nytraveler

Yes - I remember the Maxa shows. Loved them - unique and interesting places, sights, festivals, etc - much better for someone who has already done the basic ABCs. And he assumed you were a competent adult. And didn't insists on becoming the best friend/shill for some cheese shop in every town he visited - like steeeeves.

outwest

Rudy Maxa's show is sponsored by the hotels he stays at (and for which he basically provides an infomercial disguised as content--same as Samantha Brown). At least Rick Steves champions smaller businesses and non-chains and works within a budget more people can afford. I'm not a huge Steves fan but I find the comments here a bit disingenuous. If you ever watch the Maxa, Brown and Steves version of the same city (which I have) you'll see they all look at exactly the same stereotyped sights. But Rick doesn't spend five minutes advertising the hotel.

IMDonehere

As far as listening Rick Steve's on radio, it is not necessary and I will cite an apocryphal G.B. Shaw tale as the reason why.

A young writer sent Shaw a manuscript, which Shaw returned with a note with something to the effect, try another profession.

The young writer wrote back and said that Shaw dismissed the work without reading the manuscript. He cited as evidence that he had placed a hair around many pages and it was still intact.

Shaw wrote back, "One need not smell the entire egg, to know it is rotten."

cynthia_booker

Isabel, while some of the comments above are fair, many are from the normal Rick bashers who regularly surface whenever Steves' name is mentioned.
I think the points in your post are well taken, and that Steves can be quite helpful for many inexperienced travelers. For those above who were born knowing it all, obviously they don't need to use Europe Through the Back Door or any other

cynthia_booker

of the Rick Steves books or products.
(sorry for the premature entry)

NewbE

<And Parker? His belief in big wines has pushed many review-driven vintners away from finesse - which is a true shame for us all.>

Ian, you are singing my song!

We recently attended a rather unfortunate wine class, taught by a man who worships Parker. He actually had a slide that he returned to several times: "During his first 5 years rating Bordeaux wines, Parker gave 90 points or more to only 15% of the wines, but in the last decade he gave 90 points or more to 60% of the wines made in Bordeaux! Isn't it wonderful how much French winemaking has improved??"

I am not making that up. Silly man.

latedaytraveler

Hi OUTWEST,

"Rudy Maxa's show is sponsored by the hotels he stays at (and for which he basically provides an infomercial disguised as content--same as Samantha Brown)."

You are right I am sure. But I still enjoyed their shows even though those digs were beyond my means.

IMDonehere

Rick Steves is a lazy and uneducated writer when it comes to art. He is followed because he knows a tad more than the average tourist. For example, he calls Velázquez the court photojournalist. This is not demean the often dangerous assignments photojournalists assume, but Velázquez is a seminal artist for Western art.

He omits wonderful towns and sights near the towns he recommends for reasons only known to him.

His advice is narrow with little regard for those who want a bit more.

I know Spain best, and for a professional traveler writer he does not know the food and offers little insight in the culture and history.

If someone holds him or herself out as professional travel writer than the standard is different for a TR which records what time they woke up.

NewbE

< Steves can be quite helpful for many inexperienced travelers. For those above who were born knowing it all, obviously they don't need to use Europe Through the Back Door or any other>
For what it's worth, I never said anyone is born knowing it all, myself least of all. IMO, too much of Steves' advice is bad. Other resources are better. He just shouts loudest.

sanderskn

I'll continue to like Rick Steves. Let's be honest we all wish we had his job.

annw

Didn't see Maxa that much into the advertising, but perhaps I missed it; Samantha Brown often notes the names of the hotels she stays in; Steves sometimes does, sometimes doesn't.

I'm such an enthusiastic armchair traveler that I really watch the videos for enjoyment rather than hardcore info.

One thing I got from the Steves videos is the advisability of visiting Ravenna; I think he captured it well, if briefly, and I was glad I followed his advice here. Don't see Ravenna featured that often.

I've wanted to visit Vicenza since I saw it in an Inspector Morse episode; almost made it last trip but went to Verona instead. Next trip for sure! And I won't need a storage locker.

WillTravel

For those of us who read Rick Steves's books a long time ago, he did suggest eating off discarded cafeteria trays. Fortunately, that's no longer in his books. Admittedly, though, the odds of catching an illness are probably low, and if someone were indeed that desperate, it's not such a bad idea.

In his Postcards from Europe book, he recounts his youthful post-high-school trip with a buddy where they were seriously short on funds. One vignette involved shoplifting cookies. I don't know what to think of including such a story, but I Hope it doesn't encourage anyone to do the same.

