Yes, suze and Nikki, well said. I sit and sip, don't post often on Europe. People watching is superb.

I like Rick Steves. His shows and books helped me a lot when I was a novice traveler 10 yrs ago. I still enjoy them, even though the bad puns get old.

I'll reserve comment on what I see as the more disturbing aspect of threads like that one...well, two words: "junior high."

Rick Steves' city and town walking tours are the best we have found. He also gives great practical info on locations of tourist offices.

LOL Nikki, but thank goodness, <i>they</i> do let us out now and then, so we really can sit in a cafe in Europe and people watch.

MarkVK,

LOL ..I grew being taught (and later taught my own children) &quot;If you can't say something nice...&quot;

But I have to admit that I love Alice Roosevelt Longworth's version, from her days as celebrated Washington hostess:

&quot;If you can't say something nice, come sit by me.&quot;

Byrd

Keep in mind that getting the down side of places is just as important as hearing the good things. I for one want to hear both the bad and the good!

I have no strong feelings about Rick Steves' books, though we did find his museum tours handy in Rome. But I can see where a very sophisticated, experienced traveller would find them too 'junior'.

But Suze, I just wanted to say that Fodor's doesn't offer this site as a 'courtesy' or any kind of social service. It's a business. They sell advertising space and products through it and they draw potential buyers through these forums. That's fine with me -- that's how business runs and I certainly benefit by the information I get here. But you can be sure that the minute it stopped being profitable, this website would cease to exist.

Scarlett,

That statement was meant to try and lighten the mood around here but also convey the message that this is NOT required reading and responding!

I've seen political blogs with less venom.

RS is fine, Michelen is fine, they are all fine, just a matter of taste, opinion, and financial position. If some here could just answer the OP without accusing of working for RS PR or some other &quot;deal with the devil&quot; reason, we would have about 1/3 less to read and get some real learning done here.

MvK

hdm- It's a courtesy for me. Since I never read the ads, never buy Fodor's guidebooks, or have ever spent one cent as a result of posting here.

But hdm's point is still valid, suze. This forum exists because it's of value to Fodor's, not as a courtesy to us.

Don't get me wrong, I love Fodor's and am very appreciative that it's here. But we are also &quot;of use&quot; to Fodor's. Witness the fact that they used quotes from Fodorites in the new guide books.

OMG. Fodors could be stealing my intellectual property?!? I knew I should have read the fine print of that #*%&amp;# user agreement...

Jules

I always buy a Rick Steve's guide AND one other book for any new locale. Rick's for the practical and mundane - i.e., &quot;Turn left after exiting the train station to find the official taxis&quot;, and the other for more in-depth looks into sites and museums. I find this provides me with balanced information.

The so called experts who destest Rick Steves do so, in my opinion, because they are jealous and think they could do it better.

So, if you think you could do it better, go ahead and try. You don't like Rick Steves? Don't buy his books and shut up about it already.

For the record, I don't have any of his guidebooks but the industry trashing Steves on message boards probably sells quite a few books because people are curious.

Suze, they rent your eyeballs to advertisers. For money. $-)

kswl -- but Suze's eyes are shut the WHOLE TIME, and she's &quot;Thinking of England&quot;.

;)

More power to her! :D

Oh jules, it has been a long time since I heard that comment, LOL!!

Crefloors, you forgot to mention my favorite Dr. Seuss book of all time: &quot;Oh the Places You'll Go&quot;! :)

Does anybody watch Rudy Maxa?

Johanna

I do watch Rudy. In fact he's right after Rick on Saturday afternoons on our PBS station. I watch 'em all.

Well, yes, Crefloors, I am over 60, and I am sorry to tell you that I am not alone in being &quot;ignorant&quot; of Dr. Seuss.

As to the Fodors forum...hmmm I am not one of those who believes that Fodors &quot;hosts&quot; this forum out of the goodness of their hearts.

Let's see...there is

e-mail address harvesting and re-sale
using &quot;quotes&quot; in new guidebooks
getting all the free research material as to what is going on in various locations, etc.