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The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

With an eye for every budget, three travelers visit vacation rentals around the globe and share their expert tips and tricks in this reality series. With an eye for every budget, three travelers visit vacation rentals around the globe and share their expert tips and tricks in this reality series. With an eye for every budget, three travelers visit vacation rentals around the globe and share their expert tips and tricks in this reality series.

• Luis D. Ortiz
• Megan Batoon
• 136 User reviews
• 10 Critic reviews
• 1 nomination

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Netflix’s New Series "The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" Is Giving Us the Travel Inspiration We Need

Here are our favorite featured destinations.

Below, House Beautiful details everything you need to know about five of the properties, including ones in Georgia, Indonesia, Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii—along with insight from each of the hosts. To see all of the many sites in the series, head over to Netflix —and plan your next vacation accordingly!

Alpaca Treehouse, Atlanta, Georgia

The Alpaca Treehouse in Atlanta, Georgia is one of few properties in The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals that’s located in the United States. “You never would expect a fully shrouded treehouse in a forest of bamboo would ever exist just a few minutes from downtown Atlanta, but it does," co-host Megan Batoon tells House Beautiful. "With alpacas and llamas walking around as you’re eating your breakfast, you don’t have to go far to experience something wild and surprising.”

Fellow co-host Jo Franco reveals that “the host of this property, Kara, built everything, from the actual treehouse, to the alpaca and llama sanctuary, in the spirit of repurposing. She reclaimed all of the materials used to make the treehouse from thrift stores, giving the rental a funky energy filled with history and stories to tell.”

Additionally, Kara rescued the animals that roam the grounds. “They're now living their best lives on this farm that doubles as the front yard for guests of the treehouse, eating as many carrots as they're fed—pack more just in case," advises Franco.

Butterfly Camaya Bali, Bali, Indonesia

“If heaven is made out of bamboo, it's the Butterfly Camaya Bali ,” Franco tells us. “The entire stay made me feel like I was a princess in a Balinese fairy tale. Plus, getting to put my feet in the actual mud of the rice terraces and stumbling upon a pond with hundreds of rose petals connected me to the land in a way I'll never forget.”

Batoon was also smitten with this property: “Probably the most visually and aesthetically impressive stay on the show in my opinion would be Butterfly Camaya," she says. "From acres of verdant plants, to flower petal baths, and dreamy bamboo architecture, this place had it all for a design-obsessed traveler or anyone looking for a dream-worthy stay with a backdrop of beauty.”

Quetzalcoatl’s Nest, Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico

Located in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico, Quetzalcoatl’s Nest is a futuristic design haven like no other. Luis D. Ortiz tells House Beautiful that “this was one of my favorite properties because we lived inside of somebody's work of art that went beyond just a home.” Franco adds that this space looks as if “Tim Burton, Salvator Dalí, and Willy Wonka went into an architectural collaboration.”

This structure was designed by Mexican architect Javier Senosiain, who “took on the project after other developers gave up on building in such tricky terrain,” reveals Franco. “Not only did he succeed, but his solution to working with nature—and celebrating it—makes him a genius, in my opinion,” the co-host adds. “The snake house is without a doubt much more than just the house. From the mosaic gates welcoming you into your movie-like stay, to walking down the steps and entering the mouth of a snake that decorates the entrance of a natural cave, it's hard to believe you're still on planet earth.”

By renting this property, you will also be granted access to “acres and acres of a perfectly manicured landscape, a greenhouse, and art installations scattered around the grounds," adds Franco.

Sitka Lighthouse, Sitka, Alaska

If you’re the resident chef amongst your friends, the Sitka Lighthouse in Sitka, Alaska might just be the rental property of your dreams, as it offers “one of the coolest culinary experiences,” says Batoon. “The hosts have commercial fishing boat connections and had fresh King Salmon delivered straight to the lighthouse that I cooked for dinner—try and compete with that, Postmates!”

For Franco, this lighthouse boasts a special connection that ties back to some years ago. “Years ago, I was reading a travel magazine on a plane and saw this cheeky red and white lighthouse engulfed by a sea of fog on its own island somewhere in Alaska.” She adds, “The photo stuck out in my mind, and my gut said, "I'm going to go there one day." I just had no idea it would be while filming a Netflix show about the world's best places to stay on vacation.”

Fortunately, the co-host says the Sitka Lighthouse did not disappoint her anticipation. “By the end of the trip, after eating King Salmon from a commercial fishing boat, soaking in a hot tub while spotting sea lions, and running around the top of our own lighthouse for the night, [fellow co-hosts] Megan and Luis were convinced the Sitka Lighthouse gave other private islands a run for their money.”

Hale 'Ae Kai, Kauai, Hawaii

Traveling to Hawaii is certainly a common bucket list adventure (with good reason!), and Kauai’s Hale ‘Ae Kai is definitely a spot you’re going to want to stay at while checking this state off of your list. Ortiz says this spot is one of “of the best waterfront views you’ll feel more than see,” while Franco shares it’s “one of the most luxurious of luxury stays.”

Hale ‘Ae Kai was actually the first property filmed for The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals , and Batoon reveals she remembers “running over to Jo’s cabin after wrapping for the day and we laid outside in the warm Hawaii night sky and I saw my first shooting star. It was a perfect start to this entire experience.”

Franco adds, “We'd be outdoors most of the day because the property is designed to include and embrace nature—the outside blends with the inside, giving you the ultimate vacation feeling.”

This property is a bit costly, so Franco says “if you ever get a chance to wrangle together enough people to pay $14,000 a night for this luxury experience on steroids, I promise, you won't forget it.”

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WATCH: This New Netflix Series Takes You Inside the World's Most Amazing Vacation Home Rentals

"This experience opened my eyes to all of the gems around the world and showed me that the stay could be the destination," Megan Batoon, one of the show's three hosts, tells PEOPLE exclusively

Dreaming of getting back out there and exploring the world again? A new Netflix travel show might just be the inspiration you need!

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals , premiering on the streaming service on June 18, takes viewers inside some of the wildest homes that are available to rent around the world. Think: the best of the best on Airbnb , Vrbo and more.

The trailer for the show, above, dropped Wednesday morning and gives viewers a peek at the adventures that await as the three hosts, Million Dollar Listing New York 's Luis D. Ortiz and content creators Megan Batoon and Jo Franco, bounce around between affordable treehouses, exclusive private islands, gourmet food-focused getaways and so much more.

"Prior to filming the show, when I traveled for work, I only stayed in hotels," Batoon, who also hosts the comedy podcast Just a Tip with Megan Batoon , tells PEOPLE exclusively. "This experience opened my eyes to all of the gems around the world and showed me that the stay could be the destination."

She adds: "All three hosts are so different, and it was such a pleasure to not only see the world, but see it in three distinct ways through each of our eyes."

In addition to the properties themselves, the show will also focus on the different experiences that the vacation rentals offer — from high-thrill activities to unique transportation to interacting with the locals — that you may not get at a traditional hotel.

RELATED VIDEO: The Bachelor Mansion Is Now Available to Rent on Airbnb for $6,000 a Night — See Inside!

"The beauty about staying in our vacation rentals is that it's not just about the house, it's about what you get access to by staying in the house," Franco, who is the CEO of Shut Up and Go, an online community of travelers, explains in the trailer.

The hosts also aim to show viewers the options that are available at every budget — while also giving a peek at the most luxurious stays out there, because sometimes it's fun to dream!

Be sure to watch through the trailer to see the most "extra" splurge that Ortiz, who knows the life of luxury from his work as a real estate agent, surprises his other costars with.

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals premieres on Netflix on Friday, June 18.

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Even the Host of Netflix's 'World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals' Learned a Lot About Traveling While Filming

"I really got out of my comfort travel zone. My mind is now more open," Megan Batoon told T+L.

Although the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel may be upon us when it comes to traveling, we could always use some wanderlust inspiration in the form of an adventurous TV show.

Cue Netflix's new series, "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" hosted by content creators Megan Batoon and Jo Franco and Bravo star Luis D. Ortiz. Through the eyes of the three hosts, viewers get to experience an array of amazing rental properties for every budget and every travel style.

In an interview with Travel + Leisure, YouTube star Batoon, explained how filming the show really opened her eyes to the unique options out there when it comes to accommodations — especially as someone who is used to traveling for work.

"I really got out of my comfort travel zone," she said. "My mind is now more open. You can find a property that feels across the country but is only two hours away from where you live! There are so many little gems lurking around the corner."

Filming began in crowded pre-pandemic Bali in January 2020 but then resumed again last summer. The series is currently available to stream.

From a treehouse in Atlanta on an alpaca farm to a cabin in Hawaii with a private waterfall to a snake-shaped apartment in Mexico City, the show helps the audience navigate their options and what they want to get out of their next trip — while swooning over some truly beautiful properties.

Plus, all of the rentals featured on the show are available!

As for her favorite properties, Batoon, who provided tips for those on a tighter budget on the show, did love one of the high-end properties on a private island in the Bahamas (but can you blame her?)

Waking up in the "bed of marshmallow pillows" in her secluded room ($15,000 per night) was one of the best things she ever felt, she recalled. However, she also immensely enjoyed sleeping in a little bamboo pod in Bali (only $24 per night) and meeting people from all over the world at communal dinners.

"All of the properties were unique in some way whether that be the location or the amenities or the experience," she told T+L.

The show also highlights the experiences in these destinations — whether it be activities, culture, or dining — a key point Batoon says to consider in the planning process.

"It comes down to intention when traveling," she explained. "Do I want a spa day or to feel like a kid again and be in a treehouse? Do you want to feel inspired and go to a bunch of museums or be somewhere with great nightlife or do you want to do absolutely nothing and just calm down? That is what travelers need to be asking themselves. This trip changed the definition of vacation for me."

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals’ On Netflix, Where 3 Travelers Pick Unique, Cheap And Luxurious Rentals All Over The World

Where to Stream:

• The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

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The idea behind The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals is that hosts Luis D. Ortiz, Jo Franco and Megan Batoon visit accommodations available for rent around the world. Each host is tasked with a different kind of rental to look for; Ortiz seeks out high luxury rentals, Batoon seeks rentals that are affordable but give a lot of bang for the buck, and Franco looks for unique accommodations, ones that are either in unusual locations or tied to interesting local experiences.

THE WORLD’S MOST AMAZING VACATION RENTALS : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: “Are you ready to travel the world once again?” says host Louis D. Ortiz over shots of the vacation spots visited during the season. “We’re going to show you the most amazing way to do it.”

The Gist: While many of the episodes will be more based on a theme than a location, the first episode takes place in Bali. Near the city of Ubud, the trio visits a four-story bird-nest-like structure, which was Batoon’s find; it’s more or less part of a hostel that serves a communal meal and has a cocktail hour with all of the hostel’s guests. But it’s the nicest-looking hostel you’ll ever see, but Jo still gives the tip to wear flip-flops in the gorgeously-tiled communal showers.

Next up is Jo’s pick, a set of cottages owned by a local village chief. The cottages themselves are beautiful, and have a view of the rice fields nearby. But the chief also brings them to a Galungan Festival ceremony, which gives them firsthand experience with one of the biggest spiritual festivals in Indonesia.

Luis’ pick, a massive villa in the beach resort town of Seminyak, is big enough for parties of 200 people. The three of them tour the huge villa, do some yoga on surfboards in the pool, get massages and host a small dinner party. At the end of the episode, each host describes his or her favorite experience.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? While  The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals  tries to show travelers doing local experiences tries to evoke an Anthony Bourdain kind of vibe, but the production feels more like E!’s old travel series  Wild On… than anything else.

Our Take: Despite its attempts at trying to be informative, The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals  is pure eye candy. And that’s OK with us. The producers of the series have taken pains to put the locations where they shoot in the best light, using drone shots and other techniques to give viewers an idea of what they might see and experience if they went to these locations themselves.

That’s the most successful aspect of the show. The lush scenery made us want to spend some time in Bali during the fall, when the trio of hosts were there. The presence of the hosts is what we question. Don’t get us wrong: Ortiz, Batoon and Franco all are personable and are open to expanding their minds through interactions with local residents. The idea is that Ortiz, a former securities broker (and Million Dollar Listing: New York cast member), has the line on luxury, Franco, who has her own YouTube travel channel, is the most experienced at finding unique accommodations and that Batoon, ostensibly a design expert, is less experienced.

But all three seemed to go through each venue they visited acting like American tourists, saying “Nice!” and “Wow!” and “Look at this!” a lot, but not making much of an effort to really get to know the area in which they were staying. At least that’s what the first episode showed. It was mostly the three of them oohing and ahhing at where they were staying and not a ton of interaction with locals. Even when they were at the Galungan festival ceremony, they felt more like people checking an experience off a bucket list than people really absorbing themselves in what they were experiencing.

It would be easy to say that the show would work better without hosts, but then it would be just another clip show that you can see on the Travel Channel or another basic cable network any day of the week. Having the three hosts not only is an attempt to connect this kind of show to an aspirational millennial audience, but it also gives the perspective of pleasant surprise and enjoyment that you might experience if you were there.

But don’t expect a Bourdain-style rumination on what the country or people have been through;  Vacation Rentals comes off more like an infomercial than anything else. But at least it’s a good-looking infomercial.

Sex and Skin: Nothing.

Parting Shot: With shots of the three hosts relaxing at the luxury spot, we hear Megan say, “We really saw the best of Bali. And that’s what we came here to do!”

Sleeper Star: As we said, the photography in this series it top-notch, and really shows how beautiful each destination is.

Most Pilot-y Line: If we heard someone say “Nice!” one more time, we were going to rip what was left of our hair right out of our heads.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Yes,  The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals is as light as a feather, and you’ll likely forget all about an episode right after watching it. But the photography is pretty and the destinations are interesting enough to be a light watch in between heavier shows.

Should you stream or skip #TheWorldsMostAmazingVacationRentals on @netflix ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) June 20, 2021

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com , VanityFair.com , Fast Company and elsewhere.

Stream  The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals  On Netflix

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WATCH: Former broker Luis Ortiz on his new Netflix series

Onetime “Million Dollar Listing New York” star joins TRD’s Coffee Talk

Some people spend millions of dollars on real estate in New York. But others might be inspired to spend that money on, say, a cave in Arkansas, or a winery or a hidden treehouse. A new series starring celebrity broker Luis Ortiz aims to showcase those unique properties and maybe inspire a bit of wanderlust in the process.

In an interview with The Real Deal founder and publisher Amir Korangy, Ortiz — who formerly worked as an agent at Douglas Elliman, and was one of the original cast members of “Million Dollar Listing New York” — discussed the Netflix series, “The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.”

The premise is simple: There are 3 million vacation rentals available across the globe, and Ortiz and his two co-hosts visit some of the most luxurious — his specialty — as well as ones that are more budget-oriented, and just plain weird. The hosts “test-drive” the properties, which are for sale, not only as an asset but as an experience.

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Ortiz’s path from real estate to Netflix co-host was not totally linear. “My dream was not to be a real estate agent,” he said. After shooting his shot in the film industry at 19, he decided it was time to explore something else. Incidentally, he “had a friend who had a little brokerage” who brought Ortiz into real estate.

He spent time at Douglas Elliman and joined Fredrik Eklund and Ryan Serhant on “Million Dollar Listing New York” for several seasons, before striking out on his own. The move pulled him away from the sharp suits and cutthroat deals, and toward the new series.

But curiosity drives the new show, not closing deals. Ortiz noted that in one episode no properties were actually sold at all –– but the point is to think of real estate and travel differently. “I don’t have to sell,” he says. “I just have to understand.”

“‘Million Dollar Listing’ was never about me showing that I am a good or not-good businessman,” he said. “I was just there as a curious person.”

Megan Batoon Reveals If She Felt Her Hit Netflix Travel Series Was ‘Limited’ By The Pandemic

'The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals' host and DIY designer Megan Batoon spoke with HL EXCLUSIVELY about filming before and during a pandemic, the next place on her travel list, and more.

Host and DIY designer Megan Batoon had a once-in-a-lifetime experience co-hosting The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals , which is now available on Netflix. With Jo Franco and Luis D. Ortiz , Megan traveled all over the world from the Bahamas to Finland to Bali. Together, they proved that you can vacation around the world on any budget.

HollywoodLife chatted EXCLUSIVELY with Megan about filming such an expansive show just before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic. She also revealed one change she’d like to make if there is a season 2, who she told about her secret adventures, and more. Read our full Q&A below:

Other than masks and protocol, did you feel a noticeable difference in your experiences in traveling pre-COVID and during COVID? Megan Batoon: Aside from the masks, there really wasn’t much of a difference while traveling. You still get to try new foods, see new places, get lost in the streets. It’s good to know that a worldwide pandemic doesn’t impact the essence of travel, or at least how I personally like to explore new places.

All of the places you visited were so beautiful in their own way, but is there one place you know you’re going back to? Megan Batoon: Probably the Bahamas. I’ve been previously throughout my life because it was close enough to my home state Florida. But I saw it in such a different way on the show, I mean, a luxury private island is about as different of an experience than I ever had growing up. There was a secret sandbar that we rode jet skis to that absolutely took my breath away and I would love to go back and spend hours just laying on the sand as waves surround me in what feels like the middle of nowhere.

Is there one place you’d like to visit again because you felt like you could do more in a post-pandemic visit? Megan Batoon: Surprisingly, I don’t think the destinations we went to were limited by the pandemic the way we timed it out. Plus, I’m such an introverted traveler that I wouldn’t want to be around huge crowds of people. I’d love to revisit Caangu in Bali because it had such a lively heartbeat. Maybe I’ll visit again, maybe I’ll move there — we’ll see!

Is there a new place you’re itching to visit now? Megan Batoon: In the show, we visited Niseko, Japan, which is a ski town that had outrageously good food. We went to the same restaurant that Anthony Bourdain visited and ate across from a Soba Master as he prepared our meals. It was such an incredible introduction to Japan, but I’d love to make a few other spots to see the variety of what Japan has to offer, namely Izu Peninsula for the white sand beaches and Kobe for the beef as I mainly travel for food.

