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Travel programmes on tv

(92 Posts)
Riversidegirl Thu 15-Jan-26 16:31:42

How many more of these are we going to get? So-called celebs getting free holidays, showing us stuff we have seen many times before. Latest offering is Favourite Railway Stations by the remaining Hairy Biker who I have never heard of. If I see one more free trip up Snowdon.......

Calendargirl Fri 16-Jan-26 07:10:55

I used to love watching Alan Whicker.

He seemed such a gent, and really interested in the people he met.

Can remember one ordinary lady somewhere in the USA, no idea now what she did, but he described her as ‘gallant’.

So appropriate.

Tusue Sat 17-Jan-26 13:51:18

It might be at odds with others opinions but I’d like to see an “ordinary family “ ie not loaded financially getting to be treated to a holiday somewhere they might otherwise never go to and being allowed to give honest opinions and views on their travels , hotels,food and locality .

cc Sat 17-Jan-26 13:52:17

I also enjoy Monty Don's travels to gardens

cc Sat 17-Jan-26 13:56:18

Tusue

It might be at odds with others opinions but I’d like to see an “ordinary family “ ie not loaded financially getting to be treated to a holiday somewhere they might otherwise never go to and being allowed to give honest opinions and views on their travels , hotels,food and locality .

But it is almost bound to be an "ordinary family" that is known to someone on the production team.
Personally I'd like to see an OAP couple like my husband and myself get a holiday to somewhere lovely. (Happy to provide my name and address on request!)
We don't take foreign holidays and very rarely stay anywhere other than in our family holiday home, where I am chief cook and bottlewasher. Come to think of it, a nice night away with a good dinner in a renowned restaurant would be enough for us, much cheaper than trolling around abroad...

MartavTaurus Sat 17-Jan-26 13:57:41

cc

I also enjoy Monty Don's travels to gardens

Very interesting look around Swiss Gardens along the Rhein last night, and fascinating facts about the communities living there. Visited Zürich and Basel too. Also Austria and Liechtenstein.
Germany next week.

Rocketstop2 Sat 17-Jan-26 14:04:12

Yes, it gets my goat, all these so called celebrities who have enough money to pay for themselves to go to these destinations, it feels like we are having our noses rubbed in it. You can tell as well, that as they ARE 'Celebrities' they get to see things on trips we could not in a sort of 'Behind the scnes' type of way and often bowl to the front of queues, always get a table in a cafe etc etc. I like to see the different places but why can't thy select real families, couples, solo travellers etc and show us how they get on, what they think, if they find it expensive etc.

Rocketstop2 Sat 17-Jan-26 14:05:50

cc

Tusue

It might be at odds with others opinions but I’d like to see an “ordinary family “ ie not loaded financially getting to be treated to a holiday somewhere they might otherwise never go to and being allowed to give honest opinions and views on their travels , hotels,food and locality .

But it is almost bound to be an "ordinary family" that is known to someone on the production team.
Personally I'd like to see an OAP couple like my husband and myself get a holiday to somewhere lovely. (Happy to provide my name and address on request!)
We don't take foreign holidays and very rarely stay anywhere other than in our family holiday home, where I am chief cook and bottlewasher. Come to think of it, a nice night away with a good dinner in a renowned restaurant would be enough for us, much cheaper than trolling around abroad...

sorry my post seems to have echoed yours, but totally agree, let's see some real and unfake people on there, as you say, IF skullduggery by the production teams can be ruled out !

AuntieE Sat 17-Jan-26 14:13:47

Why does this bother you so much?

It is not as if there only was one TV channel these days.

There are plenty, and sites like Netflix where you can download films and other programmes.

Greciangirl Sat 17-Jan-26 14:14:27

Whicker’s world was always interesting, never boring.

I am also fed up with these t.v. Presenters swanning around on paid jollies.

Jane McDonald being a prime example.

And don’t get me started on Rylan and Rib Rinder.

They can easily afford to pay to go to these places.
That’s what mainly annoys me.

