In this special episode, Ben and Andrew discuss the un touristy tourist places to go in 2021 and 2022.

In this special episode, Ben and Andrew are joined by Cameron Hewitt to discuss Eastern European stereotypes.

In this special episode, Ben and Andrew are joined by Peter, their Canadian friend living in Hungary's Lake Balaton, discussing Hungary as a destination for North American retirees. Discussions also cover the Digital Nomad concept and efforts to get a Hungarian digital nomad visa created.

Live streamed from northeast Albania, Andrew gives his thoughts and impressions of North Macedonia and Albania plus how it is traveling between countries during Covid.

Live streamed from northeast Albania, Andrew gives his thoughts and impressions of North Macedonia and Albania plus how it is traveling between countries during Covid.

To coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Day, tour guides Ben and Andrew bring up the idea of ‘dark tourism’, debate its merits and discuss some of the destinations they’ve experienced this in such as Chernobyl, Auschwitz and bone church or ossuary in Czechia. They also delve into a few travel wish-lists so get ready to learn more about Russia’s Golden Ring and a Bavarian Wagner festival.

To ring in 2021, tour guides Ben and Andrew tackle a big fish, the issue of Russia and Turkey being part of Europe or not. Do these countries belong in their own special category or are they really Europe? Ben waxes poetic about his first time in Bosnia where a still war-torn Sarajevo had not revealed all of its charms. Andrew recalls rubbing elbows with a soon to be Croatian President during his first time in Croatia.

Tour guides Ben Curtis and Andrew Villone discuss Eastern Europe.

Eastern Approaches admit their shortcomings with a focus on those destinations they know little about including Slovakia. Learn about holiday traditions and the Christmas scene in both Czech and Slovenia. Andrew recounts some memorable travels with his father through Poland and the Baltics. We focus on great places for hikes and nature in Montenegro and Slovenia.

Tour guides Ben Curtis and Andrew Villone discuss Eastern Europe.

Eastern Approaches admit their shortcomings with a focus on those destinations they know little about including Slovakia. Learn about holiday traditions and the Christmas scene in both Czech and Slovenia. Andrew recounts some memorable travels with his father through Poland and the Baltics. We focus on great places for hikes and nature in Montenegro and Slovenia.

Tour guides Ben Curtis and Andrew Villone discuss Eastern Europe.

Eastern Approaches admit their shortcomings with a focus on those destinations they know little about including Slovakia. Learn about holiday traditions and the Christmas scene in both Czech and Slovenia. Andrew recounts some memorable travels with his father through Poland and the Baltics. We focus on great places for hikes and nature in Montenegro and Slovenia.

Tour guides Ben Curtis and Andrew Villone discuss Eastern Europe.

Ben recalls many of his not-so-fond memories ‘surviving’ his first time in Romania. Andrew waxes poetic about Sunday brunch and double-features in Prague. And they both discuss why Zagreb and Plovdiv are two great cities that aren’t on most travelers’ radar (yet).

Tour guides Ben Curtis and Andrew Villone discuss Eastern Europe.

Ben recalls many of his not-so-fond memories ‘surviving’ his first time in Romania. Andrew waxes poetic about Sunday brunch and double-features in Prague. And they both discuss why Zagreb and Plovdiv are two great cities that aren’t on most travelers’ radar (yet).

In this episode we explore one of the least-known cultures in Europe: the Seto people in Estonia. Setomaa ("the land of Seto") is a fascinating place, and our guide Helen Külvik brings it to life. She tells us what makes the Seto people distinct, all about their most notable traditions and customs, and how they have survived until the present day.

Contact Helen, your guide for Setomaa: helen.kylvik@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/setotours

Ben and Andrew pick a few different towns and cities in Czech Republic NOT named Prague. We play a little game called ‘You Know You’re in Central Europe If…’ where we pick out specific characteristics like its superb cafe culture, good train networks, tasty palacinky & dumplings and its pastel Baroque churches that easily let travelers know where they are. We wrap up this episode where we reveal the inspiration behind our name Eastern Approaches.

In this week’s episode, Andrew’s shares stories about his first time traveling in Estonia. He and Ben discuss their biggest SNAFU on a tour and their top off-the-beaten-path picks in Austria & Slovenia and so much more!

This is Andrew’s and Ben’s first episode with a guest. Listen in as “Our Man in Yerevan” discusses a whole host of expat issues in Armenia, including making friends with locals and surviving as a vegan/vegetarian in Armenia. They also discuss the current conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and how it's impacting life for those in Yerevan.

In part 2 of empires that shaped this part of the world, Ben Curtis and Andrew Villone look at what it means to the traveler: what monuments of these empires, their legacy on borders and travel infrastructure, and the empires’ fingerprints on autonomous regions. Plus, get tips on capturing the essence of travel and keeping in touch with the travel community while staying in your own home town.

Ben and Andrew take a deep dive into the many empires that have shaped Central and Eastern Europe. Who were the major empires and what have been their influences historically? Plus, they discuss the pros and cons of getting a later start in life to traveling.

Hosts and tour guides Andrew Villone and Ben Curtis set their sights on Bulgaria. Ben recalls his first trip to Budapest in 1992, and the gents play a little game called, “You Know You’re in the Balkans if…”