More Comedy from Rick Steves
 

I've just been into the Rick Steves website and had a look at his UK section.
I'd take it with a very big pinch of salt.

I quote "We hopped out of our big black cab under the statue of the one-eyed, one-legged and single-minded English naval hero, Lord Nelson, on the square named after his greatest battle: Trafalgar."

The thought of Nelson hopping about on his quarterdeck like Long John Silver creased me.

The last time I was in Trafalgar Square, Nelson had what I thought was a pigeon on his shoulder.
Perhaps twas a parrot, Jim Lad!

So when did Nelson lose his leg then?

Someone needs to study both history and anatomy. Nelson lost an arm...not a leg.

Not only did the good admiral have two legs but he also had two eyes although he was blind in one of them.
I get the impression that Mr. Steves is like the travel guide portrayed by the late Gerard Hoffnung. The tip I remember was "try the famous echo in the British Museum Reading Room".

Dear old Rick really isn't very knowledgeable about the UK at all. And he gives some far more useless info than not knowing about Nelson's leg/arm. Some advice he offers is nutty. (and why was he in a cab in the first place - isn't he always extolling buses/metro/tube to save money? )

I assume his stuff about Italy and some other places on the Continent is better - but if you are going to the UK save your money and don't buy his books.

Rick Steves (the hero of the novice and ill-informed traveler) doesn't stay anywhere long enough to learn much about the history or culture of anyplace. He does however find enough time to proclaim three restaurants in the same neighborhood as his absolute favorite in said city. (example: Paris, 7th arr. rue de l'Exposition area)

Let the Rick bashing begin.

Larry J

I've used RS guidebooks many times (including the UK) and have found them VERY helpful and accurate. I don't always agree with his take on this attraction or that restaurant, but that is the nature of opinion.

I actually saw Rick staying at the same hotel that I was staying in one trip.

I was staying at the Airport Movenpick Hotel in Zurich when I spotted Rick checking in at the main desk.

I do know that Rick started this anti Grindlewald, Switzerland idea for overnight lodging.

I don't know if it is anti Grindlewald, but I got the feeling as if Grindlewald was not one of his favorite spots in the Jungfrau region.

Now he is correct that many people use Grindlewald as their homebase and tons of big shiny tour busses come in there dropping off tourists by the droves, but despite all of that,Grindlewald is a good base for the serious hiking and outdoor person.

You all do know that Grindlewald is more than just the main street don't you? You can still find more out of the way places to stay such as the Gletchergarten hotel which is up the far end of the street close to the church.

Steves likes Gimmelwald and I do as well. For day trips!

Once nightfall happens, Gimmelwald pretty much closes down. If you want go find a lively bar or something, you're out of luck there. Yes, some pretty nice hikes are in and around Gimmelwald.

Steves does a nice job showing the novice traveler areas that will not break their budgets. For that, the guy is to be applauded.

I'm a pizza and beer kind of guy also,and I do not need to dine out at some snooty place everynight, but I know the area well enough to determine where the tradeoffs on hotel luxuries begin and end. I want a mini bar or at least a cooler stocked full of frosty cold delights. ;)

3 star hotels usually do fine with me. The family run places are usually immaculately clean and offer a mini bar and a place to watch the news. Although I wish Euro hotels offered The Fox news channel (fair and balanced). Most do have skynews owned by Murdock.

Some of the places in the Jungfrau area Steves tells his readers and viewers about do not provide even those services, but again he steers people away to more budget friendly places.

Euro on the backroads.

So, Steeves is pretty cool even though I do not subscribe to everything he holds true to his belief system.

I liked his AOL profile several years ago about having a fondness for cannabis. :D

>>>I liked his AOL profile several years ago about having a fondness for cannabis.
<<<

Ahhh, you know what Cheethz and Chong were so fond of :)

Marjahweena :)

What I don't understand is, why people who dislike Rick Steves so much spend so much time on his website.

