funny, I met him once and thought he was warm, funny, and approachable. maybe he was just having a bad day. humans do have those, on occasion... <BR> <BR>

He's got very good travel strategy advice on packing, getting around, and meeting locals, for those who will listen to him. And I think most of his destinations are quite good. I think he's extremely up front -- although he sells train passes such as the Eurodomino in the Netherlands, he indicates that the pass can be had more cheaply over there. The guy is clever and witty in his TV productions, but in person, he's far sharper. <BR> <BR>I suppose I'm bugged by the following he has -- it's been described as a cult and he as a guru -- but I guess that's what happens to people with good ideas. His recommendations are often full up in summer with people that carry his books and sing his praises, and it's hard to meet locals when you're sharing a tabe with Ruth and Frank from Des Moines -- might as well have taken a tour. <BR> <BR>He needs to expane his "back doors" so that his disciples aren't always tripping over each other. Also, he needs to do something about the fact that his recommendations end up raising their prices, lowering their service, and losing their charm because of the hordes of travelers he sends their way -- automatically boot them out of his book after 3 years, then reinstate them if they are favorably reviewed. I stayed in a place in Haarlem that could only be described as a pricey flophouse. <BR> <BR>Needs to work on his language, too. I don't care if he's trying to prove that any moron can travel Europe with English only -- he can still learn to pronounce a few words correctly (and spell them correctly in his videos, for God's sake.)

I am gratified with the response to my post and am thankful for all the responses especially the ones critical of mine. I do have a few counterpoints. As for the comprehensiveness of Rick Steves' books, I agree they can be sparse. His books should be used in conjunction with the more detailed Let's Go series of books. One of the most pleasant eating experiences in my life was due to following the restaurant recommendations in Let's Go, Italy. To answer jwalter, I am not a Republican and have not voted for a Republican for president since 1984. Moreover, I despise the Bush family from secretly arrogant George I and the equally arrogant Barbara Bug-eyes on down to sissy Jeb, corrupt Neil and the phony, crybaby with a fake Texas accent Dubya. (Why is Dubya the only Bush with a Texas accent?). James has a somewhat valid point regarding historic preservation. There are many on the so-called Right, especially libertarians, Gates-worshippers and neo-conservatives, who don't give a hang about historic preservation or culture. On the other hand, liberal Richard Moe of the Nat. Trust for Historic Preservation is doing fine work. That said, it is my experience that leftiest hate almost everything pre-1960s and that the righties hate about everything (except Ronald Reagan) that has happened in the last forty years. Whether Becca likes it or not, illegitmacy is a sign of a dysfunctional society. Though I am far from a religious fanatic, marriage is a Holy covenant. A coupling without a covenant is as dispensible as a tin can. As for Becca's correct noting of teenage births being higher in the US than in Scandanavia, it is apparent that teenage birth rates correlate to the number of Third World people in a Western nation. The USA has high numbers of Third Worlders and Scandanavia has low numbers of Third Worlders. On another point, the de-Christianization of Scandanavia that Becca seems to laud often leads to moral squalor. Becca also tells us that it is expensive to live in Scandanavia and that is why the birth rate is so low. And why is it so expensive in Scandanavia? It just might be because the tax rate in Scandanavia is 60%++. The governments of Scandanavia are too expensive and are a leading cause of the low birth rates. To answer xxx on drunk driving laws, let me be clear that Rick Steves maintains that you don't have to be anywhere near intoxicated to get in legal trouble in much of Europe. A couple of beers might get you in trouble. Finally, Mike's proposition that I "stay home and fondle" my automatic weapons is a childish non-sequitar.

I bought his ETBD book in 1988, and back then he really touted independent travel and looked down on tour groups. That book actually gave me the courage to travel to Europe alone, and I'm grateful for that. <BR> <BR>I have noticed however, that like many of us middle aged people, he's changed from traveling hippie to business-savvy yuppie. My friend owns a copy of his 1994 ETBD book, and he performed a 180 degree about face on his opinions of tour groups since 1988 -- coincidentally, right about the time he started his own tour company. <BR> <BR>His overall tone also became much whinier in his later books -- he complains a great deal in the 1994 book (and now on his web site and subscription e-mails), while in the 1988 version he just shrugs off a lot of the discomforts and advises travelers to do the same. Yes, we can all tolerate a bit more discomfort when we're younger, can't we? <BR> <BR>And yes, those businesses he recommends take full advantage of the publicity and raise their prices. I avoided his hotel and restaurant suggestions like the plague because of that. They will claim that the prices Rick quotes in his book are incorrect and try to gouge you if you let them.

