terrace that catches sea breeze and sunrise in one sweep.

We dig into what makes Paknam Pran tick: an honest fisherman’s market where crabs, prawns, and squid are steamed on the spot; scooters-turned-mobile shops tinkling past with ice cream; and low-key bars where the soundtrack is the tide rather than thumping bass. Cyclists will love the dedicated coastal route, a smooth ribbon under pine shade that attracts weekend pelotons and first-timers alike, with quirky coffee stops and temple views along the curve of the bay. For curious travellers, Pranburi doubles as a springboard to nearby highlights—mangroves at Pranburi Forest Park, elephant-spotting in Kui Buri National Park, and the luminous cave temple at Sam Roi Yot.

We also break down the practicalities: the easiest ways to arrive from Bangkok, when to swap a taxi for a train or VIP bus, and why many guests base here and dip into Hua Hin only when they want bustle. It’s a portrait of slow travel done right—where connection, routine, and place matter more than checklists. If you’re craving real Thai coastal life with room to breathe, press play and plan your ride by the pines.

Enjoyed the journey? Follow the show, share it with a travel friend, and leave a quick review so more explorers can find authentic Thailand.

The future of travel isn’t arriving someday; it’s booking rooms, approving refunds, and answering questions right now. From the floor of World Travel Market London, Phil Blizzard joins three leaders pushing AI from buzzword to business value—speeding up claims, selling smarter, and restoring trust where it’s been eroded.

First, Steven Joyce of Protect Group shows how Refund Protect turns non‑refundable trips into peace of mind with AI‑accelerated approvals and payouts within hours, not weeks. By partnering with tour operators, OTAs, airlines, and hotels rather than selling direct, the model boosts conversion while removing pre‑trip anxiety for travellers. We break down costs, workflows, and why a customer‑first claim experience matters more than ever.

Then, Benjamin Manzi of Maya opens the hood on travel‑specialist AI agents built to sell more trips and handle support across 150+ languages. Beyond chat, internal agents draft quotes, invoices, and emails, giving human teams leverage where it counts. We explore how market maturity flipped from scepticism to urgency, what differentiates domain‑trained travel AI, and why capturing traffic from search and assistants depends on agents that speak the industry’s language.

Finally, Daniel Reeves of Room Angel tackles the surge of scam sites and opaque pricing. Their verification tokens bring cryptographic trust to hotel bookings and agentic conversations, while fair‑price benchmarks help consumers and regulators see whether a rate is reasonable. With consolidation on the horizon and agentic distribution set to grow rapidly, we discuss the partnerships, data, and rules that will define how hotels compete on transparency and value.

If you care about faster refunds, smarter sales, and safer bookings, this conversation is your map to what’s next. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review to tell us which AI upgrade you want travel brands to adopt first.

What if a small Caribbean island could turn sport and technology into a tourism superpower? Phil Blizzard talks with Anguilla’s Minister of Health, Tourism and Sports, Cardigan Connor, and cricket great Joel Gardner to unpack a strategy that blends tennis and golf events, boat racing heritage, and a surprising digital advantage: the .AI domain.

Connor shares how Anguilla plans to scale sports tourism with the Anguilla Cup, a world-class Greg Norman golf course, and youth programmes that lead to scholarships, jobs, and professional pathways. He explains why boat racing remains the island’s heartbeat and how cricket links Anguilla to a wider Caribbean legacy. The conversation pivots to technology as Connor argues that .AI must be more than a revenue stream; it should fund education, bring global conventions and awards to the island, and prepare young people to build and work with AI. By merging destination marketing with real skills, Anguilla positions itself as both a place to play and a place to learn.

Gardner then makes the case for Caribbean cricket as a training destination with soul. He recalls county tours, outlines the facilities and pre-season windows, and contrasts Barbados’ loud, lively matchdays with quieter English grounds. With rivals like Dubai drawing teams away, he believes the region can win by showcasing authentic culture, community energy, and tournaments that have already launched West Indies talent. Together these stories reveal a blueprint for resilient tourism: anchor events, invest in pathways, and use technology to amplify identity rather than replace it.

If you’re curious about how destinations can fuse sport, culture, and AI to create real value for locals and travellers alike, this conversation is a must-listen. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves cricket or tech, and leave a review to tell us which sports event you’d fly to see first.

Welcome to Travelwise with Phil Blizzard! Our journey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues as we explore a heritage hotel which has been recognised by TIME magazine as one of the Top Hotels in the World and is in the Conde Nast Traveller 2025 Hot List. Welcome to the Dar Tantora The House Hotel in Al Ula.

In this podcast Phil Blizzard discovers more about this hospitality group, their philosophy, the location of hotels they manage and what is in their development pipeline and talks to where we talk to Antony Doucet the Chief Experience Officer at Kerten Hospitality.

Anthony talks about the significant rise of Saudi homegrown hospitality, takes us on a guided tour of Dar Tantora and concludes with a personalised guest experience.

For more information visit https://dartantora.co/

In this episode, Phil Blizzard at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, explores the rich history and vibrant culture of this fascinating kingdom. Starting with the historic centre of Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site that's steeped in tradition and heritage he talks to Naif Awlia, Tourism & Engagement Director, Diriyah

Then a preview of Bab Al Samahn, first hotel to open within Diriyah where ancient charm meets modern luxury. Phil taks to Fabrice Ducry, GM, of this Luxury Collection Hotel by Marriott.

From there we head south, so to speak, to the stunning region of Aseer, where natural beauty and warm hospitality await - according to Dr Amr Homoud Almari, CEO - Oerations, Aseer.

You can watch the interviews in this podcast on You Tube, using the links below.

Diriyah interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTrdEePg3GY

Bab Al Sanhan interview- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNEDvjQaYUY

Aseer interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Jt0AUC9cA

A TravelWise podcast vignette with Jawad Saade, GM, Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences, Jewel of the Creek talking about their Ramadan Iftar offerings along side the wonderful Dubai Creek.

The podcast of the full interview with Jawad Saade, GM, Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences, Jewel of the Creek is now available.

Join Phil Blizzard as he continues his exploration of Dubai's newest destination - the Jewel of the Creek.

In this episode he visits the Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel & Residences to meet Jawad Saade, General Manger who talks about the guests first point of contact - the traditonal Arabic welcome with a cup of qahwa (listen to find out what this is). He talks about the appeal of the serviced apartments, their creekside location and some of the activites they offer visitors staying at 'The Heart of Dubai'.