Heehee, I can just visualize him saying that too.. :p

Yeah, as MFLetou said, I think I can do at least as well as Mr. Steves in terms of finding decently priced lodging, WITHOUT having to carry toilet paper around with me! :td:

Priceline for one, but also so many various booking sites, have changed the process of getting the best deals in Europe. Once upon a time, like when Arthur Frommer was writing his Europe on $5/day books, chain hotels were much more expensive than locally-owned pensiones, but that's definitely not always the case now. If I can get a good chain hotel in a good area for cheaper than a ramshackle place with poor plumbing, I'm going to go for the chain hotel! Almost always I've felt I've gotten better deals than suggested in Rick Steves' books, although I'm sure they're a reasonable place to start if you don't want to research extensively.

One thing I'll say for Steves is that he is a serious stand-up guy for his community. He's a major supporter of several important local charities, including social services and housing for homeless families with kids (which is my field.) He's open and unapologetic about his politics, and not afraid to take on big local and international problems. Agree with him or not, you have to admire him for walking the walk.

He is also - so - incredibly - Seattle - that it makes your teeth ache.

Interesting thread...

I don't particularly like or dislike the guy, but I have never read one of his books. I did watch his show about Madrid, and having lived there I can say there was NOTHING he talked about which was even one inch off the tourist trail. This reflects poorly and would lead me to agree with those who find him annoying and irrelevant.

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.

I spent 3 weeks in Italy a couple years ago and while I did not go out of my way to eat in restaurants that he recommended or in his favorite hotels I'm glad I had his book with me. If you don't like his style, try a Lonely Planet book, or one of many others.

Even if you don't carry his book with me next time, I will look through it before the trip.

i think he's a tool.

grb

How do you define "incredibly Seattle"?

Just curious.

duplicate

^ too funny, i know what ill be next year! i dont think he relates with his the backpacking audience anymore. we need a new rick steve's, where can i apply? and id wear a foam cheesehead at all times. :D

Oh easy...

There's a straight-arrow-Norwegian-Lutheran cultural thing in western Washington that's unmistakable. Liberal, seemingly naive (but not); white-bread. Think "Prarie Home Companion" with lots more caffeine. Actually, pretty much a Pacific NW thing (west of the mountains.)

I think that's why Rick resonates so well with travelers of a certain age/socioeconomic demographic. It's the boy who you wanted your daughter to marry. Smokes weed? Cool, so did your dad and I...

Just my opinion.

This thread is hilarious. He starts out as a dweeb, schmuck and other unflattering names. It's disclosed that he's a stoner, and everyone is like aww, not so bad, look at all he's done.

How does he transport his weed through TSA?? Now that's a travel tip I would sit through an all day pbs marathon to hear.

I doubt he finds that necessary. Either he has sources close to home, or he has many work-related excuses to visit Amsterdam :). (Or maybe he just goes to Vancouver.)

I thought it was interesting that his son, who blogged his own independent trip to Europe, said that he himself wasn't at all interested in the pot scene in Amsterdam. Of course who knows what you will say when being scrutinized by thousands of people, but this might be another case of the son seeking to be different than the father.

If you've read Rick Steves' older recommendations versus the newer, he's gotten more upscale. He used to suggest eating off discarded cafeteria trays, but so far as I know, that suggestion has disappeared from the latest editions! Hotels in the 150 Euro range hardly seem budget to me, even if they are good value by various measures.

Yes we get Michael Palin, but we also used to get

Judith "I'll drink another Champers and take a Helicopter trip wherever I am" Chalmers

and now have Lawrence "Oh look at the architecture dahhling" LLewellyn Bowen

and if I see another British travel show, where the presenter ends up in a spa having some fragrent oil poured on their head, I'll go :mad: :mad: :mad:

Michale Palin was a very rare example in the UK of a great travel programme

But you Brits have that guy Floyd, too, no? 'Floyd's fearsome fjords' or something like that -- a different name to each program. Total lush, but hilarious. He did a very interesting one on Christiana in Denmark (marijuana commune) :)

Of course, we get Anthony Bourdain, who smokes, drinks and parties all night long wherever he is -- Iceland or Seoul :P