We're thinking about taking one of the Rick Steve's trips in Italy. Does anyone have experience/opinions w/ him/the company/the tours?<BR>TIA, Alan

We took one of Rick's tours to the Cinque Terre a couple of years ago. Never again. The hotels were gross, the restaurants grosser - for us, people who'd done some traveling on our own in Europe, it was a completely horrible experience. We had to share tables with rude, loud Americans, the places Rick sent us to eat were horrific (and we KNEW there were great restaurants all around us for the same price!), and there was no real good explanation of this history of the place at all. We thought it was a total rip-off - we could have planned the whole trip by ourselves and had far better food and lodgings for the same price.<BR><BR>People on the tour said hey, it was great for first-timers, but we said, nonsense, even a rank rookie could have planned a better trip that this for less money.

Rick's tour prices do not inclue air fare, and you stay in 2-star hotels, often with no elevators/lifts, and according to what I've read, some are quite seedy. I've also read (in reviews by his tour participants) that the included meals leave a lot to be desired.<BR><BR>If you're convinced that you want a guided organized tour, you can go with Globus and for roughly the same price, air is included and you get excellent, lovely 3 and 4 star accomodations and the included dinners are very, very nice, often including wine.<BR><BR>The Globus tour may be a few days shorter in duration, but for myself, I think I'd be much more satisfied.

I have friends who spend every summer working on the RS tours. Due to the demand for better accomodations, comforts etc., Rick Steves has upgraded his hotel selections. They are pretty up front on what to expect on their tours. Check out his website for feedback from tour participants.<BR><BR>Good luck,<BR>Michelle

&gt;Check out his website for feedback &gt;from tour participants<BR><BR>It's a good idea to check his website because it will put you right off. It displays complete ignorance of the places you visit, it talks about the &quot;locals&quot; as quaint yokels and can sometimes be very funny. I can remember somebody pointing out a real howler on his London information page. He said that Sir Francis Drake circimcised (sic) the world.

I can't comment on his tours, having never taken one, but one should know that the comments don't go refers to are deliberate, tongue-in-cheek wisecracks. For example, in his Italian lakes section of the Italy guidebook, the map lists on Lake Como the towns of Menaggio, Tremezzo, and Jay Lenno......

Friends who often travel independently, went on his tour to Spain las year and loved it. They talked about all the interesting out of the way places they got to see. Their only negative remark was that the schedule was really busy because they saw so much. These were people in their early 70's.

In the info I had about Rick Steve's tours, he mentioned you should be able to climb four flights of stairs with luggage and use the bathroom down the hall. That turned me off his tours. I'm walking a lot on my vacation and don't want to end the day hauling my tired feet up the stairs to a room without en suite facilities.

Oveall, you will find that the reponses on this board about Rick Steves are always negative!<BR><BR>I went to his web page and read all the feedback on his Italian Villages tour and while there were negatives posted they wree not negatives that would discourage me. <BR><BR>I would do Rick's tours before Globus just because of the smaller group sizes. I really don't want to travel with 60 people.<BR><BR>I am considering his Italy Village tour. I know that I could probably do it on my own cheaper (and even Rick will tell you that), but it would be easier. <BR>I think that for major cities you could probably go on your own easliy (which I have done) and for less money.

All this negativity regarding Rick Steves! Personally, I've never taken one of his tours but do read his guidebooks faithfully and have used some of his hotel choices. Two years ago in Germany we stayed in two different hotels he recommended and last March in Italy we used hotels he chose 7 of the 10 nights we were there. London is coming up in just two months and we've reserved one of his for the 7 nights we'll be in the city. We all look for something different when we are on holiday and I've found the hotels very satisfactory. Plus I've never had to muck down the hall to the toilet and have never had to climb more than one flight of stairs to my room.

What is the appeal of this guy? I have seen his show on PBS and find him to be a complete bore. I mean the image of Americans used to be the John Wayne type. Now I suspect it's this fanny pack wearing, John Denver look alike. If he was any whiter, he'd be transparent.<BR><BR>

We considered one of his tours for our 25th anniversary trip to Italy in 2001, but priced out what we could do on our own and ended up with a similar itinerary, but with hotels (many recommended here) of our own choice, a rental car for all but the time we were in Rome (at the end), and still came out about $1500 less than we would have paid for his tour. His books have been helpful -- in particular we liked his Rome walking tour of all the &quot;biggies&quot; -- and we sometimes used his restaurant recommendations, too. You will see many independent travellers in Europe with one of his books under their arm. If you don't feel like driving yourself (although it is very easy outside of Rome and I don't think I'd ever want to try to drive in Florence again, if I could avoid it) I think you'd find yourself with people who have a sense of humor and are open to enjoying a foreign country. Plus you wouldn't need to plan much on your own. I've discovered I enjoy planning almost as much as the trip

I was a big fan of Ricks' back in the 80s and he even fueled my passion for Euro travel. I still like his books and planning maps, but his tours are overpriced by about 30% compared to a well conceived independent trip plan. You can do it yourself if you like to plan and have the time.

