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The accident that led to the Fren Family being cast on Travel Guides

Newcastle Travel Guides the Fren family have had Australia in stitches since they started on the Nine network show in 2017.

But mum and daughter Cathy and Victoria Fren told   Vacations & Travel   their appearance on the reality TV show was a total accident.

They never even applied.

Travel guides fren family

The Fren family, Mark (59) and Cathy (57), and their two kids Jonathon (29) and Victoria (27) owned and operated Bavarian-style restaurant Oma together for ten years.

“Because of the restaurant they actually asked Mum to audition for a cooking show,” Victoria said.

“We didn’t get on that, I don’t even think the show ever aired.”

“But 12 months later we got a call asking about a show called Travel Guides and now here we are.”

Travel guides fren family

The Fren Family matriarchs, Victoria and Cathy are well-known for being upfront. Jonathon and Mark are a bit more reserved.

But Victoria says the boys were “super keen” when Cathy pitched the Travel Guides plan to her clan.

“I mean who doesn’t love a free holiday,” Victoria said.

The Fren family have been on 38 “free holidays” to be exact. They’ve been lucky enough to travel to the most spectacular international and domestic destinations.

Travel guides fren family

Keep reading:

  • Travel Guides 2021 to take on international destinations
  • Why Stack and Mel almost missed out on the show

The Fren family on Travel Guides 2021

The Travel Guides 2021 season sees the Fren family jet Greece, South Korea, Mauritius and Cambodia.

Cathy doesn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea: “Obviously all the overseas destinations were filmed before the pandemic”.

“We started filming this season in July of 2019 and we finished somewhere around mid November that year.”

Of all the international destinations that feature on Travel Guides 2021, Cathy and Victoria say that “Hands down, Greece was our favourite.”

travel guides cast fren family

“Mykonos was party central,” Cathy said.

Victoria disagrees, taking a dig at her mum.

“No, Mum and Dad went home early, I stayed and partied way on into the morning,” she said.

It clearly hits the spot.

“What are you talking about? We have a great relationship,” jokes Cathy.

Travel guides fren family

Funny Frens

It’s clear that a great sense of humour is what keeps the Fren family so tight-knit.

They never take themselves too seriously.

“There isn’t a week if not a day that goes by where we don’t laugh about something that we’ve done,” Cathy told Vacations & Travel.

Of all the unpredictable situations the mother-daughter duo have found themselves in, they say that their ‘Mermaid Makeover’ is one they still can’t stop cracking up over.

Even though the Fren family are always up for a laugh they say that this season of Travel Guides was especially eye-opening for them.

“We got to go to Cambodia and that was a real culture shock for us because it’s a developing country. We got to see a lot of sadness there but it was really special to be able to do something like that,” Victoria said.

Travel guides fren family

Brutally honest

Although they’re always grateful to journey abroad, the Fren family take their job as travel critics very seriously.

“We always tell the truth, because we know that there are so many people out there who actually go and do the same holiday we do,” Cathy said

“If we say we like something that we didn’t and then someone goes to that destination they’ll know we were lying.”

So many Australians relate to the larrikin family. But Cathy says she was initially surprised to hear that her family was the norm.

“When I brought my family on the show, I thought we were all crazy. But after being on the show so many people told us that we’re normal. I actually can’t believe it.”

This article is a Holidays with Kids digital exclusive. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here .

Lead image © Nine Network

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Meet the cast of Travel Guides 2024

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Travel Guides is back for a new season – and so are your favourite cast members!

From the picturesque mountains of Nepal to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, the seventh season of the beloved travel show has already delivered its fair share of enviable experiences and hilarious moments.

Alongside Travel Guides’ once-in-a-lifetime itineraries, our favourite friendly faces will also be returning to our screens alongside a few new globe-trotting friends.

As they prepare for their next adventure, scroll down to meet the cast of Travel Guides for 2024.

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Karli and bri.

