Enthusiastic and adventurous, Samantha Brown is the perfect tour guide for the most exciting places in the world. Explore exotic locales up close and personal as you may never have seen them. Samantha interacts with the lo... more »cals and discovers popular landmarks many tourists miss. Plus, she discusses the culture and history of these intriguing areas and shares invaluable travel tips. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Samantha visits the royal chocolate supplier, enjoys the city's legendary waffles and is surprised to find the city's equivalent of a hotdog cart - an escargot stand! That's the kind of adventure that's easy to stomach. PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: Behind the Iron Curtain until 1990, Prague has emerged as a top tourist destination. The city's breathtaking architecture, art, music and unique style are unlike anything you'll see anywhere else in the world. AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND: Known for its laid-back attitude, Amsterdam is the perfect place to just hang out and soak up the atmosphere and history. Samantha hops on a bike to explore the tree-lined canals and colorful neighborhoods and checks into a houseboat for a different kind of hotel experience. BARCELONA, SPAIN: Samantha experiences Barcelona's renowned nightlife as well as the surreal architecture of Antoni Gaudi. Stroll the picturesque medieval lanes, and explore the sidewalk markets and festive street celebrations. MADRID, SPAIN: Sample the sensual city of Madrid with a visit to the famed Prado Museum, a stay in a hotel with a flair for the dramatic and a meal of unexpected local favorites - paella and hot chocolate. SEVILLE, SPAIN: Bypass the frantic pace of a typical European vacation with a visit to Seville where locals think the world is moving way too fast. Moorish castles, Gothic cathedrals, Spanish wines and tapas await those ready to enjoy life to the fullest. LISBON, PORTUGAL: This longtime city of adventure continues to be one of Europe's most exciting places. Samantha visits a coffeehouse to experience "fado," a music inspired by such emotion that no other nation has duplicated it, and stays in a luxury hotel that was formerly a royal palace.« less
Creator:Samantha Brown Genres:Special Interests, Television Sub-Genres:Travel, Television Studio:Travel Channel Format:DVD - Color,Full Screen DVD Release Date: 08/07/2007 Original Release Date: 01/01/2004 Theatrical Release Date: 01/01/2004 Release Year: 2007 Run Time: 2hr 34min Screens: Color,Full Screen Number of Discs: 1 SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 2 MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Languages:English
Each show format is a little bit of history of each location, places to visit and travel tips. Samantha Brown also spends some time showing each of the hotels she is staying in, chats with locals, eats some food and looks at Cathedrals, historical buildings and museums. The hotels she stays at and the way she travels is definitely on a high budget and she can spend a lot more then most people. The architecture in these cities shown in the DVD is amazing.
If you like travel shows and/or are interested in learning more about Europe and some interesting places to visit, this is a good DVD. Samantha is a fun host and is likeable. I think the travel host has a lot to do with liking the series or not.
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Recommended
LB | Woodford, Australia | 10/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I enjoyed this travel DVD, and certainly would recommend it to anyone wishing to travel to Europe, to see things and go to places off the tourist route. Her Americanism is not annoying, and you do get a laugh at some of her comments. She mingles with the locals in all regions, takes you to enjoyable places to eat and drink, and talks about the accommodation and gives prices. She choses the middle to upper types of accommodation in each region, as she travelled in the low season.
I can understand why she was awarded the Emmy for 'Outstanding Lifestyle Directing"."
Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown
G.C. | Orange County, CA | 10/08/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Of course i love the show, but I don't like how the DVD's are packaged. There are several episodes missing and I purchased all of the Passport to Europe DVD's. Why couldn't they just have a season 1 and 2 or at least do one on just Italy, etc. I would've purchased all the episodes."
Samantha's Great!!
LB | Los Angeles | 10/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My husband and I just love watching her show - she tells you a little bit about everything and is fun to watch."
Sappiest travel reporting I have ever seen
Tim Wagner | Colorado | 04/23/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"I thought this might be interesting to see, seven cities in Europe. I was extremely disappointed. The superficial approach that the author takes is utterly boring.
Her comment, "Barcelona is my favorite city, this is the third time I've been here..." Blah, I've been there once and have a better appreciation of Barcelona than she does. Barceloneta is a wonderful corner of the city, it's narrow streets and small cafes and restaurants are to be experienced and explored. She plops down in one of the fancy restaurants on the waterfront completely without character or interest.
Her statement about Gaudi's thankfully unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, was even further off the mark. Once visited you understand why the poor man jumped in front of a bus so he wouldn't have to complete this hideous work. There was no way to finish it. Most people in Barcelona, if she would have asked, would have told her the same thing.
Rick Steves may be a bit dorky, but he's nice in his own way, he gives the viewer a small peak of what it might be like to live in the places he visits.
Samantha Brown makes you feel like you are in a bad movie like "If this is Thursday it must be Belgium". It was and I wish I could have gotten off sooner.
Don't view this, don't buy this, don't throw your money away on this DVD. It was a total waste of time. Save your money, go to Europe, experience it for yourselves.