I have never taken his tours but have used his books faithfully. We are planning our 4th trip to Europe (3rd with his book) and overall his recommendations are very good, provided you read the entire section. Yes there are a lot of 2* but he explains if there is noise, clutter, steps, even irritable hosts. You basically make informed choices. There are a lot of his recommendations we would never use, because of the above, but there are many others we have and been totally pleased. He is honest about attractions that are not attractive and suggests things (like taking crackers with you on self guided wine tasting) that give you a different perspective. <BR>On our last trip, on 9 of 10 spots, we used his hotel/pension recommendations. All were as described, very clean, convenient to our plans, and had personable staff.

We stayed in an hotel in Sorrento where Rick's group were staying too. They were having the best time ever! They all met in the afternoon and had wine together and with all the laughing and hugging you would have thought they were all old friends. We felt a little jealous so we talked to some of his group and they told us that it was the best organized tour they had ever been on, and these were all well-traveled people. <BR>They were also people who like tours so maybe that is why they liked it, if you like to travel on your own, don't go on a tour. They said the price was right because they wanted to be a part of a group.

One thing that never ceases to amaze me is the outright hostility when Rick Steve's name is mentioned. He doesn't claim that his recommendations are 4 star establishment's. He is upfront regarding &quot;communal facilities&quot; as well.<BR> I've used his books three years running now (never used his tour though), and have found his opinions accurate and reasonable. Does this mean I take his word verbatim? Of course not. If you don't like the looks of 'his' trattoria, then just walk around the block and discover one of your own. <BR> I stayed at the Hotel Steno (Steve's #1 recom. in C.T.) in Monterossa a found it to be an outstanding value and excellant hotel. Was it a 4 star place? No, but then that's not what I was looking for either. <BR> As for the guidebooks, yes, many tongue in cheek references are used, but as a buddy used to say, if yiou don't like the good humor, don't eat the ice cream!!

<BR><BR>Like Leo, I'm always amazed at the hostility on this board to Rick Steves. While I've never taken his tours (or any other tours for that matter) I've used his books many times and have always found them to be helpful and informative. <BR><BR>

Everyone gets their panties in a bunch when Mr. Steves is mentioned. I think they're all jealous that they don't have his business acumen. That said I must say I'm a devotee. I've taken 3 tours with Europe Through The Backdoor including the Best of Italy Tour. All of the tours have been wonderful for different reasons. I think they represent their tours quite honestly. I like that the groups are small, that the tour is &quot;Down to Earth&quot; and that we always stay in family owned, local establishments. Of the three guides I've had the one I liked the least was still exceptionally knowledgeable and knew his job, just not very personable. I've made great friends on these tours.<BR>Now this last Summer, as fate would have it, the man himself and his family were on my tour. I was worried that this might effect the tour. It didn't. He never once interferred with the guide, (my favorite so far), his family was wonderful as was he. He was genuinely interested in our feedback about the towns, food and tour. He was occasionally reconized and always gracious with whomever wished to speak with him. I noticed our hotels on this tour were the best I'd had so far not because he was with us, but because they wanted to try new hotels and have trouble booking the guidebook hotels being victims of their own success. This isn't Trafalgar, Globus and certainly not Tauck. Its touring to get into a country, learn its culture and meet its people. I've had experiences on the tours that I know I wouldn't have had otherwise. Go if you want someone else to handle the details and travel with a guide who will really know the area you are traveling in. Go if you want casual travel and the opportunity to meet locals and see things the other guy won't. Go if you like small groups, no shopping stops.Go if you want days with and without planned activity. But remember! You will walk A LOT and you will always carry your own bag. But that's ok, no tipping allowed.

I haven't taken his tours, but have gone to his (free) presentations in Edmunds (WA) and they are very helpful--as are his books. I've stayed at 3 hotels he's recommended--two I wouldn't stay at again (Hotel Europa in Madrid and Continental in Barcelona), but one was absolutely incredible--Hostal del Cardenal in Toledo. <BR><BR>Friends of ours took his tour to Turkey and loved it. <BR><BR>I have a lot of respect for him and appreciate the information he offers. I just don't like the idea of being on a tour, but if I was going to go on one, I certainly would consider going on his.

I do not read Rick Steves books, go on his tours, nor stay in hotels or eat in restaurants that he likes, but having said that, I do LOVE his videos (most of them) and have made copies of them. I think they have beautiful photography, good music and are very well made. I think he is a friendly chap, but too much of a communist for me.