Joining Travel Guides on the road for the first time are Karly and Bri, two besties who met while filming  Beauty and the Geek  for Nine a couple of years ago and have been inseparable ever since.

“We were roommates on the show, so we had no choice but to be friends,” Bri told our sister site TV WEEK. “We were like the love story from  Beauty And The Geek … we walked out best of friends.”

“We bring a different dynamic to the show, and I think people will be pleasantly surprised by us. We might look a certain way on the outside – we like to dress up and look nice – but we also give everything a crack. We are tomboys at heart.”

matt-brett-travel-guides

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 20 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-travel-guides

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 his wife Cathy for over 30 years, and their two kids, Victoria and Jonathan, are always along for the journey.

Their family grew in 2023, 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-janetta-travel-guides

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-teng-travel-guides

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 7 airs Sundays at 7:00 pm on Nine and 9Now.

Erin Christie is a writer at WHO (digital), keeping across pop culture, reality TV (especially Survivor), and the occasional fashion trend.

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Everything you need to know about the Travel Guides cast

Profile picture of Chanelle Mansour

Travel Guides is one of Australia’s most beloved television shows, and with its  crazy adventures and hilarious reviews, it’s not hard to see why.

WATCH BELOW: Travel Guides: The Fren family visit a farm

Channel Nine’s   Travel Guides   has taken off this year, with the reality show seeing everyday holidayers act as travel critics.

The very different groups of ordinary Aussies go on the same week-long holiday – reviewing the cuisine, accommodation, activities and local sights, where they tell it how they see it.

So, here’s everything that you need to know about this season’s cast.

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Matt and Brett

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New to the block are Matt and Brett, who have been together for 18 years and married for seven.

Matt, 45, works for the local council while Brett, 51, is a primary school teacher, and the two love to travel – meaning they have a lot of opinions on how holidays should be.

The difference between the two is that while Matt loves to organise everything, do everything and eat out for every meal, Brett is happy to go along for the ride.

They are quick with biting commentary on everything around them but are generous, kind and love a laugh. 

travel guides fren family

Fren family

The Frens are well equipped to cope with stressful family situations and can always find the funny side of any holiday disaster.

Mark, 59, is the upbeat and forthright dad, so when on holiday he loves to negotiate hotel room upgrades.

For more than 30 years he has been happily married to Cathy, 57, whose quirky sense of humour and distinctive laugh is contagious.

Together they have two kids, Victoria, 27, who is always ready to voice an opinion, and Jonathon, 29, who is the more reserved one of the bunch.

The Frens are unafraid to give anything a go, which often leads them into unpredictable situations.

travel guides kev dorian teng

Kev, Dorian, and Teng

This trio, made up of Kev, Dorian and Teng, are all good mates who share a love of junk food, computer games, music and movies. 

Kev, 28, is the sensible pop-culture expert with an arts degree, while Dorian, 24, is laidback, polite and studying to become a teacher.

As for Teng, 25, he’s the risk-taker who has deferred uni for the last three years and is always looking for a good time.

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

Despite Dorian’s Greek heritage, they often refer to themselves as “the three Asian boys” who are fearless and willing to give anything a go.

travel guides kevin janetta

Kevin and Janetta

Kevin, 63, and Janetta, 69, describe themselves as ‘holiday snobs’, as they want the best of the best for everything.

The pair, who have been married for over three decades, don’t have children, and are passionate wine enthusiasts.

They also love exploring big cities, but before hitting the road, they make sure they do their research to ensure they experience the best holiday.

And if the quality or service isn’t up to scratch they will not hesitate to make a complaint – earning them the “we don’t suffer in silence” catchphrase.

travel guides stack mel

Stack and Mel

Identical twin cowgirls, Stack and Mel, are still relatively new to the travel game, and are a little wary when venturing anywhere beyond the Outback. Even so, they are willing to give anything a crack.

The girls, 31, are big on the rodeo scene, competing together and against each other in roping events. They have travelled extensively around country Australia for competitions.

