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Travel Guides

With humour from personal insights, five very different groups of people experience then rate the offerings of popular tourist destinations in Australia and around the world. With humour from personal insights, five very different groups of people experience then rate the offerings of popular tourist destinations in Australia and around the world. With humour from personal insights, five very different groups of people experience then rate the offerings of popular tourist destinations in Australia and around the world.

• Jonathan Fren
• Victoria Fren
• 12 User reviews
• 1 nomination

Episodes 38

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• Feb 4, 2021
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• February 14, 2017 (Australia)
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Everything you need to know about the Travel Guides cast

• 28 May 2021

Travel Guides is one of Australia’s most beloved television shows, and with its  crazy adventures and hilarious reviews, it's not hard to see why.

WATCH BELOW: Travel Guides: The Fren family visit a farm

Channel Nine’s   Travel Guides   has taken off this year, with the reality show seeing everyday holidayers act as travel critics.

The very different groups of ordinary Aussies go on the same week-long holiday – reviewing the cuisine, accommodation, activities and local sights, where they tell it how they see it.

So, here’s everything that you need to know about this season’s cast.

Matt and Brett.

Matt and Brett

New to the block are Matt and Brett, who have been together for 18 years and married for seven.

Matt, 45, works for the local council while Brett, 51, is a primary school teacher, and the two love to travel - meaning they have a lot of opinions on how holidays should be.

The difference between the two is that while Matt loves to organise everything, do everything and eat out for every meal, Brett is happy to go along for the ride.

They are quick with biting commentary on everything around them but are generous, kind and love a laugh. 

The Fren family.

Fren family

The Frens are well equipped to cope with stressful family situations and can always find the funny side of any holiday disaster.

Mark, 59, is the upbeat and forthright dad, so when on holiday he loves to negotiate hotel room upgrades.

For more than 30 years he has been happily married to Cathy, 57, whose quirky sense of humour and distinctive laugh is contagious.

Together they have two kids, Victoria, 27, who is always ready to voice an opinion, and Jonathon, 29, who is the more reserved one of the bunch.

The Frens are unafraid to give anything a go, which often leads them into unpredictable situations.

Kev, Dorian, and Teng.

Kev, Dorian, and Teng

This trio, made up of Kev, Dorian and Teng, are all good mates who share a love of junk food, computer games, music and movies. 

Kev, 28, is the sensible pop-culture expert with an arts degree, while Dorian, 24, is laidback, polite and studying to become a teacher.

As for Teng, 25, he's the risk-taker who has deferred uni for the last three years and is always looking for a good time.

All are Australian-born and their combined Chinese, Greek and Vietnamese heritage gives them a unique take on the world.

Despite Dorian’s Greek heritage, they often refer to themselves as “the three Asian boys” who are fearless and willing to give anything a go.

Kevin and Janetta.

Kevin and Janetta

Kevin, 63, and Janetta, 69, describe themselves as 'holiday snobs', as they want the best of the best for everything.

The pair, who have been married for over three decades, don’t have children, and are passionate wine enthusiasts.

They also love exploring big cities, but before hitting the road, they make sure they do their research to ensure they experience the best holiday.

And if the quality or service isn’t up to scratch they will not hesitate to make a complaint - earning them the “we don’t suffer in silence” catchphrase.

Stack and Mel.

Stack and Mel

Identical twin cowgirls, Stack and Mel, are still relatively new to the travel game, and are a little wary when venturing anywhere beyond the Outback. Even so, they are willing to give anything a crack.

The girls, 31, are big on the rodeo scene, competing together and against each other in roping events. They have travelled extensively around country Australia for competitions.

Having spent most of their lives in the bush, they are blissfully unaware of other cultures, languages and customs - but this doesn’t stop them voicing an opinion.

They are used to roughing it and are not easily impressed by fancy holidays, and would much rather camp outdoors with their horses and dogs rather than stay in the city.

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Travel Guides stars share their top tips for luxury travel on a budget

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Join these hilarious and unconventional every-day travellers as they call how they see it, reviewing trips across Australia and the world. Bon voyage!

• Home & Living

PG Our Travel Guides are in Tokyo! They experience a Hanami party at the height of the cherry blossom season, visit a traditional bathhouse, and taste the local cuisine.