What’s something that you learned about yourself as a person as you traveled to all these different places? Megan Batoon: I felt like with every new place we traveled to, my mind was opened to another level. Before this project, I’d only traveled for work and I never got to experience the cultures or excursions since I was either on stage, on set, or in a hotel. I was exposed to so many different ways of living, dishes, uses of design materials. It was a year long experiential field trip. I am so grateful to have boarded my first flight one person and to land back in LA as an elevated and more worldly version of who I was at the start.

Is there anything design-wise that you loved so much that you’ve incorporated into your home? Megan Batoon: More so than a specific design element, I’ve taken notes for my future rental property projects of what makes a stay feel special. After seeing properties all over the world for three different budgets, I’ve developed a keen sense of what really makes someone feel like they’re in a home while on the road. I’m super excited to design destinations that transport you while delivering all of the creature comforts one would look for while vacationing.

How tough was it to keep this show a secret for over a year — is there anyone you told? Megan Batoon: I told my parents (so they wouldn’t worry) and best friends (to watch my cats) but told them they weren’t allowed to tell anyone. It was the longest kept secret I’ve had to keep under wraps — well, second-longest. *wink*

If the show were to get a season 2, would you make any changes to the series? Megan Batoon: I’d love if we were able to get a time extension to be around 40 minutes to show the colossal amount of fun we had while staying in the properties. There was so much hilarious footage that will live on in our memories forever, but it would make for an incredible special edition or spinoff show. (This is where I would @ Netflix if we were on Twitter.)

Do you still hang out with Jo and Luis? Have you planned your next adventure together? Megan Batoon: Luis and I text often and Jo visits LA frequently, so we get to reconnect every few months and it feels like home. We don’t have any plans to get back together as of now but hopefully if there is a season 2 we’ll pick back up right where we left off!

World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals and Fresh, Fried, and Crispy offer great Netflix escapes

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In the 2000s, I’d often turn to reruns of The Golden Girls to keep me company in my studio apartment, and to the Travel Channel to transport me someplace else. Whether I was watching Samantha Brown explore Great Hotels , learning from Anthony Bourdain’s curiosity on No Reservations , or just watching a glorified infomercial about holiday decorating at Walt Disney World, I felt like I was traveling from my couch.

Today, I’d only tune in to the Travel Channel if I wanted the shit scared out of me. That’s not because I’m scared of ghosts, but because I’m terrified that the network has been completely taken over by non-stop paranormal TV. Travel Channel has completely stopped exploring the world, and now just pretends to see things that don’t exist.

There are certainly plenty of other great travel reality TV shows , and some appalling ones too, but what I think I’ve really missed are the light and airy travel reality TV of Great Hotels or Xtreme Waterparks : just a quick dip into another place for a moment, that maybe gives me an idea of a place I’d like to visit someday. (For the record, the original Travel Channel shows are on Discovery+ now, under the Travel Channel section, after you scroll past “Ghost Encounters,” “Unexplained Phenomena,” “Mysteries,” and “Legends & Monsters.”)

Thankfully, Netflix has just premiered two brand-new shows that deliver exactly what I’ve been missing: The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals and Fresh, Fried, and Crispy each have quick, roughly half-hour episodes that are perfect little escapes via the TV. My reviews and overviews of each show are below.

Fresh, Fried, and Crispy is a warm bath in canola oil

On Fresh, Fried, and Crispy , Daymon Scott “Daym” Patterson—who’s known as Daym Drops on YouTube , where he is “the face of fast food,” as he describes himself—travels the United States. In each city, he tries some of its best fried food, interacting with chefs and tasting what they’ve made. It’s a show more in the tradition of Diners, Dive-Ins, and Drives than No Reservations , but it’s very effective.

The cinematography of the cities and people looks great, but it’s the way the food and frying is photographed that made me drool immediately and want to go splash my face with canola oil. There are the requisite slow-motion shots of food, but grease splatter has never been so sexy. Just wait until a something battered is dropped into a vat of oil, immediately surrounded by bubbles, or sparkles as it’s lifted out of hot fat. There’s also an occasional shot of a cross-section of what looks like a glass fryer filmed in a studio. It’s b-roll, but manages to make floating in scalding oil look quite appealing.

The show works because of Daym Drops, whose looks of ecstasy as he eats communicate exactly what we need to know about how the food tastes. Watching other people eat—and listening to them chew, especially—isn’t my favorite pastime, but his pleasure and enthusiasm for food and people is infectious, whether he’s eating or asking questions. There isn’t much by way of a takeaway besides the existence of these places, but I certainly enjoyed being introduced to them.

That’s in part because there’s a lot of playfulness. In the first episode, Daym Drops holds up arancini—a fried ball with risotto, rice and cheese—to the camera, which focuses on it. “See this little power squeeze that I’m giving that thing right there? That interior right there is gonna be all type of flavor for my face and I think [clicks tongue] I’m ready for it.” At his second stop in St. Louis, a vegan bakery, he gets emotional about a vegan chicken sandwich. “That chicken shouldn’t be that good,” he says, pretending to walk off the set. “Ain’t no way in the world vegan food tastes this good.” But it does taste that good, and Daymon makes sure we understand and experience it alongside him, even while watching TV.

World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals visits luxury, budget, and unique properties

The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals follows three people as they tour and stay overnight at three different places in each episode. There’s not a hotel nor a chain restaurant in sight, but they make all of their visits and experiences feel accessible, comfortable, and appealing.

Our three hosts are former Million Dollar Listing: New York cast member Luis D. Ortiz and YouTubers/social media influencers Jo Franco and Megan Batoon. The credits introduce Megan’s expertise as “design,” Jo as “travel,” and Luis as “real estate,” but in every episode, each of them introduces one property: a luxury location from Luis, a “unique” property from Jo, and a budget property from Megan.

The series is beautifully photographed, from interiors to the views, offering attainable real estate porn, since all of these places are ostensibly rentable. (Whether their availability and prices stay the same after international exposure on Netflix remains to be seen; a disclaimer at the end of every episode even warns viewers—well, those who stick around to watch all of the credits—that “Prices, availability, and property amenities subject to change at any time.”)

The first episode, “Best of Bali,” focuses on three places in Bali, but most of the other episodes are themed, so they criss-cross countries or the world to visit different places. That’s an unfortunate choice, as the Bali episode was by far my favorite, just because of the way it showed different parts of the same area, and I was hoping for more of that. Instead, the other episodes are a little disorienting, flinging us around the world, such as from Japan to Mexico to Massachusetts.

The episodes are quick, but while there isn’t a whole lot of depth, The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals managed to make me feel like I spent a night in each location, and learned something about the property and the community. There is a lot of information packed into its 32- or 34-minutes, from prices to local activities. Some of that is delivered in the moment and some via voice-over, and there’s even more information from on-screen notes, which are sometimes useful and sometimes not (“95 percent of American travelers want a unique food experience”).

But The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals effectively transported me to these places. I especially appreciated its focus on highlighting travel that doesn’t involve chain hotels, just as I appreciated how Fresh, Fried, and Crispy highlights family-owned restaurants and local institutions instead of trips to McDonalds. Not that there’s anything wrong with chain hotels or McDonalds, but the world has so much more to offer than just the familiar and predictable. While the TV shows are not exactly breaking new ground, I’m glad they both exist to highlight places that will likely be new to most viewers.

There is absolutely no sign of the hell the world has been through the past 18 months in either show—I’m not actually sure when they were filmed, since there’s not a mask in sight in any of the episodes I watched—but that allowed the places to be both aspirational and within reach. When people are fully vaccinated and feel comfortable being back on the road, both shows give us something to try, or at least something engaging to watch when we need a quick escape.

Fresh, Fried, and Crispy

Daym Drops’ enthusiasm for food and the people who make it is infectious. B+

World’s Most Amazing Travel Destinations

Transports us off the beaten path to gorgeous travel destinations. B+

About the writer

Andy Dehnart is a writer and TV critic who created reality blurred in 2000. His writing and reporting here has won an Excellence in Journalism award from NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists and an L.A. Press Club National A&E Journalism Award.

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The Best Travel Shows You Can Stream Right Now

Curiosity for new travelers often starts at home. We want to travel because of the books we read , people we talk to, and shows we watch. The best travel shows teach us about the world we live in and get us excited about our next adventures, but still make us feel like we get to experience that destination with each new episode.

Travel shows also lean on a wide range of hosts that really help to guide the audience from one destination to the next, some of our favorite shows are hosted by Shay Mitchell, Eugene Levy, Gordon Ramsay, and of course the late Anthony Bourdain. Most of the best travel shows can be found on Netflix, Hulu, and Max, and features a wide range of excursions, from watching the northern lights in Iceland, trekking through the rainforest in Sumatra, hopping onto fishing boats in Louisiana, and seeing sumo wrestling in Japan.

Below, find some of our favorite travel shows that you should stream now, or at least add to your watchlist to watch at a later time. Maybe on a plane to a new destination.

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy

Eugene Levy is back with season two of The Reluctant Traveler . The first season of the series followed the actor as he steps out of his comfort zone to explore the world’s most popular destinations: Costa Rica , Finland , Japan, the Maldives , and more. In season two, Levy embarks on a grand tour of Europe, traveling from the north of the continent to the very south, with stops off the beaten path in Spain, Sweden, Scotland, Germany, and France. Along the way, he stumbles into local gems, uncovers his family tree, and attempts to broaden his palate while experiencing the continent’s most unique destinations along the way.

Watch now: Free with an Apple TV+ subscription ( sign up for Apple TV+ here )

Thirst With Shay Mitchell

Shay Mitchell , the actor, Béis founder, and a star of our Women Who Travel Power List , travels the world one sip at a time in her new show, Thirst . In the first three episodes, we see Mitchell travel to Peru, Colombia , and Argentina, where she tries the latest drink trends: espresso beer, flaming cocktails, and sour mixtures. In each episode, she also dives into the agricultural history of the location to better understand how the local libations have been perfected over thousands of years.

Watch now: Free with a Max subscription ( sign up for Max here )

Searching For Soul Food

The term soul food means so much to so many people across the globe. Chef Alisa Reynolds starts the series in Mississippi to understand the connection between the slavery and the traditional dishes that are staples in American comfort food. In later episodes, Reynolds visits Jamaica, Italy , South Africa, and Peru. Along the way, she connects the dots between soul food’s African roots to other Indigenous cultures and the way customs traveled across the globe, due in part to the slave trade. Food history is a large part of the show but Reynolds also taps into the cultural, agricultural, and political significance of ingredients and dishes.

Watch now: Free with a Hulu subscription ( sign up for Hulu here )

Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones

Bestselling author and researcher Dan Buettner has spent much of his career conducting research on Blue Zones: communities with large numbers of people that live to be age 100 or more. Throughout the series, Buettner explores Blue Zones in Okinawa, Japan ; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; and Loma Linda, California. Buettner sits down with the centenarians in these communities to discuss their diets, day-to-day lives , relationships, and lessons they’ve learned.

Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Gordon Ramsey: Uncharted

We finally get to see Gordon Ramsay outside the kitchen. On Uncharted , we see Ramsay connect with Indigenous peoples across the world to learn about their culture through—you guessed it—food, teaming up with chefs from the community to make a feast for everyone while using native and endemic ingredients from the area. We also see Ramsey trek through the rainforest of Sumatra, capture rattlesnakes, and hunt for eels with his bare hands. It’s quite a treat to see the renowned chef as a beginner for once.

The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

When planning a trip, sometimes the hardest decision to make is where to stay. So many factors go into picking the right accommodation and the choices are endless. A travel trio composed of hosts Jo Franco, Megan Batoon, and Luis D. Ortiz embark on the task of showcasing their favorite rental properties across the world. Franco has a passion for travel and picks the most unique rentals she can find; Bantoon is an avid DIY-er and finds the best budget options; Ortiz has a background in New York real estate and has an eye for luxury rentals that travelers will want. The three work together to create a curated roster of rentals that travelers can actually book after each episode.

Taste the Nation

It’s always a good idea to explore our own backyard—which is exactly what host Padma Lakshmi does on her Hulu show Taste the Nation . The show's first season follows the host and author as she quite literally tastes the nation , stopping at restaurants around the United States to sample the foods of a variety of Indigenous and immigrant groups. Expect to see some familiar faces, like comedian Ali Wong and spearfisher Kimi Werner , along the way.

Never Say Never With Jeff Jenkins

Travel journalist Jeff Jenkins lives by the philosophy that “life truly happens at the end of your comfort zone.” We see this as he tests his mental and physical limits as he does sumo wrestling in Japan, swims with whale sharks in Mexico, and treks up the more-than-2,000 miles of the Adirondack Mountains. Throughout this global odyssey, Jenkins connects with locals in every destination, from immersing himself in Maori culture to catching king crabs with multi-generational fishermen—learning more about the world around him and himself each step of the way.

Watch now: Free with a Hulu subscription ( sign up for Hulu here ), Disney+ subscription ( sign up for Disney+ here ), and Apple TV+ subscription ( sign up for Apple TV+ here )

Planet Earth and Planet Earth II

We had to wait 10 years between the debut of Planet Earth , a groundbreaking natural history show narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and its sequel Planet Earth II , but it was worth it. The first season, which focus on a specific biome and the flora and fauna that live there in each episode, spotlights smooth coated otters in Southeast Asia, Tibetan foxes, critically endangered Ethiopian ibex, and blue whales, among so many others. Our two favorite episodes, though, come from part II. In the sixth episode, the high-def cameras turn to cities to show how leopards in Mumbai, monkeys in Jodhpur, and catfish in southern France live alongside humans. And in what may be the most heart-racing episode of nature television, the islands episode of Planet Earth II follows a lone iguana racing against time—and a horde of snakes.

Watch now: Free with a Discovery+ subscription ( sign up for Discovery+ here )

Long Way Up

Believe it or not, actor Ewan McGregor has been in the travel show business for some 16 years. It all started with Long Way Round , a 2004 series that followed McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman on a motorcycle journey from London through Europe, Asia—and then after a flight to Alaska—Canada, and the U.S. all the way to New York City. The show was followed by 2007's Long Way Down, which took the duo from Scotland to South Africa, on motorcycles once again. Now, they've turned their bikes (electric this time) towards South and Central America, with the latest iteration following the duo some 13,000 miles from Ushuaia, Argentina, on the continent's southernmost tip, to L.A. As usual, hijinks, pitfalls, and stunning scenery are all on view. Neither of the earlier shows are available to stream in the U.S. currently (though you can find them on Apple TV+ in the U.K.), but Long Way Up is an Apple TV+ original and on view for all.

Somebody Feed Phil

This Netflix original follows host Phil Rosenthal, the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond , as he eats his way through cities like Bangkok , Lisbon, Mexico City , New Orleans , Buenos Aires , Cape Town, and Dublin. The hyper-positive show was called "impossibly optimistic," by former Traveler editor Paul Brady, who spoke with Rosenthal before the first season's premiere in 2018. The seventh season, takes Rosenthal from Mumbai to Kyoto to Iceland to eat even more delicious grub.  Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Parts Unknown

You simply cannot have a list of the best travel shows and not feature the late Anthony Bourdain. In fact, he's on our list more than once. In Parts Unknown , the chef and travel personality circled the world many times over, in search of music, culture, humor, history, and—of course—really good food. Over 12 seasons (the last aired posthumously), Bourdain visited the indigenous Andes with Eric Ripert, the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Mississippi Delta, and, most famously, Hanoi with then-president Barack Obama. (That's season eight, episode two, if you want to jump right to it.)

Watch now: Free with an Apple TV+ subscription ( sign up for Apple TV here )

Street Food

Made by the same folks behind Chef's Table (spoiler: it's also on this list), this show moves away from formal restaurant kitchens and onto the streets, for a guide to some of the world's best curbside meals and snacks . The show's first season is all about Asia, traveling to nine different countries to meet the people behind the food, like Jay Fai from Bangkok's Raan Jay Fai , a Michelin-starred street stall serving up tom yum soup, and Truoc (pictured left), who serves a variety of snail dishes in Ho Chi Minh City . The second season, which hit Netflix in July, zeroes in on Latin America, with stops at Doña Vale's in Oaxaca for memelas and Las Chicas de las Tres food stall in Buenos Aires, run by chef Pato Rodriguez.

Lost Cities With Albert Lin

In this National Geographic –produced show, explorer and scientist Albert Lin tracks down some of the world's most famous lost cities. We're talking buried Knights Templar caves in Israel, El Dorado in the jungles of Colombia, and ancient, forgotten island cities in Micronesia. Along the way, he speaks with archaeologists, historians, and other experts to discover the origins of the legends and, in turn, the reality of those places today.

Watch now: Free with a Disney+ subscription ( sign up for Disney+ here )

Ugly Delicious

The second season of the David Chang –hosted Netflix series debuted in March 2020, taking viewers from Istanbul (pictured), to Tokyo , to Sydney , to… Outback Steakhouse? Along the way, he tackles balancing parenthood with restaurant life, cooks with Top Chef 's Padma Lakshmi , rubs elbows with comedians like Nick Kroll and Aziz Ansari, and gets a lesson in not calling all Indian food curries from Traveler contributor Priya Krishna . (If you want more Chang, try your hand at a recipe from his Momofuku cookbook, or watch Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner , also on Netlfix, where he joins one famous friend on a food tour of a city, like Chrissy Teigen in Marrakech.)

Produced by Vice , this show is about the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. In it, actor Elliot Page and their film director friend Ian Daniel travel to learn about what it's like to be LGBTQ+ around the world. They meet with two-spirit Native Americans, head to ballroom scenes in New York City, and visit the gay bars of Tokyo to dive deep into the vibrant gay and queer culture. But the duo also spends time in Rio de Janeiro, Jamaica, and Ukraine, speaking with LGBTQ+ locals to learn about the discrimination and threats they face just by existing. Expect tears, both happy and sad.

