By Contributor,Laura Manske
Copyright forbes
© Apple TV+
You can feel a happy shift in energy with multi-award-winning actor and comedian Eugene Levy (Schitt’s Creek, American Pie, Best in Show), whose acclaimed The Reluctant Traveler series on Apple TV+ premieres its third season on September 19. Background: Levy was, until a few years ago, decidedly set in his personal habits, avoiding activities, including travel, that were beyond his comfort zone. “My life was steady, predictable, reassuringly repetitive,” Levy admits. This might seem to be an incongruous statement for a celeb touting a resume with more than 60 film credits (six of which broke the $100-million box office ceiling)—a feat that would no doubt require leaning into boldness and versatility. Yet, in Levy’s day-to-day, at-home goings-on, he opted for a tame, no-jolts lifestyle. Thus, his agreement, at the urging of Apple TV+ execs, to host an original travel show in 2023 was not just astonishing, but turned out to be a remarkable, life-changing leap. Levy’s horizons quickly expanded in dazzling directions, widening his—and much of his audience’s—outlook on the world. Travel has transformed him. Levy, once reluctant, is freshly reinvigorated. Gladly, his renown dry wit remains. “Now that I’m considered something of a traveler, I’ve challenged myself to complete my own bucket list before actually kicking the bucket,” he quips. “I did a lot of research, kept an open mind and came up with a list of my own. I’d be a liar to say these experiences have not made my life richer, because you’re only passing through once.” Forbes reader: Where would you go if you could travel anywhere?
Uplifting Travel: Eight Episodes, Eight Countries
This season, Levy touches down in Austria, Canada, England, India, Ireland, Mexico, South Korea and the United States. Colorful stories, knockout camerawork, hilarious happenings, evocative insights, fascinating people and warm-hearted connections ensue. Among the many pleasing on-screen personalities who join Levy en route are Rahul Dravid, former Indian cricketer famed as one of the greatest batsmen in the game’s history, and Eric Nam, an American singer, songwriter and actor based in South Korea. With his daughter, Canadian actor Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek and SurrealEstate), Levy embraces Ireland, where they toast St. Patrick’s Day and unearth unanticipated family heritage. Their father-daughter banter is sweet and comic. “I thought a bucket list was all about the big stuff, epic adventures, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities,” muses Levy. “Sometimes that’s true. But I’ve also found that often even in the grandest of settings, it’s the little things that really stay with you: the quiet conversations, becoming comfortable with things that are unfamiliar.” Last week, Levy and I talked and laughed via Zoom.
Levy and Prince William relish a friendly stroll through Windsor Castle’s grounds. This screenshot is from the third season’s trailer.
© Apple TV+
Laura Manske: “You walked-and-talked with Prince William of Wales at Windsor Castle in England. Did it live up to your expectations?”
Levy: “This is an interesting story. It was a surprise that he was going to be on the show. We had plans [to film] in London. We were kind of touching on the royals by touring Windsor Castle. Then [when I was at my hotel] I was told that the prince would be the one who would be taking me on tour! The next thing I knew, I was [there], waiting for his arrival. He is really smart and has a great sense of humor.”
Manske: “He asked you whether ‘getting drunk with Prince William was on your bucket list.’ And you replied: ‘That’s the bucket!’”
Levy: “That came out so funny. He’s an amazing man. A very gracious host. We had the greatest day.”
Manske: “Which of the eight destinations this season was the most wondrous for you?”
Levy: “Vienna. I am a music buff. Vienna has so much history with great composers. We explored how, every winter, this city of culture puts on 200 major formal balls in the span of two months. I attended the biggest one: Vienna Philharmonic Ball. It is also a coming out [event] for debutantes. Quite charming. Tradition is an important part of it all. There is a formality about it, a white tie-and-tails thing. I like the formal setting—not that I would want to do this every day. ”
Levy waltzes with a descendant of a famous composer.
© Apple TV+
Manske: “What was your aha! lesson this season?”
Levy: “I have never been a social animal. I am not big on chit-chat. I never readily go up to people, never feel comfortable enough to just start a conversation like some people do. Yet [because of this show] I am getting into it more, enjoying it, figuring out that I can gain a lot of information by talking to people and learning. The local people [that the producers] set me up with have been a high point for me.”
Levy celebrates Dia de Los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), which honors ancestors, at a festival in Oaxaca.
© Apple TV+
Manske: “Taking to the open road in Louisiana, you drove a recreational vehicle. Amusing or terrifying?”
Levy: “As it turned out, I had a great [local] partner, who showed me the ropes. Driving was kind of scary, because the vehicle is big. I only had one minor accident, trying to pull into a gas station. I almost knocked over one of the pumps. A bit of a scrape on the side of the RV. But it could have been worse. The discovery for me in the South was the people: friendly, charming, bright and funny. Down-home hospitality. Made me feel so welcome. I [previously] did not have a lot of experience with [the American South].”
In Oaxaca, Levy delights in the community’s spirit and emphasis on family.
© Apple TV+
Manske: “In the episode about Vancouver, which is located on Canada’s West Coast, Canadian multi-platinum star and five-time Grammy Award-winner Michael Bublé praised you as Canada’s ‘national treasure,’ enthusiastically steering you around his home city of Vancouver and inviting you into his house, which fantastically has an indoor hockey rink. You are from Toronto in the East. Bublé and you had action-packed, humorously competitive scenes together.”
Levy: “Canada is such a big country. There is a bit of a rivalry between the East and West Coasts. We went at it a bit.”
Manske: “It was memorable to watch Bublé and you sing a duet, ‘Fly Me to the Moon,’ in a Vancouver night spot. I felt tingles, Eugene.”
