Could I have some feedback on Rick Steves'? <BR> <BR>Thanks

Rick Steves recommendations are wonderful! As are his public television programs! He knows how to see Europe in a low-cost, highly-efficient manner, taking you to out-of-the-way places as well. Used his guides for a trip to the Czech Republic and Berlin, and am using his Paris 2001 book for a trip in 2 weeks. He's great!

The info in Rick's books - - especially with regard to hotels or restaurants - - can range from a year or two old to much older (this is true of many guidebooks); it is often very opinionated (which I like a lot of the time - - at least you know where he stands!) <BR> <BR>I think he has "unchained" thousands of Americans to try independent travel, and his website contains a lot of little valuable nuggets of info. <BR> <BR>On the proverbial scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high), I give him a number of 7's, 8's and 9's. And I don't believe he is still as bumbling with languages as he lets on. <BR> <BR>Hopefully, by the time you get to 25 years of Europe travel, you won't do as bad with languages as he seems to, either! <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex <BR> <BR>

Personally, I really like the Steves' guidebooks. I have never been steered wrong by a hotel recommendation from one of his books. In fact some of the best characters I've met while traveling in Europe are inn keepers from a Steves book. <BR>People have a real love/hate thing with him. Know that no town ever mentioned in his book is undiscovered once he's published info about it in his book. But, I don't care. One of my favorite places on this earth is Gimmelwald. I wouldn't know about it if it weren't for Rick Steves and I don't care if the other 30 people staying in town are form the US. If I want to "discover" a new place on my own I certainly can.

I've been following Rick Steves via his books and programs for years. In Edinburgh I found my favorite B&B in the world through his book. He can be a bit "nerdy" on his shows, but his books are great at letting you hit the ground running with simple tips to avoid long lines, crowds, things you might want to miss and things you don't want to miss. His Web site offers so much information you don't even need to buy the books!

I'll never forget the night someone stole my Rick Steve's guidebook from the Eiffel Tower! I couldn't believe it...

Rick Steves tends to focus on generally budget-minded travellers. I find his sightseeing/touring recommendations to be wonderful and "spot on". I definitely recommend buying his guide book(s) for the country you plan to visit. He is opinionated on what to see and what not to see (in terms of places and sights), but I like that because I trust his judgment. <BR> <BR>I have followed several of the driving loops recommended in his books (Austria/Germany, Italy) and found them to be great day journeys. His books have also introduced me to places I might have missed completely (e.g., Oradour-sur-Glane in France). And, although I tend to stay in slightly "better" hotels than he generally recommends (most of his recommendations are 2- and 3-star properties), I have even found some great hotels through him (e.g., Le Tourville in Paris). His web site discussion boards are not so functional as here, but there are some good tidbits. <BR> <BR>Overall, definitely look at his stuff when planning a trip. <BR> <BR>john

I like Rick Steves for his practical advise - such as ignore the guy in the red suit at the Naples train station who will try to steer you to a less than desirable hotel in a less than desirable neighborhood. He tells you how to purchase bus tickets, train tickets, cautions you on less than honest taxi drivers, offers advise on when the least crowded times to go to a museum or art gallery. He helps you plan your time wisely, particularly if you are only in a place for a short time. He is opinionated but rarely do I find he is far off the mark. I really appreciated his guidebooks when I went to Italy by myself. I probably would not have seen or done as much without his prodding.

Another benefit of Rick Steve's is all of the other tourists you meet with book in hand on the walking tours he recommends. I get a kick out of that, all of us trying to be so sly slipping the book in and out of our backpacks. The best tour we went on of his was the Osteria tour in Venice. We followed his step-by-step instructions and hit around 10 Osterias we wouldn't have even known to look for otherwise. <BR> <BR>However, he does recommend more budget places than I like, so I usually get those listings from Karen Brown's books.

I use the Rick Steves books for my travel & I also use his "Mona Winks" book to tour the museums with. <BR> <BR>I start with his books & get a basic route planned then I do further research using other venues, (this web site, Frommers, Rick Steves web site, web searches, the library etc.). When I research ANYTHING I never use just one source, I find as many sources as I can.

Another resource -"Travel the World" videos with Rick Steves are available at many libraries. Same kind of practical advice as the books...

Rick Steves advice is very iffy, especially if you are over 35. It is geared toward the younger traveller who doesn't mind some hardship to save money. <BR> <BR>As people have mentioned, his advice is often out of date, which can be very exasperating. Also, his maps are useless, since they are only rough approximations. <BR> <BR>His books are good to read because they have a unique view, but I wouldn't take his advice uncritically. Of course, this is also true of every other guidebook. I've not found one which matches my tastes exactly. People are more complicated than guidebooks.