Carmen Sandiego

Many of us got our first lesson in geography from this trench coat–wearing master thief, and today's kids can too, thanks to the Netflix reboot of this animated series. This high-flying, Robin Hood–style caper takes kids (and parents) with Sandiego as she jet sets between Rio de Janeiro , Matsumoto in Japan, Amsterdam, Mumbai, and more. There are three seasons available and plenty of educational value here for mapheads—plus pretty stellar animation. This year, an interactive choose-you-own-adventure style show, called Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal, came to Netflix and provides endless entertainment as Sandiego fights off the Villains International League of Evil (V.I.L.E.), with your (kid's) help. Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

If Planet Earth and Planet Earth II weren't enough Attenborough for your liking, get your fix on Netflix, thanks to Our Planet . This docuseries, made by the creators of Planet Earth in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund and narrated by Attenborough, is almost a mix of the two, taking armchair travelers from the North American grasslands and the Everglades to the Arctic tundra and deepest parts of our oceans. Once you're done with the nine 50-minute episodes, switch over to Our Planet: Behind the Scenes to see how the 600-person crew filmed the series. Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

No Reservations

If you want even more Bourdain, Hulu has you covered with No Reservations and The Layover, two of his travel shows that preceded Parts Unknown . In No Reservations, Bourdain takes us to both familiar—Maine, Prague, the Philippines—and unfamiliar—Kurdistan, Mozambique, and deep into the Amazon—corners and kitchens of our world, introducing us to new foods, cultures, and personalities over nine seasons. The Layover takes that same premise, but shortens the time line drastically, knocking down Bourdain's time to explore to just 24 to 48 hours. Both are must-sees—it's Bourdain after all.

Chef's Table: BBQ

While you can watch some of world’s most extraordinary chefs (like Dominque Crenn ; Peruvian Virgilio Martínez , the owner of Lima's Central restaurant; and Swede Magnus Nilsson ) as they create impossibly complicated dishes in the original Chef's Table, we've become partial to its latest iteration, which is all about barbecue. The Netflix original docuseries follows pitmasters like Tootsie Tomanetz—the 85-year-old spitfire pictured above who minds the brisket and sausage at Snow's, outside of Austin—and Rodney Scott, known for his Low Country–style pulled pork and ribs. But the show doesn't stick to the American South. You'll head to Rosalia Chay Chuc's Yucatán home and visit the grills of Lennox Hastie in Sydney, too.  Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Travels with My Father

The first season of this Netflix original, which came out in 2017, follows British stand-up comedian Jack Whitehall and his father, Michael, across Southeast Asia, tracking the duo as they finish the gap year Jack never got to complete, just a few years late (eight, to be exact). It's everything you'd expect: a Thai full moon party and, of course, a trip to Cambodia's Angkor Wat, but the moments in between are what make the show really worth watching. Now, in the three seasons that have followed, the father-son pair have road tripped through Transylvania , visited Chernobyl , and gotten into drag with Sydney queens. Needless to say, it's a romp.  Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories

Set in a tiny Tokyo diner that's only open from midnight to 7 a.m., the fictional show follows the Midnight Diner's owner and clientele as they share their trials and joys, all while eating whatever the owner, called Master, dishes up. In the diner, pork miso soup is the go-to, but Master will cook visitors anything they order, as long as he's got the goods to make it. Episodes are a little over 20 minutes long, so it's the most bingeable of the bunch. Watch with subtitles and don't—seriously, don't—watch while hungry. Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Get your international fix by watching Antoni , Karamo , Jonathan , Tan , and Bobby makeover the wardrobes and lives of everyday “heroes” in Yass, Australia , and Tokyo in their Queer Eye specials. That said, we're partial to the U.S.-based seasons, where the Fab Five hits up Atlanta, Kansas City, and, most recently, Philadelphia to give new life to regular folks. Whether they're making over the sisters behind Jones Bar-B-Q in Kansas City or the small town mayor of Clarkston, Georgia, we're on board. Have tissues on hand, as you're all but guaranteed to shed a tear (who are we kidding, you'll sob). Watch now: Free with a Netflix subscription ( sign up for Netflix here )

Places to Love

For many years, Samantha Brown was the only female host on travel TV , period. And while some, albeit small, growth has been made in this regard (Nosrat and Kellee Edwards are among the new faces), Brown is still one of the few women on the go on our screens. While she made her start on the Travel Channel with Passport to Europe, Passport to Latin America, and Passport to China , you should really be checking out her latest show, Places to Love. Now in its third season, the show sees Brown discovering off-the-beaten-path spots in some of the world's most loved destinations as far-flung as Seoul and Auckland, and right in our backyard, like Phoenix and Dallas . 

Watch Places to Love now: Free on PBS

Watch Passport to Europe now: $2 per episode, $35 per season; amazon.com

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

Ok, so this isn't as much of a travel show as it is a “what is Jeff Goldblum curious about” show—but it doesn't mean they don't travel all over the U.S. With each episode focusing on the actor's ceaseless interest in the minutiae of one specific thing (like tattoos, or pools, or RVs, or ice cream—it really runs the gamut). Over the course of the show, Goldblum visits Hawaii , Las Vegas , NASA’s neutral buoyancy lab in Houston , and so much more. If you love Goldblum, you'll probably love this show. 

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8 Properties From Netflix's New Travel Show That Let You Ball On A Budget

The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals features multiple budget travel options that won't do too much damage to your pocket.

Nasha Smith • Jul 23, 2021

Netflix’s new travel show The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals has left viewers wanting to live their best lives after watching their three hosts — Luis D. Ortiz, Jo Franco , and Megan Batoon — travel across the world while staying at some of the most spectacular properties in Bali , Hawaii , Finland, Alaska, Mexico and many more destinations. Some were definitely on the higher end of the price spectrum, but there were also multiple budget travel options designed to make the global adventure accessible.

Travel Noire rounded up all the budget travel listings to satisfy your reasonably priced wanderlust wishes. From snow igloos to a bird’s nest, here are some of the amazing finds that won’t put too much of a dent in your pocket.

1. Firefly Eco Lodge Birdsnest, Ubud, Bali

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRDBvwcFMxo/

This cozy bird’s nest is burrowed in the middle of the rice fields of Bali and is as close to nature as it gets. The woven pod only has room for one large bed, but the views are stunning.

Other amenities like the bathrooms are shared and guests have access to a restaurant and pool. As remote as it seems, Firefly Eco Lodge Birdsnest is only minutes from Ubud. Rent all four rooms or just one for $18 per night.

2. G Bar M Ranch, Clyde Park, Montana

https://www.instagram.com/p/CAt7UHGlAtr/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=d4299c48-fa62-4273-a121-bb739a125e7a

If you’ve ever wanted to experience a working cattle ranch or have a fondness for the equestrian life, make your way to G Bar M Ranch in Clyde Park, Montana. Accommodations include a lodge and rustic log cabins complete with hand-made quilts. A five-bedroom, five-bathroom cabin goes for $350 per day, per person, inclusive of all meals and unlimited horseback riding.

3. The Yellow Ferry, Sausalito, California

https://www.instagram.com/p/edfGllEvpk/

The historic ferryboat is the crown jewel of the Sausalito houseboat community. It’s a three-bedroom, two-bath oasis on the open water.

Launched in 1888, the Yellow Ferry is the oldest surviving ferryboat on the West Coast but is luxuriously outfitted with a solarium, brand new California King bed, and several upscale amenities. The entire houseboat is available for $561 per night and accommodates up to six.

4. Lucky Ranch Snow Igloos, Pyhä, Finland

https://www.instagram.com/p/BproXz_A6rw/

Arctic adventurer? Lucky Ranch has got you covered with a private room in a snow igloo. It’s a bit chilly in there — guests are advised to bring thermal layers and are provided with a warm sleeping bag.

Each igloo fits four and just in case the cold proves too overwhelming, a warm apartment is available 24 hours a day. The winter escape is priced at $130 per night.

5. Old House Cay, Hilton Head, South Carolina

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIGNM3Xlciq/

There’s going off the grid and then there’s a stay at Old House Cay in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The property is only accessible by boat and gives guests free rein of three private islands.

The three bedroom getaway can host six and is ideal for water enthusiasts with a range of activities including boating, fishing, and kayaking. A stay at the Cay starts at $624 per night.

6. La Villa Bonita, Tepoztlàn, Mexico

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5f-d-olaMg/

Chef Ana Garcia shares her extensive knowledge of traditional Mexican cuisine at this mountain foodie retreat in the Tepoztlàn valley. The culinary magic takes place in the open air kitchen, which boasts a 360 degree view of the mountains.

The six bedrooms and adjoining baths also offer access to the spectacular scenery. On average, guests pay $350 per person, per night.

7. Danville Treehouse, Orlando, Florida

https://www.instagram.com/p/CP-zTX1HVkF/

This adults-only treehouse is nestled between two giant oak trees, 15 feet above the ground. The elevator is masked by a tree trunk and transports guests into the 18-foot yurt that features a panoramic window, 4 foot skylight, 14 foot ceiling, and a full bath with bidet.

This unique glamping experience includes a queen-size Murphy bed, microwave, mini fridge, and sink. The one bedroom comfortably houses two guests and goes for $230 per night.

8. Inn at Kulaniapia Falls, Hilo, The Big Island, Hawaii

https://www.instagram.com/p/BHoU7fnhnKH/

The Inn at Kulaniapia Falls is tucked away on 22 acres of land overlooking Hawaii’s largest privately accessible waterfall. The eco-friendly and sustainable hideaway features three Asian-inspired one-bedroom cabins, daily locally sourced breakfast, and loads of luxury amenities. Prices start at $119 per cabin, per night.

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The Best Travel Shows On Netflix Right Now, Ranked

Last Updated: November 12th

There’s rarely been a time in recent history in which travel has been more out of reach. That means we all have to live out our travel dreams vicariously for now. Enter the travel TV genre — our most straightforward path to inspirational and aspirational escapism .

No network has changed the game more in recent years than Netflix when it comes to providing a great list of travel shows that’ll motivate you to hit the road one day while scratching that wanderlust itch between trips. But this being Netflix, there’s a dearth of content to sort through. Knowing where to start and which shows are worth your binging time is tough.

We’re here to help. The fifteen travel series below are the best Netflix has to offer right now. We’ve gone ahead and ranked them, though we have to point out that these rankings represent minor quibbles at most. We also tried to cover multiple types of travel shows from the standard food+travel series to nature shows to reality TV travel escapism.

Let’s dive in!

15. Restaurants On The Edge

1 season, 6 episodes | IMDb: 6.8/10

The “fixer-up” aspect of reality TV is a tried and true concept. Gordon Ramsay has umpteen shows doing just that. Where Restaurants on the Edge stands out is the travel and cultural aspect of the show. Restaurateur Nick Liberato, chef Dennis Prescott, and designer Karin Bohn travel the world and find restaurants with amazing views that are on the edge of shutting down (something that’s become even more heightened given recent global events). They team up with the restaurant’s chefs and owners to turn the place around. The ripple here is that the hosts guide the local owners to delve more deeply into the local culture and have their establishments better represent that scene.

14. Stay Here

1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 7.5/10

Designer Genevieve Gorder and real estate expert Peter Lorimer join forces in Stay Here to help homeowners turn their spaces into short-term vacation rentals. This is all about Airbnb’ing your digs even though “ Airbnb ” is never mentioned. This is a fun and breezy travel show that goes deep enough to show you how much works goes into the sharing-economy to make it actually work for you. In the end, you’ll have a whole new appreciation for that perfect Airbnb you stayed in.

13. The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes

2 seasons, 12 episodes | IMDb: 7.6/10

This show is addictive. Let’s get this out of the way. This is luxury and lifestyle porn first and foremost. It’s a traveling show, we guess, by proxy. However, it’s intoxicating.

The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes takes us inside architectural wonders around the world. These range from the homes of the elites in places like Greece, Los Angeles, and New Zealand to the homes of a fisherman in Japan and writers in Holland. Hosts Piers Taylor (an architect) and Caroline Quentin (a British actor) offer a great entry point. Taylor offers professional insight, while Quentin is the audience’s awed surrogate.

12. Tales By Light

3 seasons, 18 episodes | IMDb: 8.3/10

Tales By Light isn’t your average travel show per se. The focus here is on great travel photographers and how they operate around the world.

The photographers the show follows just happen to be some of the best in the world who have devoted their life to globetrotting to find the absolute best shot. Every corner of the world is covered over three seasons of breathtaking episodes and crazy escapades.

Seriously, one episode is about swimming with anacondas in the Amazon.

11. Night On Earth

1 season, 6 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

Shows like Night On Earth offer a glimpse into the world that beckons you out into the wider world. These are the shows that lay a foundation of wanderlust in our young souls. On top of all of that, this show is visually mesmerizing. It’s a trippy, unique, and captivating look at our world, and it’ll make you want to be someone who seeks these places out.

10. High On The Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America

1 Season, 4 Episodes | IMDb: 7.7/10

High on the Hog is based on the seminal work of Dr. Jessica Harris and her breaking down of how African food cultures mingled with Indigenous American foods and European techniques to help define what American food is today. The show is a sort of short-hand for Dr. Harris’ work and book, with chef and writer Stephen Satterfield trekking around America and West Africa looking back at the origins of African American cuisines, where those foods are today, and profiling the people keeping those traditions alive. This is the sort of travel show that will stick with you while teaching crucial history about Black Americans’ impact on the food we eat today.

9. Our Planet

1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 9.3/10

Our Planet is Netflix’s very own Planet Earth . They even got Sir David Attenborough to narrate this beautiful series. Again, yes, this is a nature series. But, we argue that a series this intriguing and beguiling will stoke your wanderlust fires and get you out there enjoying everything nature has to offer. If this series doesn’t get you itching to see new places on our planet, nothing will.

8. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

1 season, 4 episodes | IMDb: 6.8/10

David Chang’s second Netflix travel and food show is a little broader than Ugly Delicious . This four-part series finds Chang hanging out with big-name celebrities and diving into local food scenes around the world. Seth Rogan shows Chang around Vancouver while getting very stoned. Internet star and model Chrissy Teigen wanders around Marrakesh with the chef. Writer and actor Lena Waithe takes Chang through her Los Angeles. Finally, the show’s final ( and best ) episode finds Chang hanging out with SNL superstar Kate McKinnon in Cambodia. Overall, this is an easy, fun watch to breeze through on a shut-in Sunday.

7. Ugly Delicious

2 seasons, 12 episodes | IMDb: 7.8/10

Chef David Chang’s food show, Ugly Delicious , is a travel show at its heart. Chang travels the world eating food and talking to people about culture, life, and what they do while experiencing it all for himself — that’s all travel really is. The beauty of the show lies in the lack of pretension — a child-like curiosity really — that Chang carries with him as he travels, talks, and eats. The way Chang travels becomes aspirational with a crazy good dose of food porn along for the ride.

6. Larry Charles’ Dangerous World Of Comedy

1 season, 4 episodes | IMDb: 7.3/10

Larry Charles’ Dangerous World Of Comedy is a travel show at its heart. Acclaimed TV and film comedy director, Larry Charles, travels the world seeking out how comedy is done in war zones, on Indian reservations, in theocracies, in slums, and beyond.

This is the sort of show that takes you deep inside the harder side of life around the world. It’s a part behind-the-scenes look at TV comedy around and a part subversive travelogue with a keen eye on finding the grey areas of life and comedy in places few dare to travel. Plus, it’s only four one-hour episodes, making this one a very easy binge.

5. Dark Tourist

1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 7.6/10

David Farrier’s Dark Tourist isn’t what you think it is . This isn’t about the western gaze, looking down upon the weird or “other.” Farrier’s nuanced approach to travel and diversity shines through as he parses some of the lesser-known parts of varying cultures.

The show shines in its ability to hook you in from the first frames. Episodes about vampires in New Orleans, Pablo Escobar’s hitmen, and haunted forests offer a glimpse into the unknown in our world without judgment.

4. Somebody Feed Phil

4 seasons, 22 episodes | IMDb: 8.2/10

Phil Rosenthal has cut out a pretty great second act after his days running Everybody Loves Raymond . Rosenthal is traveling around the world eating great food, meeting people, and seeing new places he thought he’d never see.

Rosenthal is on a trip of discovery. There’s a clear food focus to the show. But, really, the series ends up being just as much about the journey as a great meal with new friends.

3. Street Food

2 season, 15 episodes | IMDb: 8/10

This series from the creators of Chef’s Table leans more heavily into the travel aspect of great cooking. The series highlights street food vendors across East Asia, Mexico, and Central and South America through two seasons. The series revels in letting those vendors tell their stories and highlighting the food they make with that now iconic Chef’s Table aesthetic . The bonus is that each episode clocks in at around 30 minutes, making this a very easy and enjoyable binge any time.

2. MeatEater

3 seasons, 29 episodes | IMDb: 7.8/10

This is probably the most interesting and unique travel (and food) show on this list. Steve Rinella’s MeatEater might be the best nature-meets-travel-meets-food show, full stop. Rinella and his crew travel around the U.S., Mexico, and even parts of South America to embrace nature in the most visceral way, through hunting and fishing for their own food and then cooking that food, providing us with wild recipes to boot. We’re not kidding when we say that the wild places this show goes are the places you almost never see on the average travel show, which is usually obsessed with hitting the same old spots over and over again (looking at you Rosenthal and Chang).

Yes, hunting or fishing for food is the core of each trip. Still, with sourcing your own wild food being one of the fastest-growing food movements in America (far outpacing veganism with people under 40), MeatEater offers real-world advice as an entry-point to the wild spaces of the world and the food available therein. It’s also about the people around the world who live their lives in harmony with nature. Add in the beautiful cinematography (from the same crew as Bourdain’s shows) and you have a great watch.

1. Down to Earth with Zac Efron

1 season, 8 episodes | IMDb: 8.1/10

This show was the sleeper hit of the travel TV world in 2020. Yes, it premiered during a pandemic when we can’t travel, making it an easy hit. But the show really has some serious heart and insight. Viewing the world through Zac Efron’s always wide-eyes proved really refreshing. His excitement to be seeing the world and trying on new ideas while also making an effort to step out of the most well-worn paths made for solid TV.