Levy indulges in mezcal at an agave farm and distillery in Oaxaca.
© Apple TV+
Manske: “You were eyes-wide-open in India—an immense, vibrant nation—visiting Jodhpur, called the Blue City, and Jaipur, called the Pink City, because many of their buildings in their old-town neighborhoods are painted in those colors.”
Levy: “If somebody had said to me [years ago], ‘Do you want to go to India?’ my reaction would have been: ‘No, I don’t think that is going to be on my list.’ The population—there are so many people and I’m not good in crowds. The traffic is crazy: cars and scooters. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason as to how they’re moving, what lane they’re in. It’s absolute chaos. There’s the poverty factor as well. I had thought that I don’t need to go to see extreme poverty. [However, once I was there], I have to say that the country is beautiful, quite striking. While there is extreme poverty, you don’t get a sense of hardship from the people. They go about their lives. The people are lovely.”
Manske: “What one word now describes the power and magic of travel for you?”
Levy: “Enlightenment.”
The above interview was edited for length and clarity.
Dreamy Accommodations: Eugene Levy Slept Here
London, England: The Goring Hotel. Since 1910, this exclusive haven is the last five-star hotel in London that is still owned and managed by the family who founded it—a treasured legacy with fine-tuned focus on the future. Reminiscent of a posh British country retreat, its well-positioned address is minutes from Buckingham Palace. The Dining Room—a Michelin-starred restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Graham Squire—serves seasonal ingredient-saluting dishes in a theatrical setting, with skillfully chosen music and artful table-side service.
The Royal Suite of The Goring Hotel in London, which has ensconced members of the royal family.
© Nick Rochowski Photography
Seoul, South Korea: The Signiel. Managed by Lotte Hotels & Resorts, this 235-guestroom, full-service, buzz-worthy hotel, with its impressive views of the Han River, resides within the 123-story Lotte World Tower, the tallest building in South Korea and the sixth tallest in the world. Fine-dining restaurants and a therapeutic spa are major draws. Personalized service is The Signiel’s mantra.
Jacuzzi overlooking Seoul: Make a splash in a Royal Suite at The Signiel, located in the Lotte World Tower.
© 2017 Bloomberg Finance LP
Jodhpur, India: WelcomHeritage Bal Samand Lake Palace. On the shores of an alluring lake and nestled amid 60 acres, where peacocks strut and fan their feathers, this 36-guestroom hideaway’s legacy is rooted in a notable red sandstone structure built in the 17th century. Hire a horse-and-buggy ride to peruse the estate. Saunter lavish gardens. Savor delectable Indian and international cuisines, afternoon high tea and hand-crafted cocktails in bejeweled rooms. Feel transported to a gem.
WelcomHeritage Bal Samand Lake Palace in Jodhpur, India.
Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Galway, Ireland: Mount Vernon. Built in 1788 for Colonel William Persse on his homecoming return from the American War of Independence, where his friendship with General George Washington had inspired the property’s name, this enchanting villa hugs the coastline of Ireland’s North County Clare. It is graced by a wildflower meadow and panoramas of the Cliffs of Aughinish and Galway Bay. With five bedrooms, a walled garden, fireplace and fire pit, well-equipped kitchen and a wide-open sky for bird-watching and star-gazing, this is an idyllic getaway for nature-loving family or friends.
Monterey Cypress trees at the Mount Vernon villa in Ireland are thought to have been gifts from George Washington.
© Mount Vernon
Vienna, Austria: Hotel Imperial. Built as a duke’s private residence, the building was refashioned into the Hotel Imperial for the Vienna World’s Fair and ceremoniously opened in 1873. Tradition and opulence deftly swirl within its sumptuous interior—replete with crystal chandeliers, statuary, antiques and marble galore. Now managed by Marriott Bonvoy in its Luxury Collection, the 138 guestrooms and suites offer a range of accommodations. It is advantageously situated from which to attend Vienna’s more than 50 opera houses and theaters, as well as a plethora of museums. Iconic classical composers, such as Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Strauss, created masterpieces in Vienna. At Hotel Imperial, you can choose among ample pleasures. Favorites are Sunday champagne brunch with smooth jazz; 24/7 delivered in-room meals (topped off with Apfelstrudel and Viennese Imperial Torte); dining and drinking treats at Café Imperial Wien, Restaurant OPUS and the Imperial Bar.
A Vienna showpiece: Hotel Imperial’s Royal Staircase.
© Hotel Imperial/Matthew Shaw
Oaxaca, Mexico: Casa Silencio. Awarded two Michelin Keys for its exceptional hospitality, this one-of-a-kind, adults-only escape features six guest suites, dressed in burnt-wood and distressed-leather furniture, velvet upholstery, copper lamps, hand-woven rugs and accent pieces created by local artists and craftspeople. Dine at the 53-foot-long communal table constructed from a single 17-ton slab of hand-cut basalt. Tour its mezcal production facility for special edition tastings. Cheers!
For further insight into this Apple TV+ travel series and Eugene Levy, read my other Forbes interviews: Actor Eugene Levy Talks Amazing New Season Of ‘The Reluctant Traveler’ and Actor Eugene Levy On Going From ‘Schitt’s Creek’ To ‘The Reluctant Traveler’, as well as my insider round-ups: 7 Alluring Hotels In Eugene Levy’s New ‘The Reluctant Traveler’ 2024 and 8 Stunning Hotels Where Actor Eugene Levy Slept In ‘The Reluctant Traveler’.
Editorial StandardsReprints & Permissions
