I have reported you.

You "feel about" Rick?

Isn't that kind of inappropriate, considering that he's married?

Or are you just trying to pick his pockets?

What does "I have reported you?" mean

I have a huge pile of travel books on Italy, and the most readable one, cover to cover, is Rick Steve's Italy guide 2004, as well as his city guides to Italy. I have consulted just about every book that I could get my hands on in the book store, and have purchased many, but most of them are only good as reference material, to look up something specific in them. But you can actually read Rick Steve's books cover to cover without feeling like you are reading a dictionary or an encyclopedia. I confess I have NEVER seen any of Rick Steve's shows, because I DON'T WATCH TV! I read instead. I have also purchased certain travel items on Rick Steve's web-sites which were 1/3 of the cost of what they were charging for the similar items in the travel store down-town in my area. So I represent the other viewpoint...someone who appreciates Rick Steve's! I also appreciate that he mentions small family-run businesses in his books, because I would rather deal with a specific individual sometimes rather than a faceless organization.

Who needs Plato, Thoreau, Hume and Gandhi? Every bit of wisdom I've gained in life is from Gilligan's Island. :)

Funny enough, there's a new book out called <i>Gilligan?s Wake</i>,
about which the review at the website below says...

&quot;Is it possible that the secret history of the 20th century can be read through the pop-cultural references of the baby boom? So it would seem from this ephemera-crammed fantasia (new in paper), one of the oddest and most inventive titles of last year. Each of its seven distinct sections is told by a different castaway from the famous sitcom. Each character seems only dimly aware of his or her future fate on the eternal island; that endlessly rerun TV existence stands parallel to their separate stories?all seven of which, in turn, bear a curiously parallel aspect.&quot;

http://www.seattleweekly.com/feature...weeksreads.php

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Just for good measure!) :D

Melissajoy, you do not have to be ashamed or saying that you read instead of watch TV. So do I. I read at least a book a week and sometimes more.

I also am often at a loss when people talk about some TV show.

Mind you, I am NOT critcizing people who watch TV. Different strokes for different folks.

For the record I have seen a couple of the Rick Steves travel shows and stand by my prior comments that much of the controversy concerning him and his books is because people are jealous of his success.

I think this DVD would have nice scenery at the least.
http://www.ricksteves.com/tours/goodies.htm

I haven't gotten it because I'm a little uncertain ethically about it. I know there's no chance I'll take his tours - is it wrong to get his free DVD about them?

WillTravel, it certainly would not be unethical if you would subsequently share it with others who may prove to be more interested in the tours. Go for it.

Although I've been reading this thread for six days, I have been avoiding commenting - don't really know why. I really like Rick Steves - I buy all his books on the places I'm going, watch his shows, and have even bought a few things off his website. I have never been disappointed. We have stayed in hotels he's recommended, eaten in restaurants he's recommended, planned trips using info from his books, etc., etc. And I have even thought that we might take one of his tours one of these days. I'm not planning on it any time soon as we prefer to travel on our own. But - if and when we get to a stage in life where that kind of traveling is difficult, I would consider taking a RS tour before any other kind of tour.

All that said - I also read, buy, and use many other travel books, watch other travel shows, etc. I try to use whatever I can find that is helpful - that is why I'm on Fodor's every day - getting information for my next trip!

I guess I feel that everyone has a right to his/her own opinion, but no need to criticize anyone else for prefering one travel guide or another. Yes, Rick is somewhat old style in looks - especially in those old videos - but who cares? I think he's humerous, and his books are definitely easier to read than the typical travel guide.

I like Rick Steves, his TV show and his books. They have provided me and my family with an insight to Europe we would have found no where else.

Isn't traveling about live and let live?

I own all the usual travel books BUT I always take with me the specific RS books.

==Mike

I love his books especially when going through museums. I used his book for the Louvre, Musee Dorsay and Versailles. I really helped so I saw all the important paintings and statues. I recently bought his France 2004 since I am looking at a trip to go to the Provence area. I also found the DK books very helpful in knowing what is in each arrondissmont.

Maybe I can afford to stay in &quot;better&quot; hotels or dine at &quot;finer&quot; restaurants, but what keeps travel exciting for me is discovering ways to extend my stay. Traveling on the cheap gives me the opportunity to take two or three trips to the Continent each year. Rick Steves is my guru of travel. I just wish he'd keep his yap shut regarding politics and smoking dope. Check out the NORML website to view Rick's rationalization for legalization.

I could care less what Rick's politics or yours are. I find it interesting that you have gone wandering over to the NORML website for this.

And on another note. How do you vet the &quot;politics&quot; of all your other guidebook writers? Should we send Fodors a message asking them to begin including this information?

I find his books useful and interesting.

Wow, it was interesting to wander through all the responses about Rick Steves. This thread seems to have gone on and on. I am among those who tapes his PBS travel shows and looks over his ideas in books. And I do appreciate him as a &quot;travel engineer&quot; as someone called him.

I don't travel like he does but do appreciate his insights and sometimes his tips prove to be good ones. We ate at Kappellis in Helsinki, for example, and while not the best place in Northern Europe as I believe he labled it, it was very good indeed.

Too bad the Travel channel has such abominable TV fare, like the ten most elaborate bathrooms in the world or such nonesense.

It is amazing how much expertise there is on this Fodors talk!
Bill in the Ozarks