I catch myself, like many others, longing to travel again. While the weather is currently a roller coaster of hot, rain, cloudy, repeat, I find myself taking to shows and films to take my mind somewhere other than home.

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Our latest and greatest binge is Bravo’s Below Deck Mediterranean. I have always been a fan; however, I was able to secure my fiancé’s interest in the show, and we started it from the beginning. My grandmother got me hooked about five years ago; the drama, locations and scenery draw you in. Now, in quarantine, many of the normal weekly shows my fiancé and I watch are on hold due to COVID. Below Deck filmed prior to the pandemic, so new shows air weekly on Monday nights.

This is the perfect show to take a step back and imagine yourself in a different setting. The camera crew does an amazing job capturing the lives of these stewardesses, deck hands, chef, captain and guests on luxury charter yachts. Typically the crew is from all over the world, bringing different accents and cultures. It is truly much more than just drama (but the drama sure makes the show), and you go through an experience with each yachtie, as they call themselves. These super yachts cruise through the south of France, Croatia, all around Italy, Tahiti, to the Caribbean islands, Greece and more with several different docks and glorious scenery in the background.

Below Deck Mediterranean just started airing its fifth season with Captain Sandy. It is truly something we both look forward to after a long day or when wanting to chill over the weekend. It’s an escape from all things COVID, job, wedding and missing close family and friends.

But wait, there’s more! Below Deck Mediterranean is just the start to our binge; there is also the original Below Deck with seven seasons. Typically there is a rotation of Below Deck and Below Deck Mediterranean, and this year they came out with Below Deck Sailing (one season).

This series and show not only added laughs, memories and bucket-list locations but also an escape from reality along with a sense of normalcy in my weekly schedule.

— Lexi Holstin, account executive