Having spent most of their lives in the bush, they are blissfully unaware of other cultures, languages and customs – but this doesn’t stop them voicing an opinion.

They are used to roughing it and are not easily impressed by fancy holidays, and would much rather camp outdoors with their horses and dogs rather than stay in the city.

Chanelle is the Shopping & Streaming Editor across a broad portfolio of digital brands, including ELLE, Marie Claire, WHO, Now To Love and more. With a background in entertainment and lifestyle, she loves any excuse to talk about her latest celebrity crush, what’s trending on #BookTok and the latest watercooler show she’s obsessing over.

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travel guides cast fren family

The accident that led to the Fren Family being cast on Travel Guides

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Newcastle Travel Guides the Fren family have had Australia in stitches since they started on the Nine network show in 2017.

But mum and daughter Cathy and Victoria Fren told Vacations & Travel their appearance on the reality TV show was a total accident.

They never even applied.

Travel Guides Fren family

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The Fren family, Mark (59) and Cathy (57), and their two kids Jonathon (29) and Victoria (27) owned and operated Bavarian-style restaurant Oma together for ten years.

“Because of the restaurant they actually asked Mum to audition for a cooking show,” Victoria said.

“We didn’t get on that, I don’t even think the show ever aired.”

“But 12 months later we got a call asking about a show called Travel Guides and now here we are.”

travel guides fren family

The Fren Family matriarchs, Victoria and Cathy are well-known for being upfront. Jonathon and Mark are a bit more reserved.

But Victoria says the boys were “super keen” when Cathy pitched the Travel Guides plan to her clan.

“I mean who doesn’t love a free holiday,” Victoria said.

The Fren family have been on 38 “free holidays” to be exact. They’ve been lucky enough to travel to the most spectacular international and domestic destinations.

travel guides cast fren family

The Fren family on Travel Guides 2021

The Travel Guides 2021 season sees the Fren family jet Greece, South Korea, Mauritius and Cambodia.

Cathy doesn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea: “Obviously all the overseas destinations were filmed before the pandemic”.

“We started filming this season in July of 2019 and we finished somewhere around mid November that year.”

Of all the international destinations that feature on Travel Guides 2021, Cathy and Victoria say that “Hands down, Greece was our favourite.”

travel guides fren family

“Mykonos was party central,” Cathy said.

Victoria disagrees, taking a dig at her mum.

“No, Mum and Dad went home early, I stayed and partied way on into the morning,” she said.

It clearly hits the spot.

“What are you talking about? We have a great relationship,” jokes Cathy.

travel guides fren family

Funny Frens

It’s clear that a great sense of humour is what keeps the Fren family so tight-knit.

They never take themselves too seriously.

“There isn’t a week if not a day that goes by where we don’t laugh about something that we’ve done,” Cathy told Vacations & Travel.

Of all the unpredictable situations the mother-daughter duo have found themselves in, they say that their ‘Mermaid Makeover’ is one they still can’t stop cracking up over.

Even though the Fren family are always up for a laugh they say that this season of Travel Guides was especially eye opening for them.

“We got to go to Cambodia and that was a real culture shock for us because it’s a developing country. We got to see a lot of sadness there but it was really special to be able to do something like that,” Victoria said.

travel guides fren family

Brutally honest

Although they’re always grateful to journey abroad, the Fren family take their job as travel critics very seriously.

“We always tell the truth, because we know that there are so many people out there who actually go and do the same holiday we do,” Cathy said

“If we say we like something that we didn’t and then someone goes to that destination they’ll know we were lying.”

So many Australians relate to the larrikin family. But Cathy says she was initially surprised to hear that her family was the norm.

“When I brought my family on the show, I thought we were all crazy. But after being on the show so many people told us that we’re normal. I actually can’t believe it.”

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Travel Guides' Fren family take viewers inside their restaurant Oma's Kitchen

5 years ago

Three million tuned in last night for the season finale of Channel Nine's Travel Guides , but it's business as usual for series favourites the Frens, who between global jaunts and a busy TV schedule, together run German restaurant Oma's Kitchen.

