Re: Rick Steves
Aug 16th, 2002, 08:35 AM
#1
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Re: Rick Steves
For an upcoming trip to Europe, I borrowed quite a few tapes from the local library. Many of them are Rick Steves' tapes, which I've greatly enjoyed. I did notice that in the earlier tapes (or so it seems) Steves is shown with his wife and children. The more recent tapes show him with a male friend. Is Steves gay? (I ask this out of curiosity only, and mean nothing disparaging by it.)
Melanie
Melanie
Aug 16th, 2002, 09:43 AM
#6
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I met a lady in her 70s that owns a shop in Rothenburg. She met Rick years ago before all the books. He still writes her and sends photos of the family on a consistent basis. She had them going back quite a few years. Could not say enough nice things about Rick and family.
Aug 16th, 2002, 10:01 AM
#9
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It amazes me how much vitriol the subject of Rick Steves seem to generate on this thread (it’s early, just wait…).
I have a couple of his books and I’ve watched the series Europe THROUGH THE BACK DOOR which ran on our local PBS affiliate a few years back.
Rick is a nerd and a bit of a dink, but there’s little wrong with his information. Personally I’d rather see ol’ Rick on a dead run through Paris or London than to see nothing about Paris or London at all.
I’ve traveled alone, with friends, with my wife and daughter, around England, France, and Scotland. I never spend a great deal of money because I don’t have it to spend, but we ALWAYS have a ball. My friends back home sit in beautiful homes with preposterous mortgage payments, drive their $60,000 Lincoln and Cadillac SUV’s, (which average about 10 or less miles per expensive gallon of gasoline), wear the trendiest clothes (and make sure their kids do too) and marvel how it is that I can go to Europe every year and they can’t afford to go to the next state for the holidays.
I’m sure I’ve never paid more than £50 for a room in London, I don’t “shop” for things in Europe that cost more than at home (just so I can say, “I bought this in a little shop near the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees ). I enjoy good food but I don’t eat like Henry VIII.
I read threads here from time to time from “budget” travelers and I’m amazed at how much more they spend for just about everything than I do. In spite of all that, the people that I travel with have always asked when we can “all” go back, so apparently I’m known as a good guide and a person who enjoys myself and not as a skinflint.
Rick's picks rarely strike me as “cheap”. They might be modest, or frugal, or sometimes considerably more expensive than I would deem necessary.
But I figure if this guy can turn a lifelong travel addiction into a source for considerable revenue, god bless ‘im. I’ll bet that 90% of those who trash him would give their left pinky finger to do the same.
C`est la vie.
I have a couple of his books and I’ve watched the series Europe THROUGH THE BACK DOOR which ran on our local PBS affiliate a few years back.
Rick is a nerd and a bit of a dink, but there’s little wrong with his information. Personally I’d rather see ol’ Rick on a dead run through Paris or London than to see nothing about Paris or London at all.
I’ve traveled alone, with friends, with my wife and daughter, around England, France, and Scotland. I never spend a great deal of money because I don’t have it to spend, but we ALWAYS have a ball. My friends back home sit in beautiful homes with preposterous mortgage payments, drive their $60,000 Lincoln and Cadillac SUV’s, (which average about 10 or less miles per expensive gallon of gasoline), wear the trendiest clothes (and make sure their kids do too) and marvel how it is that I can go to Europe every year and they can’t afford to go to the next state for the holidays.
I’m sure I’ve never paid more than £50 for a room in London, I don’t “shop” for things in Europe that cost more than at home (just so I can say, “I bought this in a little shop near the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees ). I enjoy good food but I don’t eat like Henry VIII.
I read threads here from time to time from “budget” travelers and I’m amazed at how much more they spend for just about everything than I do. In spite of all that, the people that I travel with have always asked when we can “all” go back, so apparently I’m known as a good guide and a person who enjoys myself and not as a skinflint.
Rick's picks rarely strike me as “cheap”. They might be modest, or frugal, or sometimes considerably more expensive than I would deem necessary.
But I figure if this guy can turn a lifelong travel addiction into a source for considerable revenue, god bless ‘im. I’ll bet that 90% of those who trash him would give their left pinky finger to do the same.
C`est la vie.
