Rick Steves has played a pivotal role over he last 25 years in helping Americans take the plunge of traveling to Europe, through his TV shows and his guidebooks.

His books aren't intended to provide in-depth travel experiences-the back of the Paris book says "You could spend a lifetime in Paris but you've only got 3 days". The books are great for little tricks (like which entrance to the Louvre is never crowded), and serve their intended market well. That market is the traveler who is still scratching the surface of a new, foreign city or country and who wants plain, safe, clean accomodations and food.

Many (most?) on FT are sharpshooters looking for the best deal, best seat, etc. Naturally Steves won't help on that hunt and he doesn't try to do that.

I recently read that Steves' company is up to $30 million of revenue per year. I'd guess that 15-20% of that drops to the bottom line. The "Nerd" must be laughing pretty hard.