The foursome, made up of Mark, Cathy and kids Victoria and Jono, have been starring on the reality series since it began three seasons ago.

Their self-depreciating attitude has had lounge rooms in stitches across the country.

travel guides cast fren family

But while the Frens might be used to being put up in swanky digs on the other side of the world and dishing out ratings as part of their role as TV travel critics, A Current Affair reporter Steve Marshall turned the tables on Australia's favourite clan, visiting their popular Newcastle diner to dish them a rating of his own.

Former kindy teachers Mark and Cathy opened Oma's Kitchen several years ago, bringing the kids onboard the family business.

It's this close-knit working environment that's fostered their cheeky, no-holds-barred sense of humour, Mark says.

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"I've got be honest, I've got a great family and 'cause we work so closely together in the restaurant we kind of just can take the mickey out of each other and make fun of each other without anyone getting too upset."

The success of Travel Guides has made the Fren's local celebrities, attracting many customers to the restaurant.

"'We are really humbled by the amount of people who come from all over Oz to meet us and it's really injected tourism, I suppose, for Newcastle," Mark says.

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Though if you ask the family, they'll tell you life really hasn't changed that much at all despite their fame.

"It hasn't [changed], I still work here," daughter Victoria says, jokingly adding "yes, [for] minimum wage."

Matriarch Cathy admits she didn't realise people would like them when the series began.

0304_hon_fren_8

"I thought they'd think we were nuts but apparently we are the norm.

"What you see is what you get but everyone likes it, so we figured it's the new normal," she says.

Watch the full segment above for A Current Affair 's final verdict on the restaurant.

Nine are currently on the hunt for a new group of travel recruits for season 4 of Travel Guides. To submit an application, visit travelguidestv.com.au before midnight on Monday, April 15, 2019.

To catch up on the latest episodes of A Current Affair, visit 9now.com.au/a-current-affair .

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Watching the Frens trapped in a 4WD on Travel Guides is glorious

THEY hate going outside and they’re unhappy when made to do anything. So watching this family crammed into a 4WD in the desert is pure joy.

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THE only thing better than hearing about other people’s travel nightmares is being given the opportunity to watch every moment of their suffering through curated footage.

In the Nine reality series Travel Guides , several groups of regular everyday Australians are sent to various locations around the world for a week and then give the trip a rating.

Sometimes the trips are luxury. And sometimes the groups are just sent to a crap hole and made to set up camp.

This week, it was the latter.

Making up the groups are Aria award winning brother-sister musical duo Angus and Julia Stone.

I love their music.

And these three flight attendants who I’m pretty sure are just the one person.

Seriously I swear this is literally the same person.

But the standout group is the Fren family from Newcastle.

They hate going outside and they’re unhappy when they’re made to do anything.

In the latest episode of the series, all the groups — including the Fren family — are sent to the Northern Territory for a “week long budget camping adventure”.

Receiving word of their latest destination, the Frens are not impressed.

“The red flags started to go up straightaway because we really don’t like the outdoors that much,” the dad says in his light, pitchy voice as the family sit on a rock in the middle of nowhere. They remain perched on this rock for the whole episode as we cut to them for lukewarm commentary about their adventure as it plays out. It’s like Gogglebox but instead of gross recliners there’s a gross rock.

The Frens.

The Frens are extremely uncomfortable with the idea of being outside and I completely sympathise with them. Being outside sucks. Also, I’m legitimately concerned for their son and hope he’s been thoroughly misted in Banana Boat SPF 100 before encountering any kind of sunlight.

‘It burns.’

The Frens hit the ground walking and face an obstacle as soon as they pull into their first stop in Darwin.

In perhaps one of the most glorious moments of Australian television I’ve seen in recent times, the unenthused son and daughter — dressed in sunshirts — are strapped into a Perspex barrel and slowly lowered into a crocodile enclosure during feeding time.

I can’t stress enough how marvellous this is.