There’s a real soul to this show that gets to what’s beautiful about travel. It captures the spirit of wanderlust — learning about the world while learning about yourself.

Love and Road

The 20 Best Travel Shows on Netflix to Watch in 2024

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Whether you’ve been missing the thrill of traveling or are currently feeling inspired to pick the destination for your next adventure, travel shows can help. Netflix has no shortage of cool travel documentaries and shows, but we’ve decided to pick 20 of the best travel shows on Netflix.

If you’re traveling right now, or if some of these shows are not available in your country, use a VPN to access them without any restrictions. To play the shows, open up your VPN app and select a server located in a different state. If the show is available in your country, but you’re currently traveling internationally, choose the server of your home country to enjoy the show. 

Now let me tell you why these Netflix travel shows are worth watching and don’t blame me if you get hooked on some (or all) of them.

The best travel shows on Netflix

Before we start, let me tell you that this list is in no particular order. It’s up to you to choose the one you want to watch first, but we recommend watching them all. At home, traveling for a holiday, or at a new destination, these Netflix travel shows and documentaries will set you in the mood for discovering new places, tasting exotic food, maybe even cycling, driving, or just staying at home until you finish all the seasons. Lol 

The list is divided into travel shows or documentaries focused on nature, food, dark tourism, cycling and cars, photography, family travels, and specific destinations. Enjoy it!

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The best travel and nature Netflix shows 

Arguably one of the most famous travel documentaries on Netflix, Our Planet takes you on a world tour of earth’s fascinating creatures. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough and filmed in Ultra High Definition, this show takes you to over 50 countries and perfectly captures the wonders of the earth. 

Our Planet is the perfect Netflix travel show to give you some new ideas for your bucket list. Trust us!

Untamed Romania

While most seasoned travelers deeply appreciate Romania’s natural beauty, it is still overlooked in the mainstream media. Untamed Romania is a feature-length film celebrating the country’s immaculate wildlife.

Untamed Romania is one of the best Netflix travel documentaries for those who love nature and want to discover a new destination to travel to.

The best travel and food Netflix shows 

Down to Earth

Down to Earth documentary follows Zac Efron, the actor, and wellness expert Darin Olien as they explore healthy and sustainable practices across different cultures. This documentary showcases the diversity and creativity seen across the globe to make the most of one’s resources.

It’s intriguing and can be inspiring, not only about travel but how we think of sustainability and health. 

Street Food Asia

Sometimes the most accessible way to connect to a different culture is food. Asian food holds a special place in the world regarding street food and is probably one of the most universally beloved cuisines today. Street Food Asia takes you on a food journey across Asia and Southeast Asia’s best food cities, including Bangkok, Delhi, Osaka, and Singapore.

Street Food Asia is one of our fave travel shows on Netflix. We love Asia and Asian delights you can only find from street vendors. If you have never visited this part of the world, watch this show, and it will open your mind to a new world of flavors, aromas, and ways of life. If you are craving an Asia trip, watch it and plan international travel soon. 

Also, read our guides and articles about Asian destinations as they have many travel and food recommendations. Read our guides about Thailand , Vietnam , Indonesia , Malaysia , The Philippines , China , Taiwan, India , and Cambodia .

Ugly Delicious

Ugly Delicious is another food travel show where a star chef David Chang is looking for the world’s most satisfying grub with his buddies. Despite being a professional chef, Chang isn’t pretentious with his picks and takes us on a cross-cultural food trip filled with laughter.

Another great travel and food show on Netflix about food culture.

Somebody Feed Phil

In this series, we follow the creator of Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Rosenthal, as he explores world cuisines and meets the locals. Phil’s upbeat attitude is probably one of the best parts of the Somebody Feed Phil travel show together with a lot of food scenes that will help your plan your future trip to incredible destinations including Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

On this Netflix travel show, you will visit cities like Bangkok , spend days in Mexico City , see Lisbon , and many more. Well-known travel destinations are pictured with flavors and a local touch.

High on The Hog: Culinary Journey From Africa to America

This show explores African American soul food and its long journey from Africa to North America. It has been dubbed the most engaging history of African American cuisine. It traces the process of cultivating, harvesting, cooking, and serving the food that enslaved Africans brought with them to the States.

This Netflix cultural travel and food show will take you on a true gastronomic journey. 

Restaurants on the Edge

As you might be able to guess from the name of the show, these hour-long episodes take us to restaurants that are located in some of the most stunning locations in the world but are struggling with their menus and dishes. They are located on the edge of the world but are also on the edge of closing down.

This travel show on Netflix pictures unique locations and a bit of drama, as you can expect. 

Netflix shows about travel, cycling and cars

Biking Borders

This one is for lovers of slow traveling and less-known countries. Two friends go on a 15,000 km bicycle journey worldwide, including the Balkans, Central Asia, and other countries, to build a school in Guatemala.

Rob and I love cycling, so this Netflix travel documentary series is tremendously appealing to us. Biking Borders is also an excellent travel inspiration for those who dream of traveling by bike or going on a cycling holiday. And if this is you, read our article about cycling on Taiwan’s East Coast and cycling in Spain .

Pedal the World

This is another Netflix travel documentary that portrays a world tour on wheels, but this time our protagonist visits 22 countries during his year-long journey, searching for the meaning in life and discovering something new in each country.

Pedal the World is an inspiring and realistic epic road trip that might give you ideas of how you want to spend your life and what really matters. 

Paul Hollywood’s Big Continental Road Trip

Paul Hollywood studies the ties between popular cars in Europe and their local culture and identity as an actor and a baker. In this short but educational Netflix documentary , Hollywood will visit France, Germany, and Italy.

This isn’t your Netflix show if you are looking for food and baking goods. But if you like cars, speed, a bit of history and traveling in Europe, you will enjoy the ride. 

Netflix travel shows about a specific destination

Katla  

This travel series focuses on Iceland, specifically the volcano Katla , which began constantly erupting just recently. The show has eight episodes and does a wonderful job portraying Iceland’s breathtaking beauty . Katla serves as a great reminder of all that we still don’t know about the earth. 

This Netflix travel show is a powerful trigger for wanderlust, and it will make you want to book a trip to Iceland as soon as possible. 

Magic Andes

A documentary following five characters from the Andes, South America’s breathtaking mountains. It is a fascinating series that highlights real people living in communities located under the mountains and paints a nuanced picture of the region of Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia .

After watching Magic Andes read our Peru travel guides , and for sure, you will want to visit South América. If you are worried about safety, then read our guide to the safest countries in South America , and you will be surprised. 

Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World

This documentary focuses on Guatemala’s rich landscape and culture, the territory where 2000 years ago, the fascinating Mayan civilization collapsed. The Mayan influence is still all over Guatemala and Central America, and this documentary does an amazing job of connecting the dots between the past and the present.

Guatemala: Heart of the Mayan World is an inspiring Netflix travel documentary that will add interesting facts to your travel knowledge, and it might make you want to explore more of Latin America. 

Zulu Man in Japan

Starring South African rapper Nasty C, this Netflix travel documentary focuses on Japanese culture. The film takes place in Tokyo, where Nasty C explores the city’s go-to places, culture, sounds, and much more.

Zulu Man in Japan was released in 2019. It’s a 44-minute episode, perfect for those days that you want to have just a little dose of wanderlust knowing that you won’t be addicted to long travel series. 

The best Netflix travel show for unusual tourists

Dark Tourist

Filmed by journalist David Farrier, the author of the 2016 hit documentary Tickled, Dark Tourist takes a different approach to tourism. Farrier travels to places associated with death or tragedies that have turned these destinations into tourist attractions. You can expect anything from haunted places, nuclear lakes, and unusual and weird destinations. Those spots might not be on your travel bucket list, but it is interesting to know that they exist so you can avoid them on your next holiday. 

It’s one of the most-watched travel shows on Netflix, so it’s worth trying.

Netflix show for photography and travel lovers

Tales by Light

Created by Abraham Joffe, this show embraces the art of travel photography and film and the people behind them. This is an Australian documentary/reality travel series on Netflix that follows photographers around the globe as they chase that perfect shot.

This Netflix travel documentary is a good match for those who love photography and travel. It’s perfect for inspiring you to travel and photograph more. 

The best Netflix show about traveling with family

Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

A comedian Jack Whitehall and his uptight father, Michael Whitehall, travel across the world together. The show starts with Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, with the second season focusing on Eastern Europe. The third season explores the American West, the fourth features Australia, and the fifth is all about the United Kingdom, their homeland. On this last season expect everything from dining with Gordon Ramsay to searching for the Loch Ness monster.

A great Netflix travel show for those thinking of traveling with family. It also sparkes a reflection of our relationships with parents and how travel can be a good way to get together or break apart.

Netflix show that combines travel and design

Cabins in the Wild

This show takes place in Wales and follows engineer Dick Strawbridge and craftsman Will Hardie as they inspect eight unique cabins built for a pop-up hotel in Wales. Their final goal is to construct a cabin of their own.

If you like the British Tv series, chances are you will love Cabins in the Wild as well. If you like architecture and construction shows too. This type of Netflix show combines different elements, from traveling to design, making you want to have a cabin in the wild just for you. 

We end our list of the 20 best Netflix travel shows here. Drop us a comment if you have watched any of them or if you have any other good travel series to recommend. 

Love these Netflix travel shows and documentary ideas? Pin it for later!

4 thoughts on “The 20 Best Travel Shows on Netflix to Watch in 2024”

I’m so glad you mentioned The Latchkees! I’ve been obsessed with their adventures since I saw their episode on Netflix. It’s amazing how they make travel look so effortless and fun. I’m definitely adding some of the other shows on your list to my queue 😍

Such a great show!

I can’t believe I never knew about some of these shows! The Travel Diaries is definitely going on my watchlist. 😍

Glad you enjoyed it!

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7 Best New Travel Shows You Can Stream Right Now

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Most avid travelers experienced a decline in their favorite hobby last year. But exciting adventures, new cuisine, and beautiful landscapes are still accessible to us all via our favorite travel shows. Explore the world from the comfort of your couch with these travel shows you can stream right now.

1. Stanley Tucci: Searching For Italy

Hulu, cnn on demand.

Take a guided tour of Italy with host Stanley Tucci as he travels from Naples to Rome, sampling cuisine and learning about Italian history and culture along the way. The Devil Wears Prada and Hunger Games actor takes on a new role as host, telling personal stories as he is joined by his wife and friends. Inspired by his own Italian heritage, Tucci is so passionate about his journey through the country and the food that he’s tasting, viewers will feel like they’re on the Amalfi Coast themselves. Season one is currently airing on CNN and available on Hulu . A second season has already been planned for 2022.

2. Down To Earth With Zac Efron

While Zac Efron’s adventure show may not be the ultimate in high-brow entertainment, the High School Musical star’s charisma and enthusiasm make Down to Earth an incredibly fun watch. The actor, joined by wellness guru Darin Olien, travels the globe, attempting to learn about sustainability and the environment. He also samples local cuisines and shamelessly indulges in the local tourist activities. All of season one is available now on Netflix, and filming for a second season has already begun.

3. Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

Watch Gordon Ramsay travel the world, learning old-world methods of cooking from locals, in his new food-based travel show on Disney + . In Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted , viewers experience the chef abandoning his reputation as a loud, hyper-critical judge. Instead, he spends his time learning new techniques and trying new food, incredibly excited to be there and impressed by every meal he tries. Each episode features a new location and new group of welcoming locals excited to share the history of their food. There are two seasons available already, with season three set to air in mid-2021.

4. Our Planet

Narrated by David Attenborough, Netflix’s Our Planet offers an in-depth exploration of the world’s habitats, focusing on the effects of climate change and global warming. While the thesis of the documentary is science-based, the creators’ clear passion for nature shines through. The visuals are absolutely breathtaking, and the show itself is self-reflective and inspirational. With footage from 50 countries, episodes cover jungles, deserts, forests, and virtually every landscape imaginable, virtually guaranteeing a deep dive into any viewer’s favorite destination.

5. Taste The Nation With Padma Lakshmi

Explore the United States with Food Network personality Padma Lakshmi as she seeks to understand the connection between U.S. food and U.S. culture. Every episode features a different American city, where Lakshmi meets with immigrants from around the world, seeking to understand how the diversity of the country’s chefs has shaped what we define as American cuisine. This one-season series is a moving, emotional exploration of culture, heritage, and identity, available for streaming on Hulu .

6. Long Way Up

Reunited for their third joint travel adventure show, Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman go on an ambitious motorcycle ride in Apple TV’s Long Way Up . Starting in Ushuaia, a city at the tip of South America, the two friends ride for more than 100 days and 13,000 miles, crossing borders and country lines, making their way into Argentina, Chile, and Peru, all the way up to Central America and Mexico. Fans of Long Way Round and Long Way Down will love this third installment, all of which is available for streaming.

7. Street Food

For another food-based travel show, try Netflix’s Street Food , and its two available seasons, Street Food: Asia and Street Food: Latin America . Each episode takes place in a different city, with interviews of three to four street food chefs and their featured dishes. This show takes a deep dive not only into the cuisine, but primarily into the people who make it, emphasizing the journey of the individual cooks. The featured dishes are often region-specific and emblematic of the conditions and circumstances of both the city and the chef. The show focuses on the vendors’ backstories, teaching viewers about local poverty, history, culture, and identity.

These are just a starting point; there are a lot more shows out there worth a look. All you have to do is go on a surf vacation from the comfort of your couch.

Editor’s Note: Can’t get enough virtual travel? Jordan Palmer has more on Beeyonder , the new travel company created so anyone can travel the world.

Greg Robertson has worked as an editor and writer for some of the top newspapers and websites in the country, leading him to live all across the country. He now calls Las Vegas home, but has journeyed from the sunshine of California and the rain in Seattle, to the humidity of Arkansas and the snow of Minnesota. His travels have taken him to Puerto Vallarta, Costa Rica, Spain, and the Dominican Republic, but he's happiest at home with his wife, two daughters, and dog.

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50 Best Travel Shows Of All Time (& How To Watch Them)

Most of us can't reasonably travel all of the time. Thankfully, we can live vicariously through our screens when we cannot be globetrotting ourselves. Travel shows are a dime a dozen, mainly because many of us would rather explore than deal with our responsibilities. But how do you know which shows are worth your time? That depends mainly on your tastes and interests, but we can provide some solid starting points.

From celebrities heading their own adventurous docuseries to food-loving vagabonds visiting remote destinations, travel shows can show us scenes and cultures we would otherwise have no concept of. In fact, television often inspires travel, and watching world wanderers eat their way through exotic destinations is a great way to help plan your next trip. These 50 series are some of the best TV has to offer, and even if you don't make it through all of them, you may find a gem that piques your particular interest.

50. Nomad with Carlton McCoy

Classically trained chef and expert sommelier Carlton McCoy seeks out the best in international cuisine, music, and art in the CNN series "Nomad with Carlton McCoy." Premiering in May 2022, McCoy travels everywhere in the travel series, from the overlooked pleasures of Mississippi to the corners of Ghana. For McCoy, the show's focus lies in adventures and delights found away from the well-worn paths frequented by tourists. Instead, he enjoys savoring hometown favorites from local populations. What McCoy may lack in experience and poise, he and "Nomad" make up for with its premise to go behind the scenes of some of the world's most recognizable locales. 

The first "Nomad with Carlton McCoy" season is available to stream on  Prime Video with Discovery+.

49. Down to Earth with Zac Efron

The world is a beautiful place, and it's easy to showcase such on film. This is why a travel show has to be about more than just pretty scenery, and "Down to Earth with Zac Efron" delivers in a big way. The series puts a highly informative spin on the genre by taking viewers on whirlwind journeys worldwide in search of health secrets. We're not talking about avocado toast or juice cleanses, either.

Efron and wellness expert Darin Olien visit destinations to learn about topics like renewable energy, superfoods, and water quality. Have you ever heard of a water sommelier? The experts know a thing or two about what kind of water makes our bodies happy, and a "Down to Earth" episode in France consults one of the few professionals in existence. The series also has episodes on a seed bank stocked for the end of the world, Iceland's Blue Lagoon, and the Amazon rainforest.

Although "Down to Earth" earned Zac Efron a Daytime Emmy, lack of viewership caused the series to be canceled quickly. It had one season at Netflix and was picked up for another at The CW, only to be on the chopping block two episodes later. Lack of quantity does not mean lack of quality, though, and the "High School Musical" star's travel show is a solid viewing.

You can watch "Down to Earth with Zach Efron" on Netflix and The CW .

48. The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

Sometimes, a typical hotel on vacation doesn't cut it, with intrepid travelers opting for more unique and luxurious digs during their stay abroad. The Netflix original series "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" explores everything from treehouses to alpaca farms to rent worldwide. Hosted by Megan Batoon, Jo Franco, and Luis D. Ortiz, the show reminds viewers that far more than cheap motels and chain hotels are available to make a vacation even more authentic and unique. While some of the rentals visited on the show run on the pricier side, these are balanced out with more cost-effective rentals for travelers not looking to shell out top dollar on accommodations.

"The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" is available to stream on  Netflix .

47. Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy

Academy Award-nominated actor Stanley Tucci reconnects with his ancestral roots in the CNN travel series "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy." Premiering in 2021, the show has Tucci visit different regions in Italy to learn more about the local cuisine, culture, and history in a sun-soaked tour of the Mediterranean country. Though the major tourist centers of Italy are among the destinations in Tucci's tour, the host takes the time to explore restaurants and locations off the beaten track to reveal a more authentic Italian experience. Buoyed by Tucci's understated yet quietly charismatic presence, "Searching for Italy" has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards, winning two for its achievement in nonfiction television. 

Available to purchase and rent through most digital retailers, "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy" is also available to stream on Discovery+ .

