I Hate Rick Steves
Apr 21, 2011, 8:20 am
#226
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
Yes, he does only cover the "highlights" of a country. And he uses his judgment in selecting what he thinks are the "best" places in a country.
His audience is Americans. How many Americans do you know who have the time to hit more than "the highlights"? We're not a country that typically takes 6 week vacations.
His audience is Americans. How many Americans do you know who have the time to hit more than "the highlights"? We're not a country that typically takes 6 week vacations.
I've never understood the prevalent attitude on FT of going on vacation and making life hard for yourself. If I'm on vacation, I want to relax and see some stuff. And if the stuff I want to see happens to be popular and seen by - GHASP!!
- other American tourists, hey it's OK, I'll live. Not every vacation has to be me alone 50 miles from the closest tourist on a beach only 12 people have ever stepped foot on. That being said I do agree this dude is dorky. But he's made more money being a dork than most if not all posters here will ever make doing something he loves. So for that I say kudos Rick.
Apr 21, 2011, 9:31 am
#227
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,001
Ever looked at a travel guidebook for your home town/city? Do they recommend places you like to go? My experience at home is they recommend places where the food is less than excellent and the atmosphere lacking. I've not seen much to dissuade me from this travelling.
Are you too good to be around those people? What if the food is excellent? I'm really just asking...
Apr 21, 2011, 11:35 am
#228
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,508
If a guidebook recommends a restaurant in you city, tourists will go there which will mean you won't go there because there are tourists there and you don't go anywhere tourists go.
Apr 21, 2011, 1:10 pm
#229
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: LAX
Posts: 10,908
Apr 21, 2011, 1:33 pm
#230
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Philadelphia
Programs: AA Ex-Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 670
I think his hotel lists are pretty good, but his restaurants are awful. I don't think I've eaten in a good one ever.
His museum tours are pretty good if you want to be an American and bang through the Uffizi in an hour.
Apr 21, 2011, 1:50 pm
#231
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
I think Rick Steves suggests good budget hotels, and that's about it. Back when I used his guidebooks, he recommended seeing every museum in every city we went to. I also distinctly remember him suggesting that a good way to eat cheaply anywhere would be to raid the leftovers on other peoples' trays in cafeterias. No thanks.
I've been a Lonely Planet guy for quite some time now.
Lonely PLanet and Rick Steves both recommended the same restaurant in Ronda, Spain. I don't remember the name. We walked from our hotel to the restaurant, which was charming and local and off the beaten path and everything I look for when traveling. When we arrived, we were the first diners of the evening. As the evening wore on and the place filled up, we couldn't help but notice that EVERY OTHER TABLE was full of Americans, speaking in English to the waiters (we muddled through in our broken Spanish the whole time). And every other table had a Rick Steves Spain guidebook on the table.
The staff seemed to like our attempts at Spanish - they gave us a few rounds of sherry and desserts. I didn't see them doing that for other tables.
I've been a Lonely Planet guy for quite some time now.
Lonely PLanet and Rick Steves both recommended the same restaurant in Ronda, Spain. I don't remember the name. We walked from our hotel to the restaurant, which was charming and local and off the beaten path and everything I look for when traveling. When we arrived, we were the first diners of the evening. As the evening wore on and the place filled up, we couldn't help but notice that EVERY OTHER TABLE was full of Americans, speaking in English to the waiters (we muddled through in our broken Spanish the whole time). And every other table had a Rick Steves Spain guidebook on the table.
The staff seemed to like our attempts at Spanish - they gave us a few rounds of sherry and desserts. I didn't see them doing that for other tables.
Apr 21, 2011, 2:04 pm
#232
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Southern California
Programs: Hertz 5 star, Priceline Hotel bidder. AA PLT, 1MM.
Posts: 2,910
Yeah, it cuts both ways, doesn't it. 
And for whatever his faults, I will defend Rick Steves to the death. He's a brilliant travel book writer -- his series is better than any other (I know nothing about his guided tours). I probably have more experience than 99.99% of travellers, and I grab a copy (often from the library) of his books when I go to Europe. Sure, I rarely stay at his recommended hotels, and eat only occasionally at his recommended restaurants, but his "nuts and bolts" info is better than anyone else's. When friends and family ask me for European travel advice, I always tell them to read Rick Steves first and then ask me questions.
And for whatever his faults, I will defend Rick Steves to the death. He's a brilliant travel book writer -- his series is better than any other (I know nothing about his guided tours). I probably have more experience than 99.99% of travellers, and I grab a copy (often from the library) of his books when I go to Europe. Sure, I rarely stay at his recommended hotels, and eat only occasionally at his recommended restaurants, but his "nuts and bolts" info is better than anyone else's. When friends and family ask me for European travel advice, I always tell them to read Rick Steves first and then ask me questions.
I have gone more upscale in the lodging area in recent years. Of course, we try not to pay over $100/nt (can be achieved by Priceline bidding).
Bottom line: I usually buy an updated Rick Steves book before going to Europe. (very familiar places maybe not).
