Travel Channel 

Karld!!!!

where have you been? I don't think I heard from you in the last forum which I have to admit feels like ten years ago but it feels like I haven't talked to you in awhile. You're right I did get married in Las Vegas but it was fortunately to myself! Going thru the plans now I can see why people high tail it to Sin City. Have you ever been to Mykonos? and by that I mean the little cafe in your town?

hotelsfan

nope, never did a one hour. you were right just commercials and a few of their Hotels. Ritz Carlton, La Pavillion and Maison DeVille

quote:

Originally posted by samantha_brown:
Samantha430

I like the idea of a contest but I don't know anybody who would want to spend it with me in NYC in the summer too hot and sticky

French Hotels? why French may I ask?

that's what my friend said. she was staying in a French hotel in New York. what about in the spring ( spring break) or the fall? ( contest)

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Tom0557

I laughed out loud with the end line

"Lancers stink"

It's funny how after all these years of being out of high school having an adult life with real joy and sorrow. Say the name Lancers and i am immediately sixteen again. my face forms into that "oh gawd, puhlease" scowl. cuz they are like, soooo not as good as the Astros. I can almost feel the red and white pom poms in my hands as I say that. Do we still have the Mac plaque?

well congrats on moving down to where you don't have to shovel off your car every morning. Let me tell you THE hotel to spoil yourself at is Mandarin Oriental. fanTAStik! it's so gorgeous and the spa is killer and the drinks even more so. Nice to hear from a New Hampsha boy.

Dear Sam,

I hope you had a wonderful time looking through all those bridal magazines. Once again, congratulations on your engagement. So what are you doing back home in NYC besides planning your wedding? Usual errands? Sample sales? Exploring? Oh, you mentioned that you have a new home-where? Where ever,Manhattan is super expensive. But the good thing is that you don't need a car! I also wanted to ask you this. In addition with a cruise, i may also take a land package. How many days would you recommend in London to really "do it all"?

hey samantha I think I sent your Christmas card to the wrong address. this is the address I used.

Samantha Brown
Viewer Relations
Discovery Communications
Box 873
Florence, KY 41022

is this the right one or not?

Laura

PS: Sam I just a brillant idea. have you ever been to Indianapolis, Indiana before? if you haven't why not do a special on it! it's a great city and I should know because I live there. if you want more info you can contact me at Phoebe13430@yahoo.com

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first off- congrats on your upcoming wedding- awesome. been married 7 years myself and it rocks.

2ndly- want to second going to wisconsin dells for great hotels- the kalahari resort is a must for you. also mackinac islands grand hotel. and the drake in chicago. if you ever go back to oahu- the royal hawaiian and the hilton hawaiian village.

maybe you could do a series- great honeymoon destinations???? what do you think?

The Mandarin Oriental it is Sam. Thanks for the info. Once again congrats on the engagement.

Oh, I second hotelsfan's suggestion of Mackinaw Island!! That is on my "To Do" list of places, along with taking the kids to Hershey (even if I am allergic to chocolate...).

I think we have a treasure trove here in the Finger Lakes and some absolutely lovely hotels on the lakes. My initial thought to suggest is Bellhurst Castle in Geneva (NY). We had a dinner reception there once after singing at Geneva's now defunct Smith Opera House, whilst they were trying to revive it. Other thoughts are Geneva on the Lake and Canandaigua on the Lake. They are quite out of my price range. These are all near our quaint Finger Lakes wineries, which I simply love. <hic> My aunt from Oregon visited this fall and we took her to lunch at Esperanza Mansion Restaurant and Inn on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. We had reservations and sat at a table overlooking the lake far below. With the fall foliage it was simply lovely. Then we hit several wineries, including Bully Hill.

Ms. Taborri

Sam,
Thanks for the info on the bag! I found it on their web site and it is perfect! Just what I've been looking for. I'll have to save up for it though.

Thanks, you ROCK!

