"The other side of Rick Steves
He may seem like Mister Rogers. But in a revealing interview, the travel guru shares his daring views on Iran and terrorism, spoiled Americans and the best places to smoke pot in Europe."
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/200...rce=newsletter

I do extensive ( read obsessive) research on any recreational trip. Steves is one of the references I use and some of the information is quite good. As an experinced and older traveler , fond of a few comforts, I find that some isn't. That's OK--I am happy to hear anyone's opinion and then make my own decisions. I don't hate anyone -well, maybe a few unnamed politicians

Re: the Salon interview: what a dink. His "insights" about Iran are completely predictable: Ooooh, people are alike all over. The Iranians have families and dreams just like us. Reminds me of the lefties who used to take package tours of the Soviet Union in the '70s and '80s and come back gushing over how many big airplanes the Soviet Union seemed to have.

I don't disagree that Americans live insular lives but I don't think Ricknik-type travel necessarily helps. He decomplicates other cultures and makes them into hit-list itineraries you can "do" in two days. Stoned, in his case. Who is more welcome in a faraway place than a fully baked American in a fanny pack who has 30 minutes to see the local cathedral and get a bargain sandwich in the cafe Rick Steve recommended?

Hysterical thread, hall of fame. Thanks for the laughs guys.

I don't watch him much now but used to.

I'm sure Steves shrugs off the vitriol and ignores the flattery during his regular journeys to the bank to deposit enormous barrow-loads of revenue. His brand of "Last of the 'Merkin Innocents" adds a great deal to his appeal, especially to regular viewers of public television, a mostly dweebish lot.

I like Michael Palin, but I'm not sure I'm ready to travel with him. ...And then there's what's her name? Samantha?, the 40ish but trying to maintain a Bikini-Belly "girl" on the cable Travel Channel, whose travel occurs in a permanent state of upgrade. On the other hand, I've already eaten much of the "Bizarre Food" which Zimmer travels to find, and I hesitate to attempt to match Bourdain's alcohol consumption or the mixed bag of destinations and spectrum of travel, hotels and eating/drinking establishments he experiences, from super-luxe to Sone Age-ish".

I suppose the best of the lot are the Beautiful People and "Fats" Batali doing Spain. I bet I could get into restaurants like that with two good looking babes, too.

Do you suppose with the current fave/rave over "deconstructed" restaurant food - "Gag a Maggot!! was an expression used by one of our kidlets long ago - will extend to the lodging business in the world's great cities? A 5 star deluxe recreating the ambience of a Motel 6? 600 thread count sheets on a 4" foam mattress? High end soap in little bars labeled Ivory? A noise machine to provide the sound of a dripping through-the-wall HVAC? Pre-stained carpet?

Sounds just right for Vegas, the international capital of "Yokeldom", largely populated by NoTell Motel folks smuggling themselves into high end hotels without realizing that the "ambiance" to which they aspire and which they self-create makes WalMart's decor and customer profile seem absolutely sophisticated, a veritable "Debbrett's"(sp?) in comparison.

Yeah, man, like far out.

She may not be an idiot in real life, but on her TV shows, she is produced and edited to look like one. Her stupid, superficial travelogues are virtually content-free. You don't find out anything about the places she visits. You just get to watch her eating, drinking and yukking it up. She seems totally incurious about her environment. She doesn't seem to understand what's happening to her.

I like Bourdain, though. His Beirut show was one for the DVR.

You may hate Rick Steves but I've found some amazing gems of restaurants throughout Italy thanks to his guide books. Complete holes in the wall that you would never think to go into in Rome and Florence that you can stuff yourself on the cheap. When you're there for 2-3 weeks the savings really add up.

Any type of travel helps. Any exposure to another culture however limited it may be is a step forward. "decomplicated" perhaps but it has to start somewhere.

In my opinion, Rick Steves teaches will-be American travelers short lessons in cultural relativism that are critical for people who tend to be some of the most ethnocentric the world has to offer. For Americans who travel often, his shows are not particularly worthwhile--but as a crash course in cross-cultural etiquette, I applaud Rick. He's recently been promoting marijuana decriminalization in the US, which--although I don't personally use it--seems to me to be a reasonable and progressive position. See the link below:

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_kin.../39395709.html

Many thanks for the recent story links. I guess I'm in the "Never Really Hated Rick Steves But Am Now Inclined to Like Him" column.

Wow. That interview has raised my opinion of Rick Steeves 400 percent! Thank you for sharing it!

Now heres a man with intelligence!! A REAL American!...I urge all of you to read this interview and apply this mentality. He is defly right about Iran, and the rest of the world....but of course some Americans, cuz of just plain arrogance and spite, will call him weak and a supporter of terrorism.....which is complete wrong! He said it just like it is!
Thank you Rick!!

Interesting review. I think like many celebrities, he certainly plays up his "kitsch" character for good TV.

Respectfully disagree. For experienced travelers, I can see that his shows can be somewhat basic, but for millions of America, he has taken the fear out of travel, and has helped people understand and appreciate thee joys of other cultures, people and places. I too cringe sometimes when he over simplifies, but try writing as many half �hour script as he does and getting everything perfect. For elite travelers there are plenty of other resources, but for ordinary folks, he is great.