Apr 21, 2011, 2:16 pm
#233
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS-GoldMVP,Hilton, Hyatt, Hertz
Posts: 907
Apr 21, 2011, 3:31 pm
#234
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gulf Coast/Ventura County/Somewhere in between
Programs: DL GM, Marriott PP, Avis Something or other
Posts: 4,431
Apr 22, 2011, 6:40 am
#235
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NJ
Programs: AA, DL
Posts: 456
I met Rick Steves at the NYC Travel show here is how my conversation with him went.
Me: If you are such an expert on Europe why not try Asia out?
RS: Then I wouldn't be an expert on Europe!
Not long after the conversation... maybe within a year or 2 he had a few Asia specials!
Me: If you are such an expert on Europe why not try Asia out?
RS: Then I wouldn't be an expert on Europe!
Not long after the conversation... maybe within a year or 2 he had a few Asia specials!
Apr 22, 2011, 7:54 am
#236
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 4
Why does every single message board on web have to be taken over by snotty little twerps who start threads like this.
As far a Rick Steves is concerned, his specific advice about hotels and restaurants is frequently poor. His books are often out-of-date. But his general advice about getting around and the logistics of navigating practical problems is excellent with nothing else even close.
As far a Rick Steves is concerned, his specific advice about hotels and restaurants is frequently poor. His books are often out-of-date. But his general advice about getting around and the logistics of navigating practical problems is excellent with nothing else even close.
Apr 22, 2011, 3:37 pm
#237
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Why does every single message board on web have to be taken over by snotty little twerps who start threads like this.
As far a Rick Steves is concerned, his specific advice about hotels and restaurants is frequently poor. His books are often out-of-date. But his general advice about getting around and the logistics of navigating practical problems is excellent with nothing else even close.
As far a Rick Steves is concerned, his specific advice about hotels and restaurants is frequently poor. His books are often out-of-date. But his general advice about getting around and the logistics of navigating practical problems is excellent with nothing else even close.
Apr 23, 2011, 9:15 am
#238
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota,USA
Programs: UA, NW
Posts: 3,752
I'm currently planning a trip to Scandinavia (the first since I visited with my parents when I was 17--and that was a LONG time ago), and I'm using the Rick Steves book as ONE of my sources, because it's great for practical information.
Admittedly, his coverage of each country is sketchy. His Scandinavia guidebook doesn't cover the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland at all.
I booked my own hotels online, and one of them happens to be mentioned in Rick Steves' book, but the others are not.
However, I booked the overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen (again online), and Rick Steves' book tells me which bus to take to its departure point.
That's the type of thing Rick Steves' book is good for, as I found when I used his Great Britain book. What to expect when you land at the airport, what bus or train to take, when the last bus or train leaves, what you need to know about renting a car in each country, what special deals for tourists each city has, what sights can be seen in a day without rushing, the little practical stuff like that.
I never use the restaurant recommendations in anyone's guidebook and have had good results everywhere simply by walking around and reading the posted menus to check the price range and looking inside to see if the restaurant is well patronized by locals but not so crowded that I have to wait in line. If the restaurant is empty or overcrowded, I move on. I rarely have a bad meal while traveling.
I think that only the most inexperienced travelers would follow Rick Steves' recommendations to the letter, and if the books give provincial Americans the courage to move out of their comfort zone and see the rest of the world, that's a good thing.
Admittedly, his coverage of each country is sketchy. His Scandinavia guidebook doesn't cover the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, and Finland at all.
I booked my own hotels online, and one of them happens to be mentioned in Rick Steves' book, but the others are not.
However, I booked the overnight ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen (again online), and Rick Steves' book tells me which bus to take to its departure point.
That's the type of thing Rick Steves' book is good for, as I found when I used his Great Britain book. What to expect when you land at the airport, what bus or train to take, when the last bus or train leaves, what you need to know about renting a car in each country, what special deals for tourists each city has, what sights can be seen in a day without rushing, the little practical stuff like that.
I never use the restaurant recommendations in anyone's guidebook and have had good results everywhere simply by walking around and reading the posted menus to check the price range and looking inside to see if the restaurant is well patronized by locals but not so crowded that I have to wait in line. If the restaurant is empty or overcrowded, I move on. I rarely have a bad meal while traveling.
I think that only the most inexperienced travelers would follow Rick Steves' recommendations to the letter, and if the books give provincial Americans the courage to move out of their comfort zone and see the rest of the world, that's a good thing.
Apr 23, 2011, 9:41 am
#239
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 971
"We're not a country that typically takes 6 week vacations."
And that is the crux of the matter. Unless you are retired and quite comfortable financially, Rick Steves can eliminate a lot of stress for those who want the most bang for their buck and don't have leisure time. It's unfortunate that we all can't take months and stroll our way through other countries, but if we can at least try to see some foreign climes, it's a positive to have a little paving of the way beforehand.
Durian? Just don't breathe until it's passed your lips; buttery texture, fragrant aroma, a blend of citrus and vanilla (to me).
And that is the crux of the matter. Unless you are retired and quite comfortable financially, Rick Steves can eliminate a lot of stress for those who want the most bang for their buck and don't have leisure time. It's unfortunate that we all can't take months and stroll our way through other countries, but if we can at least try to see some foreign climes, it's a positive to have a little paving of the way beforehand.
Durian? Just don't breathe until it's passed your lips; buttery texture, fragrant aroma, a blend of citrus and vanilla (to me).