GoPro’s inside the barrel capture the moment the siblings are submerged under water and a chicken carcass is thrown at them which encourages a crocodile to attack.

An absolutely necessary close-up.

“I wanna get out! I wanna get out please! Please, I don’t like it in here!” the daughter wails as the crocodiles thrash around them.

It’s terrific. It’s like I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here but better because at the end no one wins anything and there are no prizes so all the torture is for nothing.

After their screams are ignored, the Fren siblings are eventually winched out of the enclosure and pile back into their Mitsubishi Pajero.

“OK let’s get this road trip started. Got our hot chips,” the dad says in his wavering voice.

When the family discovers their next excursion involves literally just sitting on a boat as it sails down a river, they seriously could not be F-ed.

“Ugh doing things.”

Later on, they take a workshop in how to light a fire with two sticks and the dad gets into a very unnecessary position.

I have no idea what he’s doing.

After what feels like several hours, they finally light a fire.

And the daughter has a simple question for the instructor: “Can you get high off it?”

“Wassup.”

Back in the Mitsubishi, it isn’t long before the Frens face another problem.

“Did someone fart?,” the dad softly accuses.

“Ugh I’m gonna be sick!” the son says, making his first statement of the episode.

Good times.

At the end of the week, after days of bickering, they’ve had enough. On their final morning, they sit around boiling eggs and barely talking.

Rating the trip three stars, they clamour back into the Pajero and begin the trek back to their life in Newcastle — free of Perspex barrels and outdoor activities.

For more observations on perspex barrels and not wanting to do things, follow me on Twitter: @hellojamesweir

Travel Guides continues Tuesday night at 9pm on Nine.

A judge has issued a warning to former TV host Andrew O’Keefe, who will fight allegations he intimidated a man in an exclusive seaside suburb.

TV host and reality TV boss Andy Cohen has apologised over an explicit video that’s leaked amid his legal war with one of his stars.

A groom on the UK edition of Married At First Sight has gone viral for an awkward prank he pulled on his wife at their wedding.

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travel guides cast fren family

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.

travel guides cast fren family

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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travel guides cast fren family

  • Sunday, August 25, 2024

Travel Guides: Everything you need to know about the Fren family

travel guides fren family

Meet the Frens (L-R): Jonathon, Victoria, Cathy and Mark.

With their good-natured bickering and silly antics, the Frens have found the perfect balance to make their family work.

Mark keeps things upbeat and is a forthright dad, and is the other half to his wife Cathy, who has a quirky sense of humour and distinctive laugh that’s very contagious.

The couple have been married for more than 30 years and share two kids together, Victoria and Jonathon.

While Victoria is always ready to voice an opinion, Jonathon is a little more on the reserved side out of the bunch – offering a good mix within the family.

travel guides fren family

“Something that we said straight off was that we’re portrayed exactly how we are.”

Although, while it seems like the show is the perfect fit for the family, Mark and Cathy were originally approached by Channel 9 to audition for something completely different – a cooking series called The Hotplate .

The show was never renewed for a second season, and the Frens family found themselves with spots on the  Travel Guides cast, where they say what you see is what you get.

“Something that we said straight off was that we’re portrayed exactly how we are. And all the people in the show, how they act, and how Channel 9 portrays them is exactly how they act,” Cathy told In Touch magazine.

“And that’s what we like. We’re ourselves. Halfway through the first series, I said to a producer, ‘How are we going? Are we alright?’ And he went, ‘Oh, you’re hilarious.’ And I said, ‘Well, I didn’t even know it was supposed to be a humorous show.’ We were just ourselves, so that’s just the way it went.”

travel guide fren family

The Frens are fan-favourites on Travel Guides.

While we’re used to seeing the Frens as just a family of four, the tight-knit clan expanded when Jono wed his partner of two years, Danielle Clark, on June 5 this year.

“They’re a great match,” his mum Cathy told Woman’s Day .  “They really complement each other. They’re madly in love and they’re really caring towards each other.”