PG Our travel guides head to the Gold Coast to indulge in a week of 5-star hotel luxury at Palazzo Versace - but will they rate it or hate it?

PG Our bonza, ripper, fair dinkum Aussie Travel Guides take a 10-day South Pacific cruise, swimming with turtles in New Caledonia and snorkelling in Vanuatu.

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PG Our Travel Guides check out Northern Territory, Australia. Starting in Darwin, they have a terrifying encounter with saltwater crocodiles, then head to Nitmiluk National Park.

PG Our Travel Guides experience all that Oman's capital, Muscat, has to offer, including amazing scenery, a camel trek and an extreme desert sandboarding experience!

M Our Travel Guides head to Queenstown! They sample the local cuisine and nightlife as well as conquering their fears of bungee jumping!

M Our Travel Guides are in Phuket, where they relax at the beach, browse through a market of "genuine fakes" and experience the nightlife.

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Meet the cast of Travel Guides 2023

• 01 Dec 2021

Travel Guides is back for a new season - and there's a new cast member in the mix!

WATCH BELOW: Travel Guides 2019 | The Fren Family visit Germany

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Fans adore the show's hilarious cast as they travel beyond their comfort zones to explore random holiday destinations around the world. 

Now, Travel Guides is back for its latest season and will  return to Channel 9 on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30pm .

While fans are very keen to see the friendly faces on our screens once more, there have been some changes to the traditional  Travel Guides cast.

Cowgirl Mel - who appears on the show with her identical twin sister, Stack - is taking some time off from this season to be with her one-year-old daughter, Savannah. 

However, Stack's new partner remains in the family, with brother Josh joining the team in Mel's place.

With that in mind, meet the Travel Guides cast for 2023...

Meet Josh! He'll join sister Stack in place of Mel this season.

Stack and Josh

There will be a switch-up to the traditional pairing of identical twins and country cowgirls, Stack and Mel. This year, you'll see Stack and Josh. While not an identical twin, Josh is the sisters' younger brother.

As was the case with his older siblings, Josh is a little wary about travelling beyond the family's home in outback Queensland. In fact, he's never been out of Australia (until now).

While Stack and Mel were more comfortable at a local rodeo, they felt like fish out of water on their Travel Guides adventures. And Josh will be just the same! 

Will he be as game as his sisters? We're sure this construction worker will do just fine.

Matt and Brett

Bona fide travel addicts Matt and Brett joined the show in season four, hailing from Newcastle in New South Wales.

The married couple, who have been together for 19 years now, describe themselves as ‘high end travellers’ who also love a bargain.

While Matt is organised, and packs his outfits into plastic bags via the suitcase, Brett is much happier going along for the ride, leading to a delightful Bert-and-Ernie energy that makes for great TV.

They’re also hilarious, giving biting commentary, and always making the audience laugh.

The Fren Family

The Fren family

The delightful Fren family have been regulars since season one, bringing immediate joy to the show with their upbeat nature.

Dad Mark is upbeat and forthright, with a knack for negotiating room upgrades. He’s been married to wife Cathy for over 30 years, and their two kids, Victoria and Jonathan, are always along for the journey.

Their family grew earlier this year, with Jonathan marrying his long-term partner, Danielle Clarke .

Other members of the Travel Guides cast Matt, Brett, Kevin, Janetta, Mel, and Stack were all in attendance – too cute!

Kevin and Janetta

‘Holiday snobs’ Kevin and Janetta always bring the laughs.

The pair, who are in their 60s, are passionate wine enthusiasts and seasoned travellers. They’re also avid researchers when it comes to their holidays, making sure they have the best possible experience, so being thrown into strange situations on the show always makes for a good laugh.

They also won’t hesitate to ask for the manager, which has earned them the catchphrase “we don’t suffer in silence”.

Kev, Dorian and Teng

Besties Kev, Dorian and Teng love food, computer games, movies, and music.

Kev is a pop-culture expert, Dorian studies teaching, and Teng is the risk-taker, who keeps deferring university in the hopes of finding a good time.

Their combined heritage spans China, Greece and Vietnam, giving them a unique take on the world when it comes to the show.

Travel Guides Season 6 starts on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30pm on Channel 9 and 9 Now .

