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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!

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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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Travel Guides 2021 cast will take on international destinations

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It’s back. Travel Guides, one of Australia’s most beloved television shows, is set to air again this year. And we’d love to introduce you to the new Travel Guides 2021 cast.

This year, you’ll see a few new faces as they take us on some pretty crazy adventures. But you may recognise some too.

Before you meet the team, let’s cover some important facts.

When is Travel Guides on?

The show returns on Wednesday, April 28 for its first episode. It begins at 7.30pm. Don’t miss it on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Travel Guides 2021 will showcase all-new local and international tourist destinations in four action-packed episodes.

International countries include Greece, Mauritius, South Korea and Cambodia. In Australia, the Travel Guides 2021 cast will visit South Australia and the Kimberley in WA.

In each episode of Travel Guides, our five groups travel to the same location for a week-long holiday.

Everyone must review the cuisine, accommodation, activities and tourist sights. Opinions always differ, leading to brutally honest and often outrageous reviews.

Meet the Travel Guides 2021 Cast

The Travel Guides are ordinary Australians turned travel critics and the cast take honesty to a whole new level. You will laugh out loud as they rate their holiday out of five stars.

Here’s what we know about this season’s cast.

Matt and Brett

Matt, 45, and Brett, 51, are the newest Travel Guides. The couple have been working together for 18 years, and married for seven.

Matt works for the local council while Brett is a primary school teacher. Together, they are generous and kind, but their biting commentary on everything around them packs a punch. Both love a good boogie too.

Matt is notorious for making new friends on holiday. He’s also a particularly adventurous eater who will give practically anything a try. This will definitely make their holiday experiences interesting.

Read More: Kevin & Janetta Interview South Australia Road Trips Stack & Mel Nearly Missed Out

The Fren Family

You might recognise these next Travel Guides 2021 cast members. The Fren family consists of parents Mark (59) and Cathy (57), and their two kids Jonathon (29) and Victoria (27).

Mark is the upbeat and forthright dad, happily married to Cathy for over 30 years. Cathy’s quirky sense of humour and distinctive laugh is contagious.

Daughter Victoria always has an opinion, admitting to speaking before she thinks. Son Jonathon is more reserved, often finding himself unwittingly involved in the family’s antics.

Together, the Fren’s love new destinations and different cultures. They’ll give anything a go, which often gets them into unpredictable situations.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming interview with the Fren Family on  Holidays with Kids .

Kev, Dorian and Teng

Aptly known as “the boys”, these three good mates met when working in a Target store together.

Kev now has an art degree and is known for being sensible. Dorian is laid-back and polite, with hopes of becoming a teacher. Teng is the risk-taker, always looking for a good time.

The trio of suburban millennials share a love of junk food, computer games, music and movies. All in their twenties, Kev, Dorian and Teng are smart and positive. Always quick to make fun of each other, they guarantee laughs.

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

Kevin and Janetta

Kevin, 63, and Janetta, 69, have been married for more than three decades. These Travel Guides 2021 cast members are self-professed holiday snobs.

The couple originally lived in Melbourne, but sold their house to move to the country. The tree-change saved them so much money they can now afford to travel for at least four months a year.

These jet-setting retirees hate settling for anything second-rate. Kevin and Janetta love five-star hotels, big cities and quality service.

This discerning duo expect the best when on holiday. If the quality or service isn’t up to scratch, they won’t hesitate to make a complaint.

Stack and Mel

This cowgirl duo signify the last, but definitely not the least, of our Travel Guides 2021 cast. The fan favourites from country NSW and Victoria are ready to hit the road again.

The girls are big on the rodeo scene. They frequently compete together and against each other in roping events.

In their signature hats, cowgirl boots and belt buckles, Stack and Mel are rough around the edges and always straight to the point.

Whilst the pair remain wary to venture anywhere beyond the Outback, they’re known to give anything a red-hot go.

Stack and Mel have spent most of their lives in the bush. This rendered them blissfully unaware of other cultures, languages and customs. Tune in to watch these country girls battle the big cities.

Tags: Australia travel , Australian travellers , Travel Guides , TV

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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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The Travel Guides Kevin Moloney and Janetta Stones pack their bags for the final time this season

When Kevin Moloney and Janetta Stones began their Travel Guides journey, they never imagined they would still be on the show six seasons, 55 episodes and 16 equivalent months of travel later.

Now, the self-proclaimed “travel snobs” can’t wait to pack their bags for their next adventure.

The final pit stops of the 2023 season are close.

“As long as we’re fit and healthy, we want to do Travel Guides ,” Kevin, 65, and Janetta, 71, agree. “It’s the best gig in the world.”

The final pit stops of the 2023 season are close to home for the Victorian-based pair, being a week-long holiday in Melbourne, followed by a trip to Phillip Island, 90 minutes from the city.

The guides take in the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest sporting event – the Australian Open – take a trip to comedy club The Rubber Chicken, and get a taste of performance driving at The BMW M Driving Experience.

“As long as we’re fit and healthy.”

Being the oldest of the cast, Kevin and Janetta have found the Travel Guides experience has helped keep them young.

“We learn all sorts of new jargon and swear words,” Janetta says with a laugh.

Also keeping them on their toes is not knowing where they’re going until they get to the airport.

“We get a packing list and a temperature guide,” Janetta explains, Kevin adding, “We play a great game of ‘Where the hell are we going?'”

And what do they attribute the immense success of the show to? That would be its authenticity due to the cast being “100 per cent honest”.

“We realise the responsibility to the audience to be truthful, and if that means preferring business class, five-star hotels and not liking buffets, we have to [say that],” Kevin declares.

“We have no reason to sleep outside or under a million stars: five stars is enough for us!”

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Is there more to Australia's most popular beach-side destination than meets the eye? The guides indulge in the five star luxury of the Palazzo Versace Hotel as they explore, review and rate ... Read all Is there more to Australia's most popular beach-side destination than meets the eye? The guides indulge in the five star luxury of the Palazzo Versace Hotel as they explore, review and rate an iconic holiday haunt. Is there more to Australia's most popular beach-side destination than meets the eye? The guides indulge in the five star luxury of the Palazzo Versace Hotel as they explore, review and rate an iconic holiday haunt.

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Apply now to be part of Travel Guides 2024

Now that the borders are open and flights are taking off around the world, our Travel Guides are finally back and eager to explore the globe — but the best part, now you could be one of them!

We are searching for new groups of holidaymakers to become travel critics.

Click here to apply

You could be jet-setting around the globe just like our favourite Guides — The Fren Family , Stack and Mel , "holiday snobs" Kevin and Janetta , best mates Kev, Dorian and Teng (aka The Target Boys) , and Matt and Brett .

Stream new episodes of Travel Guides on 9Now.

If you have a passion for travel, a sense of humour and want the adventure of a lifetime, now is the time to apply.

We're looking for families, partners and groups. However you must be a group of 2 to 4 people, aged 18 or over.

You must have a current passport and be able to travel between July and December 2023.

You must upload a video with your application. All members of your group must appear in the video along with individual photos and one all together.

Applicants must be Australian citizens or have been a permanent resident for at least two years.

Applicants must not be or have been in the past two years an employee of Nine or its affiliates, or be associated with any news or media outlet, including any web-based media outlet in Australia or elsewhere.

Applications close Monday 5th June 2023 at midnight.

Travel Guides continues on Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:30pm. You can stream complete seasons of Travel Guides for free on 9Now .

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• Matt And Brett
• Kev Dorian And Teng
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