I have this personal rule that I can’t come home from a trip unless I have the next one planned, and preferably the next couple. COVID-19 has obviously prevented that, but I’ve still got a terrible case of wanderlust. One of the ways I’m safely coping is binging Netflix and Hulu for all the best travel shows. Here are my favorites.
Traditional:
Amazon
I heard Rick speak a couple years ago and his travel stories fell into two clear categories: travel for work and travel for pleasure. But more than that, Europe and developing countries. Rick’s passion is clearly travel in Africa, Asia and South America. So why is he known exclusively for European travel guides? In his own words: Europe is a gateway for most travelers. My goal is to get people to explore outside of Orlando. Rick Steves’ Europe explores the continent he finds most accessible to Americans and shares tips and recommendations to make the most of your trip.
Amazon
Ricky Gervais sends his friend Karl Pilkington all around the world just for the sake of making fun of him wincing at new experiences. Watching Karl struggle through normal travel would be funny enough, but Ricky goes above and beyond to force Karl into unique traditions and cuisine that make this show gold! I personally end up in gut-busting giggle fits.
Hulu
Think Indiana Jones without the action fight scenes. The host basically takes legends or mysteries and digs a little deeper. Think Amelia Earhart, Temple of Doom, The Nazca Lines, Blackbeard’s hidden treasure. Not exactly stuff I would travel for, but it certainly gives interesting history and context to a culture or country.
PBS
Okay, so this one is a three-part docuseries and I’m obsessed. It basically reveals the hidden inter workings or airports, planes and how we travel by air. I was completely fascinated and even watched it again a couple weeks later because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The science and psychology of how everything is engineered is incredible.
Food:
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Amazon
Twelve seasons of Bourdain traveling around the world to fairly not mainstream places to experience the food and culture. Bourdain’s shows center not the tourist traps but the hangouts locals love. This show focuses mostly on international, but includes domestic hot spots like Detroit, The Bronx, and Pittsburgh.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Hulu
Not going to lie, No Reservations is basically the same thing as Parts Unknown, but they aired on different networks and No Reservations was the earlier version. I’ve personally taken more than a dozen of Bourdain’s restaurant or neighborhood recommendations in my travels and I’ve never been disappointed. As far as I’m concerned, if Bourdain liked it, it’s worth adding to your list.
The Layover with Anthony Bourdain
Amazon
It’s Bourdain. We know it and we love it. It’s grungy, rough-around-the-edges Bourdain meeting up with friends, eating crazy food. But this one is also how much can he cram in 24 hours, hence the name, The Layover.
Netflix
David Chang meets with his friends and chefs around the world. Each episode highlights one food or dish and explores all the ways it can be made and tweaked and how different cultures interpret it. Think pizza in Italy versus all of the different varieties in America.
Amazon
This three-part mini series takes Gordon Ramsey to India where he explores all of the incredible staples of the country’s cuisine, even the crazy stuff. Just imagine thinking “I’d like to vacation to India; I bet I can get someone to make a TV show about my trip.”
Hulu
This one might be where I’d start considering most of us are likely spending the next few months stateside. Guy Fieri is a saint and doesn’t take much credit for his philanthropic work, but he finds some small business gems around the country and always promotes how delicious they are. These yummy destinations are usually affordable and accessible in contrast to some of the above chefs’ restaurant recommendations.
Netflix
Definitely more food than travel, but Chef’s Table focuses on a different chef around the world and their philosophy on food. It started in 2015 and was interrupted by COVID-19, but we anticipate more seasons and spin offs are coming.
Alternative purpose but still inspires travel:
Hulu
Totally not about travel, but seriously who wouldn’t swoon house shopping abroad. And let’s be honest, these are usually second homes which means they are also bougie as hell. While it’s certainly fun to judge people’s choices in fancy homes abroad, it’s also interesting to hear their stories of why they fell in love with the location so much that they decided to purchase a home there.
Netflix
Honestly, this was one of those Netflix recommended and I gave it a shot. It ended up being a thoroughly enjoyable jaunt around the world where Zac learned about climate change, food, social issues and so much more. Highly recommend the episode in Iceland and the one in Puerto Rico.
Amazon
Some people love Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones as narrators and while those are great, I prefer what my partner calls my “dad TV” narrators David Attenborough and Ken Burns. If you haven’t heard of the Planet Earth docuseries, where have you been? I could watch Planet Earth a hundred times and still never be bored with it.
Amazon
Travel isn’t always about luxury lodging and visiting museums. Sometimes travel can be about experiencing the culture, what the locals experience, even if that isn’t always pretty. Living on One Dollar demonstrates what it would be like to love on one U.S. dollar per day in Guatemala. They certainly struggle, but they get help from the community they stay in and make it two months.
A special note about the above list: Did you notice that it’s all men? The travel industry has a long way to go in gender equality. I did want to mention Samantha Brown, one of the only female travel hosts. However, I find it difficult to access her shows on the mainstream apps so I did not include her. If you happen to have Discovery+ or are open to paying for her content on Amazon by episode/season, you should definitely check her out and follow her on Instagram.
I don’t usually spend that much time watching TV, so when I’m planning a trip somewhere, I’ll usually just watch the episodes relevant to the geography I’m eyeing.
In addition, I also try to watch fictional or scripted shows from my next location, e.g. binging Downton Abbey before visiting the United Kingdom.
Do you have a favorite show or movie that inspires your travels?