Home > Plan Your Trip > Graffiti Wall

Travel on TV and Video

At Europe Through the Back Door, we of course recommend the "Rick Steves' Travels in Europe" public TV show. But there's lots more travel on TV and video. What other educational travel shows are worth recommending? And which movies set in Europe are best for whetting a traveler's appetite?

I want to add my comments! 

Rick's DVDs
I purchased the Rick Steves 70 show DVD set when it came out and recently purchased the 16 Classic Shows 1995-1999 DVDs. There was no need to buy the Classics as all these episodes are included on the 70 show set. Unfortunately this information is not found in the item descriptions so that's my word of warning.
Anthony
CO   USA   02/24/2008

Travel With Kids Guides on DVD
There is an excellent new travel guide series available on DVD called "Travel With Kids" - It follows a real life family and thier two young boys on vacation/adventures to Paris, London, Mexico, Hawaii, Caribbean, Ireland and many more places. Kids love watching them and they are great for parents to get ready for a trip with kids. Travel With Kids is available on Amazon. If you are planning a trip with the family, or want to check out one of thier featured destinations, the shows are very informative, entertaining.. and educational for the kids!
C Simmons <email>
AZ   USA   02/07/2008

Globe Trekker on computer
For a fee, you can get Globe Trekker episodes on your computer.
<email>
Pearland, TX   USA   01/01/2008

I like Rudy Maxa's video travelogues of countries in Europe, on PBS Television. I think his title is "Smart Travels ..." Rudy has a warm personality. Ask your public Library to acquire a DVD (or VHS video tape cassette) of "Smart Travels with Rudy Maxa" on the country in Europe that you are interested in.
Ron
MO   USA   11/22/2007

British TV shows
I have a Netflix account and have just discovered that I can get a number of British tv series through them. I am currently in the process of watching "Rosemary and Thyme" which is a detective show with two women gardeners as the sleuths. Great garden views and sights.

Also, I have loved the shows, "Keeping Up Appearances" and "As Time Goes By".

I have many more in my Netflix queue that I can't wait to watch.
Angie <email>
Nashville, TN   USA   11/12/2007

Fun Scotland movies
For any Scotland-obsessed people out there I recommend watching Highlander, Highlander 3 (skip 2, trust me), and if you can the episode in Highlander: The Series entitled Homeland. I love how the creators of these films have portrayed Scotland almost as a character in itself. The dramatic sweeping views of lonely moors, rocky crags, and ancient castles are superb and make me long for the Highlands again.

Yes the films are a bit campy and not of the absolute BEST quality but they are still quite good. The first movie stars the Son of Scotland himself, Sir Sean Connery and features an amazing soundtrack orchestrated entirely by Queen at the height of their popularity. The films give the audience a taste of Scotland that leaves them wanting more.
Betsy <email>
Pittsburgh, PA   USA   08/03/2007

Rick Has The Best Travel Show On TV!
Thank you for the reply about Amazing Race! A new one will be something to look forward too. It's an exciting show! About Samantha Brown, she paid $600 a night and called it a deal, and was not kidding! For me, $600 a week is a deal! Thanks to Rick's books, we can find hotels in any price range! Rick is the only travel guy for me!
Lisa
Austin, TX   USA   07/20/2007

Ireland trip
The PBS/RTE 3 part series "In Search of Ancient Ireland" is available on DVD - also there is a book which is great to take with you. This series shows all the major ancient sites of Ireland and is a wonderful companion to any trip. There is also a follow up book "In Search of Ireland's Heroes."
Don
Washington, USA   07/17/2007

AMAZING RACE
Repeats of AMAZING RACE are on Game Show Network. CBS renewed it, but it won't be on for a while.
Catherine
San Francisco, CA   USA   07/10/2007

High Priced Hotels
Another negitive about Samantha Browns shows, is that she only stays in very pricey hotels. As much as $800 or higher a night most of the time. Not many of us can afford that! I just use a hotel to shower and sleep and explore the rest of the time! Her shows are for the very rich, and for exciting the men! LOL! I was really only reading the posts on her message board, and I didn't take part. Too scary! Rick Steves shows are the best for travelers!
Alexa
USA   07/07/2007

