Combine the difficulty of travelling during lockdown with the fact that many of the TV shows we enjoy have halted production and we find ourselves pining for a new kind of release. To help quench our thirst for all things travel, we’ve turned to Netflix. The online streaming giant have an excellent selection of travel programmes to enjoy, allowing us to vicariously experience the greatness of somewhere else from the comfort of our homes.
Netflix’s current offering features a diverse range of travel programmes, providing entertaining glimpses from around the globe for those of us who are getting increasingly restless in their current settings. If you’re accustom to Netflix you’ll know that many shows are commissioned and exclusive to the online streaming service, so you won’t find them anywhere else.
Here’s our top recommendations of Netflix shows worth watching while in lockdown.
1. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father (Netflix Original)
The laid-back UK comedian travels the globe with his uptight father, which you could probably guess from the title. Jack’s dad has an uptight attitude which is in stark contrast to his own approach to life on the road. You can’t help but laugh and cringe simultaneously at this odd paternal relationship, as the couple travel the world in search of new experiences. Along the way, the Whitehalls partake in a number of unique activities, including attending an elephant polo match in Bangkok and taking a primitive train ride in Cambodia.
2. Street Food (Netflix Original)
From the creators of ‘Chef’s Table’, a programme renowned for the way it glorifies world-class chefs through cinematic shots, Street Food applies the same treatment to food found on the streets of Latin America and Asia. Street Food spends time with undecorated chefs to understand and showcase the cuisine found in the most unlikely of places.
3. Conan Without Borders
Conan O’Brien does field reports with a twist. In these episodes, O’Brien tackles political issues, but of course makes sure to prioritise the humour in normal fashion by blending his late-night show with a traditional travel vibe.
4. Dark Tourist
Most tourists like to visit popular sites and attractions but, in this series, New Zealand journalist David Farrier finds bizarre and morally dubious tourist destinations across the globe. This subset of tourism sees Farrier embed himself in a death-worshipping cult in Mexico, soak up radiation left behind in Fukushima, meet vampires in New Orleans and travel to the most nuked place on Earth for atomic swimming and fishing!
5. Somebody Feed Phil
Phil Rosenthal, the creator of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’, tours the world to eat different cuisine and discover the cultures which surround them. In this series, Rosenthal, joined by friends and family, visits cities that include Tel Aviv, Mexico City, New Orleans and Bangkok to get a taste of the local delicacies and to soak up the atmosphere at each stop on his journey.
6. Restaurant on the Edge
This show follows the ‘experts fix a failing business’ model of television more than the typical travel show format. However, it’s still a great watch for travel-starved viewers. A team of three experts – a restaurateur, a designer and a chef – tap into a restaurant’s surroundings and community to remodel the business in a way that is uplifting, inspirational, and positive.
7. ‘Larry Charles’ Dangerous World of Comedy
Comedian Larry Charles visits professional and aspiring comedians making comedy in the most horrible of situations. This series typically involves exploring the varying definitions of comedy in different cultures around the world. Charles travels to locations from Russia and China to India and Iran to speak with some of the unlikeliest comics. Along the way, he discovers how dangerous and meaningful the world of comedy can be. Among Charles’ interview subjects is a war veteran whose combat injuries fuel his stand-up routine.
8. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
In this chef and celebrity combo, David Chang visits various cities around the world accompanied by different personalities such as Chrissy Teigen and Seth Rogen. The duo explores the area, sampling the food on offer, while Chang does his best to maintain the fun, buddy-hangout vibe.
These are some of the travel shows we’ve been enjoying during lockdown, but what are yours? Let us know the TV programmes that have been satisfying your own travel hunger over the past few months…
To help you navigate the changes of business travel, we’ve created the brand-new Traveller Toolkit. This invaluable online resource is packed full of easy-to-use guides and checklists for every stage of every journey. We detail exactly what you need to know and do before, during and after your trip.
You’ll also find innovative and interactive virtual trips, which walk you through each step of being at the airport, on the train and in the hotel. You can even check the travel restrictions and health status of your destination with our comprehensive COVID-19 Country Tracker, updated five times daily to ensure you have the very latest information to help keep you and your travellers safe.
Travel is changing. But with common sense and a good TMC behind you, travellers should have the confidence to once again take to the skies. It’ll soon be business as (un)usual.
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