User reviews

The series is actually been known as Globe Trekker here in my country on cable. But either way, it's still the same.

Imagine you have always wanted to go those places in the world but yet have no idea how to start, this is the show for you. Showing about the best each episode is offered, the presenter gets to mingle with the locals, visit some of the sites famous for that place, and also get to try the local food. Sometimes the local food may not to be one's liking but then hey, at least someone live to tell the tale.

Sometimes the news on TV had already made us have certain perceptions of that certain place but then this TV series will prove to you that people everywhere are actually friendly if you are to them as well.

The world is not always what we like to think from the news and this series can really prove that. If you are the sort who likes to travel, it's a perfect TV series for you.

In Canada this show was titled just "Lonely Planet" I was glued to the TV throughout the 1990s watching every episode I could, until it disappeared. I would love to re-watch them all and all the ones I missed.

When this was originally conceived, it was meant to represent a guide to backpackers on a off the beaten path traveling. It's timing was just perfect for a couple of reasons. At its start in 1994, the world is just opening up as the cold war ends and everybody starts looking for tourism. People have started going to places where no outsiders have ever been. But it's not too late that these places start to turn into tourist traps, and the world becomes an homogenized place. In fact, that's what is happening to the show in the last few years. Everywhere is starting to look the same. This is not a pretty tourism production. At least it wasn't at the start. It was guerrilla filming at the time. That's when it was the greatest. Now closing in on 20 years, it is maybe past its prime.

Being myself a travel freak, I make it a point to catch every possible travel related shows on TV. And having sampled many of them I find 'Lonely Planet' to be the Best among them! It is the only travel show that manages to capture the essence of the place being featured. It is unlike 'Travelers' were the hosts would visit only one place which is having some big celebration or 'Holiday', the BBC travel show which wraps about 4 places in half an hour. The "format" so to say, of LP is very systematic. They tackle a single country, or a part of it or one region and its surrounding islands per show. This helps the audience focus fully on that particular country or region instead of being taken on a ride, hopping from one continent to the other.

Of course the most integral part of the series are the travelers themselves. And had it not been for their sheer enthusiasm for what they're doing, this show might never have worked. Ian Wright and Justine Shapiro have hosted most of the episodes. Ian Wright's love for travelling is almost inspirational. With his trademark sense of humor, he is able to strike a bond with people from some of the most inaccessible parts of the world, who sometimes don't speak English or are familiar with the concept of a travel show. He makes even the inevitable dreary moments while travelling seem not-so-bad-after-all. He truly comes across as an eternal optimist, with a never-say-die attitude to life. I've seen many of the episodes hosted by him and the ones that I recall are his trips to Japan(part of it), New York and Alaska. Justine Shapiro is another traveler who comes across as a person and not just a host. She also has a really good voice which enhances the narration of the show. Her comments reveal what it's like to travel as a woman around the world. I have enjoyed her travels to South Africa(where she was born), Argentina, Southern India, Paris, parts of China and countless other places. It was a really pleasant surprise to find Justine nominated for an Oscar this year for her documentary film 'Promises'!

Another traveler that I really like is Megan McCormick. From her initial tentativeness, when I think she was more reserved, she seemed almost transformed in the later episodes when she seemed much more carefree, daring and willing to monkey-around the people and places she visited! She comes across as a really friendly person, which is important when you have to meet so many strange people. I enjoyed her travels around Western India, Northern Italy, parts of China and other places. I guess what makes these travelers so unique is their optimism when you realize that the task ahead of them is to "tackle" entire countries or at least a good part of them; to familiarize the oddest of places to any and all possible people. If it were not for the awareness on the audiences part that there was another person along with these travelers holding the camera, they seemed as good as alone. The photography was sometimes really breathtaking. I think they used more than one camera which enabled them to really capture some great footage. I loved the title music composed for the series. It's one of my favorites! Also they managed to include music from the places being featured which was really nice. It added to the aura of the show, adding to it an air of nostalgia almost. Very often they had these special shows were they would show excerpts from various episodes put together according to some theme or concept, usually narrated by either Ian or Justine. These special episodes were a double treat! All in all, 'Lonely Planet'(or 'Globe Trekker' by which it is now, (sadly) called) is for the real travel junkies! And though I wish I could be one, I satisfy my wanderlust by vicariously travelling with these really cool people!!