His dad Mark also said that they were “so proud” of both the bride and groom, and Victoria added that Danielle has brought her older 
brother out of his shell.

“Individually they’re both quiet people, but when they’re out and about together they’re the total opposite – they’re really outgoing and keen to party,” she said.

fren family jono wedding

Jono recently wed his partner of two years, adding a new Fren family member.

The Fren family could also see another exciting addition now that the pair are married, with Danielle, who’s since changed her last name to Fren, and Jono having confirmed their readiness to be parents.

“Definitely!” he told the magazine. “A whole new Fren family!”

His family are certainly already keen, with Victoria having said: “I think a baby will be within the next few months. A few months… plus nine!”

Mark also added: “We’ve already worked out our grandparent names!”

Travel Guides airs Tuesday, 9pm, Nine Network.

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Need some holiday inspo? Here’s exactly where to follow the Travel Guides cast on Instagram

Profile picture of Tina Burke

The cast of Travel Guides have captured hearts around Australia, with the show’s third season proving a huge ratings success for the Nine Network.

The combination of enviable holiday destinations, with travel guides who are jet-setting novices, has left us obsessed with the feel-good reality TV series.

If you think your week could use a little day-to-day pick me up from the hilarious cast, outside of the show’s Tuesday night time slot on Nine, then here is exactly where to follow the show’s stars on Instagram.

The Fren Family

The hilarious Fren Family is made up of Mark, his wife Cathy, and their children Johnathon and Victoria. The Frens run the German restaurant Oma’s Kitchen in Newcastle, and have been on the series since it began in 2017.

Only Victoria and Mark have public Instagram accounts. You can follow Victoria at @victoriafren, and you can follow Mark at @mark.fren.

travel guides cast fren family

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The Fren family reveal: “Travel guides saved us!”

The Fren family reveal: “Travel guides saved us!”

GRAB YOUR PASSPORT! Travel Guides is holding auditions for new cast members

GRAB YOUR PASSPORT! Travel Guides is holding auditions for new cast members

The gang also share snaps and videos on the Instagram account for Oma’s Kitchen, which you can follow at @omaskitchennewcastle.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Victoria Fren (@victoriafren)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mark Fren (@mark.fren)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Fren Family (@thefrenfamily)

Deepesh and Sage

Newly married and newly minted cast members Deepesh and Sage have just started on Travel Guides.

The loved-up Melbourne couple, who met on dating site RSVP four years ago, are both unbelievably clever. Deepesh is an IT manager and Sage is a childcare worker, between them holding seven degrees!

The happy couple are yet to join the ‘gram with public profiles.

travel guides cast fren family

Deepesh and Sage are adorable!

The Target Boys: Kev, Dorian and Teng

As you would have guessed from their group nickname, Kev, Dorian and Teng met working at Target. The boys, who are still the best of friends after working in retail, are budget travellers who still live at home with their parents.

All three of the boys have public Instagram accounts, where they share hilarious behind-the-scenes videos and candid snaps from their Travel Guides’ escapades.

Kev at @thefakekevinhe , Dorian at @dorian_calleja , and Teng at @mic.teng .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Michael Teng 🧀 (@mic.teng)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dorian Calleja (@dorian_calleja)
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin He (@thefakekevinhe)

Kevin and Janetta

Self-proclaimed ‘holiday snobs’ Kevin and Janetta are always on the lookout for the best accomodation, food and, of course, WINE.

The luxurious retirees love exploring big cities like Paris and New York, but they’re yet to share any #TravelGoals pics on Instagram… because they don’t have public accounts.

But we all know we would get major food and wine envy if the couple ever decide to join social media.

travel guides cast fren family

You’ve gotta love the holiday snobs!

Stack and Mel

Twin cowgirls Stack and Mel started out as ‘travel virgins,’ though they’ve quick become well-seasoned travellers thanks to their part on the series.

The girls have three Instagram accounts between them, with one joint and two individual accounts to their names. They post everything from Travel Guides vacations, to glamorous night’s out, to their rodeos.

