marvelousmouse

I wouldn't have thought Wolters World was higher quality than Rick Steves? Same target audience. Wolter tends to be less dull, though, and unlike Rick, his voice doesn't make me want to gouge out my ears. I actually think I'd like Steves Podcasts if I didn't hate his voice quite so much. Re: the tussle above about his "fame"- I'm not sure if he's even famous outside of people who are deeply interested in traveling to Europe and/or lived northwestern Washington. Until I moved to western Washinton, I didn't even see his books much in bookstores. Just grabbed whatever guidebooks were on the shelf, and that's usually Fodors, or LP or DK or maybe national geographic.

I like museum documentaries or history channel. Or archaeology programs. My interests tend to be kind of obscure or specific and most guidebooks/travel shows aren't that useful for that. I do watch Bourdain and Zimmern but that's more food porn than travel planning.

Vttraveler

I sometimes watch shows on our local PBS stations that feature destinations I am interested in. PBS changes the shows it broadcasts quite often, although Rick Steves seems to be a constant.

I have watched and enjoyed Rudy Maxa, Globe trekker and Great Railway Journeys (Michael Portillo referring to his 1913 copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide)
Travelscope (joseph Rosendo)is ok.

I mostly watch these for the visuals--not for in depth information when planning a trip.