This is definitely my favourite travel show ever made! It's funny, educational, entertaining, etc.

Every episode represents a country in their real light, with good and bad sides, telling us about their history, culture, costums, food, and even the most random stuff that you could never find in a travel guide book.

I especially love the episodes with Ian Wright as the host and traveller as he really does an incredible job with his goofiness and witty comments to the most random of topics.

If you are keen to learn something new about a certain country I would definitely recommend you to see this show!!

I love to learn about places I've never been and more likely won't be able to see. The blend of exotic places, touring, shopping for special items to cook wonderful dishes. It can't go wrong....right? Well, my only complaint about this wonderful program is the constant loud music! Please don't get me wrong. I love the music they play. BUT...they play it constantly while the chefs are preparing the dishes and discussing what they're doing. Today's program was like others, a lovely program that I couldn't hear because of the music. How about playing it for the beginning introduction and at the end when the dishes are complete. It may be "trendy" to show hyped up guys buying cheap t-shirts in a market, but geez....this isn't what I expect from a Globe Trekker. I also expect a program that I can hear.

"Lonely Planet" is great! It is more than just a tour guide -you really get to know the place and the people (the theme song is also wonderful!).

All travelers are quite funny and creative - what makes the show even better.

I wish I had money to visit all those incredible sights. Who knows? Maybe someday there'll be an opportunity.

This show has irritating hosts (especially Justine Shapiro) who get in the way rather than letting a country reveal itself. You don't need to over talk, carry on, shriek at the camera, have shots of you running along in a swimsuit...

It doesn't stand out in any way, or do anything better or different to the hundreds of travel shows out there. The editing is pretty poor at time, or the show focuses on an uninteresting person in the country for too long , which makes it boring to watch.

I think travel shows may be better when they predominantly use voiceovers as it takes a camera hog out of the way so you can see a country in all its beauty, its faults etc.

I like the mix of "serious" bits of culture and the more bizarre, comical elements very much. I have to say I'm a real fan of Ian Wright, I always laugh my ass (excuse my French) off when he hosts a show.

I believe the series is called 'Globe Trekker' on Discovery Channel.

This show is really excellent, all the travelers are funny, and are good hosts, the only travel show that is funnier is "Travelers"!

You really see the culture, and get to know the people in the countries, I think that Discovery Civilisation made a good step snatching this show away, Megan is my favorite traveler, my favorite episodes are Egypt and India.

Enjoyment: 5/5 Violence: 2/5 Family Viewing: 4/5

Rating: 4 & 3 quarters out of 5.

"Might that be like I don't like Jane's because my 1st girlfriend was a Jane?"

I love the Globe Trekker show, except for one thing. They ONLY lasted 17 years & I want more! Most all episodes were great but can't speak for ALL of them, so I only gave the show a TEN!!! I liked it in part because it had a different flare to it...coming from the U.K. Nice accents, good music, interesting locations & people, great attitude towards everything. But about that woman's ego mentioned, I don't now about that, besides nobody always has a great day. I really liked all the foreign location & their take here of the U.S.

Great that it wasn't a rich person's tourist viewpoint of the places to consume but rather about the locals they met & everything I'd like to know.

Does anyone know if I can see the other episodes somewhere online?

Globe Trekker or "Lonley Planet" here in America (I use to live overseas in the middle east)is extremely entertaining. From Mauritian waterfalls, to the Chinese forbidden city, to Indonesia volcanoes and orangutans, to Mexico's bullfights, to Kenyan landscape, to Londons modern cities, to the Rio Carnival, to Ghana's beaches, to Greenland. I love to travel where ever, whenever, or however. I myself have been to many countries and this wants me want to get back on the plane. It captures cuisine, nature, landscapes, culture, and history my favorite things in the world like ingredients and soup. If this show was soup no matter if I'm sick or healthy I wanting heaping teaspoons of it.