~Kelsey

Dear Sam,
I am new to your forum (just discovered it today) and I'm glad to hear you are in town and resting up for a spell.
My wife and I have been big fans since your great vacation homes days and it has been fun to see your career "takeoff". My 3 year old Grandson even knows who you are when the show comes on - "there's Sam".
I recently retired from a 28 year career as an airline pilot and I must say one of my biggest disappointments was never having you on one of my flights. That would have been great fun. I can't imagine being away from home for 22 days at a time, 5 or 6 at a time was enough for me.
Looking forward to the England portion of the Europe series. My wife and Mother-in-Law traveled in England this past year and went to many of the same places you visited. They were in London during the subway bombings so a few anxious moments were spent until I could track them down.
Sincere congratulations on your engagement and continued success with your career.

George

Dear Sam,

Simple question: what is on your iPod? And if you don't have one, you should! Put it on the wedding registry.

Regards,

New Hampsha' boy

Hi Samantha,

Congratulations on your engagement and on the beginning of season 2. I have been Tivo-ing all of your shows for quite some time now, and my husband and I really enjoy watching the progression of your style, as well as your fantastic sense of whimsy and humor.

I love your darker haircolor, btw, and think the Greece shows are fantastic.

A few months ago, I sent you a letter (actually two letters, the same letter to two different addresses) about a proposal for a tv show that I'm putting together for a faith-based travel show. I think you were still filming season 2 when I sent it, and now I'm sure you're swamped with wedding craziness (I remember all too well, with my wedding only 2 years ago!), but if you did receive it, and feel comfortable responding to any bit of it, I'd love any advice you can spare.

I actually sent the proposal to the channel last week, and will check in with them next week. Like I said in my letter, your enthusiasm, vitality, and overall spunkiness (I know, it's a cheesy word, but it's so true!)really are part of the inspiration for my show. You have a wonderful ability to draw the audience in and make them feel that something that would normally seem foreign and difficult is actually quite comfortable and easy.
For instance, I would never have begun to watch [I]Great Hotels[I] if you hadn't been the host -- the hotels are way beyond my means, and since I would never be able to afford most of them, why bother watching the show? But you make them interesting -- you bring an added component to the show that is both fun and interesting. And goofy. Goofiness is always an added bonus! You have wonderful talent. You should be very proud of yourself.

Anyway, best of luck to you with the wedding stuff and the continuation of the series and many more to come! And if you get a chance, my phone lines and email lines are open. (And if you never got the letters, and have some time, let me know.)

Thanks,

Diana

By the way...

I'm just reading over some of the first posts to this chain and noticed the mention of publishing travel books.

If you (or the Travel Channel) are interested, I can help in that area, and would actually love to do so.

Let me know.

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when will we see more pictures and video clips from the new shows? i don't have cable and a friend of mine trys to tape your shows for me when she can but it's a long time inbetween getting them so i'd love to see some sneak peeks.

Congrats on the wedding Sammy. At the risk of sounding like your mother, when are the little sammy's going to be popping out? I can't wait to hear your take on that adventure.

Stevefrommichigan,

yes, I always seem to stumble into the right places don't I My Parents were more into Jazz (due to their age) and my Dad had a reel to reel player where we would listen to Dave Brubeck and Thelonious Monk. I loved listening to Billy Strayhorn's Take the A train and I remember when I first moved to NYC thinking wow, I'm really taking the A train.

I was kidding about Vegas, I don't think my parents or my future in-laws would forgive me for that one. And yes, i still dream of having a big home with a wraparound porch on the coast of Maine. Good memory!

Dejardin!

So nice to hear from you. No whirlwind romance I have been with my guy for two and 1/2 years. Although is I subtract the amount of time I'm traveling it's about 3 months so maybe it is a whirlwind romance! No fear over my plans to call it quits Travel Channel is stuck with me at least until I figure out a good hairstyle

If there's any reason to go overseas it's to visit Greece. I loved it and will return and yes, it was so nice to be in warm weather although that changed quickly once we returned to France and Northern Italy.