46. Mysterious Islands

Accomplished pilot and explorer Kellee Edwards invites viewers to join her on his globe-trotting adventures with the Travel Channel series "Mysterious Islands." Edwards particularly takes an interest in some of the most remote islands on Earth, visiting them with her private seaplane to examine them from above and by foot. A refreshing contrast to the hustle-and-bustle of travel shows revolving around heavily populated locales, "Mysterious Islands" offers a more serene, nature-focused look at isolated getaways. Before hosting "Mysterious Islands," Edwards hosted and published a travel vlog through her website that catapulted her into the public eye.

"Mysterious Islands" is currently available to stream on  fuboTV and Philo .

45. Ride with Norman Reedus

"Cool" is the only way to describe "Ride with Norman Reedus." Cruising on a slew of bikes, "The Boondock Saints" and "The Walking Dead" actor meets up with a different travel partner in each episode to explore the open road of America and international destinations. With six seasons as of 2023, the series has become a lasting one on AMC.

Norman Reedus isn't the first to make a travel show centered on biker culture, so what makes it so unique? His vibe, for one. However, it's also the particular variety that his program offers viewers. Reedus does not stick to just one style or motorcycle manufacturer; he also has many celebrity guests. He has the bikers' seal of approval.

From Dave Chapelle to Keanu Reeves, you'll be surprised that some of your favorite celebrities ride and are just as captivating in an environment you don't usually see them in. Fans of Reedus' work will also be happy to see quite a few familiar faces as his "The Walking Dead" co-stars, including Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Steven Yeun, join in on the fun.

You can watch "Ride with Norman Reedus" on AMC+ .

44. Epic Drives

Car expert Arthur St. Antoine entered the pole position with the automobile travel series "Epic Drives," premiering in 2010. Backed with a whole fleet of cars, often with some of the world's coolest and fastest sports and luxury automobiles, St. Antoine opens the engine up and cuts loose on roads around the globe. From traversing the Pacific Coast Highway to showcasing winter driving tips on the frozen roads of Scandinavia, St. Antoine guides viewers through truly stunning international roadways. Though "Epic Rides" puts its slick automobiles in the forefront, the travel series is also keenly aware of how to capture the natural beauty of the gorgeous destinations visited. 

"Epic Drives" is available to stream on Roku and Prime Video  with a MotorTrend extension.

43. Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern

Prolific chef, author, and television personality Andrew Zimmern delves into the off-kilter local cuisine from around the world that outsiders may view as strange in the Travel Channel series "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern." Running steadily since 2006, "Bizarre Foods" has become a large television franchise in and of itself, spawning spinoff series and specials, while the main series has undergone several rebrands. Later, carrying the subtitle "Delicious Destinations," Zimmern's unique perspective on local cuisine proved as engaging as ever. Traveling anywhere from remote settlements in the untamed wilderness to local gastronomy usually avoided by tourists, Zimmern doesn't just focus on the cuisine and preparation itself but where the key ingredients come from. 

A Travel Channel staple for over a decade, "Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern" is currently available to stream on Max and Discovery+ .

42. Samantha Brown's Places to Love

Prolific travel television personality Samantha Brown created the acclaimed PBS series "Samantha Brown's Places to Love," which premiered in 2018. Markedly different from her previous programming on the Travel Channel, Brown's PBS show offers ways for prospective travelers to blend in more naturally with places they visit rather than disrupt local scenes. Featuring a more subdued approach, Brown presents a more authentic, understated cultural experience in the destinations she showcases. "Places to Love" was widely praised for its approach to travel programming and won two Daytime Emmy Awards for its outstanding achievement.

"Samantha Brown's Places to Love" is available to watch through local PBS outlets.

41. A Cook's Tour

Chef and author Anthony Bourdain's first foray into travel television was on the Food Network series "A Cook's Tour," which was filmed while Bourdain was simultaneously writing a book about his experiences. Running for two seasons from 2002-2003, the show took Bourdain around the globe to sample local cuisine and culture, with Asia being a prominent recurring destination. In Variety's review of the first season, "A Cook's Tour" was praised for focusing on destinations less well-documented by other travel shows while providing a man-on-the-street perspective. The series offers a fascinating look at Bourdain discovering his voice as a television host while still possessing his acerbic wit.

"A Cook's Tour" is currently available to stream in full on Prime Video and Tubi .

40. America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston

Notable writer and commentator Baratunde Thurston expanded from his usual political fare to launch the PBS travel series "America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston." Thurston travels around the United States, from Death Valley to the Appalachian Mountains, to document America's distinct and immersive outdoor destinations. More than simply hiking and camping, Thurston engages in local activities, including trying his hand at collecting wild rice and surfing, to better appreciate local cultures. Thurston takes the premise behind "America Outdoors" more liberally than most travel shows with similar scopes, with an entire episode reframing outdoor culture in Los Angeles. 

An engaging look at the United States' relationship with its outdoor spaces, "America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston" is available to stream on Prime Video with PBS Living or PBS Documentaries and PBS with WOSU Passport.

39. Travel Man

Popular British actor and comedian Richard Ayoade launched the breakneck travel series "Travel Man," blending comedy with hectic itineraries. Paired with a celebrity guest, Ayoade and his travel companion have 48 hours to take in the sights and cuisine in different international cities. Starting with the show's tenth season, Ayoade was replaced by British comedian Joe Lycett, but the overall formula remains largely the same. Buoyed by Ayoade and Lycett's hilarious personalities and its limited-time premise, "Travel Man" is as freewheeling and fun as travelogs get.

"Travel Man: 48 Hours in..." is available to stream on Prime Video and  Peacock .

38. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Beloved chef and restauranteur David Chang covers all the most important meals of the day around the world in the original series "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner." Joined by different celebrity guest stars in each episode, including Seth Rogen and Kate McKinnon, Chang learns what constitutes traditional daily meals in major cities from Marrakech to Phnom Penh. Elevated by thoughtful and entertaining discussions between Chang and his guests, the series offers a broader perspective on the meals we take for granted each day. As with Chang's other travel and cooking shows, the international cuisine-driven travel series focuses on authenticity and a society's connection to its defining food. 

"Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner" is available to stream on  Netflix  and  Prime Video with Fuse+.

37. No Passport Required

With a country as richly vast and varied as the United States, there are plenty of interesting travel spots without ever having to go abroad. This underlying truth provides the basic premise to the PBS travel series "No Passport Required," which is focused on exploring the legacy of immigrant traditions and cuisines within the country. Hosted by noted chef Marcus Samuelsson, six major American cities are showcased as Samuelsson examines the immigrant legacy and food that lovingly define each locale. Going beyond the typical fare that colors each city's perception, Samuelsson meets with everyone from the Armenian community in Los Angeles to the Chinese legacy behind Las Vegas, showcasing some of the cultures that help to make each city great.

"No Passport Required" is currently available to stream on Roku ,  Prime Video with PBS Living or PBS Documentaries, and PBS.

36. Big City, Little Budget

The prospect of living in or visiting major American cities isn't cheap, but host Oneika Raymond guides audiences through more cost-effective approaches to modern metropolises in "Big City, Little Budget." Produced by the Travel Channel, the web series has Raymond visiting cities from sea to shining sea while also providing tips on how to navigate each place without having a robust budget at one's disposal. From frugal dining tips to which neighborhoods won't break the bank, "Big City, Little Budget" offers invaluable advice. With its bite-sized episodes, Raymond offers clear and concise guidance through cities from Miami to New York as she leans into approaching each destination on a budget without compromising the fun.

"Big City, Little Budget" is available to stream through the Travel Channel's YouTube channel .

35. I'll Have What Phil's Having

After helming the long-running sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond," prolific television writer and producer Phil Rosenthal turned to travelog hosting, starting with the 2015 series "I'll Have What Phil Is Having." Running on PBS for six episodes, the show follows Rosenthal as he travels around the world to check out the local food scenes. Joined by celebrity guests like Martin Short and Ray Romano, Rosenthal's comedic perspective helps give the usual travel show proceedings a more engaging approach. Though short-lived, "I'll Have What Phil Is Having" provides an early look at the type of travel programming Rosenthal would host to greater success on Netflix.

"I'll Have What Phil's Having" is currently available to stream on Roku , Prime Video with PBS Living or PBS Documentaries, Pluto TV , and PBS.

34. Basic Versus Baller: Travel at Any Cost

Even the same iconic locales can offer vastly different experiences depending on the visitor's financial situation, and this dichotomy is explored in the travel series "Basic Versus Baller: Travel at Any Cost." Hosted by siblings Alex and Marko Ayling, the two showcase how to navigate major travel destinations on a budget or take advantage of the visit when flush with cash. Whether they're discussing different approaches to visiting Hong Kong or trying the varying cuisines of France, the Ayling brothers provide plenty of information and varying perspectives on the same destinations. One of the things that work in favor of "Basic Versus Baller" is that the show's premise isn't necessarily binary, as tourists can mix the frugal and luxurious options provided as they see fit. 

A dual-perspective on the travelog formula, "Basic Versus Baller: Travel at Any Cost" is currently available to stream on Hulu , Prime Video with Tastemade, and Peacock .

33. Ugly Delicious

Chef and author David Chang looks at the cultural history and deeper meaning behind popular cuisine in the Netflix original series "Ugly Delicious." Premiering in 2018, Chang and a group of celebrity guests explore the origins of different foods through extensive interviews and traveling to informative points from the cuisine's origins. A thoughtful discussion about food and its inextricable links to societal identity, "Ugly Delicious" blends serious insight with Chang's quick wit to great effect. Widely acclaimed for its approach to asking the hard questions about cuisine's impact on culture and cultural perception, the series was nominated for an Emmy Award.

"Ugly Delicious" is currently available to stream on Netflix .

32. United Shades of America

The United States is, like any nation, an incredibly complicated and occasionally contentious place to live, from sea to shining sea, across a variety of communities. Comedian W. Kamau Bell spotlights these communities, their traditions, and their struggles in the CNN documentary series "United Shades of America." From speaking with indigenous communities in South Dakota to the extensive Black populations in the Appalachians, Bell provides an all-encompassing tour of the modern American experience. Bell's thoughtful approach to admittedly somber subject matter paints a more complete look at the country and the many voices that bring it to life as he travels nationwide.

The winner of multiple Emmy Awards for its sweeping work, "United Shades of America" is available to stream on Discovery+  and  Max  and purchase and rent via online retailers.

31. Booze Traveler

A lot can be learned about a culture through its gastronomy, and host Jack Maxwell is determined to get to the bottom of this search for identity – and the bottom of many bottles – in the Travel Channel show "Booze Traveler." Exploring domestic and international destinations, Maxwell reveals how drinking culture informs daily life in places like Seoul and Dublin while partaking in local spirits himself. With Maxwell's easygoing personality at the forefront, "Booze Traveler" looks at how communities bond over their love of drink. As a former South Boston bartender, Maxwell lends an everyday perspective to his global travels. He is more interested in looking for a good time than asking the hard questions as the show breezily chugs along.

A fittingly rambunctious travelog, "Booze Traveler" is available to stream on Discovery+ and rent and purchase through most digital retailers.

30. Street Food

While acclaimed filmmaker and documentarian David Gelb focuses primarily on haute cuisine with his award-winning "Chef's Table" series, his other Netflix original show, "Street Food," takes a different perspective. Rather than spotlight a single cook per episode like his previous work, Gelb examines an entire city's street food scene, exploring the origins of the cuisine that defines it. From the robust marks of Singapore to hole-in-the-wall restaurants in New Orleans, "Street Food" and its rotating set of hosts provide an authentic culinary portrait of the show's destinations. Gelb's everyman approach and broader scope per episode, in contrast to "Chef's Table," is an effective change that "Street Food" takes full advantage of.

The first season of "Street Food" is set in Asia, the second in Latin America, and the third in the United States, with the series currently available to stream on Netflix .

29. The Kindness Diaries

Connecting with your fellow humans and experiencing people of different backgrounds and cultures is one of the enormous benefits of traveling; for some, it's their entire purpose. In a way, "The Kindness Diaries" encapsulates the spirit of travel, as host Leon Logothetis traverses the globe depending on the kindness of strangers.

Equipped only with a bright yellow motorbike swapped for an equally yellow vintage convertible in the second season, Leon Logothetis searches for kind-hearted people to supply his needs on his travels. This includes food, accommodations, and gasoline. You'll be pleasantly surprised how far one can get in the world just by simply asking — though, he does sleep in his motorbike's sidecar when necessary. While the destinations range from all over the United States to Europe, Cambodia, and Vietnam, this feel-good travel doc is more about the people we meet along the way. Even though "The Kindness Diaries" only has two seasons behind it, the beautiful souls depicted stay with viewers for the long haul.

You can stream "The Kindness Diaries" on Discovery+ .

28. Gordon's Great Escape

Famous chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay decided to visit the originating countries of some of his favorite cuisines in the British television series "Gordon's Great Escape." In an interview with The Guardian , Ramsay shared his lifelong love of Indian food and chronicled his first trip to India in the show. Beyond his visit to India, Ramsay filmed the second set of interviews exploring other parts of Southeast Asia and its cuisine, including Thailand and Vietnam. Offering Ramsay a chance to escape the limelight he was experiencing in America and the United Kingdom, the show reveals him rediscovering his love of cooking while learning about overseas culinary traditions.

"Gordon's Great Escape" is available to stream through Prime Video , Tubi , Roku , and Fox.

27. Long Way Down

Actors and longtime motorcycle aficionados Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman reunited for another international motorcycle voyage with the British travel series "Long Way Down." A follow-up to their 2004 series "Long Way Round," the 2007 offering has the two bikers travel from Scotland all the way to Cape Town, South Africa. Along the way, the pair rides through 18 countries by motorcycle as they traverse Europe and the length of Africa. Even for those not particularly enamored by motorcycles, "Long Way Down" is a fascinating look at life on the open road across two continents anchored by two charismatic leads.

"Long Way Down" is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ .

26. Globe Trekker

One of the longest-running travel shows from the United Kingdom is "Globe Trekker," originally broadcast from 1994 to 2016. With a rotating set of hosts for each episode, the British series highlights a different region and provides audiences with a thorough guide to the sights and culture. More than simply presenting the major tourist attractions, the hosts examine local traditions, including interviews with local industries beyond tourism and hospitality. With such an impressive breadth of episodes, "Globe Trekker" set an enduring standard for travel programming in the United Kingdom against which all other travel shows are to be judged. 

Unfortunately, "Globe Trekker" is unavailable to stream or purchase in the United States.

25. Man v. Food

Eating challenges can say a lot about a culture, from the type of cuisine competitors consume to the quantity eaten to succeed. Actor and television personality Adam Richman took it upon himself to travel all over the United States to face all manner of eating challenges in the Travel Channel series "Man v. Food." Heading to a different destination each episode, Richman singlehandedly subjects himself to various regional eating challenges, from consuming massive steaks to an entire platter of chili dogs in a limited time. "Man v. Food" gave the Travel Channel its highest-rated debut upon its premiere in 2008 (per the Los Angeles Times ), with the show revived in 2017 and Richman replaced by current host Casey Webb.

An amusing look at different American regions by the eating challenges that help define it, "Man v. Food" is available to purchase and rent through most online retailers and to stream on Discovery+ and Max .

24. Tales by Light

If a vacation isn't documented and shared on Instagram, did it actually take place? Photography in some of Earth's most jaw-droppingly gorgeous places is the central premise behind the Australian travel series "Tales by Light." Each episode follows different professional photographers who tell an immersive story about exotic destinations through their pictures and videos. The perfect travel series for the social media-oriented generation, "Tales by Light" delivers truly breathtaking photographs and videos from the overlooked corners of the world.

All three beautifully rendered "Tales by Light" seasons are currently available to stream on Netflix .

23. Conan Without Borders

As an extension of his popular talk show on TBS, veteran host Conan O'Brien took his series on the road on multiple occasions to experience different cultures around the world. These special episodes were compiled in the online "Conan Without Borders," as O'Brien eschewed his typical talk show format. Traveling everywhere from Cuba to South Korea, O'Brien explores the societal morays of each of these destinations with his usual comedic antics and insight. A welcome change of pace from his usual formula, O'Brien blends biting political commentary with a genuine appreciation for local cultures, with "Conan Without Borders" winning an Emmy for its efforts.

"Conan Without Borders" is currently available to stream on Max .

22. The Moaning of Life

When British comedian and actor Karl Pilkington faced something of a midlife crisis, he decided to examine the lives and cultures of others around the world to gain a better sense of perspective (per Cinema Blend ). The resulting international tour was filmed for the British travel series "The Moaning of Life," as Pilkington contemplated love, life, and mortality on the road. To expand his view on the human condition, Pilkington visits drive-thru weddings in Las Vegas, professional mourners in Taiwan, and fertility clinics in Japan. The Hollywood Reporter's review of "The Moaning of Life" complimented the show's existential subject matter and Pilkington's hilarious perspective on the world to make its messaging less somber.

A good-natured look at life, death, and everything in between with an international scope, "The Moaning of Life" is available for purchase and rent on most major digital retailers, including Prime Video and Vudu .

21. Long Way Round

The first of a trilogy of documentary series, 2004's "Long Way Round" puts Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in the driver's seat as they ride motorcycles from London to New York City eastward. The 19,000-mile journey is undertaken to promote the international humanitarian causes spearheaded by UNICEF, while McGregor and Boorman endure pitfalls and injuries in their journies around the globe. Inspired by the experience, McGregor and Boorman wrote a book detailing their journey, including McGregor adopting an orphan encountered along the way. The kind of celebrity road trip that doesn't feel overly pretentious or self-indulgent, McGregor and Boorman provide a unique perspective as they embark on a truly epic journey.

"Long Way Round" is currently available to stream on Apple TV+ .

20. Three Sheets

Not all cuisine is solid, which is why the 2008 travel series "Three Sheets" showcased a decidedly liquid diet as it visited drinking cultures around the world. Hosted by comedian Zane Lamprey, the show highlights local alcoholic beverages at a multitude of destinations, learning about their history and cultural impact. Of course, this examination goes beyond a mere history lesson, with Zamprey partaking in the beverages, usually in impressive quantities. Part travel series and part televised pub crawl, Lamprey is often accompanied on his journeys by a group of guests, including his college friend Steve McKenna.