A New York Times Magazine article about Steves relayed that historically, as a tour grop leader, he booked Americans into very modest European hotels because he felt they needed a broader perspective. This American appreciates him for that, if nothing else!

Touche, LAWoman!!

Oh please lighten up! I travel quite a bit and use this site often. I also read and buy many of Rick Steves guidebooks and DVDs. He is knowleageable and very helpfull. I read recently in his Postcards from Europe that he has spent part of every year of the last 25 years traveling through Europe (including the UK) which is more time than many travelers here can state. His humor is tounge and cheek in many instances and you can either like or dislike his comments, but that doesn't diminish his knowlege of Europe. Quoting him out of context is not fair. In his younger days he did promote low budget travel - as many of us did when finances were less. But as he grows older his opinions and his wallet has changed. He advocates cabs, sleeping in hotels (3*) and suggests resturants where the food is local fresh and reasonalby priced. What is wrong with that? At this point in my life I can afford better than I could in my twenties but I still rely on RS for good practical advice about European travel. Pick up a book of his or catch a progam on PBS sometime you may learn something in the process laugh a little too!

I certainly do not dislike Steeves.

His Swiss video series was superb!!

I have to admit that when I get to the part of the video where he kind of takes a shot at Grindlewald, I kind of close my ears to that part. :))

I know that most of the Swiss posters in here do not agree with me on my preference to stay in Grindlewald, not that I dislike Wengen or Murren, because those are some great areas to stay in.

Sometimes I get amused when some travel writer will tell people that certain places in Europe offer the traveler an opportunity to immerse themselves in Euro culture or to hang out with the locals. :))

I found this pizza place once where there was nothing but local Swiss and there was not an American within blocks :) Most Americans would have never gone to this place because some snooty travel writer would not have written about such a place.

So Steeves is not unlike most travel writers. You might agree with some things of what they write about and think other aspects of what they write about is incorrect. JMO!!!

I enjoy Steeves travel videos!

I suspect its not so much Rick Steves that a lot of people object to, but the whole idea of parading through Europe on the guidebook path. At his best, he takes the surprises out of travel. But is that a good idea? Not in my book.

On the Gimmelwald-Grindlwald debate, I think it depends on what you're looking for in your trip by the time you get to the Oberland. Both have fantastic scenery and are great starting points for hiking, so nothing separates the two in those respects.

If you've been doing big cities and you need a break from yet another crowded scene, then Gimmelwald is the place to be. If you want a fancier room and/or clubs and bars at night, then Grindlewald is where it's at.

But it's not true that Gimmelwald has no night scene. That's at the Mountain Hostel and at the Hotel Mittaghorn.

At some point in my trips I usually want to just get the hell away from mobs and tourists. Gimmelwald offers that opportunity in the Oberland.

Wait a minute.
This is the European forum where us "natives" would neither be able to pick out Rick Steves in an identity parade or care.
If anyone wants to have a debate about this man, please go back to the US forum as he does not feature in any European's antenna.
Now, talk about the very orange Judith Chalmers and we'd know what you are talking about. LOL

AR,
RS Guide Books are sold in the UK.

"RS Guide Books are sold in the UK." -- But hopefully only to Americans who forgot and left their copy at home . . . . .

Fellow Fodorite and friend Marcy and I are going next week to listen to Rick Steves give a lecture. I personally don't care for his views or politics and I have a real beef with the way he pronounces certain places like Cinque Terre and Rue Cler &quot;his&quot; finds and then all the lemmings follow in droves to those spots like it was Mecca or something, but (do you get the idea I <i>really</i> don't like him?) but I am nonetheless interested in listening to him. He's not lacking in travel experience or opinions, so I'm waiting...will report afterwards.

Well, the rue Cler isn't &quot;his&quot; find; Patricia Wells was writing about it long before Rick Steves &amp; I suspect that's where he got his info (he does suggest using other guidebooks to accompany his own stating that his is not in any way complete).

