Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[moinmotion]

Interested in hearing about travel shows that others enjoy, for those times when we are NOT out on the road!

My new favorite is called "Departures" on Outdoor Live Network (OLN). Two young Canadian guys travelling all over the world. The camera work is absolutely stunning - some sequences are like a series of National Geographic covers. The guys are very likeable - respectful of the people and places they visit, but still totally adventurous and fun-loving.

Check it out:
http://www.oln.ca/details.php?id=12

[aopaq]

I have seen one or two episodes of Departures and thought it was pretty good. However, my favorite is still Globe Trekker partly because I love the theme music! Ian Wright is quite amusing sometimes as well.

Unfortunately, I can't see any of those where i am now.....

[starlagurl]

Hmmm... I don't know... I don't really watch TV.

But when I was a kid I used to love Carmen Sandiego and also this "kids news" show that I forget what it's called now. They both inspired me to travel and learn things about other places etc. etc.

[exploreamerica]

Anthony Bourdain is far and away the best.

[semi-backpacker]

My favorite is Samantha Brown Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America...I also love anything else on the Travel Channel.

[kitkatgo]

Anthony Bourdain is my favorite. I also like Sam Brown, Andrew Zimmern, sometimes Travelscope (although it's a bit corny), I watch Globe Trekker on occasion but I always want the hosts to take a darned shower, lol.

[starlagurl]

Hahaha! Kit, what are you talking about? I just watched a couple clips and they looked OK to me.

[exploreamerica]

My favorite is Samantha Brown Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America...I also love anything else on the Travel Channel.

I like her show and hate it at the exact same time. She presents a nice show and in great locations and I enjoy her spirit. But the problem is that her show is for the upper upper class. it is the finest hotels that I could never afford to stay at and that sets the tone for me immediately. I want a show to excite me but also present the adventutre in ways that are possible for me and her posh ways are too much.

[moinmotion]

I'll definitely check out Globe Trekker, since a couple of you have mentioned it.

[semi-backpacker]

My favorite is Samantha Brown Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America...I also love anything else on the Travel Channel.

I like her show and hate it at the exact same time. She presents a nice show and in great locations and I enjoy her spirit. But the problem is that her show is for the upper upper class. it is the finest hotels that I could never afford to stay at and that sets the tone for me immediately. I want a show to excite me but also present the adventutre in ways that are possible for me and her posh ways are too much.

Yes, I agree with you on her hotel accommodations and lodging in general, I could never afford those places. What I do love are the itinerary ideas - I have picked up quite a few and have actually used them! For example, she did a show in Costa Rica where she went to a place that was a combination cooking class, restaurant, and dancing! I would have never found out about it otherwise. No guide books mention it. And that sort of thing has happened a few times :-)

[wakingdream]

How about most un-favourite travel show? I was at the gym the other day using a machine with a tv screen ( makes the time go faster). It was Don't Forget Your Passport. They were sailing in the Beagle Channel in Argentina and the host is going on and on about how sensitive the sea lions are to people, how they don't have any close contact with humans and how that's the best for them etc etc and then it cuts in and then back and then she's laughing away. She goes on about how the boat got too close and the sea lions charged and how ahahahahaha funny that was. Here I am thinking, 'what a joke'

Samantha Brown Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America

I've never seen either of these but sounds good. personally I'm a much bigger fan of NG shows and other nature shows like Blue Planet etc rather than travel shows. I prefer to read about different places and sort of come up with my own interpretation of what a place is like. Then one day when I do actually visit it would all be new to me

[huckabmm]

My favorite is Samantha Brown Passport to Europe and Passport to Latin America...I also love anything else on the Travel Channel.

I like her show and hate it at the exact same time. She presents a nice show and in great locations and I enjoy her spirit. But the problem is that her show is for the upper upper class. it is the finest hotels that I could never afford to stay at and that sets the tone for me immediately. I want a show to excite me but also present the adventutre in ways that are possible for me and her posh ways are too much.

Bourdain is simply the man. I also agree that Samantha Brown's spirit and enthusiasm make her great to watch, but she is a little to posh for me as well.

The best part is when Bourdain makes fun of her on his show! It's classic and I laugh every time!

I also like Andrew Zimmern, he and Bourdain did a show together once in NY...it was great!

[rbisset]

Anthony Bourdain is far and away the best.

From the one show I downloaded of his, I thought he was a complete tool. Don't think it's on in the UK but I'll give it another go.

[sianeth]

I used to love that show called Lost (the first one):

Lost was a reality television show screened in the USA and UK in late 2001. It was a game show in a race format where teams raced around the world with few or no resources.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_(2001_TV_series)

[kitkatgo]

Hahaha! Kit, what are you talking about? I just watched a couple clips and they looked OK to me.

LOL, I know...I was just kidding...sort of. They do look fine. I'm just not into the hostel, backpacking thing!


And about Sam Brown's hotel accommodations, I agree! Most of the time she picks outrageously expensive places that are unaffordable and she stays in the expensive suites. I did happen to stay at one of the hotels she stayed at once though in Brussels. I wasn't trying to, but while trying to find a room that would accommodate the 4 of us, that hotel came up. The price wasn't bad at all.

[polydemic]

I'm also a fan of Anthony Bourdain, Andrew Zimmern, & Samantha Brown, on the Travel Channel.

And I've looked in on Globe Trekkers, on PBS, time to time. Rick Steve is another.

On the Food Network are Rachel Ray's '$40 a Day' & 'Tasty Travels' & Alton Brown's 'Feast on Asphalt'.

Two of my faves that are long gone are 'Taste of America' with Mark DeCarlo & 'Insomniac' with Dave Atell.

[kitkatgo]

Oh my gosh! I totally forgot about Rick Steves! He's at the top of my list. Sheesh.

[semi-backpacker]

I also enjoy house hunting the international version...not quite a travel show, but they really showcase foreign cities/living as well. :-)

[jeremystravels]

Gotta say Anthony Bourdain is my favorite. I am not liking the new season very much though. It seems like he is doing more spotlights focusing on a topic rather than a place like the previous seasons were.

I agree with everyone else on Samantha Brown. She goes to pretty cool places but her form of travel is very unrealistic. But how do I want her job... I don't agree with showing off $700/night hotel rooms, but hey, if I had her job, I wouldn't argue.