You won't travel in "the lap of luxery" with Rick. If that is what you are looking for, you have to go a different way. What you do get from Rick (the two most important things to me) are an opportunity to travel really close to the people of the country you are visiting and an absolute indication on what to see and what not to bother about. In our early years, we used Rick's Guidebooks as, pretty much, the Bible of travel. I will admit, after years of independent traveling, we make some choices that are different than Rick's, but this is what he has done for us. We always start our research for a trip with Rick's Book on the area and then expand our research from there. The "net" has been a great boone to independent travelers. But, we owe a lot to Rick.

Though I haven't used his books a lot recently (travelling less, and when I do, to more remote regions), I have found his opinionated advice about what to see invaluable - I really regretted not renting bikes at Versailles where he said to; the view from the musuem tower in Siena is better than from the campanile, Civita in Italy is totally charming, etc. (Caveat: I have his older books; I don't know what he says in the newer ones.) <BR> <BR>I watch his travel shows primarily for the travel footage, especially to revive memories of places I've already been to. <BR> <BR>Rarely use his hotel or dining recommendations, as we spend more than he does in those areas. <BR> <BR>I like his encouragement of foreign travel to those who might not travel there otherwise, or be hesitant to do so (though that's not a problem I have)!

Hi Judy, I think Rick has been so very important to the new traveler to Europe and to me too . He is not pretentious at all IMO, and has a wonderful attitude towards travel.... the wonder and the glory of it all. He is quite the hero to me. Though some of his recs about rooms and restaurants, can sometimes be a bit too basic, if you know what I mean. <BR> I don't think any single person today, has had a more positive effect on travel than Rick Steves IMHO. <BR>Judy

I like Steves mostly for his attitude towards travel. However, last month I stayed at his top reccomended B&B in Bath. It was, in all honesty, the most pleasant and well-run place I have ever stayed. I am forty-six.

I just wished that he had somthing on Poland and Romania. <BR>

I really don't like his books - I bought one for some planning for Germany, and his coverage is not very complete. When he likes a place he'll tell you all about it, but I personally need a less edited version of the world. But I travel a lot - and maybe we're just not a good personality fit. Chacun a son gout IMVHO. Makes things interesting.

Judy <BR>I don't know if you were wondering about the tours or the guidebooks. I haven't taken the tours but I seem to be on the mailing list for their brochures. The brochure is quite explicit about <BR>what their tours offer and what they don't: price is inclusive of all transportation and sightseeing, no tipping, no extra expensive "optional" trips. <BR>Hotels are simple but clean, bathrooms can be down the hall so not always private. Single travelers don't pay a supplement, but they will be sharing a room with 1-3 other people. Brochure states that travelers must be fit enough to do a lot of walking, and fit enough to carry their own luggage up and down stairs because the hotels that are used rarely if ever have elevators or porterage. Travelers are also expected to be punctual because it is stated that the bus WILL leave without them. Travelers are also expected to be non-whiny. Tours are said to avoid the shepherded shopping excursions that often mean the tour operator is receiving a kickback from the store or factory owner. <BR>My experience with the guidebooks is limited, but the hotel recommendations in the guidebooks seem to be consistent with the kind of hotels used in their tours. The books offer some very good tips and commentson the major sights, <BR>and the book Mona Winks is a helpful <BR>"Cliff Notes" approach to works of art and museums. <BR>If you are an art-lover or sightseeing fiend looking for more in-depth <BR>historical or cultural information, I think you'd also want additional resources. If you want hotels and restaurants with more amenities (and prices to match), you definitely want other books.

Thank you for this post and the many great responses. This is the attitude that keeps bringing me back to Fodor's. There have been so many mean, personal attacks on this forum lately, that I cringed when I saw someone asking for opinions on Rick Steves and his guidebooks. One of the other forums had a similar post that brought out all the toads who felt their worldviews were far superior to "those lemmings who follow Rick's every word." <BR>Please, the man has done a lot to promote travel and setting people off with the right attitude towards exploring other cultures. I think he has done a remarkable job and I will admit openly that, if anything, I am envious of his success. Does anyone have a better job than Rick Steves?? I can't think of many people who enjoy their work as much has he does. He works hard, he takes his work seriously, he has built a very successful business helping others enjoy themselves, and he seems to truly enjoy what he's doing. What could be better?? <BR>As to the value of his books, I think they are right on the money. They are not my only source of travel information, but I find them consistently useful and worth every penny I've spent on them. I wish I could say that the rest of my travel library. <BR> <BR>Larry