The books have definitely gone more upscale in recent years, although part of the reason is that western European travel has become much more expensive and there are way fewer cheap but nice places with a bathroom down the hall.

kja

Several people have noted that RS guides are not comprehensive. True enough! The biggest problem, IMO, is that it isn't always clear just how much he is skipping, and IME, he skips a LOT!!! I'm not a fan of these guidebooks, but if someone finds value in his recommendations, and uses those recs to <b>supplement</b> further reading with more comprehensive guidebooks, I can imagine that the outcome would, for that person, be valuable. But after years on this board, I must admit that I am tired of reading about people who thought they saw everything that place X had to offer, simply on the basis of reading a RS guidebook and without realizing how very much else there is to see in that place. And I find it very troubling that so many of these people then go on to advise others that one only needs Y amount of time to see place X. Too, I am saddened by reports of people who assumed that they were well prepared for their travels, but were not, because they read only RS guidebooks.

But I also can't imagine why so many people don't seem to use ANY guidebooks -- they are such a small investment, relative to the cost of a trip! -- and so I guess it would be better to use a RS book than nothing. But honestly, I can only recommend using a RS guidebook as a 2nd source, if that....

kawh

i was a huge rick steves fan, back when his guide book cover was black and white! he influences my travel style greatly. however, after taking his Turkey tour (we usually don't do tours... but trusted him for turkey) my admiration has slipped. We stayed mostly at sterile business hotels and ate at highway truck cafeterias almost entirely. yuck.

WillTravel

That is really unfortunate, kawh. I had thought the tours sounded like they could be fun if you were willing to spend the money for them, and I had heard positive things about other tours (had not heard about Turkey). Where did you stay in Istanbul, for example?

IMDonehere

IMHO

Frommer’s and Fodor’s-Good on restaurants and hotels, poor on history and culture, small town recommendations non-existent. Getting better on history and culture but appeal to a mainstream audience. They seem to be afraid of wit, as it might be insulting.

Rough Guide and Lonely Planet-Opinionated and edgy, good on history and culture, terrible on restaurants and hotels. Often have listings for smaller towns.

Cadogan-specialized for a specific areas. Quietly helpful. A bit dry

Eyewitness and National Geographic-Like stereotypical models nice to look at but good for little else.

Rick Steve’s-I would rather be lead by a blind man

Michelin Green-probably the best for sites.

Michelin Red-Rarely use it

Time Out-Very good for large cities

kja

Some areas of agreement and disagreement with IMDonehere...

FWIW, I don't use guidebooks to find hotels or restaurants, although I look to some of them to figure out what parts of cities I would like to stay or dine.

So <b>MY</b> take, based on use of about 6 guidebooks per trips:

<u>Frommer’s and Fodor’s</u> - Good for helping priorize sightseeing AND for figuring out which parts of cities are good for accommodation in light of individual needs. Also helpful for planning the amount of time to spend at specific places (meaning specific museums or gardens or whatever -- SPECIFIC places!).

<u>Rough Guide and Lonely Planet</u> - Generally comprehensive coverage of sights with good, useful maps and VERY good information about transportation options.

<u>Cadogan</u> - NOT all that helpful IMO.

<u>Eyewitness and National Geographic</u> <b>AND</b> <u>Insight Guides</u> - VERY good for inspiration; good cutaways and other illustrations for detailed understanding of a few major sights.

<u>Michelin Green</u> - may be best for many sites, especially if traveling by car, but not quite as comprehensive, IME as, say, the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet and without the same useful maps of inner city areas. VERY helpful for planning the amount of time to spend at specific places.

<u>Moon Guide</u> -- when it exists, well worth considering, in the same "genre" as the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet.

I will never, EVER use another Rick Steves guidebook. WAY, WAY too limited in coverage for my purposes.

JMO.

But bottom line, whether any one agrees with me or with anyone else about the value of any specific guidebook, I would again say: <u><b>Get or consult at least one guide book!</u></b> If you browse through it, you will learn about things you never even though to ask.

(Much better: Get or consult several guidebooks!)

IMDonehere

We never set aside specific times to visit but blocks of time because we might love it and my wife might want to do some sketches or we might hate it and leave pretty quickly. And like everyone here be surprised that there some sort of renovation or some local holiday that we missed when doing our research and something might be closed. Or happen upon a local holiday and change the itinerary so you can participate or view it.

We know what we want to visit and try to visit the more popular ones on weekdays.

Kja-where have used Cadogan?

kja

"Kja-where have used Cadogan?"

It was one of several guidebooks I used for the Amalfi Coast/ southern Italy -- not my favorite, but better than nothing. .

I also looked at it for Croatia -- but I relied on various other options, which met MY needs much better.

IMDonehere

Thanks, Kja.