Yeah, me too. I love the Food Network's My Country, My Kitchen. Also, Bobby Flay's Food Nation and The Best Of are more interesting than anything the Travel Channel has.

Cable tv stinks!! Remember when MTV actually played music videos?

I agree with these sentiments. The TC is awful! Who the heck is running this station? Their head of programming should be fired. At it's best, they offer an assortment of infomercials, top heavy on Las Vegas; at worst, it's a dumping ground for programming leftovers.<BR><BR>For what it's worth, I've emailed the TC ([email protected]) and expressed my opinions directly to them as well as providing the link to this travel talk forum.<BR><BR>

Well I see we all agree TC sucks. As others have said, when it was first on cable we were addicted to it. Watched it constantly, with the shows of Rick Steves, Burt Wolfe (which was actually a food show but always built around a special destination), and all the others. Then, it all changed to what we have now. "TOP TEN KILLER BEES" "TOP TEN MAD GUPPIES ON VACATION" "TOP TEN VEGAS HOTELS" "TOP TEN TOP TENS" oh ny god will it never stop? TC is absolutely not about travel anymore and the name should be changed to TOP TEN TRASH channel.

I've noticed on our local PBS station that Lonely Planet has been repackaged as "Globe Trekker." At first I thought they were new episodes with the same travellers but I've seen some shows I originally saw on Lonely Planet. It's something I guess...

Yes, DebiC, I love watching "Mario Eats Italy" on the Food Network. I remember a great show that he did in Bologna, Italy. Mmmmm!<BR>

Jimmy,and everyon, you are abosulely right. I will complain. The show I liked on the Travel Channel was Dice Man about two British guys. They would name 6 destinations and assign a number for each and then role the dice and go where the dice came up. Then they would choose their hotel, activity, etc. by this method, often asking locals for suggestions. It was so fun to watch the ultimate impulse trip.

If I see Samantha Brown peek into another bedroom, bathroom, or closet and act as if it was the first one she ever saw, I am going to barf all over our 27" Panasonic. Gettouttaheah!!!

I toally agree with all of you. I just went to the web site and complained. I suggested they go to this web site and see all the complaints. Please everyone complain and maybe they will change. Thanks

LOL harrumph! I actually saw Lonely Planet today on the travel channel! It was the woman (can't think of her name) and she was in San Fran...I'm partial to Ian myself. It came on at either 4 or 5 pm est today.<BR>And whatever happened to Alby Mangels (sp)?

Patti, thats interesting how you mention the lonely planet series has changed its name - its now called "Pilot Guides' here in Australia for some reason - including the old episodes. Like Kim, I'm also quite partial to Ian ;-)...although Justine is pretty good too.

I complained long ago, for all the good it did. I guess the new programming is making them more money (ads), but it really shouldn't be called the Travel Channel now. The channel will have achieved perfection when we see a bikini-clad ghost riding the roller coaster at New York New York in Vegas. Whatever you might think of Albey, at least he was adventurous and made me want to get out and see the world. Lonely Planet was fantastic. I could never get enough of Ian in Mongolia!! I rarely ever watch now and used to watch 2-3 hours each day.

I agree with everyone completely. Last year I e-mailed the channel many times requesting a review of the changes in their programming. Guess what? Not ONE response, ever. Hopefully someone out there in Cableland will realize that they have cut off a huge untapped market and create a channel with actual "travel" shows. Or maybe TC will fire all those programmers who think we should be interested in constantly seeing bikinis and casinos. As for "Top Ten" the Travel Channel is now at the top of my list for channels I don't watch.

Melanie,<BR>I LOVED the dice show! I had forgotten about it until you mentioned it.<BR>

Has anyone else seen the BBC show "Holiday Swaps"? It's fantastic! The premise is to exchange the typical vacations of 2 groups and see how they cope with doing something completely different than their norm. I would LOVE to see a midwestern couple swap their annual Vegas trip with a northwest couple who usually backpack in Mongolia or go gorilla trekking in Uganda on their holidays!

Chris: Are generalizing that people in the Midwest are the kind that go to Vegas, while people in the Nothwest go to more exotic locales?

I think that Chris statement means that the people in the NW must do some rather weird stuff for vacation.<BR><BR>US

Well, I'm originally from the Midwest and have a lot of relatives/friends who do go to Vegas every year...

Chris: Maybe the common denominator is not the midwest, but your friends/family! I'm just kidding. I think Vegas is ok for what its worth. I sinceredly doubt the majority of Northwesterners vacation in the exotic locales you have mentioned, though. That said, location is everything. If you are in the Midwest and want to go somewhere for a weekend on the cheap, your options may be limited. On either coast, your options are expanded.

Yes I do! I used to spend all day Sat watching the "world" go by and it inspired me fulfill my lifelong dream to travel! I really miss the "old" Travel Channel but it seems like everytime I find something I like on TV they change it. That's life!