Finding a specific travel show shouldn't feel like a scavenger hunt across the dark web. Honestly, it's a bit ironic. Samantha Brown spends her time making travel look seamless and soul-filling, yet tracking down where to watch Samantha Brown's Places to Love can sometimes feel like trying to find a specific street stall in a crowded night market without a map.
You've probably been there. You remember a clip of her in a sun-drenched Italian piazza or a quirky shop in New Mexico, and you want to sit down and actually watch the full episode. But then you hit the paywalls or the "not available in your region" messages. It's annoying.
The good news is that as of 2026, the show is more accessible than ever, provided you know which digital "aisle" to look in. It isn't just sitting on one big streaming giant with a red N logo. Because it’s a public television staple, the distribution is a little spread out, but mostly free or very cheap.
The PBS App is Basically Your Best Friend
If you want the most direct path, just go to the source. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is the home of the show. If you have a smart TV—Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, whatever—you probably already have the PBS app installed, or you can get it in about thirty seconds.
Here is the thing people miss: a lot of recent episodes are totally free to stream for a limited window after they air. You don't even need a login for some of them. You just open the app, search for the show, and start watching.
But there’s a catch.
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PBS operates on a "rolling" window. They might have the last few episodes of Season 9 available for free, but if you want to go back to Season 1 to see her explore Houston or Bern, Switzerland, those older episodes usually go behind the PBS Passport curtain.
Passport is basically the "pro" version of PBS. It’s not a separate streaming service you buy at a store; it’s a benefit you get for donating to your local station. Usually, it's around $5 a month or a $60 annual donation. If you're a travel junkie, it’s arguably the best five bucks you’ll spend because it unlocks the entire back catalog of Places to Love, plus all that Rick Steves and Great Performances content.
What About the "Create TV" Channel?
You might have seen a channel on your cable guide or over-the-air antenna called Create. It's that channel that plays nothing but cooking, crafting, and travel 24/7. It’s a literal godsend for background noise while you’re folding laundry.
Places to Love lives on Create TV. In fact, they often run marathons or themed blocks.
- The Schedule: It's erratic. One day you’re in New Zealand, the next you’re in Asheville.
- The Cost: Free if you have a digital antenna or basic cable.
- The Vibe: It feels like old-school "appointment" TV.
If you like the surprise of "where are we going today?" then Create is perfect. If you’re looking for a specific episode because you’re actually planning a trip to Quebec City next week, this isn't the most efficient way to watch.
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Searching for Samantha on Major Platforms
Can you find the show on the big platforms? Kinda.
Amazon Prime Video used to have several seasons available for purchase or through the PBS Living channel add-on. As of early 2026, the availability on Amazon is a bit hit-or-miss depending on licensing deals. Sometimes you can buy individual episodes for a couple of dollars, which is great if you just need the "Route 66" episode for research and don't want a subscription.
YouTube is another spot people overlook. Samantha’s official channel and the PBS channel often post full segments or "Best Of" clips. You won't always find every full 26-minute episode in 4K for free there, but for a quick hit of travel inspiration, it’s the easiest "no-barrier" option.
Why People Keep Coming Back to This Show
Let's be real: travel TV can be pretentious. We’ve all seen the shows where the host acts like they’ve discovered a "hidden gem" that actually has 4,000 reviews on Yelp.
Samantha Brown doesn't do that. She focuses on the people. In Season 8 and the current Season 9, she’s leaned even harder into the idea of "emotional intelligence" in travel. It’s not about the monument; it’s about the guy who has been hand-pressing olive oil for forty years.
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That’s why people hunt for where to watch Samantha Brown's Places to Love. It’s comfort food for the brain. It’s one of the few shows that makes you feel like the world is actually a decent, welcoming place instead of a series of tourist traps.
Practical Next Steps for Your Watchlist
Stop hunting and start watching. If you’re ready to dive in right now, here is exactly what to do:
Check the PBS.org website or the PBS app first. Search "Places to Love." If the episode you want is "locked" (look for a little blue compass icon), that means it's a Passport-only episode.
If it's locked and you don't want to donate to PBS yet, head over to Samantha-Brown.com. She often has detailed itineraries and video clips from almost every location she's visited. It’s not the full show, but if you're looking for her specific recommendations for a city, the website is actually more useful than the video.
Lastly, check your local listings for Create TV. If you have a smart TV with "Live" channels (like Samsung TV Plus or LG Channels), sometimes they carry the Create feed or similar travel-focused channels that syndicate her older work.
The world is big, but finding Samantha shouldn't be. Grab a coffee, pull up the PBS app, and start with the New Zealand or Coastal North Carolina episodes—they’re some of the best work she’s ever done.
Actionable Insight: Download the PBS app on your phone or TV today. Even without a paid Passport membership, you can usually access the three most recent episodes of the current season for free. If you find yourself watching more than two episodes a week, the $5 monthly donation for Passport is the most cost-effective way to get the full archive without dealing with ads or individual episode purchase fees.