I have found that there are few shows on TV that actually show case realistic trips and resources to help you plan where to travel next. I mean, the Travel Channel always has people eating food!!!

Anyhow, I am going to an open casting call this weekend for an Oprah Winfrey reality show to compete for a chance to host a talk show on her new network - "OWN".

I'd like to pitch a travel show, something different, unique, resourceful, helpful. What would you tune in to see? What is missing on these types of shows now?

That's easy! A travel show that shares real day-to-day experiences at the travel location. Real people; locals, expats.

So often the so called experts have no idea what they are talking about. Travel advisories, news reports, weather reports, bug reports etc. scare people away needlessly or on the opposite side give a false sense of security for areas that do have problems. If you share the experiences of the people who actually live there travelers would get more accurate information.

I'm an expat from Canada living on the Island of Roatan, Honduras. I spend the majority of my time connecting with people around the world sharing stories about life here at http://roatanvortex.com

I have made many friends doing this and when they come to Roatan they feel like part of the "Global Family" not just another tourist.

I agree 100% with roatanvortex...the Travel Channel used to be my favorite thing on tv and now I never watch it....it should be re-named the Food Channel #2 or the Ghost Chaser channel. A show that shows REAL travelers (NOT tourists) living a real life experience in a destination...that's what I'm looking for!

I think a show that "highlights" Ex-Pats" and their "real life experiences' of living where they do and what they most enjoy about the local people and the area they live. Find out 'why" they are living there...See what they do on a "day to day" basis...

The action for travel planning in right here on the internet. This forum and Trip Advisor are very busy. This is the way savvy people do it. You need something interactive, not a linear, dumbed-down, guess-at-what-people-want-to-see approach. There are simply too many variables to be covered to meet everyone's needs or interrests. Maybe buying the rights to Rick Steves reruns would draw a bigger audience and justifying even more tons of travel advertising.

Perhaps, showing people how to use the internet for travel research would be different and useful. Just helping people learn how to query with a search engine would give them a very helpful planning tool. Even some suggestions on how to ask focused and answerable questions on Fodors would be useful. How to evaluate a resort's website photos against the unbiased (usually) photos shown on Trip Advisor would save a lot of grief. Hasn't the scripted, dramatized "reality show" about run its course? Lots of people are using the internet successfully to navigate the incredible abmounts of information available. Helping others to use it would be a nifty goal.

A show oriented around a real vacation. Have a family do video diaries and film everything themselves.

And show reasonably priced places. One good thing about the Rick Steves show is that middle class folks can afford the places he shows.

I think everyone who hasn't seen this site, will enjoy it:

www.boomersoffshore.com It's most of the above and some additional perspectives.

I agree ! Also found a video about what people moved to relocate to Costa Rica. Costa Rica Calling part ! and Part II. http://vodpod.com/watch/3063012-cost...calling-part-i
Pura Vida!

I agree with all the above. Still I meet too many people relocating -to Costa Rica in my case- who do not do a proper research. Many of the new comers are enthusiastic and think it is so easy to start a new life or a business without knowing what is awaiting. They have been to place once or twice and think they know it all. I get lectures from them all the time and I'm here for 11 years. Of course you do not want to shatter a dream but reality has to be revealed. Unfortunately some of them have to move back to their home land for different reasons.
All I want to say is show people they have to do their homework and show them the reality of daily life so they have a better change to making their move a success story.