Aug 16th, 2002, 10:25 AM
#11
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The beauty of Steves' guides are that they winnow information to a bare minimum. He also realizes that Americans generally have shorter vacation periods than Europeans so it is necessary for Americans to economize time. However, I would also take things written by him with a grain of salt. He is headstrong in what he finds most important and he is rigid in his favorites. I would take a Steves guide but would add a Let's Go guide to augment. As for Steves' sexuality, he is married with kids. I do not think he is bisexual but Edward II and James I proved you can get married, have kids and still yearn for forbidden love.
Aug 16th, 2002, 11:31 AM
#14
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I met a shop owner in Varenna, Italy last year who knows Rick from his many visits there. He said Rick keeps in touch with him by letters and on a recent trip to US, Rick took him out to dinner. He said he has helped tourism in Varenna so much and the merchants and business people were very appreciative.
Aug 16th, 2002, 11:48 AM
#15
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his tapes are good, although lately he
is all about packing and not really much
info. about the area his visiting.
his info. center in redmond is excellent and people are very helpfull.
if he is gay, who cares. it is about time some of us americans learn to care &
worry about other stuff than anyones se-
xuality. Grow up!!!!
is all about packing and not really much
info. about the area his visiting.
his info. center in redmond is excellent and people are very helpfull.
if he is gay, who cares. it is about time some of us americans learn to care &
worry about other stuff than anyones se-
xuality. Grow up!!!!
Aug 16th, 2002, 12:20 PM
#16
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I'm with Penny. There are numerous Spartan but meticulously clean hotels even in Bloomsbury where a single can easily be had for less than £50, sometimes considerably less, but I'm hesitant to mention them by name because I want them to stay that way.
I think a lot of the truth is that Americans are too spoiled to climb one or two flights of stairs. They’re too hooked on a room “with a view.” They’re positively obsessed with having a bathroom en suite, even if it means that the bathroom is smaller than a coat closet, has no ventilation, and that they’re sleeping with their head 6 feet from a toilet.
Many American seem to approach renting a hotel room as if they were selecting a second home. When I travel I want to spend as little time in my room as is humanly possible. I want to sleep there, safe, clean, and comfortably, and I want to have a place to store my bags. Other than a shower every morning my room demands are quite humble. Therefore they never cost much.
In a delightfully bohemian part of London, Earl's Court, one can easy bargain for a room for £20! I’ve done it many times, though I strongly advise travelers to inspect the room closely for cleanliness and amenities before renting. I’ve only been burned once. But a friend of mine refuses to stay in Earl's Court because “its so far from everything.”
Reckon he’s never heard of the Tube. I’ve rarely found myself too far from anything in London thanks to the Underground.
I think a lot of the truth is that Americans are too spoiled to climb one or two flights of stairs. They’re too hooked on a room “with a view.” They’re positively obsessed with having a bathroom en suite, even if it means that the bathroom is smaller than a coat closet, has no ventilation, and that they’re sleeping with their head 6 feet from a toilet.
Many American seem to approach renting a hotel room as if they were selecting a second home. When I travel I want to spend as little time in my room as is humanly possible. I want to sleep there, safe, clean, and comfortably, and I want to have a place to store my bags. Other than a shower every morning my room demands are quite humble. Therefore they never cost much.
In a delightfully bohemian part of London, Earl's Court, one can easy bargain for a room for £20! I’ve done it many times, though I strongly advise travelers to inspect the room closely for cleanliness and amenities before renting. I’ve only been burned once. But a friend of mine refuses to stay in Earl's Court because “its so far from everything.”
Reckon he’s never heard of the Tube. I’ve rarely found myself too far from anything in London thanks to the Underground.
Aug 16th, 2002, 12:25 PM
#18
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He does seem gay doesn't he?
But I have seen some of those episodes with the wife and a kid or two,dragging along behind Rick.
My son has traveled for years all over the world,and not spent a lot of money,and has never heard of Rick Steves,so that is not a really good argument for him.Anyone can travel and not have to follow Rick Steves!
But I have seen some of those episodes with the wife and a kid or two,dragging along behind Rick.
My son has traveled for years all over the world,and not spent a lot of money,and has never heard of Rick Steves,so that is not a really good argument for him.Anyone can travel and not have to follow Rick Steves!