After starting on MOJO HD, "Three Sheets" was broadcast on various platforms before ending its run on Spike in 2011. Most of the series is currently available to buy on Prime Video .

19. Worth It

The popular Buzzfeed series "Worth It" offers three different and simultaneous perspectives on the worldwide dining scene in each episode. The show has the three hosts, Steven Lim, Andrew Ilnyckyj, and Adam Bianchi, order three different dishes from a range of price points at varying destinations. This can entail a cheap cup of coffee or designer espresso costing hundreds of dollars while visiting Tokyo. The underlying question is whether or not the dishes are worth the price. Winning a Streamy Award, "Worth It" has been credited with changing how people approach food criticism online, actively comparing quality with price points worldwide (per SBS ).

Available to stream on Hulu , "Worth It" helps viewers know how best to check out the food scenes and types of cuisine in several countries.

18. Somebody Feed Phil

After getting his start travel hosting on PBS, Phil Rosenthal went bigger and better for the Netflix original series "Somebody Feed Phil" in 2018. While maintaining the broader premise of his previous show, "I'll Have What Phil Is Having," Rosenthal's Netflix series feels like a more personal experience for its host. Occasionally checking in with his brother, parents, and son while he is on the road, Rosenthal continues to sample local cuisine from around the world. As Rosenthal visits major international cities, he spotlights local charities and nonprofit organizations active in the destinations, providing a more community-based scope.

"Somebody Feed Phil" is currently available to stream on Netflix .

17. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

Popular British comedian Jack Whitehall and his longtime television producer father, Michael, take their paternal dynamic on the road for the Netflix original series "Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father." With a decided focus on familial comedy, the Whitehalls find themselves in countless awkward and hilarious situations worldwide as they bond together over their international trips. The two men learn about the cultures they visit, from Cambodia to Turkey, with the final season bringing the father-son duo back to the United Kingdom. Though Jack and Michael Whitehall's antics are played for laughs, the societies they visit are largely treated with the utmost respect as they travel through the jungle and desert together.

All five "Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father" seasons are available to stream on Netflix .

16. Extreme Engagement

Journalists and producers PJ Madam and Tim Noonan decided to put their then-recent engagement to the test around the world for the Netflix original series "Extreme Engagement." The miniseries has the happy couple travel around the globe for over a year to see how their relationship endures. While the premise feels relatively scripted, rather than providing an authentically spontaneous show, "Extreme Engagement" offers a romantic twist on the travelog format. Noonan and Madam visit romantic destinations that keep the focus on love and lasting relationships, from observing ancient fertility rituals to meeting cultural practices promoting romantic love.

A love odyssey that spans the islands of Indonesia to remote villages in Africa, "Extreme Engagement" is currently available to stream on Netflix .

15. Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Restauranteur and television host Guy Fieri has become something of a cultural icon himself, and Fieri's flagship series is the enormously popular "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." Premiering in 2006 on the Food Network, the show has Fieri travel across North America, stopping at diners, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and dive bars to sample their signature cuisine. Occasionally joined by an impressive set of celebrity guest stars, Fieri has visited hundreds of locations as part of his cross-country odyssey. Due to the sheer popularity of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," many of these spots have seen a noticeable increase in business following episode airings.

As the gold standard among Fieri's travel and food reality shows, "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" is available to rent and purchase via most online retailers and to stream on Discovery+ and Max .

14. Survivorman

Travel isn't just luxury hotels and all-inclusive resorts; for some, vacations involve roughing it in the wild and returning to nature through camping and other immersive experiences. The Canadian travel and wilderness survival series "Survivorman" takes these sensibilities to their extreme as host Les Stroud spends over a week alone in remote locations. With only a handful of tools and the clothes on his back, Stroud has to make do with local flora and fauna to survive these conditions for the allotted time. As a much more stripped-down and extreme approach than "Man vs. Wild," Stroud takes audiences everywhere, from the frozen expanse of Alaska to the predator-filled Amazon rainforest.

For those looking for the ultimate survivalist approach to the world's most unforgiving locations, "Survivorman" is available to stream on Discovery+ and Roku and to rent and purchase through most digital retailers.

13. An Idiot Abroad

When comedian Karl Pilkington's friends and frequent collaborators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant learned he had no interest in world travel, the two created the series "An Idiot Abroad" in response. Capitalizing on Pilkington's often innocently naive worldview, the British travel show is primarily played for laughs as Pilkington makes wry observations about the destinations he visits. Not content to simply let Pilkington take in the picturesque sights, sounds, and cuisine, Gervais and Merchant have Pilkington endure several challenges, including bungee-jumping in New Zealand and swimming with sharks in Australia. MSN's review of "An Idiot Abroad" praised the mishaps for Pilkington's voyages orchestrated by Gervais and Merchant, with Pilkington's odd perspective and observations elevating the entire show.

A humorous look at the most gorgeous international locales, "An Idiot Abroad" is available to purchase and rent on most digital retailers, including Prime Video and Vudu .

12. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations

After two seasons on the Food Network with "A Cook's Tour," Bourdain made the leap to the Travel Channel to host his popular travel series "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations." Running for nine seasons from 2005-2012, Bourdain upped the scope considerably from his previous series while still retaining its everyman qualities. Backed by a more ambitious production, Bourdain visits a wider range of locales while incorporating his love of pop culture and inviting celebrity guests, including Bill Murray and Sean Penn. One of the more notable episodes sees Bourdain and his film crew trapped in Beirut during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War. "No Reservations" went on to win two Emmy Awards and multiple nominations as a testament to the show's captivating perspective on the world. 

"Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations" is available to purchase from most online retailers and to stream on Discovery+ , Max , and through the Travel Channel website with a linked television provider.

11. Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted

After exploring and experiencing culinary traditions in Southeast Asia firsthand in his first travel series, chef Gordon Ramsay expanded the scope of his follow-up show " Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted " to encompass the whole world. Premiering on National Geographic in 2019, "Uncharted" has Ramsay visit different countries to learn about their cuisine and cooking techniques and take advantage of local thrills. From white water rafting through Laos to climbing up Alaskan mountains and glaciers, Ramsay showcases a more outdoorsy side of himself beyond the world of restaurants and kitchens. In Forbes' review of the series, Ramsay's genuine enthusiasm for the subject matter and destinations he visits was praised for elevating the premise and showing a new side to the temperamental chef.

"Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted" is available to stream through Disney+ and Hulu .

10. Chef's Table

After directing the universally acclaimed documentary film "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" in 2011, filmmaker David Gelb teamed up with Netflix for its original documentary series, "Chef's Table." Premiering in 2015, the show focuses on a different cook for each episode, from a Korean monk renowned for her kimchi to Mexican street food in Philadelphia. With its highly detailed and stylized cinematography and in-depth portraits of its subjects, "Chef's Table" is one of the best documentary series currently on the air. "Chef's Table" brings a global scope to cuisine while never losing sight of the very grounded and human story behind each of the cooks that make every dish possible. The show has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards as it shines a light on everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to hole-in-the-wall dining locations. 

The main "Chef's Table" series and its numerous spinoffs are available to stream on Netflix .

9. The Amazing Race

In contrast to "Survivor," which keeps its contestants in a single remote location for an entire season, CBS' long-running reality series "The Amazing Race" takes full advantage of its global scope. Teams of two speed through different legs around the world, following clues and completing challenges to gain an edge. On the air since 2001, "The Amazing Race" has showcased some of the most stunning locales on the planet while pitting its teams in genuinely thrilling competitions each season. With many seasons of "The Amazing Race" offering a journey with contestants circumnavigating the globe, the travel element to the reality competition series is unmistakably at the forefront.

"The Amazing Race" is available to stream on Hulu , Netflix , and Paramount+ .

8. Expedition Unknown

With so many legends and historical mysteries around the world demanding answers, archaeologist Josh Gates sets out to find the truth in the Discovery Channel series "Expedition Unknown." From cryptozoology searches for mythical creatures like Bigfoot to attempting to discover clues linked to the lost city of Atlantis, Gates positions himself as a real-life Indiana Jones. Part globe-trotting history lesson, part debunking widely known myths, "Expedition Unknown" provides a fun twist on international travel off the beaten path. As an immensely popular show, "Expedition Unknown" has spawned several spinoff specials, miniseries, and after shows as Gates widens his worldwide search for truth.

"Expedition Unknown" is currently available to stream on Discovery+ and  Max and is available to purchase or rent through most online retailers.

7. Dark Tourist

Not every tourist is going to check out conventional art museums or major family-friendly attractions in their voyages around the world. The Netflix original series "Dark Tourist" offers travelers a chance to check out the more off-beat elements of local cultures, sometimes venturing into the outright macabre. Hosted by journalist David Farrier, "Dark Tourist" visits the purportedly haunted areas of major cities and tourism sites capitalizing on local tragedies and notorious figures around the world. From exploring irradiated sites to touring museums dedicated to infamous serial killers, "Dark Tourist" certainly isn't every traveler's cup of tea by the way it provides a morbid twist on the genre.

"Dark Tourist" is currently available to stream on Netflix .

6. The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Celebrated documentarian Ken Burns, who has crafted documentary series chronicling numerous elements of American culture and history, turned his attention to the country's national parks. The 2009 six-episode miniseries "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" recounts the history behind the parks and how they each capture the stirring beauty of the United States. From the enduring legacy of John Muir to the evolution of the National Park Service, "The National Parks" is a must-watch for anyone planning to visit the natural wonders nationwide. Universally acclaimed, "The National Parks" won two Emmy Awards, with critics praising how the documentary series presented the parks as a gorgeous extension of the national identity.

Released with a companion book expanding its story, "The National Parks: America's Best Idea" is currently available to stream on PBS with WOSU Passport and Prime Video with PBS Documentaries.

5. The Grand Tour

After being ousted from hosting "Top Gear," Jeremy Clarkson and his co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May took their globe-trotting automobile expertise to Prime Video for "The Grand Tour" (via Variety ). Retaining much of the format from their previous work together on "Top Gear," "The Grand Tour" has participants travel to different destinations using an impressive array of cars. From Cambodia to Madagascar, "The Grand Tour" showcases thrilling routes and cars, backed by the hosts' irascible wit. The Independent's positive review of "The Grand Tour" praised the show as distilling the best elements from "Top Gear" while boasting a significantly larger production budget.

With jaw-dropping destinations and high-octane action, "The Grand Tour" is currently available to stream on Prime Video .

4. Passport with Samantha Brown

Television personality Samantha Brown has built an impressive empire of travel shows on a number of platforms. One of Brown's most enduring lines of programming to date is "Passport," which sees Brown extensively explore different regions around the world for the ultimate experience. Starting with 2004's "Passport to Europe," Brown launched several different shows, taking her informative style to examine Latin America, China, and eco-friendly tourism. Brown's "Passport to Europe" won a Daytime Emmy Award while the subsequent "Passport to Latin America" was nominated for an Emmy, as a testament to Brown's eye for entertainment and educational quality. 

Brown's "Passport" series are currently available to stream on Discovery+ .

3. Anthony Bourdain: The Layover

As someone who hosted travel shows since 2002, Anthony Bourdain has experienced a lot of extended layovers and quick detours between trips to larger destinations. This premise of enjoying a locale on a tight turnaround time drives the core premise behind his Travel Channel series "The Layover." With only 24-48 hours in each location, Bourdain enjoys as much of the tourist-oriented and locally authentic experiences as he can before departing once more. A more tightly paced approach to Bourdain's usual travel fare, "The Layover" still finds the time to provide an informative look at different city cultures all over the globe. 

Invaluable for those looking to make the most of their time on a tight schedule, "Anthony Bourdain: The Layover" is available to stream on Discovery+ , along with purchase and rent options on most digital platforms.

2. Rick Steves' Europe

Perhaps the gold standard in public broadcasting produced travel shows, "Rick Steves' Europe" follows travel author and television personality Rick Steves as he explores cities in Europe. Running from 2000 to 2021, Steves not only shares the biggest cultural landmarks and defining fare in each destination, but he provides audiences with valuable travel tips along the way. More than simply focusing on the biggest tourist spots, like London and Paris, Steves adds plenty of overlooked getaways, including Slovenia and Oslo. With a steady hand and wealth of knowledge, Steves has provided his even-keeled traveler wisdom to those interested in visiting Europe for decades.

"Rick Steves' Europe" is currently available to stream on the show's website , PBS with WOSU Passport, Prime Video , and Tubi .

1. Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

Television personality Anthony Bourdain's final travel show was "Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown," which ran for 12 seasons on CNN from 2013 to 2018. Though "Parts Unknown" certainly retains the focus on local cuisine prominent in Bourdain's past travel shows, the CNN series weaves in more sociopolitical commentary in examining its locales. The series came to an abrupt end  following Bourdain's tragic death , with the remaining episodes becoming a tribute to the late host and his unique worldview. Led by Bourdain's insightful and incisive perspective on the places he visited around the world, "Parts Unknown” was widely acclaimed and won numerous Emmy Awards across its run. More than just a show about food and culture, "Parts Unknown" examines the overlooked qualities of its destinations and what brings people together on a universal level.

Available to purchase on most digital retailers, "Parts Unknown" is also available to stream on Max and Discovery+ .

Our ranking methodology

Everyone has that one show they're connected to, whether popular or not. "Best" is always subjective, and your all-time favorite series may not even be something someone else knows exists. That doesn't mean it's any less valid, though. We've tried to keep our personal opinions from this list and instead relied on more tangible elements when compiling our rankings. You'll find some of the most beloved, compelling, and critically acclaimed travel shows — and some you may have never heard of.

A travel show's host can be as important as the places traveled. There's a reason why Anthony Bourdain will always appear on lists like this one. His captivating storytelling capabilities and genuinely raw nature make for compelling TV that viewers resonate with. This kind of grab power shows up throughout our list of picks, with the face and voice of a program helping to boost some of the programs in our rankings.

We've considered the likability of the shows chosen here by scouring reviews from multiple sources, like Reddit, Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb. We've also factored in the number of seasons and any accolades a show may have been given. A lack of awards certainly doesn't dull a hidden gem's luster, though, so don't be surprised that many shows featured here have gone under the award committees' radar.

TV Shows That Were Canceled In 2024 (So Far)

Getting canceled is the worst — especially when it happens to your favorite TV shows. Though audiences invest their precious time into every TV show they watch, sometimes they don't get much return on investment. Increasingly, shows are canceled after one or two seasons — and the "Netflix and chill" fun is over before it begins.

Studios swing the ax on series for a variety of reasons, not all of them good. Some shows are budget behemoths, while others don't find an audience fast enough. But for every cancelation that seems slightly pennywise, plenty are pound-foolish. Sometimes great shows seem to just get randomly sent to the big tax write-off graveyard in the sky.

Sadly, this has been a brutal year for saying bye-bye to beloved media. Did any of your faves hit the chopping block? Read on to discover the way-too-long list of TV shows that have been canceled in 2024.

Obliterated

"Obliterated" is a raunchy action-comedy thriller series that ran on Netflix from 2023 to 2024. The show follows a ragtag anti-terrorist team as it disarms a bomb meant to destroy Las Vegas and then party hard after a huge success ... only, they disarmed a decoy bomb. Oops! Now they must fight their various highs and hangovers to stop the real bomb and save the city.

The show stars Nick Zano ("Legends of Tomorrow"), Shelley Hennig ("Teen Wolf"), and an ensemble cast that even includes Costa Ronin ("The Americans") as an arms dealer the group must contend with. It was brought to life by "Cobra Kai" creators  Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg. But even that show's relatively lengthy (for Netflix) season count couldn't save "Obliterated" from being, well — obliterated.

The show was canceled in February 2024, after one season, eight episodes, and four weeks in Nielsen's Top 10 streaming charts. While viewership numbers weren't grim, most reviews were. Aramide Tinubu wrote in Variety , "'Obliterated' is a baffling, nearly unwatchable hodgepodge of nonsense littered with penises and explosives." Regardless of lackluster reviews, the creators had hoped for a Season 2. "If there's a demand for it, we're certainly going to be looking for that next party city where our team could get into mischief and have another adventure," co-creator Hurwitz told Inverse . Schlossberg agreed, saying, "It's the 'White Lotus' of action comedies." Too bad "Obliterated" got pushed overboard — maybe it would have marked the start of an anthology series for hard-R action-comedies if it had been renewed for a Season 2.

"This Fool" is a Hulu comedy that centers around comedian Chris Estrada, who plays Julio Lopez — a thirtysomething social worker who works at a South Central Los Angeles felon rehab program called "Hugs Not Thugs," where he is constantly challenged by his freshly-out-of-jail ex-gang-member cousin, Luis (Frankie Quiñones). Michael Imperioli, of "The Sopranos" and "The White Lotus" fame, rounds out the cast as an unlikely mentor figure for the two men.

"This Fool" took the streaming comedy world by storm during its 2022 debut year. In addition to being solidly funny, the series also explores a culture not often seen on-screen, and certainly not in such a quirky, ultimately positive and heartfelt light. Critics loved the show, and it ended up on "Best of" lists ranging from The New Yorker to Collider. Quiñones was even nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

The show packed tons of talent on-screen and off. Fred Armisen ("Portlandia") produced the series and made a cameo appearance, and the show also features cameos from Miguel Sandoval, Rob Corddry, Bill Pullman, and David Arquette. But none of the show's heart and high-level talent could save it from cancelation after two seasons. The chop was announced in February 2024 via The Hollywood Reporter . The announcement confirmed that July 2023's "This Fool" Season 2  would be the show's last. Fans, critics, and columnists took the blow hard, and the hashtag " #savethisfool " tried to save the show on social media, but to no avail.

