Alright so just who is this Rick Steves geezer and how come I've never heard of him?
Jan 12th, 2002, 12:31 PM
#121
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Matchmaker, sorry, but I already have a live-in boyfriend. Besides, there is no tension, sexual or otherwise, between Leone and me. Leone's tone and idiom remind me of my friend, Arthur. When I read his posts I can just picture these words coming out of Arthur's mouth. <BR><BR>Another person Leone reminds me of is Leon Talley, an editor at American Vogue. They use the same patois.
Jan 12th, 2002, 12:33 PM
#122
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Rick's site has one of the most useful travel webpages I have ever visited ( http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/graffiti11.html ), the tourist scam alert.<BR><BR>I have travelled a fair bit and also lived overseas. I believe Rick's advice is excellent for tourists. It would be nice if we could all be conversant (European expectations are fluency) in a language when we travel (to become the mythical super-traveller), but it is also important to know one's limits. No native has the time to attempt to converse with someone who would be better off using sign-language and simple words to get the idea across. <BR><BR>Regarding haircuts, behaviour etc..... if you are an American or Canadian travelling in Europe, some people do not appreciate friendly, open behaviour. The responses of Leone et al are a good preparation of what you can expect (especially from certain hip young people) when you travel to Europe. Remember, friendliness is seen by many as weakness, not as confidence or good-will.
Jan 12th, 2002, 02:12 PM
#124
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Homer, *LOL*...good one!<BR><BR>idbcurioustoo, I know that Steves used to guide some of the Europe Through the Back Door tours and I suspect he still may guide a couple each year. But, as Rex pointed out, with 200 tours each year, he's certainly not guiding every one. <BR><BR>I could be mistaken, but I don't believe Steves says, or implies, in his books, brochures or TV shows, that he will be the person guiding one's ETBD tour.
Jan 12th, 2002, 02:50 PM
#127
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Wow, talk about opening a can of worms, here....<BR><BR>The thing I always wonder when I watch his programs is whether with all the money he is obviously making, he is actually staying at the 2 star hotels he is showcasing, or if he is staying at the Ritz-Carlton down the street, and just pops along in the morning to join the camera crew who DID stay there.<BR><BR>
Jan 22nd, 2002, 03:01 AM
#130
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Hi..<BR><BR>funny, I am staying in south Wimbledon and went with my friend to get Indian food on Tooting B'way the other day. I asked her if Balham (I pronounced it correctly) was also good for Indian food, she started to laugh. <BR><BR>she said anytime anyone mentions Balham she remembers the Peter Sellers movie (before he became big) where he intoned solemnly, over the movie shots.. 'Bal-gam, gateway to the south'.. clearing poking fun at the Yanks pronunciation of the word.. <BR><BR>methinks that perhaps Rick is a little more worldly (literate, well read or culturally with-it) than his paint by the numbers approach to travel may suggest? <BR><BR>I am not saying that last bit derisively btw, I think he does a great job of giving first-timers, (and we all were once right?) the courage to just DO IT. Can't be a bad thing. Plus he clearly states - THIS IS NOT THE ONLY BOOK YOU SHOULD READ for your travels..<BR><BR>everyone has a niche, he found his. (I have never actually watched his show though, sad to say)<BR><BR>Beth
Jan 22nd, 2002, 04:42 AM
#131
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BTW Steves has a bad reputation within the travel & tourism industry...<BR><BR>Personally I check out the books to see where he recommends - so I can avoid "his" kind of tourists. Some towns (esp. Brugge) have a real Steves trail & you'll see the hordes walking with open guidebook in hand; get off the Rick Slimes trail and you'll have a much more "local" experience IMHO.
Jan 22nd, 2002, 05:59 AM
#134
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Mirabella, I guess you are all of the above and you can't read, either. Okay, let's do it again--Rick Steves writes for the inexperienced traveler. I don't know what the "experienced travellers" above have written that I can learn that would tell me what I don't already know from my fifteen years as an agent. Mirabella, I have lived in Europe for several years, and traveled all over it. So I say again, Steves' books provide an easy, uncomplicated, stress-free guide to new travelers. And he fully encourages travelers to read other books. Why would anyone have a problem with that?<BR><BR>Mirabella and DrKnow, I was going to say something, but I realize it really is pointless to try to hold a discussion with you.<BR><BR>To those of you who are contemplating a first time trip, pick up one of his books at the book store and page through it. You be the judge. I think you will find that he is a very nice man with much experience and his books are written with you in mind. He anticipates problems that could come up and tells you the best way he knows to deal with them. See for yourself and don't let these travel snobs stop you from at least looking at his books.
Jan 22nd, 2002, 06:22 AM
#135
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Larry-<BR>This is a post of information and opinions and we, like you, are entitled to our opinions, without being called names.If you find it difficult to express an opinion without denigrating people, you should work on your own failures before starting on the people on this board.
Jan 22nd, 2002, 06:33 AM
#136
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Larry's right, though. Rick Steves books are all that Larry says. I can understand that some people have more experience and need more indepth guide books, but why not just say that instead of trashing Rick Steves? No, I think Larry has made a valid statement.
Jan 22nd, 2002, 12:12 PM
#138
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Good comments, Larry. <BR><BR><BR>Snob: one who has an offensive air of superiority in matters of knowledge or taste.<BR><BR>It's one thing for a person to say they like travel books other than those Rick Steves puts out, quite another for a person to say that "Steves is probably good for the first time traveler if one has no imagination, no sense of adventure, no clue!", and quite another altogether for someone to claim that "Steves has a bad reputation within the travel & tourism industry." <BR><BR>One is expressing a preference, the second is expressing condescenion, and the third is an assertion that could, quite possibly, be considered libelous.
Jan 22nd, 2002, 01:28 PM
#139
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I think it is the travel and tour industry that has the bad reputation, cramming tourists into massive busses, transporting them quickly between sights, then sticking them in a shop for a tour-guide kickback. I would prefer, if I were taking a guided tour, to take one of Rick's tours, where it seems like it would be more laid back and more local-people oriented. I have stayed in the same hotel at the same time as his groups, and they seem to be having a lot of fun mingling with the local people.