Samantha Brown
I know what you mean Alexa! Samantha Brown does not show off her body in Passport To Europe because she is there in the winter, but in the other shows, she shows a lot of skin! She was hired by the travel channel without any travel experence. She is 38 years old and acting like 18! She is Fluff! I also went on her message board, and you are right. It's very scary. There is a man that is coming on too strong to a teenaged girl, and she is upset about her parents fighting and is falling right to him. Now all of the sudden he says he has liver disease caused by something he ate!!I'm 95% sure that he is not telling the truth because you can't get liver disease from food! BEWARE of that forum! I am also a lurker there and am afraid to post! I'm glad you brought this up Alexa. People do need to be warned!
Monica
Fl   USA   07/07/2007

Passport To Europe
Some of you said you like Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown. I used to watch that show, but now Sam gets on my nerves. I was a member of her message board, and all they can talk about was how they love Sam, and how she looks in a swim suit. Barly anyone talks about travel there. A man even said he never wants to go to Europe because when Sam leaves a country, all the charm in that country is gone. This is scary. Because the kind of people Sam attracts, that turned me off from her shows. If any of you here like her show, please don't think I'm talking about you. Not all people that watch her show are strange, and the fact you like Rick Steves and you are posting here, shows me you are interested in travel. It's really a matter of taste.
Alexa
USA   07/06/2007

Amazing Race Is Amazing!
Hello! Believe it or not, I watched Amazing Race for the first time!! I rented season one and enjoyed it so much! I will rent season seven. I noticed the shows in between are not out on DVD! How frustrating! I can't seem to find it on my TiVo and can't find information on the web if there will be a new season of Amazing Race!
Lisa <email>
Austin, TX   USA   07/06/2007

Anthony Bourdain
Anthony Bourdain's show "No Reservations" (Travel Channel, Monday nights) is my favorite. After every episode I want to visit the place he went. He tends to pick more offbeat places from all over the world (everywhere from New Jersey to Vietnam, Paris to Uzbekistan). He really travels and gets into the culture, he doesn't just gloss over the tourist spots.
Craig
Albany, NY   USA   06/28/2007

Travelshows
My favorite shows are Passport to Europe,-Travel Channel, Great Hotels-Travel Channel,The Luxury travel show-Wealth TV,also RIck STeves Europe, and on radio I like it even more Travel with RIck Steves,RIck Steves AUdio tours and any travel podcasts
Babak Pakravan <email>
Lawrence, KS   USA   05/28/2007

Food Network can be a good travel source too
I don't think she is making any new shows, but I love Rachel Ray's show about eating on $40 a day, esp. when she goes to Europe. It inspired me to head to the Rue Cler and shop for a couple of meals! We bought sandwiches for lunch before we got on the hop-on, hop off bus. We didn't miss out on a dining experience in France though - we ended up having dessert and a coffee at the Louvre. We also did a similar picnic meal that she did on her show based in paris, only we did it for dinner in our hotel, the night we needed to pack up to leave the next day - we didn't miss much... our room had a view of the Rue Cler and the Eiffel Tower, thanks to Rick's suggestions!

Oh, and to the person who hopes to be on the Amazing Race, good luck, and post it on the Graffiti Board if you make it AND you manage to mention Rick on the show ;)
Erica
DuPont, WA   USA   04/06/2007

Amazing Race
I do get excited any time I see on TV when someone goes to a place I have been on a trip! I did love it when the Amazing Race went to Paris last year and did a segment where they had to design a dress. That was neat and I also was wondering the whole time where in Paris they were, etc. Of course, I do LOVE the Amazing Race and it is my dream to some day go on the show myself. Wonder if it will ever happen??
USA   02/22/2007

travel t.v. programs
Rick's shows are good. Here are 3 other people to watch. Samantha Brown "Passport to Europe" on the "Travel Channel", Rudy Maxa "Smart Travels-Europe" and "ST-Pacific Rim", on PBS and Burt Wolf "Travels and Traditions" on PBS.
craig
Utah   USA   02/18/2007

Amazing Race
Anyone else watch The Amazing Race and jump up and down when they go to a location where you have traveled (or have seen on Rick's shows?) I do... and since my first trip to Europe, I really love it when they go there.