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The Travel Guides Cast: Everything About Salary and Living Conditions

The Travel Guides is a popular Australian reality TV series. It first aired in 2017 and was met with positive feedback from viewers. Australians were eager to watch a different type of reality TV series. They found this show to be a refreshing change from the regular selection of reality TV programs.

This series follows groups of travellers from Australia. All of the travellers are ordinary Australians, but each group is different from the next. Their job is to review the accommodations, cuisine, and tourist attractions.

However, this isn’t your ordinary travel series. The contestants on this show are put in unpredictable situations. It’s part of what makes this show unpredictable and humorous. Each group of travellers will have a different take on the situations at hand.

What Does the Cast Do on Travel Guides?

The cast of this hit reality series gets to go on exclusive vacations around the world. While they travel, they will experience different activities, try dishes custom to other cultures, and stay at local hotels and resorts. In exchange for this, they will leave brutally honest reviews.

In each episode of the series, the travellers will go on a week-long vacation (all expenses paid). The groups each consist of family members or close friends. They will leave their comfortable nest in Australia and venture to big cities worldwide.

Viewers are introduced to new groups of travellers each season, and some fan favourites have returned to the show. One of the most popular groups on the show is the Fren family, who has appeared in all five seasons.

These groups have gotten to travel to places all over the world. Some of the places they’ve visited include:

• Tokyo, Japan
• Perth, Australia
• Argentina & more

Does the Cast of Travel Guides Get Paid?

It hasn’t been released to the public how much the castmates of Travel Guides get paid. However, the Fren family had openly commented on how the show saved them when they were experiencing financial hardship with the restaurant they own.

Many reality TV shows made in Australia will provide contestants with weekly pay while filming. Travel Guides is a different scenario. Ordinary Australians get to travel to tourist destinations in Australia and internationally for free. All fees are covered, including accommodations, transportation, meals, shopping, and other activities they participate in. Since everything is free for travellers, they don’t have to worry about any expenses.

Whether or not the contestants get paid per episode and how much they earn hasn’t been revealed. Each group of family and friends do have the job of leaving a red hot honest review. Even if they don’t get paid, the free travelling and TV exposure are worth it.

A lot of Australian reality TV contestants are able to earn money because of the exposure they have gotten. Once the TV series airs, fans of the show begin following the castmates on social media and subscribing to their content. Well-known castmates have been able to use their exposure to get further opportunities, such as appearances on other TV series. It’s also common for them to get paid endorsement deals where brands pay them to post content on Instagram and other social media platforms.

Another way that these contestants use their exposure to earn money is through paid online gigs, like Cameo and similar platforms. This is when they record personal messages for fans for a cost. The more popular a castmate is, the more they can charge for a video. It’s also common for castmates to use paid subscription platforms, like Patreon and OnlyFans, to earn an income. Also, a lot of contestants may like to relax by gambling and choose a new Australian online casino .

What Are the Living Conditions Like on Travel Guides?

Every country these travellers visit will have different accommodations. The accommodations will be based on the culture of the country they visit. This is why the reviews from the Fren family, cowgirl twins, and other favourite castmates are always red hot.

For the most part, they get to experience good quality living conditions. However, since the accommodations are often different from what they are used to, it leads to some hilarious reviews. This is one of the main reasons why this reality TV series has been such a hit with Australians and other viewers around the world.

Every episode is a different experience for the castmates and the viewers. Travellers could be enjoying the lux life on a cruise, visiting a casino in the city, or going on an off-road adventure. They must be up for anything to get the full travel experience.

Will Travel Guides Return for Season 6?

Do you want to see the Fren family and other fan favourites back on your TV screen? Currently, there is no word on when season 6 will be released. This is because the 6th season hasn’t been renewed yet.

Fans of this beloved reality TV show shouldn’t have reason to worry about the series’ fate. It has been confirmed that the series hasn’t been cancelled and is just on a break.

Does the idea of temporarily leaving your job and travelling the world for free sound like a dream? That’s exactly what the castmates of this popular reality TV series get to experience. While there currently isn’t any information released on what contestants earn from filming the series, the experience they get is well worth it.

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Travel Guides Season 4

Ep 7 vietnam & cambodia.

• Entertainment
• Aired 12th May 2021
• Discover Something New

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