Shinamae Sat 17-Jan-26 14:24:06

I love Joanna Lumley‘s travel programs….

Babamaman Sat 17-Jan-26 14:58:09

Totally agree with you all! Freebies for them all! They should take us (real people, with real needs)
And investigate why so many companies charge extra for ‘single’ travellers!

Babamaman Sat 17-Jan-26 15:00:15

grin

Quizzer Sat 17-Jan-26 15:06:58

Chatting at a TV quiz show with a celebrity who does holiday programmes. She said it was not a free holiday and that sometimes she arrives by air in the morning, is filming in the afternoon and the next day and then flies home the following morning. When she has done cruise programmes she never gets to do the whole cruise, but is flown home from whichever port is convenient. It’s a job - probably more fun than stacking shelves in a supermarket, and more lucrative- but not always a holiday.

Fallingstar Sat 17-Jan-26 15:07:21

I do love Palin’s travel programmes. He always seemed to connect with the peoples he visited. Though I do think he was a bit of a typical Englishman abroad, very charming but a bit daft.

icanhandthemback Sat 17-Jan-26 15:09:43

J52

Riversidegirl

How many more of these are we going to get? So-called celebs getting free holidays, showing us stuff we have seen many times before. Latest offering is Favourite Railway Stations by the remaining Hairy Biker who I have never heard of. If I see one more free trip up Snowdon.......

Funnily enough I was thinking the same this morning when I looked at the TV listings. Perhaps it would make a good programme to pick random people from the electoral role and offer them a lovely holiday.

I say that I'd like to see ordinary families, pensioners and single travellers navigating these things. I hate it that those with the money are getting the freebies. I think that ordinary people with not much money would get so much more out of it.

Gwan1 Sat 17-Jan-26 15:29:57

I didn't watch Lorraine Kelly.Cant stand her and I am Scottish. I thought she would probably have her husband,daughter and granddaughter on the trip!!!

grannybuy Sat 17-Jan-26 15:34:08

I agree that there are too many. I really don’t like the Susan Calman ones. Like others, I like Simon Reeves. There’s no silliness in his programmes. In some of the shows, I’d like to see more of the country rather than how some of the dishes are made or the wine making process etc.

Luckygirl3 Sat 17-Jan-26 15:37:28

Since travelling is currently difficult for me, travel programmes are a joy. But ...... you can keep the celebs. I don't mind if they just take you round and tell you stuff about the place, but when they start doing daft challenges - jet-skiing, making a pizza and all that nonsense - I switch off.

Luckygirl3 Sat 17-Jan-26 15:39:36

Monty Don's programmes about gardens in different places are good. No blooming celeb nonsense - the only blooming stuff is the flowers!

grannybuy Sat 17-Jan-26 15:42:47

A poster mentioned Michael Palin shows. I recall him being in India, and he was going to be staying the night with a local family. As he approached the home - not a prestigious one - a woman vomited out of a window! In the evening, the large family with whom he was staying were all enjoying watching television. Eventually, Michael asked if someone could show him where he’d be sleeping as he was very tired. He was presented with a mat and told he’d be sleeping on the floor in the room they were in. It may not have been totally realistic, but did show the way of life of many Indians.

Riversidegirl Sat 17-Jan-26 16:01:28

M0nica

Why not watch a different programme or do something else.

Who said I was watching them? There are plenty of previews and ads, you don't need to watch. Or wish to .

Riversidegirl Sat 17-Jan-26 16:06:00

The very best we've ever seen is Gavin Stamp's "Orient Express". A lovely clever chap, died too young. You can still get the video.

Barbadosbelle Sat 17-Jan-26 16:50:53

.
Astitchintime

Why?
.

Kate1949 Sat 17-Jan-26 17:05:44

Tom Read-Wilson's Grand Tour was a delight. Tom comes across as enthusiastic and adorable.

Sr69 Sat 17-Jan-26 18:29:02

Tom Read Wilson , thoroughly enjoyable! Loved it.