Before groups of American tourists get dodgy blokes with greasy flat hats and string round their trousers to take them on a jolly badger bait, I should remind them.

"Badgers and their setts are fully protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Anyone who takes, kills or injures a badger, or who interferes with a badger sett, can be sent to prison for six months or fined up to £5000.

Badger baiting is also an offence against the Protection of Animals Act 1911"

People in the Cotswolds don't bait badgers. They have people to do that sort of thing for them.

Don't feel bad. I'm an American and prior to planning for my trip to Spain I'd never heard of Rick Steves. I rented his videos on Spain during the planning process simply because getting information on Spain is not all that easy. I was extremely disappointed in the DVDS. In fact, I think I laughed through most of them. (Truth to tell, the reviews did cite them as being "dated.")

I just felt a lot of the information on the DVD was overly basic and there wasn't a lot of depth. Okay, so if some one has never, ever taken a vacation to anywhere before perhaps they might benefit. But, really, some of this information was overly simplistic.

Also, I just didn't get his over-emphasis that everyone should and must travel only with a backpack. (It seemed that way with me, anyway.) It was off-putting. That's fine and great for some people, not for others. Each must make their own decision regarding this. But I really disliked his attitude - superior?? - in telling me what to do.

Guess you could say I'm among those who don't bother with him. But do have to admire the travel "empire" he's built.

Skip Rick's videos for serious planning purposes and stick to his books. The videos can be useful to get a taste for a place you've never been or to inspire you to visit a new place, but I don't seek them out. I've never backpacked in my life, always stay in hotels, and still use Rick's books as my primary guide books when I travel.

Andrew

What is the English translation of "Chatty locals commonly rescue themselves from a gossipy tangent"?

Are 'gossippy tangents' some kind of machine they have in whatever boondock this strange person comes from?

Are they dangerous? Should we ban them?

Maybe he means a gripy tyrant or a grumpy transient or indeed something completely different. He doesn't seem to have a great grasp of the language.

Lawchick,
The key to understanding Steves is this:
Americans average 2 WEEKS PER YEAR of total vacation time. (That includes a couple of days at Christmas, etc.) So along comes Rick Steves who shows people a way you can actually do Europe in that amount of time but still meet people, and get a bit of the actual local flavor. He encourages people to get off the bus and walk around and speak to people even if you only know a few words of their language.( Americans are fiercely phobic about visiting places where "they don't speak English")
Did you know George Bush had never traveled overseas before he became President? Well, Rick Steves is trying to change that image of Americans.
I give him a lot of credit for trying!

I think it is proof of his success that people have such strong feelings about him personally. If you "really don't understand the attraction" then he's not the guy for you.

Flanner, do you remember Rambling Syd Rumpo
http://www.stopmessinabout.co.uk/RambSyd.htm


They do say that on Midsummer's Eve the gossipy tangents do walk abroad. The badger manglers do protect themselves with the magic words "It's all very...ummm...yyya" while they rollocks their fussetts
And griddles their nodes

We have been watching Rich Stevens on the Pubic tv for year's!! Hes the ones that got us to try the Scandinavio an we even has his videos on VDD'S!! If it werent for him we would probly never have goan to the Eurapeo 2 times now and again next summer.

Bill and Betty, I'm with you. If it weren't for Rick Steves videos on public television, I would never have gone to Europe other than on a tour (yuch). He IS very basic and he does say he himself used Michelin books. I use Fodors, Eyewitness, Frommers and Michelin guides but I always start with Rick Steves books to begin planning.

We found his Christmas special very enjoyable.

Flanner, I believe gossipy tangents have already been banned here on Travel Talk.

lawchick--based on your email, I'd guess you are very young--in experience if not in years. As you gain life experience you'll realize that not all people have exactly the same needs, desires, goals, level of knowledge, etc. when it comes to travel. So there's a place for many different levels of assistance and information sources.

This doesn't only apply to travel. Dont' worry, most people do gain in their level of understand and empathy as they travel through life.

I am amused by the poster who felt Rick Steves was somehow "telling [them] what to do"...as if any of us here who are asked a question aren't doing exactly the same thing when we respond.

Unfortunately, I am neither young nor inexperienced. I was simply curious about who the man is, as he is not recognised in Europe, despite all his alleged travelling around.

I have one request from my American counterparts, on this site and elsewhere - perhaps you could all refrain from saying you will "do" Europe or "do" a restaurant. It drives us Eurotrash people crazy. We really imagine Americans running around with a list ticking things off - when they are "done". I know you are much more efficient than most of us in Europe, but really, the "do" must go.
No offence meant chaps.

saying "telling people what to 'do' " is proper english. it's not efficiency minded, just proper. When Americans say "what to do in Europe" they mean what should they experience while they are there. It's just a word choice difference, not a major issue.

Although a newbie to the European board, I can sense a good amount of condescension towards us uncultured Americans by lawchick. Why did you need to start a thread asking about Rick Steves if you already knew who he was? Was it aimed at proving once again how travel-challenged Americans are?

Oh don't get your knickers in a twist. I had now idea who the poor guy was until today. I actually thought he might be some wandering chef or something.

And the "do" whether proper English or not, and it's not, in the context of visiting somewhere, is annoying for many people other than me. I'm just passing on a bit of advice. Take it or leave it.

i didn't realize that you were the judge of proper english. i presume you're an attorney, not a judge? i'm an attorney, too, so i pay particular attention to words.

rather than trying to highlight every problem that americans have (like every american is identical...many, many americans are different than the stereotype or from president bush for that matter), why not focus on how great it is that any country's citizens want to learn more about other countries.

isn't it a good start for steves' disciples to get interested in italy, france, et. al, even if it's not in an especially sophisticated fashion? like others mentioned, i'm sure steves gave some the confidence to travel overseas, confidence that they might not have otherwise possessed.

Even though I had lived and traveled in Europe as a young teenager, I truly think it was Rick Steve's PBS shows that got me to begin traveling independently (and solo) in Europe. I had been to London many times, as well as to Germany and Switzerland, but never "on my own". His guidebooks are full of practical information, and are very helpful, although I don't stay at his hotels. I use (and read) many other guidebooks before trips, but always take Rick's to new places. It kind of makes me laugh when I see all the statements on here belittling Rick Steves - 'cause the jealousy is so obvious! Face it, the man is a genius!

I bought a copy of Europe Through the Back Door in 1989. At the time, nobody I knew had ever heard of Rick Steves. He promoted (at least in the book) an independent, frugal travel style. There was even a chapter dedicated to the evils of tours. Later, I discovered he was running a huge tour company. Then came the first 13-part travel series on PBS.
Thats when he really took off (both his books and tour operation).
I hope he makes a nice big contribution every year to PBS!