Hello, Fine Living Network

In a few weeks, you’ll probably start seeing promos for a new show on the Fine Living Network — a spinoff of the popular What You Get For The Money series about travel. And you’ll probably say to yourself, “Hey, that host looks familiar.”

He should. That’s me.

The new program, which is now in production, is scheduled to debut this spring.

Why am I doing a TV show?

You asked for it. Over the years, many of you have expressed your disappointment with travel TV shows that either showcased vacations you could never afford or focusing on saving money almost to the point where you couldn’t enjoy the experience. This program is going to help you create a common-sense budget for your next getaway. It’ll help you determine where to save — and when to splurge.

You’ll actually use this information. OK, I admit that I love watching shows about far-flung destinations that can only be reached by dugout canoe or helicopter. But am I going to take my next vacation there? Probably not. This program will cover practical destinations that the whole family can easily get to, and will offer useful tips on how to make the most of your vacation dollar once you’re there.

As a bonus, you get to keep me around! Even though these shows take a considerable amount of time to produce, I’ve managed to rearrange my schedule so that I can continue writing for my core outlets. My work will continue to appear in National Geographic Traveler, in my Tribune-syndicated column, on public radio, Tripso.com and this Web site and blog.

I’ll have more information on the debut of this new program soon. If you have any ideas for what you’d like to see on the show, please send me an email.

Christopher Elliott is the author of Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. Critics have called it “eye-opening” and “inspiring” — it’ll “grab your attention and won’t let go.” Order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.

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