You can follow the twins on @stackandmel , follow Mel at @melissa_wilburn , and follow Stack at @staceywilburn .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by #stackandmel (@stackandmel)

Travel Guides airs Tuesday, 8:45pm, on Nine.

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Watch: Travel Guides' Mark and Cathy go behind the scenes of their rockstar Vegas wedding in unseen clip

EXCLUSIVE: What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas, especially when it comes to Travel Guides!

In fact, the Fren Family shared exactly what they got up to when they visited the city's most famous wedding chapel.

Stream new episodes of Travel Guides on 9Now.

In an exclusive unseen video, parents Mark and Cathy revealed what went down when they renewed their vows with one very rockin' impersonator.

"I decided after 35 years of marriage, why don't we renew our vows?" Mark explained. "What better place to go to is the Graceland Chapel!"

Catch their wild Vegas wedding in the video above.

Travel Guides 2024 Vegas

The Elvis-inspired venue has certainly hosted a few famous faces in its time, the most famous being rockstar Jon Bon Jovi.

An estimated 120,000 couples come to Vegas each year to declare their 'I dos', and the most famous place is the Graceland Chapel.

TRAVEL GUIDES EPISODE 2: Three wildest moments from the Travel Guides' trip to Vegas and LA

A rockstar in her own right, Cathy along with 'Elvis' walked down the aisle as Mark shed a tear.

travel guides cast fren family

"When I saw Mark crying, I thought, 'Aww, he still really loves me," Cathy said.

With tears in his eyes, Mark said he surprised by "how good" Elvis' voice was.

Travel Guides 2024 Vegas Fren Family

Adult kids Jono and Vic came along for the ride. But as you can see in the video, they had their own ideas about a Vegas wedding.

EXCLUSIVE: Karly and Bri open up about how they became friends

"When you get married in Vegas, it's either because your parents don't like your future husband or future wife," said Vic being smart.

READ MORE: Bark Air is a new airline designed specifically for dogs

"I reckon it's the best payback you can ever do," she laughed.

Whereas Jono felt Elvis missed the most important part: "Does anyone object?"

Go behind the scenes of their epic Vegas wedding in the video at the top.

Travel Guides airs Sundays at 7:00pm on Channel 9 and 9Now . 

Stream complete seasons of Travel Guides for free on 9Now.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE : Stay across all the latest news from your favourite shows via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.

travel guides cast fren family

  • Travel Guides 2024

Property News: Deal struck for gigantic estate listed for less than $600,000.

IMAGES

  1. Travel Guide Cast: Travel Guides is back for a new season in 2024

    travel guides cast fren family

  2. The Fren family jump out of Oma's Kitchen and into the fire on new reality series Travel Guides

    travel guides cast fren family

  3. The Frens do the Logies!

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  4. Meet Taash and Mads: The Besties

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  5. Travel Guides 2021 cast will take on international destinations

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  6. Travel Guides’ Jono Fren ‘I’m Lucky I Married My First Girlfriend!’

    travel guides cast fren family

COMMENTS

  1. The accident that led to the Fren Family being cast on Travel Guides

    Newcastle Travel Guides the Fren family have had Australia in stitches since they started on the Nine network show in 2017. But mum and daughter Cathy and Victoria Fren told Vacations & Travel their appearance on the reality TV show was a total accident.

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    The Fren family are a team on Travel Guides Australia Season 7. Read their official bio here.

  4. The Fren family reveal: "Travel guides saved us!"

    When the Fren family decided to apply for Travel Guides, they never imagined they would still be doing the series three seasons later. Since the show's 2017 launch, Mark and Cathy, along with ...

  5. Travel Guides: Everything you need to know about the Fren family

    If there's one thing we know about the Fren family from watching them on Travel Guides, it's that they know how to have a good time.

  6. Travel Guides' Jono Fren reveals his fairytale wedding

    EXCLUSIVE: Travel Guides' Jono Fren reveals his fairytale wedding to his long-time partner Danielle Clark - with a surprise reality star MC The reality TV family come together for a special day.