Schmigadoon

"Schmigadoon" is an Apple TV+ musical comedy series that follows a couple trying to reunite with each other during a hiking trip, but instead of walking into the woods, they walk into a literal musical. The show takes its name from the classic Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe musical "Brigadoon." The couple, played by Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key, spend the first season in a world inspired by Golden Age musicals. Season 2 sees the couple search for their happy ending in Schmicago — a seedy, sexy world inspired by musicals of the 1960s and 1970s.

The show is sweet and life-affirming and packed with a showstopper cast that includes Tituss Burgess, Dove Cameron, Alan Cumming, and Kristen Chenoweth. While plenty of theater kids and critics were fans, the show was canceled in January 2024 — despite Season 3 having already been written. That season, some have speculated based on the Season 2 chandelier drop, might have been based on the Andrew Lloyd Weber power musicals of the 1980s. "The season is written (including 25 new songs), but we unfortunately won't be making it," show co-creator and songwriter Cinco Paul wrote on Instagram . However, even if the show isn't going on, all theater kids know the show must go on. Paul added on his Instagram post: "The optimist in me is convinced it's not the end of Schmigadoon...and maybe it's even a happy beginning." We'll sing to that.

Into every generation, a Slayer is born ... and then grows up to investigate a forest fire after a werewolf stampede. The Paramount+ teen drama "Wolf Pack" marked Sarah Michelle Gellar's return to supernatural TV, this time in the form of a sort of Watcher-figure, instead of the watched. Sadly, not even the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" star could save "Wolf Pack" from that killer called Cancelation.

"Wolf Pack" was created by Jeff Davis, who also created the MTV Series "Teen Wolf." "Wolf Pack" was based on a successful YA series by Edo van Belkom and stars Armani Jackson, Bella Shepard, Chloe Rose Robertson, and Tyler Lawrence Gray as an unlikely pack of teens doing their best to survive high school — and being werewolves.

The first season ended on a cliffhanger in March 2023, but the decision to not make any more dropped in January 2024. Gellar, also an executive producer, once told The Hollywood Reporter there were plans for Season 2. Many outlets have speculated that production delays due to strikes contributed to the streamers' decision. The news came as a bummer to fans and to author van Belkom. "I'm sad myself," van Belkom posted to X (formerly known as Twitter), adding, "I feel more for the young actors and others who felt this was going to be their big break."

The Flight Attendant

"The Flight Attendant" is a comedic thriller about a hard-partying international flight attendant and the dead passenger she wakes up next to after a wild night out. This show has got it all: sex, lies, spies, travel — and journeys to sobriety. What "The Flight Attendant" didn't get, however, was a Season 3.

The show debuted on (what was then known as) HBO Max in 2020. It was a cultural hit right out the gate. Critics loved the show, and fans adored former "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco's performance as the flight attendant herself, Cassie Bowden. HBO Max announced the show's Season 2 renewal the day after the Season 1 finale. The show (and Cuoco) received nine Emmy nominations for its first outing, and Season 2 aired in spring 2022. The official announcement that the show was canceled came in January 2024 — but the unofficial one came a bit earlier.

"There's definitely interest in doing a third season," Cuoco told People in 2022, after Season 2 came to a close. "I think for me, at this moment, the plane has landed." At the time, Cuoco didn't commit to doing more of the show — or not doing more, telling People it "could definitely be done or it's definitely open to continuing." Though ultimately, Cuoco turned in her flight attendant uniform, she seems to have found a niche in mystery thriller TV. She stars in Peacock's "Based on a True Story" — which was renewed for a Season 2 in 2023.

American Born Chinese

"American Born Chinese" debuted on Disney+ in 2023. Created by actor and producer Kelvin Yu, who also produces and writes for "Bob's Burgers," the show is a coming-of-age action comedy based on a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang. The show follows average Chinese-American teen Jin Wang (Ben Wang) as he tries to fit in at school. Things get complicated when a new student arrives from China and gets stuck to Ben like glue.

Sun Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu) is anything but average. He's loud, proud of his identity, and the son of Sun Wukong (Daniel Wu), the mythical Monkey King. Sun pulls Jin into a quest full of prophecies, dreams, and epic battles with Chinese legends. The show grapples with issues of identity and belonging through emotional moments, thrilling action, and sweet comedy — plus, its guest stars Michelle Yeoh , Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, and Stephanie Hsu make the show a de facto "Everything Everywhere All at Once" reunion.

While "American Born Chinese" was a hit with critics, Disney+ canceled the show after one season, announcing the decision in January 2024. Per Variety , sources close to the production claimed viewership wasn't high enough to continue producing such an expensive show. The show never broke into any Nielsen Top 10 rankings, either. As of this writing, no other streamer or network has picked up the show — despite its 94% Tomatometer rating and 81% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes.

TV cancelations are not usually kind to TV shows about TV shows. And so it goes with "Julia," the Max series about 1960s cooking show pioneer Julia Child. The immaculately designed period piece was created by Daniel Goldfarb of "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" fame. It stars British TV legend Sarah Lancashire in the title role; David Hyde Pierce as Julia's husband, Paul; and a stacked cast including Bebe Neuwirth, James Cromwell, and Isabella Rossellini.

While most of the storylines on "Julia" are drawn directly from Child's memoirs, the show takes some creative license with characters and composite characters to make the show as much about the joys and difficulties about being a "wonderful woman succeeding in a mediocre man's world" as it is about Child's own success story. The show centers on the loving, if increasingly complicated, dynamic between the Childs, as well as between Child and her friends and collaborators. It's also mostly a gentle, comforting, and super-stylish dramedy — that only got two seasons.

The show made its debut in 2022, and the cancelation announcement came in January 2024, along with a slew of other shows Max was slicing from its roster. In a statement shared with Variety , a Max spokesperson said: "Thanks to ... this heartful, sensual, and inspiring show, we can forever celebrate the incredible legacy of Julia Child." The show "Julia" is on Max to be discovered and celebrated by any foodies and Child fans (until Warner Bros. Discovery decides to delete it from its streaming library entirely). Bon appetit!

Secrets of Sulphur Springs

It's hard enough when a grown-up's favorite show gets canceled, but for a kid? Kids have utter devotion to their favorite shows, so it stings that the mystery series "Secrets of Sulphur Springs" was cruelly, suddenly dropped after its third season. The Disney Channel show follows a Chicago tween who moves to a possibly haunted hotel in a possibly haunted Louisiana town — and discovers a time travel portal that will let him and his friends save a present-day ghost from going missing back in her own time.

Time travel, ghosts, and tween hijinks sound like Disney Channel staples, and they're all here in one series. The kid cast of "Secrets of Sulphur Springs" is charming, too, featuring Preston Oliver ("This Is Us") and Kyliegh Curran ( "Doctor Sleep" ) in lead roles. The young actors help sell the show's spooky but sweet sleepover energy, while the grown-ups in front of and behind the camera help the show emulate a family-friendly version of "The Shining."

Though no official reason for its cancelation was given in the January 2024 announcement, since the show's producers were working with a young cast and dealt with many pauses in production due to COVID-19, time may have run out to keep shooting for continuity with the young cast. Who knows? Maybe the writers just ran out of time puns for their episode titles.

The world's most intimidating nurse started out as the terrifyingly tyrannical antagonist in Ken Kesey's 1962 novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," then became a pop culture icon in the 1975 film adaptation, and finally lived again — briefly — in the Netflix TV adaptation, "Ratched." The role was brought to life by Sarah Paulson, in a cast that also includes Cynthia Nixon and Sharon Stone.

The show was created by industry newcomer Evan Romansky and developed by producer Ryan Murphy. "Ratched" is a prequel to the events of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and watches a slightly sweeter Nurse Ratched slide into a more sinister state — and plot twists that might even make a season of "American Horror Story" blush. The show is also visually stunning, employing a vibrant Technicolor aesthetic and colorful costumes to accompany the torturous tale.

Big things were expected for "Ratched" at the onset. Back in 2017, Netflix had reportedly set the show up for two seasons. The show premiered in 2020 at the No. 1 spot in the Nielsen ratings — but then COVID-19 hit. In 2022, Paulson told Variety she wasn't sure if there would be a Season 2 of "Ratched" after all. In 2023, Murphy set his sights on leaving Netflix for a new deal with Disney, further throwing the show into limbo. In February 2024, Paulson confirmed via a "Ratched" fan account video on X  (formerly known as Twitter) that there would be no more "Ratched." Talk about torture.

Issa Rae made herself a star by writing, starring in, and producing five seasons of relationship dramedy "Insecure." "Rap Sh!t" is her second major outing as a TV impresario — but the Max show got cut by Warner Bros. after just two seasons. "Rap Sh!t" is a rap dramedy with a stylish, socially conscious bent. The show revolves around two former childhood friends who reconnect as adults and ultimately form a rap duo that takes at least part of the world by storm.

Shawna Clark (Aida Osman) and Mia Knight (KaMillion) struggle to gain fame — but audiences root for them every step of the way. A central question of the show is whether an artist can stay true to themselves while also making money and getting famous. The show features a number of record producers and rappers playing themselves.

After the show's cancelation notice hit in January 2024, Rae told  Porter : "You're seeing so many Black shows get canceled, you're seeing so many executives — especially on the [diversity, equity and inclusion] side — get canned. ... It's made me take more steps to try to be independent down the line if I have to." Rae also commented on the idea that studios are just "tightening belts" during an interview with Time , saying, "There is a bitterness of just like, who suffers from you guys pulling back? People of color always do."

"Minx" is a show so nice, it got canceled twice. The '70s-set series tracks the unlikely rise of a Playboy-style magazine geared toward women. It stars Ophelia Lovibond as the magazine's feminist creator and Jake Johnson as her smarmy yet sweet publisher. It's a role Johnson and his flowing '70s hair were born to play.

"Minx" is heartfelt, hilarious, and sometimes a bit hot under the collar — so of course, after a 2022 Season 2 renewal, HBO Max shockingly canceled the show. It's tough being in the cost-savings business, and "Minx" learned that lesson early on. While it had a strongly positive critical response, audiences took their time finding the show — and it cost "Minx" its wide-lapeled life.

Starz saved Season 2 from obscurity, but not long enough to make Season 3 happen. In 2023, Johnson told Deadline he was doubtful the quirky, funny, thoughtful show would be saved again. "I think the move to Starz, I think HBO kind of doing their HBO thing, or HBO Max, whatever it's called now, I think that was brutal for [the show]," Johnson explained, adding, "My guess is you can't beat something up that many times and keep going."

Our Flag Means Death

Sometimes a sweet, silly little pirate comedy about dismantling toxic masculinity and tapping into the power of love comes out of nowhere. Starring "Flight of the Conchords" alums Taika Waititi and Rhys Darby as Blackbeard and gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet, respectively, "Our Flag Means Death" is a sleeper hit that launched a fiercely devoted fandom. Unfortunately, the show got canceled for seemingly no reason after its Season 2 finale.

Created by David Jenkins ("People of Earth") and populated by an all-star comedy cast, the show managed to be romantic, heartbreaking, and hilarious. It enjoyed almost universal critical praise, especially for its queer characters and storylines. Plus, you can't swing a bit of fine red silk around Etsy or the internet without landing on a piece of "Our Flag Means Death" fan art or appreciation posts.

Still, in January 2024, Max announced that the show would not return. Fans didn't take the news lightly. Some of them raised enough money to pay for a billboard in Times Square asking for a renewal. "This is truly the best fandom. I am speechless. You make me feel like I belong to something," Jenkins posted on Instagram , along with a photo of the billboard. And isn't that what the best TV shows do, for however long they stay on? They make us feel like we belong to something.

Quantum Leap

The original "Quantum Leap" followed Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott Bakula), a physicist who builds an accelerator that can send people back in time. Unfortunately for Beckett, when he decides to test his new machine, he's sent hurtling through the past and winds up inhabiting random bodies across different decades. The show lasted five seasons and ended with a title card that let us know Sam never made it back home, damned to spend the rest of his life leaping through time, albeit helping many people along the way.

While the updated "Quantum Leap" didn't have such a downbeat ending, we were all pretty sad when it was canceled in 2024. The sequel series was launched in 2022, starring Raymond Lee as Dr. Ben Song, who finds himself in the same exact situation as Sam Beckett — leaping through time, hopping from one body to another, and solving problems across history as he tries to get back to where he belongs. Despite being a reboot of one of TV's best time-travel shows , the new "Quantum Leap" was one of NBC's lowest-rated scripted originals, leading the network to pull the plug on the sci-fi series.

So Help Me Todd

"So Help Me Todd" was a TV success story, with Season 1 being a hit for CBS during its 2022-23 season. The dramedy followed down-on-his-luck Todd (Skylar Astin), a private detective who's hired by his successful attorney mother, Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden), to work for her law firm. Since Todd doesn't mind bending the rules a bit during his investigative work, he clashes quite a bit with his mom, who has a much more ironclad view of the law. "So Help Me Todd" was picked up for a second season, but sadly, it'll be the last we see of the legal series.

The show was canceled in early 2024 — and what makes it even more painful is that "So Help Me Todd" wasn't tanking in the ratings. In fact, it had pretty decent numbers. The problem was that every CBS show was doing well, and the network also wanted to introduce new series to its slate, so something had to go. And even though "So Help Me Todd" was doing well, a bunch of other shows were doing better, so it got the ax. Unfortunately, the showrunners didn't have time to prepare, and Season 2 ends on a very big cliffhanger that'll probably never be resolved.

Speaking about the cancelation on Instagram, creator Scott Prendergast wrote, "I took a story about me and my mom and hundreds of people came together to build it into something else, something huge, something beautiful, something funny. Thank you to everyone involved, and to all our viewers. One million thank yous will never be enough."

Featuring the likes of William Petersen, Elisabeth Shue, Ted Danson, and Laurence Fishburne, the original "CSI" series gave birth to an entire franchise , with spin-offs set in locations like Miami and New York City. And while the original was set in Las Vegas, we returned to Sin City with the sequel series "CSI: Vegas" in 2021. Original stars William Petersen, Jorja Fox, and Wallace Langham all showed up, but the new show was led by Paula Newsome as Maxine "Max" Roby, head of the CSI crime lab.

"Vegas" ran for three seasons before meeting its untimely demise in 2024. Much like fellow CBS series "So Help Me Todd," the CSI series did solid numbers. Unfortunately, every show on the CBS slate was doing good numbers, and when you started comparing stats, "Vegas" was near the bottom of the pack. With the station wanting to make room for new programs, "CSI: Vegas" was forced to hand over its gun and badge. Per Deadline , there aren't any plans for the series to move over to Paramount+, so it's probably the last time we'll see Max Roby and her CSI crew.

NCIS: Hawai'i

At CBS, early 2024 was the best of times and the worst of times. The network's scripted shows were all doing solid numbers, but in order to make room for new programs — among other issues — CBS began axing several well-liked shows. As you've read, "So Help Me Todd" and "CSI: Vegas" were the first two to go, and sadly, "NCIS: Hawai'i" followed soon after.

"Hawai'i" was the first "NCIS" property to feature a female lead, with Vanessa Lachey playing Special Agent Jane Tennant, who leads a team based out of Pearl Harbor. Sadly, "Hawai'i" is also the first "NCIS" series to end without a proper finale, as the final episode of Season 3 wasn't intended to be the last one. As you might assume, the show's premature cancelation caused dismay among fans, both because the series was doing well in the ratings and because it featured an incredibly diverse cast.

In response to the series going off the air, series lead Vanessa Lachey wrote on Instagram, "Gutted, confused, blindsided. Grateful, confident, beloved fans! Processing this news and still being present with my family. I love you all! Mahalo Nui Loa." The program ends with the shortest run of any canceled "NCIS" series, a sad stat and a heartbreaking way for such a popular series to end.

Scavengers Reign

One of the best sci-fi shows of 2023 , "Scavengers Reign" was a beautifully animated series from creators Joseph Bennett and Charles Huettner, featuring the vocal talents of esteemed actors like Wunmi Mosaku ("Loki"), Alia Shawkat ("Search Party"), and Sunita Mani ("Glow"). Premiering on Max back in October 2023, "Scavengers" focused on the crew of a space freighter who find themselves trapped on an alien planet. While this new world is wondrous, it's also full of dangers, with our heroes searching for ways to head back home.

Sadly for sci-fi fans, the show's reign at Max is over. The Warner Bros. streamer canceled the series in May 2024. However, there could be hope for the animated series. "Scavengers Reign" Season 1 will move over to Netflix in May 2024, and if it does good numbers, it's possible Netflix could greenlight a second season. We're crossing our fingers for more episodes of one of the most visually fascinating programs in quite some time.

Housebroken

Making a TV show is always a gamble. Even if your series is stacked with big names, it could always wind up in the dog pound. Such is the case for "Heartbroken," a show that starred beloved comedians and actors such as Lisa Kudrow ("Friends"), Will Forte ("Saturday Night Live"), Tony Hale ("Arrested Development"), Sam Richardson ("I Think You Should Leave"), and Jason Mantzoukas ("Big Mouth"). The show also starred one of its creators, Clea Duvall, who's played in films like "The Faculty" and directed movies like "Happiest Season."

The animated Fox comedy revolved around a group of animals who regularly meet in a four-legged support group, guided by a therapist dog. While that's a great premise, The Hollywood Reporter has noted that the series didn't perform well with the 18-49 demographic, thus Fox's decision to cancel the show after two seasons. Granted, not a ton of people watched the show, but we're assuming fans of "Housebroken" are heartbroken.

Constellation

Apple TV+ is no stranger to science fiction offerings, with titles such as "Severance," "For All Mankind," and "Dark Matter." And one of those shows was "Constellation," starring Noomi Rapace as an astronaut working on the International Space Station. After surviving a disastrous scenario among the stars, she returns to Earth, but something is majorly off. Parts of her life are gone, things are different, and she starts to wonder if her near-death experience outside Earth's atmosphere had some sort of impact on her life on the ground.