Rick's guides are good for the 1st-time traveler, to help them get over their hesitations about travel. I should know, as I got over my qualms about traveling to Europe (and as a solo traveler) after reading <u>Europe through the Back Door</u>.

Rick Steves guide books may well be available in the UK but that does not mean that many people buy them or that the average Brit knows who he is. I was in the Virgin Megastore on Times Square last week and saw CD's by The Stereophonics, Cliff Richard, Robbie Williams and even Roger Whitaker but it doesn't mean that anyone knows who they are in the US.
That's all I was saying.

I am a fan of Rick Steves' philosophy of European travel, but I do not choose to go to the the &quot;locals only&quot; restaurants or hotels he recommends because they are now crowded with American Rick Steves fans. Not that they/we are a bad lot, but it sort of defeats the purpose of the philosophy. Instead, I use his advice to remember and learn to pack light, bring a good smile and friendly attitude, be flexible, and choose hotels that are small and down to earth, etc...
He can also be witty and remind you to keep things in perspective while traveling. And, he has some practical advice on train, car and flight travel.
So, I just choose to incorporate what works and avoid what doesn't. Just like I do with all travel info.
Happy travels!

I'm fairly new to this board, but don't understand why everyone is so negative about Rick Steves. My husband and I have traveled to Europe several times, and find his advice extremely helpful, especially the first couple times we traveled--he took the &quot;scariness&quot; out of traveling to Europe independently for the first time. We find his books, videos and website very helpful in the initial planning phases of our trips.

I do admit that we don't always prefer Rick's choices for accommodations and restaurants, but the majority of them have been pretty good, at least in England, France, and Italy.

I have come to value the opinions and advice of the frequent posters here, but still do rely on Rick somewhat too for trip planning and intineraries, as well as Karen Brown.

I think he is excellent for first timers. Covers all the basics and budget minded students but he's not very sophisticated. An hour ago I was watching him on PBS on the Paris segment. I was surprised when he tasted steak tartare for the first time and when asked he he liked it, he answered he thought it too..., I forget the word he used but those of us who love it know it can taste differently when prepared by various chefs. I thought he put off others from tasting this dish.

Yes, Rick Steves..laughing at all the self-important Fodorites all the way to the bank.

No, cigale chica, he's doesn't present himself at all as the sophisticate. Although, someone mentioned on another thread that he probably affects this lack of sophistication for his readers.

But really, any traveler would depend on more than one guidebook. Even I depended on at least 4 different ones on my first trip to Paris. There is no one guide that will give you the &quot;all&quot; on a location and smart travelers no &amp; appreciate this.

AR, I am very familiar with Stereophonics, Cliff Richard, Robbie Williams but I am not at all familiar with Roger Whitaker. I listen to an alternative rock station called WOXY (they're a great web radion station: www.woxy.com) and they play all types of music. Although, I thought it was Cliff Richards? But we all know him here in the US for Devil Woman from the '70s. And then again if you're a Young Ones fan... (oh look...Cliff!)

:)

Yes Beatchick, I certainly was a &quot;Young Ones&quot; fan (I presume you are talking about the 80's comedy and not the Sir Cliff song??).
Adrian Edmonson (from the &quot;Young Ones&quot;) is currently appearing on TV here on the BBC's version of &quot;Pop Idol&quot; for charity, cheered on by wife Jennifer Saunders - and he's hillarious, singing all his 70's heroes Punk songs.
Roger Whittaker is a cheesy folky type singer who was popular in the 60's and 70's (and still is with the blue rinse brigade). I really did see a CD of his in Virgin!
As for Cliff - he's definately Richard without the &quot;s&quot;. Actually, he's Harry Webb but that's another story!
Perhaps you can help me - when I was in NYC last week, they were filming &quot;Law and Order&quot; outside our hotel. What's that? Is it big?

A good example of why you should use more than 1 guidebook is my research for my Switzerland trip this summer. Let's Go has a good section on Montreux with map, but only a paragraph on Gimmelwald. RS is just the opposite. Between the two, I have both bases covered.

