Travel Channel

Great news everyone! You have been asking when Sam will be here and I am happy to announce that she will be hanging out on the forums next week from Monday the 13th through Friday the 17th. I will open this forum topic Sunday night so that everyone may begin posting their questions and comments.

I would like to welcome Samantha Brown back to the forum! The forum will be closed for new topics and is only open for replies on this topic. The goal is to keep all of the questions in one place. I will open up a second topic later in the week if this topic begins to get too long. Thank you again for joining us Samantha! I am sure everyone will enjoy the visit.

Thank you for coming back to the forum! I’m sure we’ll keep you busy this week!

My question is:

What is the worst part about your job? Another way of saying that is, if you had to give it all up, what would you miss the least? I don’t mean complaints, mind you, nothing so gauche, just a little dose of reality for those of us who believe that you really do have the best job in the world; hence it must be perfect!

Thanks.

Welcome back to the forums Sam!It has been a long time since your last visit. I have some questions for you regarding your experience with crusing. First of all, could you tell me a little more about your Mediterranean cruise experience? Are you passionate about crusing? Do you plan on taking many more cruises and if so, do you think you will make a show out of it like Great Hotels? Speaking of Great Hotels, when does the new season start? There are thousands of suggestions on the Great Hotels forum that I would love for the producers to consider, that is if you do another season. If you did, I would strongly suggest you visit the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island- everyone seems to recommend it. I'll hold the load of questions because I've already asked you enough! Again, welcome back!!!

travel1st

Good day, Ms. Brown, it is an unexpected pleasure to have the opportunity to address you personally! Also, welcome home! I sincerely hope you thoroughly enjoyed your European adventure and will return many, many times. I travel there frequently (& soon) and share a small residence in Paris, so Western Europe is very much a second home. I truly miss the place if away too long and if you were there for any length of time, I’m sure you’re feeling the same. So, where are your favorite places? Capttuttle has quite a fondness for the UK, he has said, and I’ve many friends in London and in the south & west so agree that England is indeed wonderful. But France is still my favorite, even though my imperfect language skills put the local population in stitches. For example, there was the time when my Parisian girlfriend explained that our waiter looked rather alarmed with me because the way to say “I am finished” is “J’fin,” not “je suis fin,” as I had said since it means, “I am dead.” <sigh> But, if you can’t really choose a favorite place, where in Europe would you prefer to return without a camera chasing you about? [Have you been to Tuscany?]

Also, and forgive me for taking so much of your time, but several of us have suggested that you consider writing a travel book series, such as has Rick Steves. To be sure, you have nothing to prove to those of us who admire your work as a Great Hotels writer. [God only knows The Discovery Channel Store could use a decent book on its shelves.] But moreover, it is a matter of perspective. Hopesong (herein) recently observed that Rick’s work tends to be directed toward the museum-chaser crowd (like me); however, the right person to ask where the night life can be found is – well, you, frankly. Will you consider it?

Many more questions, but I shall move on for now. Allow me to express my admiration for your work both on and behind the camera, Ms. Brown, and I sincerely wish you the very best of continued success.

Regards,

Intl Doc

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bosley39:
I was watching the Disney special and my wife really liked the Red Sweater (Holiday Design) w/hood the night you went to the parade on Main Street. Now I have looked all over the internet for something similar and came up empty. Could you please advise where or who made that sweater. I think it would be one of the best surprise Christmas presents that I have ever bought for her. Thank you for you time and input.

Sincerely,

Jeff Christensen

Welcome back, may your time at home with family and friends during this time of year bring you joy and a well deserved rest, and thank you for taking moments of your vauluable time to spend in the forums with us.
May you have a very Merry Christmas and that the following year will again bring you success at work and open up other avenues for your career.

Robert

This message is a little to serious so:
"What is brown and green, and if it falls out of a tree it will kill you?,"

"A pool table"

Hey Sam,
I had a couple of questions about what's coming next.

I know that you are filming a half hour show- 30 eps- Passport to Europe.. and the first two are in Rome and Florence.. where else do you go?

Can you give us an idea what the shows will feature and what it's all about?

Will you be taking advantage of being in Europe and film some Great Hotels of Europe for a future season of Great Hotels- or would you have to come back just for that? and will you in the future have a Great Hotels Europe show?

When will you be back in the US for more Great Hotels?

What other shows are in your future? Asia, Australia, Canada adventures? How about an across the US adventure show- where you show case each states best stuff?

