Rick Steves Guides
 

Are the Rick Steves travel guides for Paris and Spain any good? I'll be travelling to both this summer with my elderly parents and have heard a lot of buzz about the Steves website and materials, so seek some informed opinions plz. Thank you.

Rick Steves' guides, web site, and TV show are very good at what they do. They're best for Americans who are on a budget, unaccustomed to overseas travel, and willing to rough it a little. So some of the recommendations might not work out for elderly folks if they have any problems with mobility or informality (like climbing stairs or sharing baths in a budget hotel).

After out trip last year, my husband and I agreed that the info and suggestions for restaurants and lodging we got from the Rick Steves Guides was better than those we got from other sources. If you're budget-minded, I recommend them.

I love Rick Steves travel books but remember even he says to supplement with other travel books. I find Fodors great for hotels. He recommends Michelen books for maps and detailed information about the places you are traveling.<BR><BR>His Paris book is great especially when it comes to the big sights.

We used his Spain book for our 2 week trip in March '01. We found it to be very good. We weren't really on a tight budget and used some of his "splurge" hotels - he usually recommends a variety of types - not all budget. His insights into what to do and what to skip were invaluable. We also used the Rough Guide to Andalucia to supplement his book.

If you do budget travel (Like I do) his hotel recommendations have been good. I supplement them by checking the postings on his web page www.ricksteves.com. I also use the Eyewittness guides with Rick's and between the two I have had a wonderful time in Paris!

His London book does a great job of walking tours, i.e. the British Museum, St. Pauls and Westminster Abbey.<BR><BR>Mona Winks is great for museums.<BR><BR>I used his recommended lodging with mixed results. Dublin was awful, but the first time I went to Edinburgh I ended up at the best place I've ever been--anywhere. I've stayed there four times since and the owners have become friends. <BR><BR>I've enjoyed reading his Paris book, but won't be putting it to use until October!

We have not used Rick Steves, but have enjoyed his TV series if it's not up against a hockey game. But seriously folks . . . Whether you use him(he does a good job) or somebody else, IMO, you need a minimum of two guide books in order to cross check hotel recommendations and important must see points of interest. I'm not just saying this cause of the site, but Fodor's Guide is generally my faithful companion. In addition, I have always found the Michelin Green Guide invaluable in both the planning and the "being there" phases. Just my 2 cents worth.

R.S. is a good resource for gaining confidence... for a wonderful 'visual' guidebook, I love "Eyewitness" guides, and have one for each major area I've visited. Has fairly good practical information re: sights, but not a lot for restaurants/hotels. I use this forum and other internet sources for that information.

I really like Rick Steves' travel guides, especially for basic logistical information. For example, he recommended a certain route into Florence by car that was VERY easy and took a lot of guesswork out of a very intimidating prospect. Tips like that and other "street level" tips are invaluable. However, I do believe his guides must be supplemented by at least one other. The reason is that Steves can be a bit of a travel snob. He has no qualms about telling you what he thinks is overrated and not worth seeing. It's good to hear his opinion, but remember, it's only one man's opinion. For example, he thinks the Spanish Steps are overrated and to be avoided, but, I don't see how a trip to Rome can be complete without a visit there. It's easy for Rick to poo-poo certain "touristy" sights because he has been to the sights numerous times and will be back numerous times. But not all of us have the luxury of getting paid to travel Europe for most of the year, which allows a more personable, off-the-beaten-path type attitude. But for those who may not go to Europe more than once or twice, alot of those "touristy" places that Rick avoids are, IMHO, don't-miss sights. They're touristy for a reason. So, keep that in mind when reading some of Rick's recommendations on what to see and what to avoid. But other than that little qualm, his guides are invaluable.

What I find different in RS's books is that he is opinionated. And it is an extra step from most other guidebooks that for example, tell you what sort of guides a museum offers - his tell you also which ones are better and why. <BR><BR>I always supplement his books with a lonely planet especially for the maps. But we have found some lovely jewels (Vivoli's in Venice for eg) with his hotel recommendations and restaurants.<BR><BR>And those do-it-yourself guided tours like the one in Vienna on tram #1. :)

The Steves books are very good if you are going to be in a town for a very short period of time, and want to know the highlights of what to see. His books are also good for becoming familiar quickly with a town's layout.<BR><BR>If you are going to be in any city for more than 1 or 2 days, I advise also (or instead) getting a more detailed guide book. The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide books provide a lot more detail.

<BR>Budget travelers are much better served by Lonely Planet guides than by Rick Steves. If you're beyond the backpack stage then Fodor's and DK Eyewitness are your choices. Michelin has the best guides to the sights in their Green series; there is one for Paris and one for Spain. My page at<BR>www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap10/guide.htm has a review of these and a number of other guides, and sources of additional information for travelers.

For my trip to Paris last October I read (and bought!) several guidebooks before the trip. I tore out sections for a couple of the books to take but ended up taking Rick Steve's Paris book everywhere. I didn't use any of his hotels, as I wanted a 3-star in St. Germain, and his are more budget-oriented, but from what I hear, they are perfectly fine.<BR><BR> Rick's general information is great, and especially his sections on the major museums - very concise for the first-time visitor. I'm going to Paris again soon, and will definitely be taking Rick's book, as he has a good section on a daytrip to Chartres. His Versailles section was great. I like his comments and his sense of humor. I see in your post that you will be with your elderly parents - I'm in my last 60's, and a great fan of Rick's!

Rick Steves is great for rank amateurs. He's a rank amateur himself, despite the fact he's been to Europe a gazillion times. His maps are funky, his taste is restaurants is simply horrid, and his opinionatedness is really out of place, given that he's trying to cultivate a group of people who wouldn't normally venture outside the USA. I bought one of his books about 8 years ago and ended up donating it to the Salvation Army. For what I want out of travel, I wouldn't ever rely on Rick Steves.

Rick is fine, taken with the proper dose of salt. Understand his perspective and heed his opinions. But, be sure to compliment his books with the real facts from Michelin Green book.

Rick Steves is an idiot and has led the cheap classless hicks to Europe and ruined it for the rest of us.

Is it not interesting the opinionated responses commenting on the opinions of Rick Steves! I have used his books in several countries with good results but I consider his opinions as what they are, opinions, as I do those of others. Sometimes he is right, sometimes wrong, but to me always helpful. The way he prioritizes cities is, while not always my way, a good way to start figuring out where to go. Similarly, what to do when there. It all figures into it and I find his books very useful. Lonely Planet helps me fill in the gaps, but I start with Rick. Plus, I like the way he travels.

I think that Rick Steves books are definitely useful, Luis. That last poster "He" certainly sounds like a "classless hick", and to call Rick Steves "an idiot" is really amazingly stupid.And the other "xxxx" poster, along with the "He Idiot" want to sound like travel snobs. Rick Steves has been smart enough to build himself quite a little empire in the world of travel, which I doubt very much that an idiot would have been able to do. He sells an awful lot of books!<BR><BR>Anyway, enough of that. To answer your question about Rick Steves travel guide to Paris (I haven't read the one on Spain) - yes, it is quite good for basic information. But look at some other guidebooks too, in addition to his, and enjoy your trip with your parents!