I will say I found myself shouting at the TV when some racers were in a bookstore looking for an atlas... "No, forget the atlas, get Rick Steves' phrasebook!!!"
Erica
DuPont, WA   USA   02/18/2007

Midsomer Murders - Set in English Villages
This murder mystery series has beautiful footage of the english countryside- Cotswold villages etc. "Midsomer Murders" is a fun British cozy series. Really enjoyable to watch- the scenery is top-notch. Great acting, fun english characters. You will want to hop across the pond to visit these areas! Program airs on the Biography channel on Sundays - I've also purchased DVD sets.
Joanna
WA   USA   02/13/2007

Please Go To Salzburg
I was in Salzburg in November 2006. The Sound of Music has been called the happiest movie ever, and I say the city of Salzburg is the happiest city ever! People are so friendly, and always smiling! If you go to Salzburg, I suggest you take the 2 1/2 hour train trip to Vienna. Rick Steves has a wonderful video on Salzburg. Please look into it. He's funny about the Mozart candy balls!! I so much would like to make another trip to Salzburg! Salute! Lisa
Lisa <email>
Austin, TX   USA   01/31/2007

Austria and Italy
To DB: You should definitely go to Salzburg! They have a Sound of Music tour (30Euros when I was there in 2003) that is awesome for SOM fans. You get to see many of the filming sites.

A great Venice film is "Summertime" with Katherine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi, but it is difficult to find.
Ashley
Victoria, BC   Canada   01/18/2007

Two Women
Sophia Loren won an academy award for her performance in this film. She is the mother of a young girl in Rome during WWII. They travel to the north for safety during the conflict. There are conversations regarding what is happening politically and how the war is going. Some scenery. English subtitles.
Swan
USA   01/17/2007

italian hilltowns
Tea With Mussolini - Cher, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, Maggie Smith, Lily Tomlin Semi-autobiographical tale from the early life of director Franco Zeffirelli looks at the illegitimate son (Charlie Lucas as a child, Baird Wallace as the teen) of an Italian businessman. The boy's mother has died, and he is raised by an Englishwoman (Joan Plowright) in pre-WW II Fascist Italy. Living in Florence, and presided over by an ambassador's widow (Maggie Smith), a group of Englishwomen live a sheltered existence which they believe is guaranteed personal protection in a tea reception given by Il Duce. However, as war breaks out, the women are interned. Occasionally in this English colony is a wealthy American (Cher), who visits among her travels and marriages to wealthy older men. She respects the "Scorpioni", as they are known, and secretly arranges for their stay in a hotel. The ambassador's widow finds her vulgar and tries to ignore her, but when the United States enters the war, the American too is taken into custody. Only then does she discover that her Italian lover (Paolo Seganti) has tricked her into signing over all her money and modern art collection to him, and is now arranging her execution. This obliges all to join forces. Lily Tomlin also appears as an American archaeologist working at a dig in the city.
moviegrrl
seattle, wa   USA   01/13/2007

EuroTrip
Although I was already very intrested in Europe because of school, the movie EuroTrip really got me interested. But I soon found out that the movie is VERY inaccurate to the locations of many things.
Chris
St.Pete, FL   USA   11/20/2006

Inspired to take a trip to be a beach bunny!
I watch Rick all the time on PBS. The only other travel I watch are National Gepgraphic specials. The most recent of a hot climate with the locals wearing only the bare essentials! I need a vacation to a hot climate where I can hang out on the beach in my bare essentials!
Dawn
L.A., CA   USA   11/04/2006

Rent-A-Car Castle Tour
Hello! I remember watching Harrison Ford and Sean Connery in the last Indiana Jones movie zipping around Europe on whatever mobile device they could find staying one step ahead of their rivals. The scenery was lovely! Makes me want to rent a car and zip around central Europe on a grand estate/castle tour. Happy travels to all!
Claire
Montana, USA   11/03/2006

Austria, Here I Come
I recently re-watched "The Sound of Music" and want to go to Austria. The country looks very beautiful in the movie.
DB
Montana, USA   11/03/2006