Are you planning any more cruise shows? the caribbean, or alaska or hawaiian or disney cruises would be great to see. or even a mystery cruise.

what one hour specials are coming up from you?

anyway i also wanted to thank you for the advice you gave me on Hawaii- it was the best vacation I ever had.. There are a few things I did that you've done and a few you haven't and I was wondering if you were ever going to go back to Hawaii- i'd love to see some of these on your show.

Examples-- Great Hotel eps of- the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and also the Hilton Hawaiian Village. and you can show activities of the following-- Luau at the Royal. Don Ho show at the Waikiki Beachcomber. Blue Hawaii show at the Waikiki Beachcomber. Take the Hummer off road movie set tour- by Kos Tours- it's the most awesome trip. Atlantis Submarine. Did you go to the Dole Pineapple Plantation- i can't remember for sure but that's a must. i know you went to sea life park, poly cult center and pearl harbor though.

anyway thanks for being great.

when are your shows coming out on dvd?

and when are you going to do a coffee table book of all your adventures - facts and stories about places and hotels and inside stories of your adventures with lots of pictures both from the show and behind the scenes?

thanks again-- can't wait to hear from you.

i know that a lot of people have suggested a great hotels at the grand hotel on mackinac island-- but instead of just a half hour ep- would you ever consider the following--

1 hour special- mackinac island - grand hotel-thru the seasons.
summer season when the island is hopping with activity
in the fall they have a somewhere in time weekend that would be awesome to see
in the fall they also have a murder mystery weekend that you would be great at
and maybe in the winter if they have something for christmas i'm not sure.

i was also wondering if you'd ever consider another hour christmas special-maybe 2 hours if it's a lot of stuff.. i loved the disney one but i was thinking you could showcase all kinds of ways to celebrate the holidays. see a little more disney- i would have loved to see the wilderness lodge done up.. and then maybe new york city during the holidays.. maybe even some europe cities.. some ski resorts in colorado and vermont- how they do the holidays.. maybe a small inn in vermont- sleigh ride and all that. maybe hawaiian christmas. maybe a christmas cruise. or graceland at christmas. also i know that hershey does something special as well so going back there would be awesome.. also the same concept for halloween as well. would be great.

Hi Sam,

Thanks again for spending time with us. Hey we took our frist cruise this summer-- to Alaska. Much to my surprise I really liked it (except for the constant "I told you so's") I typically perfer mountain hiking. We were on the Serinade of the Seas and between climbing the stairs, the rock wall and the kayaking I actually lost weight. Of course the scenery was fanstastic but the ports were owned by the cruise lines and were very Disney like-- not real.
Anyway

They have been running the older Hotel shows and we noticed that you're not aging. What's your secret.
also, how strong are anti american feelings in Europe? Where is it less and where more? thanks

Hi Sam!!!!!!!! I saw the episode of when you stayed at the The Muse& The City Club Hotel. I was just wondering what is the name of the restaurant that had the $29 hamburger? Thanks!!!! Your show is awesome!!!!

We all want to be you or at least travel with you!

Living the Life Styles of the Rich and Famous.

Our Dream is to buy and sell Hotels and Resorts around the world. I bet it is most of your fans wish they could own the hotels you have showcased.

With all the places you have visited, where would you buy your own hotel or resort? You might already own a couple. We own HotelsforSale.com. check it out.

Any chance for a Sam’s Resort? You have great Taste!

Good luck in Europe. When you are in one of the towns of our 480+ listings, let us know.

Have a nice holiday! Happy New Year. We can't wait for the new season.

Steve

hmmmmmmmm. I guess it would all the things I miss when I'm away. Weddings, baby showers, party's, birthdays. It's really a downer when my family gets together but I can't be there...again. However everyone in my life knows what I do and understands.

intldoc,

I liked the cruise a lot but I wouldn't say I'm passionate about the idea. It is something I would definately do with a large group of friends or family just so everything you wanted to do was taken care of. Have you ever been the planner of a trip? It can be so tedious. so I thought that cruising was an effortless way to travel. But when I travel with my mom or my boyfriend the effort part is what I like.

As for The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. If there's one hotel that keeps coming up in every forum it's that one. even on a forum about European travel. I absolutely agree and so does Travel Channel that Mackinac is not just a great hotel but a fabulous one. Because of time we were never able to go to Michigan to do only one hotel. But believe me one day we will go.