The show featured several other notable actors such as James D'Arcy of "Agent Carter" and Jonathan Banks of "Breaking Bad" fame, and while "Constellation" Season 1 ended many of its major storylines, there were still plenty of loose threads that needed tying up. "There's a long way to go with the characters," showrunner Peter Harness said during the Television Critics Association winter press tour, elaborating, "I think there's a bigger story to tell about space, about the history of this, and I think these characters have got a long way to go."

Unfortunately, "Constellation" has gone supernova, as Apple TV+ canceled the series in May 2024. The show now joins "Schmigadoon!" in Apple offerings that say farewell in 2024.

The Other Black Girl

Coming from Disney's Onyx Collection — a studio that produces content about people of color and other minority groups — "The Other Black Girl" aired 10 episodes on Hulu to critical acclaim. Coming from showrunners Jordan Reddout and Gus Hickey, the series was based on a novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris and followed the journey of Nella (Sinclair Daniel), a Black woman at a nearly all-white publishing company who discovers a conspiracy involving a new employee, an insidious cult, and some dangerous hair grease.

Unfortunately, while critics enjoyed the series, it seems audiences weren't quite as keen on "The Other Black Girl." As a result, the show was canceled after the first season, which continues a rather upsetting trend across 2024. The year has seen multiple shows focused on women and minority groups — "NCIS: Hawai'i," "CSI: Vegas," "Our Flag Means Death," "Rap Sh!t," and "Quantum Leap" among them — go on the chopping block. It's a sad trend, and we can only hope that equally diverse shows of comparable quality will replace them.

The Good Doctor

There never seems to be a shortage of medical dramas on television, and it's not surprising — "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" are two of the biggest ratings juggernauts of the last 30 years. But in order to stand out in a very crowded genre, you need to have a unique angle. In the case of ABC's "The Good Doctor," that unique angle is its main character, a surgeon named Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore) who has autism as well as savant syndrome, which makes him both a brilliant doctor but also tough to work with.

Reviews of the show itself have been fairly mixed, but Highmore has been nominated for a Golden Globe and two Critics' Choice Awards for his performance as Dr. Murphy. "The Good Doctor" was also a huge hit with audiences, at times even beating out the likes of "The Big Bang Theory," "NCIS," and "This is Us" in the ratings. There was a spin-off called "The Good Lawyer" not only planned but handed a pilot order, though it ended up being one of the in-development casualties of the 2023 writers strike.

When Season 7 of "The Good Doctor" was first confirmed in April 2023, there was no word that it would be the show's last. That announcement didn't come until just before the short season's February 2024 start date. As for the reason, it seems to be lingering issues from the writers strike, as well as networks needing to trim costs across the board.

Raven's Home

They say nostalgia typically favors what was popular 20 years prior. That certainly seems to be the case for 2000s-era Nickelodeon and Disney Channel sitcoms, as the last few years have brought revivals of "iCarly," "Zoey 101," and "That's So Raven" in various forms. But while the 2021 "iCarly" return was done after three seasons and "Zoey 102" was just a one-off made-for-streaming movie, "Raven's Home" stuck around for an impressive six seasons between 2017 and 2023. It caught back up with the now-adult titular character (Raven-Symoné), who still has her psychic abilities and has also passed them down to her teenaged son, Booker (Issac Ryan Brown).

So why is "Raven's Home" on this list if it technically ended last year? Well, there was no indication when Season 6 concluded in September 2023 that it was going to be the show's last. It wasn't until May 2024 that the announcement came that the show wasn't returning, making it a 2024 cancelation despite ending in 2023. However, that didn't mark the end of Raven-Symoné's relationship with Disney — far from it, in fact. 

Around the same time as "Raven's Home" was confirmed to be over, it was also announced that Raven-Symoné had signed a multi-year deal with the mega-corporation, with the first project of that partnership expected to be a "Raven's Home" spin-off called "Alice in the Palace." The show will follow Alice Baxter (Mykal-Michelle Harris), Raven's cousin introduced in Season 5 of "Raven's Home."

Though audiences weren't always quite sure what to make of the FX dramedy series "Atlanta," particularly in its more experimental and creatively daring later seasons, the show brought tons of awards and critical acclaim. Much of those accolades went to star, co-creator, and showrunner Donald Glover, who is not only famous for being an actor and comedian but also as a rapper under his pseudonym Childish Gambino. Given all the love that "Atlanta" brought to FX, it isn't surprising that the company decided to give another actor/comedian/rapper his own show.

This time airing on FX sister station FXX, "Dave" debuted 2020 and — like "Atlanta" — both starred and was creatively steered by Dave Burd, better known by his stage name, Lil' Dicky. Unlike "Atlanta," "Dave" sees Burd actually playing the struggling rapper at the center of the series, whereas Glover's character in "Atlanta" took a backseat to Brian Tyree Henry's Paper Boi. While Glover was outspoken about rejecting comparisons between the two shows, it was almost impossible not to do so given their long list of similarities. 

Even the amount of time each show lasted ended up being similar. "Atlanta" got four seasons, while February 2024 brought news that "Dave" was ending after three. It seems that Burd was ready to put his focus back on his music and various other projects and wanted to take an extended hiatus from "Dave," which FX then turned into a cancelation.

There was a time when a show like Paramount+'s "Halo" would've been a revelation, a video game-to-screen adaptation that not only wasn't a complete embarrassment like most had been but took risks with its source material. Not to mention actually having been given the budget it needs to bring its world to life. But in a world of amazing series like "The Last of Us," "Fallout," "Castlevania," et al, just being pretty decent doesn't seem as impressive anymore. 

For what it's worth, critics were mostly in agreement that Season 2 of "Halo" was a huge improvement over the show's shaky first season. It seems like all signs pointed to a show that had found its footing, and was all set for at least a few more years of following Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) as he helps defend the planet Madrigal from the invading Covenant alien alliance in the 26th century.

Unfortunately, being a show on a streaming service these days, even a moderately popular show on a sort-of-popular service, doesn't guarantee any sort of longevity. Paramount+ in particular has had an itchy trigger finger these last few years, and "Halo" ended up being one of its targets when the streamer canceled the show in July 2024. At the time, producers expressed an interest in seeing if they could find a new home for the series, but as of yet there hasn't been any announcements on the status of that mission.

Reviving properties from 20 years ago isn't always about enticing the original fans to tune back in. Such is the case for "Walker," a CW series that debuted in 2021 and served as a reboot to the classic Chuck Norris western series "Walker, Texas Ranger" that had wrapped up 20 years prior. It seems unlikely that those who were already the older adults who were the primary demographic for "Walker, Texas Ranger" in the 1990s are going to watch a 2020s CW show about a young version of the character — clearly this was meant to ignite a whole new fandom.

Seeing Jared Padalecki take over the titular role and also serving as one of the show's executive producers, "Walker" doesn't try and make the character young and hip. Instead, this Cordell Walker is already a widower father who finds himself needing to rebuild his life and career back in his hometown of Austin, Texas. Norris had to sign off on the project as he still retains part of the rights to the original series, and it's reported that he gave the show his blessing and obviously had a vested interest in it succeeding. 

Did it succeed? Well, it lasted four seasons, which doesn't come close to the original's nine seasons and a TV movie but isn't a terrible run by today's standards. The CW announced it was pulling the plug in May 2024, about a month into what would end up being the show's fourth and final season. 

The Brothers Sun

There's a certain predicament that Netflix users always have to deal with whenever the streamer brings another original series to the platform. You don't want to bother getting too invested in a show that might not even get a second season — but at the same time, if you don't watch the show in the first place, how's it going to send the message to Netflix that there should even be a second season?

Those who rolled the dice on Netflix's "The Brothers Sun" and allowed themselves to get drawn into the show's inventive world of a California family who are actually secret Taiwanese gangsters soon found themselves facing a show that would never live beyond its initial batch of episodes. Netflix only gave the show two months after its January 4, 2024, debut to find its audience and axed "The Brothers Sun" in March when it presumably didn't find that audience.

Apparently, not even the star power of Michelle Yeoh — still hot off of her Oscar-winning role in "Everything Everywhere All at Once" — nor being co-created by "American Horror Story" writer and producer Brad Falchuk could buy the series a little leeway to continue despite apparently not having done huge numbers. For what it's worth, the main story does at least largely wrap up at the end of the first and only season of "The Brothers Sun," but a post-credits scene frustratingly teases a cliffhanger that will forever go unresolved.

Outer Range

Not to be confused with the similarly titled "Outer Banks" nor lumped in with the surprisingly large number of western-themed shows of the 2020s, Prime Video's "Outer Range" is a far more unique show than a quick read of its synopsis reveals. Though it's ended, we still don't want to spoil too much — as it's a show that's best to go in as fresh as possible — only to say that things quickly get weird for unassuming rancher Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) when he comes upon a strange black hole that allows those who enter it to travel through time.

Amazon is one of the more infamous streamers in terms of canceling shows quickly, with an unusually high number of one- and two-season wonders in its catalogue of original series. That being said, the fact that "Outer Range" even got a second season is a miracle, but it still deserved more. This might not seem like the type of role that is the biggest of stretches for Brolin, but he's still excellent in it and it would've been great to see him continue to evolve the character over a few more seasons. 

"Outer Range" has great performances across the board, but it's also worth drawing attention to the underrated Imogen Poots, who is a revelation as the mysterious Autumn. She should be a bigger star, and "Outer Range" could've helped her become that had it lasted longer or been on a streamer that would've backed it harder.

American Rust

Second chances are hard to come by — especially in the world of television. However, "American Rust" is one of the few shows out there that got a second shot at life. The crime drama, based on Philipp Meyer's novel, originally started on Showtime, where it was canceled after the first season. (And that's after it was initially ordered and then dropped by USA Network.) However, that's when Amazon stepped in and revived the series, airing "American Rust: Broken Justice" on Prime Video.

The series revolved around a small-town Pennsylvania sheriff played by Jeff Daniels, whose relationship is challenged when the son of the woman (Maura Tierney) he loves is accused of murder. Season 2 branched out after that initial storyline, following the sheriff as he digs into a series of killings that seem to be part of a larger conspiracy. Unfortunately, it seems that Prime wasn't impressed with "American Rust," so will the series get picked up for a third season elsewhere? Hey, this show seems to have multiple lives, so only time will tell.

Life & Beth

"Life & Beth" wasn't the most popular show on Hulu, but it received solid reviews from critics and featured big names in Amy Schumer and Michael Cera. In fact, Schumer not only starred as the lead character, she was the writer, director, and executive producer.

Her series followed a woman named — you guessed it — Beth, who seems to have an amazing life in New York City. She's got an awesome job, she's got a successful boyfriend, and everything seems to be going great. However, after the death of her mom, she heads back to her hometown, begins to evaluate everything, and starts a new relationship with Cera's character.

Schumer told The Hollywood Reporter that the series took a lot of inspiration from her own life. Unfortunately, we won't get to see Schumer's story and Beth's journey play out any longer. According to Deadline , Season 2 of "Life & Beth" did such low numbers that it didn't end up on Nielsen's streaming list. As a result, Hulu decided to pull the plug, killing "Life & Beth."

The Acolyte

It's been a while since we've gotten a "Star Wars" movie, but we've been getting a ton of "Star Wars" TV shows . Fans of the sci-fi franchise have followed the adventures of Mandalorian and Grogu, Boba Fett, Cassian Andor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ahsoka Tano, and while not all of these shows were runaway hits, none of them were straight-up canceled, leaving plot threads dangling and endings hanging off a cliff.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to "The Acolyte." Created by Leslye Highland, "The Acolyte" takes place during the days of the High Republic, 100 years before the events of "The Phantom Menace." The plot revolves around a Jedi Master and a former Padawan investigating a series of murders, which are connected to the rise of the Sith. The series quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, thanks to reasons ranging from LGBTQ+ characters to the show's take on the Jedi to a character's birthday (yes, we're serious).

But despite the online arguing and evident review bombing, not that many people were actually watching "The Acolyte." While it had a promising start, Deadline reports that the show fell out of Nielsen's Top 10 originals chart in its third week, and while it did climb back up to the Top 10 for the last episode, the finale was evidently the least-watched ending of any "Star Wars" series. With those kinds of numbers and that kind of heated discourse, Disney forced "The Acolyte" off the air (see what did there?), canceling the show after one season and leaving many unanswered questions.

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Marina Cicogna’s Glamorous, Cinematic Legacy

Cicogna, who died in November, was the face of the Venice Film Festival for decades and a pioneer for women in the Italian film industry. She also knew how to throw a party.

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By David Belcher

She threw at least one party that would have made Bacchus envious, photographed Greta Garbo and Marilyn Monroe (both friends), co-produced the Oscar-winning “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” and distributed films by the directors Luchino Visconti, Luis Buñuel and Pier Paolo Pasolini, among others. If a person can personify a global film festival, Marina Cicogna was for decades the face of the Venice Film Festival.

Born in 1934, two years after her maternal grandfather, Giuseppe Volpi (who was one of Benito Mussolini’s finance ministers), helped found the festival, Cicogna (pronounced chi-CONE-ya) helped transform it into a global event. She also championed Italian cinema as a producer and distributor, and she pushed the boundaries of what women could achieve in a male-dominated industry.

For those who knew Cicogna, who died in November at 89 , she was not only a striking and glamorous figure but a generous and endlessly curious filmmaker. In addition to her grandfather’s enormous legacy — not to mention the family’s tremendous wealth — her mother, Countess Annamaria Volpi di Misurata, owned Euro International Films, which laid the groundwork for Cicogna’s immersion into Italian cinema.

“When Marina appeared as a distributor and producer in the second part of the ’60s, she was a new and important presence,” said Gian Piero Brunetta, a historian of Italian cinema who wrote “The Venice International Film Festival, 1932-2022.” “Marina was in the perfect moment to interpret the change happening in Italian cinema. Movies at this time were able to open a dialogue with the intelligence of the audience and address present problems. Marina was a protagonist in all of this.”

That individualism was evident to those around her, from the world’s biggest stars to writers, directors and those who benefited from her commitment to the festival and the burgeoning Italian film industry after its post-World War II neorealism stage. (A festival spokeswoman confirmed that there were no official plans to honor Cicogna at this year’s festival, which runs Wednesday through Sept. 7.)

“Marina was one of those people who, when they enter a room, everyone goes silent,” Andrea Bettinetti, a documentary film director, said in a recent phone interview. “I never heard anything from her that wasn’t interesting, deep or fascinating. Nothing was banal.”

Bettinetti directed the 2021 documentary “ Marina Cicogna: La Vita e Tutto il Resto ” (“Life and Everything Else”), though Cicogna was initially skeptical about a movie about her life. It took Bettinetti several months of persuasion, he recalled. “Once she finally said yes, from that moment on she was absolutely open and available,” Bettinetti said. “She gave me so many names, so many tales and memories about her life. Marina was very sharp in her judgments. She was very deep.”

The movie, which is available in Italian and in a French-subtitled version, was a glimpse into a life that was tailor-made for storytelling, he said, probably because Cicogna herself was a filmmaker and dabbled in photography, including with some success in Hollywood (where she went at the invitation of the studio executive Jack Warner’s daughter, a classmate, after dropping out of Sarah Lawrence College after one year).

“Marina took a lot of photos as a child, and I think that allowed her to reach inside a person,” Bettinetti said. “She would always reveal something about the person she was talking about. She was like a director. She took you to a place where you can see someone better.”

Sara D’Ascenzo, who writes for Corriere della Sera , an Italian daily newspaper, helped Cicogna write the autobiography “ Ancora Spero. Una Storia di Vita e di Cinema ” (“I Still Hope: A Story of Life and Cinema”) in 2023, shortly before Cicogna died. She recalled Cicogna as the epitome of what Italian women achieved in the last century.

“The festival started in 1932 and she was born in 1934, so she was really born into the festival and spent every summer of her life there except two years when she was very sick,” D’Ascenzo said during a recent phone conversation. “Around age 25, the festival became her stage. But the difference between Marina and other party girls, despite her charm and style, was her love of film.”

What D’Ascenzo found so fascinating was Cicogna’s ascent as not only a festival coordinator but also a major international producer. She famously distributed films directed by Visconti and Pasolini, and perhaps most famously, she produced Buñuel’s “Belle de Jour” (1967) about a bored housewife who becomes a prostitute. The movie helped make Catherine Deneuve a global star.

That same year, Cicogna had three of her films screened at the Venice Film Festival and was at the height of her power and popularity.

“When I met Marina, it was the ’60s and she was openly gay, a producer of Fellini and very aristocratic,” the fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg recently said by phone from Sicily, where she was visiting. “You couldn’t find anyone more glamorous. She was the queen of the Italian cinema. She was very funny and slightly bitchy.”

Von Furstenberg recalled attending one of Cicogna’s famous parties when she was 20 with her future husband Egon von Furstenberg, who was then her boyfriend, during the 1967 festival.

“It is the most glamorous party I’ve ever been to,” she recalled. “Everyone was there: Aristotle and Christina Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Jane Fonda and Roger Vadim.”

It was that kind of crowd that Cicogna spent her life with, but not just as a party fixture like so many people born into wealth.

“She knew three languages and she knew how to dress,” D’Ascenzo said. “She was a modern female figure and had no fear of men. She represented women as very free, which has been very important for new generations.”

For others, her influence was as much about the city of Venice as it was the film festival. Though she had homes in Rome and elsewhere, Cicogna is most defined by Venice, which defines her legacy for many of those who knew her.

“She was one of the new international ladies of Venice, like Cristiana Brandolini d’Adda and Peggy Guggenheim, and she had the movie business in her blood,” Toto Bergamo Rossi, the director of Venice Heritage , a group committed to the preservation of the city and its buildings and artifacts, said in a recent phone call. “Venice is such a small village and it seemed like she was never in town or just here to say ‘hi.’ I always admired how she was completely herself.”

It was all part of a life fully lived, D’Ascenzo said, and that passion never went away, even as Cicogna lived with cancer in her final years.

“She always reminded us that if you read books, see films and travel, you are a bigger person,” she said. “And when she was sick at home near the end of her life, she would ask me what I thought about a particular new film. She was curious and interested until the last day of her life.”

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