Interesting thread. <BR> <BR>In fairness to Rick Steves, and also to his recommended hotels, businesses do tend to charge the price the market will bear. Demand drives price. Such research as I have done on the subject seems to suggest that the hotels in question are not disproportionately priced, relative to others in the area, which indicates that demand is rising in general for European travel services. <BR> <BR>With or without Rick Steves, I suspect European tourism would have increased, thus driving up prices. The usual demographic factors are at work; we baby boomers constitute a big crowd. <BR> <BR>One chief disagreement I have with Rick, and that is that one can understand complex cultural issues after a two week vacation in a country. Or even twenty two week vacations! I've been married for 18 years to someone and I still have trouble understanding them sometimes --- so I sure as heck doubt that I could generalize about millions of people based on a few casual observations made whilst travelling. <BR>

I've been familiar with Rick Steves' and his "back door" concept of European travel since the early '80s when I moved to Seattle (Steves is based out of Edmonds, a northern Seattle suburb), have purchased his books, bought railpasses through his company, and enjoy watching his travel series on PBS. When his operation was smaller, in the early '80s, his "back-door" recommendations were, IMO, more "back door". But, inevitably, the more successful and well-known he became, the more people were going to be passing through those "back doors." <BR> <BR>If I'm indebted to Rick for one thing, it's for a recommendation of a hotel in Nice that I've now stayed at five times and absolutely love.

I threw away my Rick Steve's book when I read his advice to avoid Berchtesgaden because of the traffic!!!! <BR> <BR>Having been fortunate enough to visit this area yearly for the last 20 years, I nearly has a stroke when I read those words!!!!

<BR>Roger - <BR>Childish my comment might have been, but hardly a non-sequitur. You struck me as a right-wing blow-hard who couldn't stand Scandanavians because they had governments that try to be fair to everyone, not just the rich. And as to your hang-up on traditional marriage, it may wiser not to try imposing your religion on others. My comment was based on the assumption that you were a gun nut, since that seems to go with calling people "lefties".

Roger~ <BR> <BR>About the third-worlders haivng more children illegitimately: In the US I think the largest problem with teenagers having children isn't that they come from a third-world family, it is lack of communication. I'm in college now, but all of the people I knew who had children in high school (i grew up in a small place, so everyone knew everyone) didn't have them because there families were third-world they had them because of bad choices and lack of communication with the people who should matter most - the parents. The teens didn't feel like they could go to their parents when they were beginning to make such decisions. <BR> <BR>It can also be argued that the parents didn't do the greatest job of instilling the kinds of values they wanted promoted; it works both ways. <BR> <BR>What I'm trying to say is that it has little to do with economic issues; it has to do with the relationships that the teens have with the people who should give them their guidance. <BR> <BR>In Finland, I use this as the example because I am most familiar with Suomi, but I'm sure it is the same with the rest of Scandanavia, people communicate openly. Parents and children have relationships that promote open talking, so any issue can be brought to the table. <BR> <BR>Expense: Yes, the taxes in Scandanavia are high, but it truly is hard to find anything negative with it once you see it up close. No one suffers due to lack of health insurance or too high costs of prescription drugs. Everyone gets an excellent education. My best friends in Finland all spoke four langauges by the time I met them at age 16. <BR> <BR>Just another person's opinion. <BR>Becca

I hate to get off-subject, but referring to racial minorities in the United States as "Third Worlders" is rather offensive. I'm sure Roger wasn't speaking just of people who have immigrated from another country, but rather to non-whites (most of whose ancesters came to the U.S. a century or so before my ancestors did). As to recent immigrants from Third World countries, most that I come into contact with are from Korea and tend to be extremely socially responsible.

I am in love with Rick Steves. Any time he wants to leave his wife, I'm available. I'd love to bear his children and tour Europe every year with him. I would follow him to the North Pole, the South Pole and any pole in between.

Mercy, Cynth, are you sure you want to see this dude with his clothes off!!! What's next? Arthur Frommer in a hot tub?