Sorry Travel1st I addressed that to the wrong member

Itnldoc

So far and I do mean so far it's Italy. I've been there a number of times mainly to Tuscany and it's difficult not to fall hard for the place. I would like to explore the whole country and hopefully will get to do so with this series.

As for a book series there's certainly nothing in the works yet but I will say with Rick Steves-those are some pretty big shoes to fill. I love his books and he's a travel expert in the true sense of the word.

I have never been to the French countryside but Paris is no slouch. The language is tough to navigate and i once mistakenly stomped on a poor elderly womans foot and exclaimed MERCI!!! how embarrassing.

[This message was edited by mod_ben on 12-13-04 at 06:23 PM.]

travel1st

I think it's by a company called Joie. good-luck!

Well thank-you very much for your warm holiday greeting. I am very happy to be home enjoying time with my loved ones. Being able to come online and talk to the people who watch my show also brings me so much happiness and I have looked forward to finally spending time with everyone here for a long while.

How are you doing Sam? It's nice to see you on here again! I watched your cruise episode (of course), and I thought it was so nice of you to let people get a tiny peek of what your apartment looked like! I realize that shows like this get edited down, so did anything exciting happen, that didn't get shown on the Cruise Show? It looked like you had an amazing time! I've never been on a cruise, so I think I have the same reservations you did, before you got on the ship. I'm very much looking forward to your new European traveling show! Hey, how's your cat Fiona? Did she get mad at you again, for being gone?

I've had a busy week! I had to practice & perform in my church's annual Christmas play. Our church goes all out! It was called, "Journey To the Manger." I sang in the choir, pretened I was a wife waiting for her soldier husband to come home, and being a flapper(yes a flapper) dancing the Charleston Dance. I had a blast working on the play this year! I got a lot of exercise too! See, I truly am a dramaqueen. I won't be lonely this year for Christmas, because I have a boyfriend! He's a true gentleman!

That reminds me, the last time you were on here, you had a boyfriend who you thought was a winner. I realize this might be an invasion of privacy, so you don't have to answer this question if you don't want to; but did that relationship work out? If it has, I'm happy for you! If it hasn't, you can always throw darts at his picture. Okay, I think I've written too much already, so I'll go for now, but I'll be back. See ya later Sam!

Hi Sam,how have you been? In the time you have been away I have gotten married,had two kids,bought a house,a new car,and found a new job Well actually none of those are true,but it's great to have you back! You know that you have the greatest job in the world,second only to the guy on the Thirsty Traveller,right? That guy has reaaally got it good. So now that you have been everywhere and done everything,what does the future hold in store for you? Look forward to hearing from you and have a fantastic Christmas!!

Dear Sam,
Glad to hear that you enjoyed your cruise. In my opinion,I think cruising is the most relaxing way to vacation. Just standing on the promenade deck and looking at the ocean is an amazing feeling. The best thing about is that it is like a "package." You don't have to worry about transportation, food, entertainment, or accommodations. The only time when I think I would be trapped on a ship would be on the smaller cruise ships. So, do you think you will be able to say things like... " I'm cruising the new england coast on Holland America's Maasdam," "I'm cruising the Atlantic Ocean on Cunard's Queen Mary 2," or, "I'm cruising Alaska on Radisson Seven Sea's Mariner, you get the idea.There are many cruises waiting to be experienced!

travel1st

Hi Sam! I just want to say that I love your show and you look absolutely fabulous! May I ask what type of workout routine you follow? And also, how did you land this amazing job(you are a perfect fit!)? Again, I love the show, and keep up the great work! By the way, I am one viewer who never tires of palm trees and beaches!! Thanks!

Samantha,

My golden retriever Bogey (12 1/2 years young!), my wife and I welcome you back eagerly to "new programs on The Travel Channel" with Samantha Brown! Yayyyy!

OK, so I see already you really liked Italy, Tuscany in particular. As one who has not yet "taken the plunge" on cruising, even though we will be watching with baited breath Tuesday night December 14 (10pm EDT on The Travel Channel, folks), what did you enjoy most about cruising?

Also, you have an open invitation to visit us in our newly-renovated home in Wayland, Massachusetts. It could be a "Great Vacation Home" stop for you, with plenty of deer and birds.

Last, but not least, do you have a sister who has done a TV commercial for Boston Interiors? The actress who does the commercial is the spitting image of you.

Chris DeVany
Avid Samantha-Fan

Hey Sam,

How are you doing. I am like one of your biggest fans. I love your show. You are so funny and smart. I get pleasure watching your show. If I am down and then I watch your show I am in a g