  7. The Fren Family (@thefrenfamily) • Instagram photos and videos

    115K Followers, 668 Following, 626 Posts - The Fren Family (@thefrenfamily) on Instagram: "We're the FrenFamily from Travel Guides @Channel9 @TravelGuides @victoriafren @mark.fren @jonofren21 #thefrenfamily Contact - Claire@cmctalent"

  8. Meet the Cast of Travel Guides 2024

    Their family grew in 2023, 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. (Credit: Nine)

  9. Travel Guides cast: Everything you need to know

    Travel Guides is one of Australia's most beloved television shows, and with its crazy adventures and hilarious reviews, it's not hard to see why. WATCH BELOW: Travel Guides: The Fren family visit a farm Channel Nine's Travel Guides has taken off this year, with the reality show seeing everyday holidayers act as travel critics.

  10. Travel Guides' The Fren Family: Australia bucket list travel ...

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  11. Travel Guides Fren Family applied for a diferent Nine reality show

    The Travel Guides Fren family were asked to apply for a completely different reality TV show before they got the call from the Nine Network casting agents.

  12. Travel Guides 2024 cast: The Guides

    Travel Guides returns for more amazing and adventurous destinations experienced first-hand by your favourite guides and critics. For more information about our Guides, browse now.

  13. Travel Guides' Fren family take viewers inside Oma's Kitchen

    Three million tuned in last night for the season finale of Channel Nine's Travel Guides, but it's business as usual for series favourites the Frens, who between global jaunts and a busy TV schedule, together run German restaurant Oma's Kitchen. The foursome, made up of Mark, Cathy and kids Victoria and Jono, have been starring on the reality ...

  14. Travel Guides (TV series)

    Travel Guides is an Australian travel series which premiered on the Nine Network on 14 February 2017. [ 1] The series follows groups of ordinary Australians who take on the job of travel critics who experience the same week-long international and domestic holidays, and review the same accommodation, cuisine, and local sights. [ 2][ 3] The ...

  15. The Fren family freak out at the Noryangjin fish markets

    The Fren family freak out at the Noryangjin fish markets | Travel Guides Australia Travel Guides Australia 8.34K subscribers Subscribed 125 22K views 3 years ago #TravelGuides #TravelGuidesAU # ...

  16. Travel Guides: The Fren family trapped in the outback is glorious

    In the Nine reality series Travel Guides, several groups of regular everyday Australians are sent to various locations around the world for a week and then give the trip a rating.

  17. Everything you need to know about Travel Guides 2023

    Who are the Travel Guides cast? The all-new season of Travel Guides sees the return of our favourite travel critics: the budget-hunting Fren family from Newcastle, fun-loving Matt and Brett, jetsetters Kevin and Janetta, and best mates Kev, Dorian and Teng.

  18. The Travel Guides Cast: Everything About Salary and Living Conditions

    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.

  19. Travel Guides: Everything you need to know about the Fren family

    The show was never renewed for a second season, and the Frens family found themselves with spots on the Travel Guides cast, where they say what you see is what you get.

  20. A look inside Travel Guides' Fren family wedding

    Jonathon Fren married his partner of two years, Danielle Clarke. (A Current Affair) READ MORE: Travel Guides: The Great Aussie Adventure The couple was surrounded by their close friends and family at the outdoors ceremony in the Hunter Valley, including their Travel Guides family. "I'm so embarrassed about getting emotional.

  21. Where to follow the Travel Guides cast on Instagram

    The cast of *Travel Guides* have captured hearts around Australia, with the show's third season proving a huge ratings success for the Nine Network. Here's where to follow the hilarious cast on ...

  22. Travel Guides 2024 Exclusive: Mark and Cathy go behind the scenes of

    In fact, the Fren Family shared exactly what they got up to when they visited the city's most famous wedding chapel. Stream new episodes of Travel Guides on 9Now.