Patty's is doing wonderfully I'll tell her that she is missed. She as you suspected is very busy re building her home. John is as always a solid guy.

vacdisney

Sounds like you are a natural! That's all it takes is one taste of fame and now there will be no stopping you. Go Girl!!

Maggie from the Philippines,

I on in Taiwan too that's just amazing! you think I would be told these things. What if when I decide to travel there I don't realize that I am as big of celebrity as Jennifer Lopez and am stampeded? Just kidding I have no delusions of that kind of fame but I tell you it is very cool to think people 1/2 way around the world watch my show. Do they subtitle it or am I dubbed? Gosh, being dubbed to see me and hear anothers voice now THAT would be excellent. I will just have to live thru you then. Thanks again for the incredibly enlightening information. oh, and a picture is yours!

I liked Rodman's work ethic when he played basketball....and I'm a tattoo fan I have a few myself.

How do you decide where you'll be visiting for the show? Do you come up with a list or does the production company? I'm curious too to know what's on your ipod?

and can I have a picture too? please?
-Eci
lao_33e@hotmail.com

The Captain,

Santorini visually is a beautiful episode, It looks like it was shot on High Def but that's our Stan. He is a perfectionist and I can see when faced with scafolding or big heavy grey clouds how it tears at his artistic heart. He wants to show the destination in its best light and I felt with Santorini he shot it in a way where you feel like you are standing on the edge of that cliff with me.

I don't want to give too much away from the Oxford episode but I may just, and I'm not promising anything, go down a certain Rabbit Hole. One scene that was cut was a Garden at the University where Lewis Carroll would look out onto. In the garden is the big tree where the Alice's real Cheshire cat perched and a gate with what else but a keyhole to look thru just as in the story. Magical indeed.

I can't wait to get all these Christmas cards!

Steven,

That's right I did miss you from the last posting. Well, so good to hear from you now. I'm glad you think the Passport show gets better and better. I feel that way too as I learn what makes the show entertaining and eye-opening. I'm a perpetual student. The hotel biz is a great field to get into and one that starting from the ground up can only help you better understand all that has to work to make a hotel a success. Good luck and don't be a stranger!

Mr. Teagin

Jeff-your beautifully written post left me beyondwords. I remember that quote: "Honesty is the beginning of the return to love" and I now have it written on a yellow post it stuck to my computer. Hopefully I can find a more appropriate place to write it but for now it works.

I will pass along your concern to the crew they honestly always appreciate that people think of them. In fact they are such an overlooked part of the show-I get all the glory being able to talk directly to people and share my pictures and musings that I thought a great addition to the fansite would be a meet the crew site. I want to feature the people back at the office of PineRidge who make everything possible and schedule things like SAM EATS BEST CHOCOLATE IN TURIN and yet never get to experience it themselves. So look for that in a few months. I loved the Crazy Fiona coffee! and thanks for having one especially in her honor.

Lovely talking with you again Jeff, take care

My dear, Samantha, if you of all people are an “old woman,” then indeed Mother Orange was correct in labeling me “ancient” (although I prefer “venerable”). I feel your pain re: the Net cafés. They’re expanding from what we originally thought of as e-cafés though. There’s one in Dublin near city center that’s an e-café, international telephone exchange, money exchange, and parcel express. Not to mention, there’s a TV showing BBC News hanging on the wall. Another in Bristol has an e-café on the top floor and a video arcade in the basement that is used for birthday parties, etc. In London, one near Kensington Palace has an e-café on the top floor and – miracle of miracles – a real café on the first floor. In any case, whilst I roll around the UK, I find myself in them on more than one occasion too. Where am I? Out there, somewhere ...

Cooking stuff for gifts? Brilliant! I buy myself clothes whist traveling about, which always makes the return weigh-in at airports dicey. Don’t forget if you take Ryan Air or Aer Lingus to/from Ireland, there’s a 15 kilo limit per person on bags; so, if you have two 60-pound bags, your overage fee is about 3 months rent.

You’re the best SB, we’ve missed you and glad you’re home.

Cheers, Intl Doc