Will people who have actually gone on one of his tours or have followed his guide book suggestions, please tell me which ones were not up to par. Let's not turn this into a Rick bashing. Thank you....<BR>

I'm not clear what you would like feedback on. A tour?, A guidebook?<BR><BR>I've used his books for 2 trips to Europe and feel his discriptions are accurate.

I stayed in one of the hotels he recommends in Paris, and it was lovely. I would recommend it as well.<BR><BR>I use his guide books as part of my research before I travel.

I take Rick's book with me on every trip I've ever taken (six trips to Europe) but always supplement it with another one. I tend to stay in more expensive hotels than he recommends, so I don't use his hotel recommendations. Other than that I think his book is definitely worth taking along. I have not taken any of his tours.

I returned from Europe where there was a bunch of people carrying his book around - especially in Rothenburg. Explains why the Christmas Store was clogged and choking. So they must appeal to some people. <BR><BR>I've never been on one of his tours, and I imagine they would be good for a certain demographic, and are probably better than the average tour operator - and his pilosophy of traveling is commendable in a somewhat preachy, snobbish way.<BR><BR>I think you can rely too much on one persons observations and miss much of what can be interesting.<BR><BR>I blame him to a small extent for making certain areas overcommercialized - even against his own dreams and wishes (Salzburg to name another - besides Rothenburg). Regensburg is a wonderful city that doesn't get a mention in his travel books.<BR><BR>I've rambled and didn't mean to -just venting some steam. If you use his guidebooks - back it up with others - Lonely Planet - Rough Guide Etc. - and he would probably agree with that.

oh, puleeeze, can't we at least talk about his haircut, that green shirt, those pants, the desert boots, his head out the train window, his family back at the hotel, his rooming at monasteries, his penchant for standup dining, those foreign phrases he drops on all, that backpack, those .... I do not see a single bash, only truthful vignettes of the rickster!

Sorry, but I'm a fan. I love the guide books. They have insightful little clues we use. I, too, usually use the Fodors to pick my hotels; but we have Rick's choices also. I've never been on one of the tours, but one of these days I'd love to. We're going to use it to go into an area we might not be as comfortable going on our own because of language differences. M.

I agree. I take his books all through Europe. Not only are they great conversation openers as other Americans notice them, I've found them very accurate. I love his sense of humor. In Mona Winks he gives you the highlights of the key points of museums so you don't miss out and then you can enjoy along wandering from there.

I'm not a Rick Steves fan, but how sad that anyone would feel it fun to enter a post just for bashing someone. I thought this website was for good travel information, not just for the pure joy of trashing some innocent person. But judging from many posts, I seem to be wrong. Now dotti you have taken it a step further -- starting a post purely for the joy of bashing!!!

as mentioned above, his approval of a hotel or area can lead to tourist overload. In Paris, for example, two of his cheap lodging favorites (Hotel Castex in the Marais and Hotel de la Motte Piquet at the end of rue Cler near the ecole militaire) have both changed policies and are doing extensive remodeling to qualify for a 3 star ranking and higher prices.

Here is a average Joe who loves travel and Europe and makes a successful business out of it and some dumbxxx who knows very little about Europe or travel gets a kick out of bashing him. My God lets get a grip.

Uh, Patrick, she wrote &quot;Let's not turn this into...&quot; <BR><BR>I like his books, have used them for years. They are a guide, as are any other books. Just like a recipe, you can follow it to the tee, or you can improvise and add in other flavors.

Is my face glowing red from your computer screen. My new glasses must have failed me completely. I read the post twice and swear I didn't see the word &quot;not&quot; in there. I felt the tone had been already set by only asking for negatives not positives, so I misread the idea of turning it into a bashing. Is there a way I can remove my stupid outburst and go hide in a corner?<BR><BR>On the other hand, I have just been so frustrated lately with how many posts turn into bashings, and was surprised that this post started with asking only for things that &quot;were not up to par&quot;. Why not ask for the things that were up to par at the same time?

hi Dotti--I've used his city guides for London and Paris. I was in each place for less than a week, so I planned to only hit the highlights, which is what he puts in the books. The hotels I stayed in were clean, not too expensive, exactly as described. The musuem tour sections for Paris I thought were fine because I could go at my own pace. <BR><BR>I've gotten his country guides from the library, but never used them on a trip--they don't contain enough information about enough places. I'm not sure about his &quot;through the back door&quot; tag becuase he seems to only go to touristy spots. <BR><BR>For what it's worth, my mom went on his Spain tour last year and loved it. <BR><BR>Patrick--I feel your pain It seems that every question elicits at least one rude response, usually several. It's disheartening to keep reading all the negativity. Please keep posting, I'm planning a trip to Italy and I've gotten a lot of useful info from you--thanks. <BR><BR>Cheers, Syrin

Completely understood, Patrick! Most posts regarding Rick Steves seem to be started for bashing purposes. Why people can't understand that &quot;to each his/her own&quot;, as opposed to &quot;anyone who does not have my opinion is wrong&quot; beats me...

We find his books to be quite useful. We have used some of his hotel ideas with both good and not so good results, but over all good. Like some of the above, I do not restrict our books to his only. I like a range of books to use for ideas, but his is one I will always carry since it is small and to me quite useful. He is a good resource, just as is Fodor's and Frommer's and all the others. I also enjoy his TV show even though where I live it is not carried on a real regular basis. Since the Travel Channel turned into the &quot;World's Largest xxx&quot; and &quot;Secrets OF yyy&quot; channel the only place that I could see him on regular basis is gone.

The best thing about Rick Steves is the videos that he makes. IMHO the videos are excellent. His choices of hotels and places to eat are not my choices.

I actually really do like his books and his videos as well. They are my first book of choice.<BR><BR>However, I was told by a fellow traveller to keep away from his 'backdoor'.

It was reading Rick's books and watching his tv series that initially gave my husband &amp; I the &quot;courage&quot; to take our first trip to Europe on our own instead of by tour company. Maybe seasoned travellers &quot;outgrow&quot; Rick, but he sure helped me develop the confidence to enjoy travel and above all, to keep an open mind once I get there. I still take his books supplemented by others. <BR><BR>Kay

It must be her name, that Kay above, but I agree with her completely.<BR>She put it well, in a nutshell.<BR>He gets you started on Europe and then you just can't stop.<BR>Of course, I was started already when I &quot;found&quot; Steves, but he sure did push me along. It's fun to go to one of his onsite seminars. He is JUST like the TV show. I think he does not change.<BR>He doesn't seem to age either, lucky dog.<BR>I read a lengthy article about him recently and it quoted one of his longtime friends who says Steves always has had high energy and rushes around and does too much every day.<BR>I found that fascinating, esp. since he is always urging US to slow down and smell the cappacino!