How would you rate various travel videos?
 

We often purchase travel videos on places we are going to visit for the first time, to try to get a "feel" for the place. Let's face it, some are very good, some are fun, some are strange and some are just terrible. I think it would be interesting for us to start a thread on these.

1) Globetrekker Series...I love the series and the various hosts for pure entertainment purposes. Ian Wright was my favorite host. With that said, I don't think they really show much, other than bars and parties.

2) Samantha Brown...I simply cannot stand this series. I find her annoying and has she ever stayed in a location other than the most expensive place?

3) No Reservations- Anthony Bourdain...This is a favorite of mine. While it is primarily focused on food, he also takes you to a lot of places most people would never see. Plus, he is really funny.

4) Global Treasures - I think these are a bit of a rip-off. Each one is only 10 minutes long and they charge about $20 for each. I rented a couple of them and found the narration to be like listening to some old BBC broadcast about coins or why pigeons are important.

So, there is my start. What are your comments and/or reviews.

Bert Wolfe's series are good.

Rick Steves - yes I know lots of people here hate him but his videos really give a good overview of places. And he has an extensive list of videos.

Rudy Maxa's Smart Travels - my favorites

I agree with you about Samantha Brown but if you fast forward through her hotel ads (which is really what they are), you do get a good 15 min of showing you places.

I can't imagine ever paying for any of these videos, they are all over the television stations with lots of repeats in addition to availability in the library. I have almost given up on seeing anything of current value but do admit to checking out off beat venues.

Re: Samantha Brown and especially Rudy Maxa--surely they could stay and exhibit something other than their expense account luxury hotels! Oh well.

Globetrekker is my favorite also. I like Ian, but I also like Christina and the other hosts. Even though my backpacking days are in the past, I still like the vibe of the show.

I like Rudy Maxa's demeanor because he's very professorial, but he does skew sorta upscale.

Followed by Rick Steves, who is nerdy and has an annoying voice, but I like the content of his information.

Last is Samantha Brown. I watch her shows when I'm interested in the destination, but her "perky cheerleader" vibe is incredibly grating and she wastes half the show talking about how great her (incredibly expensive) hotel is, and she always shows the BATHROOM. As if anyone watching the show is ever going to stay in that specific hotel. In my experience, people with that kind of money aren't usually DIY types who watch these shows to help plan trips.

Plus, she doesn't seem to do much homework about her destinations and she's very easily amused and impressed by things that are not all that amusing or impressive.

Oh, I also love Anthony Bourdain. I don't think of him as in the same category as the others.

His show is as much about him than it is about the destinations, and whether that's a good thing or a bad thing depends on your opinion of him. He's an egotistical jerk but also highly entertaining imho. But he doesn't really give much nitty gritty travel info or sightseeing tips, he's all about the native food.

Wasn't Rudy Maxa the Rudy from Survivor a few years ago?

Rudy Boesch is the Rudy from Survivor (if you're talking about the older dude who was a Navy seal).

Yeah - Rudy Maxa is a totally different guy from Survivor Rudy. I like them both, but I think their similarities end with their names.

Burt Wolfe is probably my all-time favorite. He seems to be interested in a lot of the same stuff I am and he always has tons of info.

I will go against the grain with Samantha Brown - I actually like her perky cheerleader personality and think her slight quirkiness is indearing rather than offputting. I never take her advice about hotels though.

I like Bourdain and could honestly watch him all day. Globe Treker is good too. I have been watching another show called Any Given Latitude that I found on Hulu - that is good too.

Burt Wolf is my favorite. I enjoy his humor.

I also enjoy Rick Steves travels. Someone suggested he is not well liked. Why would that be? Just curious.