I have found Rick Steve's tv programs and books to be helpful....just like alot of other sources of info. There are just a few people on some of these message boards who feel somehow they they are 'special' people when travelling....and the rest of us are just 'tourists'. I think Rick has done a good job of getting Americans out in the world and broadening their perspectives. So there!!!!

Gosh, a travel website with some errors in it. Imagine that.

Ihopp, I don't think they dislike him because they criticize him, it's like anyone on TV, they become bait for topics. He is smiling all the way to the bank, Intrepid, I know people that like his lectures and find him very nice. Today's show was one of his best of Paris.

In my younger days when I was doing more budget travel, I relied on his hotel recommendations, and they usually were pretty good. The guy doesn't know food though (perhaps the weed has blunted his taste buds?). And, sorry Rick, but I hate picnics. But that's just my own pet peeve. I love dining al fresco when there's a table, a waiter, and a menu. :-)

I think most of us are just jealous and wish we could make a living by traveling! Like all guidebooks, his books are to be taken with a grain of salt. Personally, I think he rushes through places and I always add double the time to his itineraries, but they are still helpful in planning car trips. And most recently, one of his suggestions from his website page entitled &quot;Britain with Kids&quot; saved the day for us. I had two cranky, tired kids in Edinburgh. I luckily had noted his recommendation of a great museum/attraction near the castle called the &quot;Camera Obscura.&quot; My kids (and husband) loved it. Everyone perked up and we were able to continue the day of sightseeing. So I still check to see what he has to say about the places we visit.

He has a good planning, but skips on some intersting cities and suggests to travel to his favorites. But his plans and maps are good. Do not care for most of his accommodations, only one I used was good - Chalet Fontana in Swtizerland, but had to pay them cash, it was too much complicated and the owner did not use email so it was hard to communicate.

I love Karen Brown itineraries and accommodations - we never got wrong in any of them in france and Italy and Switzerland.

Do not care about his food and lodging recommendation. But I think his overall intro is very good for beginners.

Oh geez, not this crap again! I figure the anti-Steves sentiment is a combination of jealousy, self-importance, elitism, snobbery (in large part) and resentment. Get over it.

Travel is big business. He found a niche and has made the most of it. Looks like some are just so jealous that this nerdy backpacker has done better than they at exploiting the U.S. interest in budget travel. Again - get over it.

Having said that, I take all his recommendations with a grain of salt. I don't want to go anyplace that's overrun with tourists. On the other hand, I stayed at the Hotel Leveque on Rue Cler LONG before I ever heard of Rick Steves - and liked it - so why should I reject it now just because he &quot;discovered&quot; it? Why should I care? Why does anyone around here care so strongly about this guy?

Well said flsd. One of the Fodors editors made a mistake in talking about my home town, but the experts here seemed to have missed that one. The Hotel Leveque was my introduction to Europe and it was fine with me.

As I have mentioned RS is just one of many sources of info I use. I've met him and he happens to be a nice guy. He is not only helpful for novice travelers but for veteran travelers as well. I stayed at a great place in Berlin some years ago. Quiet, tree lined side street. A year ago I mentioned his name at my hotel in Rome and got a 30% discount. The experts here don't have the first clue what a discount is- just read some of the threads.

I would never take one of his tours as I prefer to spend time in each place, but a lot of people are happy with his tours. A friend of mine has guided for him and she got a lot of great reviews from her groups.

&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;At some point in my trips I usually want to just get the hell away from mobs and tourists. Gimmelwald offers that opportunity in the Oberland&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;

Yeah I can see that side of it also.

After a full day of hiking, I usually am too tired and I just have dinner followed by some frosty cold delights and then call it a day or night!

I know I feel very tired after a full day of hiking!


Still though, I enjoy Grindlewald.

Back to Sleeves. The guy does a great job for the most part.

Sometimes I get annoyed at his ugly, obnoxious American thing. I mean Americans have not cornered the market on being obnoxious while traveling.

But all in all, Steevs does a good job.