Customer Reviews

Passport to Europe - France & Italy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this series. Samantha Brown is the perfect travelling companion. Her energy, excitement, and joy never fail. The shows hit a perfect balance between tourist info and intimate charm. I know Paris very well, and I agree with her observations about Paris, which makes me trust her when she is traveling in other parts of the world that I do not know (like Italy). Highlights on this DVD include: the two Paris eps (of course), an achingly beautiful fairy-tale village and hotel featured in the Cote d'Azur episode, and the Florence ep. I also should note that Samantha Brown travels in style. This is not Europe on a shoestring. Personnally, I love living vicariously through her. The beautiful hotels make this show all the more fun.
I recommend it to all who love to travel and dream and laugh.

Samantha Brown's approch to travel is perky and enthusiastic. The four episodes in France and four in Italy give you a good short peek at these two countries. Watching what goes on in the background of scenes also prepares you for how to dress and what to expect on the street in Europe.

This is a series that is big on cuteness, but there is very, very little in the way of actual video or discussion of the cities being visited. Must each scene end with a big smile and a joke? If you monitor the actual time spent on showing you around each city, you will be very surprised. If you are looking for a light, shallow, cute show in which the host is the center of interest instead of the incredible places she visits, then this is for you. Very disappointing! Even the Rick Steves shows are very superior to this series.

This is a travelogue for the sort of people who "do" Europe, who skip through Rome or Paris in a day or two, see the highlights, and tell their friends back home about the shopping and the restaurants where they ate. Quaint is the operative word with them. The DVD is a shallow series of visits to a very few places in France and Italy.

As for the tour guide, Samantha Brown, she is attractive and perky, but she seems more interested in hotel rooms and views therefrom than in historic places, art, etc.

My only complaint about this dvd is that it really doesn't have very much substance to it. It is just a fun travel dvd with only backgrounds on very few places. If you are looking for an in depth look at France and Italy then this probably isn't for you, but if you are looking for a travel dvd with an entertaining host that can show you some of the places these countries have to offer, then look no further.

On this DVD, Samantha Brown offers a great itinerary of the French & Italian Riviera which she visits during the winter but is not nearly as in depth as Rick Steves' or Rudy Maxa! Her bad jokes that are funny 1/10 times really kill the flow of the show as well. Samantha caters to the soccer moms of America but is more concerned about staying in a fancy hotel and getting a fancy dinner than actually learning about her surroundings. She spends way too much time talking up her hotel & eating rather than showing us more sites or offering any kind of history or background of the area. Just like getting half a meal at a restaurant and wondering what happened, Samantha Brown's programs seem way too short and leave the viewer longing for more information, creating more unanswered questions. For a more thorough series watch "Best of Europe by Rudy Maxa" or "Rick Steves' Europe: All 80 Shows 2000-2009".

I have shown this DVD to my French class students. We all have enjoyed Samantha's sense of humor, naivety and honesty about her unsufficient knowledge of French. So this DVD is OK if you want to have a quick look around Paris but I certainly would not use it for planning my next trip. It's only an appetizer!

Samantha is one of those people who can go anywhere and find the joy of living. Her antics and bubbly spirit make you want to be there with her. Since my wife and I have traveled to several places in this series, we relive our happy times there. Sam always goes in style, so don't look to her for a cheap vacation. Her trips will lead you to many wonderful vistas, but not to the budget hotels. That will require Rick Steves or someone else more down-to-earth. However, for a joy ride through anywhere she will take you, my choice is Samantha Brown and her quirky sense of humor. However, DO NOT try to keep up with this woman with eating/drinking habits! You will not be able to remember your vacation! :)

This is a great travel video. Samantha has a wonderful way of connecting with her audience and she makes it fun. Sometimes I wish she would show more of the visit. It's like a virtual trip when you can't get there in person.
Karen Hartnagle

I absolutely love Samantha Brown and her quirky approach to travel! She tells you what to expect at the most popular of tourist attractions and also looks for some little known things to do and see. She also ALWAYS points out some good food/drink which I think is super important whenever you are visiting a different country. The only thing I don't like about the show is that Samantha always stays at hotels I never would. On this DVD I think the cheapest was close to 300 euro a night! We rented a beautiful villa in Tuscany for a whole week, only 600!