Emily, <BR> <BR>You must be an expert on Berchtesgaden. <BR>Can you recommend a lakeside hotel for mid-July?

Well, some of you would have enjoyed the episode on the Black Forest that I saw last week. Rick was at a Baden Baden spa au natural, in a co-ed bath at one point with his wife. Who says the guy is a fud? He made a point of showing how the lady giving the massage ended with a spank near the derriere. Of course Rick was wearing a towel on camera (not a washcloth).

I think Rick Steves is a good resource for inexperienced travelers who don't know how to do or don't want to do in-depth research. He has opened up European travel to a lot of people. <BR> <BR>That said, I can't watch him without bursting into laughter. And I think he ought to own up to the fact that he was born without tastebuds. And he needs to do just a tad bit more research on architecture - if it's in Europe it must be medieval seems to be his slogan.

I use Rick Steves as a reference for areas covered by his books (as others have pointed out, his books are not comprehensive). I think his advice is very helpful, and even more helpful to those visiting Europe for the first time. I also make good use of "Mona Winks." <BR> <BR>He's generally right on the money on what's worth seeing (or not seeing). Luckily, I can afford to spend more on dining and lodging, so I generally disregard his advice in those areas. <BR> <BR>Regarding Rick's linguistic ability, I think it's more than he lets on in his shows (which I love to watch, primarily for the scenary). He is trying to encourage first-time European travelers to visit independently, even if they don't know any (or much) of the foreign language at hand. But if you watch and listen, often he will communicate in fluent, complete sentences to others in the show, in whichever country he's in for that show. <BR> <BR>Regarding marriage and children, it's only a "holy covenant" if you're a believer in those religions that feel that way. Regarding "third worlders," without studying statistics, I'm sure that it's been demonstrated that lower birth rates are more correlated to higher educational levels of women & economic prosperity (both of which, I assume, are prevelant in Scandanavian countries). That has been demonstrated in countries such as India; as those factors go up, the birth rate decreases.

I agree with many of the comments,pro & con toward Rick S.I think his greatest value has been encouraging people to try vacationing in Europe.Many Foderites are experienced travelers and may be unaware of how intimidated many people are by the idea of traveling to Europe

OK, no opinion on Rick Steves (do have friends who think he's great) but really relieved with Roger's clarification that he is not a Republican. The would be association of a few loud party champions -- ouch! For the record (and this is from a former professional GOP'er), I'm all about the live and let live. Scandanavians (and others) most likely think parts of our culture are over the edge -- and they are probably right, but we like it (mostly) so who cares? Isn't that why they have horseraces (and elections)?? And what's up with the whole Third-world deal?? Like most everyone (clearly excluding Native Americans) who has joined the ranks of US Citizenry wasn't decended from some sort of boat/plane/train/walking/swimming/driving people from somewhere else (and I include my own Mayflower people from forever ago as the very original boat people -- what a trip for drammamine would that have been!). Lighten up --might make your travel more enligtening (and fun!).

My husband and I enjoy watching Rick Steve's on tape or TV. He's a nerd but he's *proud* of being a nerd so he's okay in our book. It's a laugh riot when he pronounces foreign words or names as he just slaughters the proper pronunciation. I don't think it's an act. He's just himself and he could give a damn about what people think. People like it that he's so nerdish and Midwestern American. He's not threatening to mid-America (despite his web site that includes message boards with subject heads on where to get pot in Europe.)

I have to laugh at Roger's complaints about illegitimate children. Most of the Scandinavian couples I have known are very settled in their domestic arrangements. They may not be officially married, but in most U.S. states, they'd be considered common-law spouses. <BR>I don't think confidence levels have anything to do with it. Where is your proof of that? More likely it's due to much easier access to birth control and family planning, along with higher education opportunities that keep you in school rather than out having babies. Those skyrocketing birth rates in places like Mexico and Africa have pretty darn little to do with confidence levels and a lot to do with lack of family planning. <BR>Finally, a doctor I know examined the birth and marriage records of several early New England towns. About two-thirds of the births occurred within 6 months of the marriages and it wasn't due to a rash of premature babies! Without all those shotgun or hasty weddings, our own "illegitimacy" rate in those so-called Puritan days would have been pretty high. <BR>Btilke <BR>