They say Seattle has nice summers. I think the last time I was home for one was in 1972. And tomorrow, I head back to Europe.
This trip will be rather short, as far as research trips go: just 45 days. I’ll fly to Vienna, research Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, new cities for me in northern Germany, and then lots of Belgium and the Netherlands. Then I meet our TV crew for a three-week shoot (making our Best of Europe tour route) to update our three European Travel Skills TV shows.
I just reviewed the three original episodes we filmed with my producer Simon, and I was struck by how surprisingly similar European travel is from a decade ago. In 2000, we did our best to produce a show that would “have legs,” and it has lasted very well. Even so, there have been plenty of changes: the demise of traveler’s checks is no longer news, smoke-free zones are now commonplace, phone cards are no longer used, and it’s just assumed you’ll travel with a cell phone. Railpasses are less of a player, while discount one-way flights are more popular. The opening of Eastern Europe is old news and Couchsurfing and AirB&B are the new way to slum around Europe. Filming in 2000, we had to pretend the euro (which was about to be released) was in circulation. Filming in 2012, we have to be a little careful in assuming the euro will remain Europe’s single currency. My kids are now adults, many of my best European friends have passed away, and, somehow — except for a slightly earlier bedtime and getting rid of my dorky aviator glasses — I’m more or less the same.
By the way, while I have great guides lined up throughout, I’m a little short in Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels. If you have a private guide you’ve worked with (or know about) in any of those cities that you’d like to recommend, please let me know in the comments here. Thanks!
I’ve got an exciting trip set up and look forward to reporting regularly via this blog. Thanks for traveling with me.
I live in Amsterdam and a girl named Lee works with Sandeman’s New Free Tours and is the best guide recommended by many in this city. Loads of people know her especially for her wacky tactics! What dates will you be in Amsterdam I have wanted to meet you for years. You made me pick up and travel before anyone else did. Thank you for that! :) I’m an American btw living in Holland!
I hope you will visit the Marionette Theatre in Salzburg. They were on a break while I was there at the end of April.
Ah, but as you well know, Rick, summer in Western Washington doesn’t hit until well into July, if not August. We’ve taken to heading away from the June gloom, either on American road trips or over here to Europe. Let’s see….45 days from now when return, the temps should be warmer and summer sufficiently in progress. If you’re lucky. ;-D
Happy travels!
Looking forward to the next 45 days. I hate to tell ya but things have changed a bit! My husband and I are your age and we have noticed how we have modified our traveling since we started over a decade ago and your mode of travel has changed along with it. Remember when no jeans! And many more of those things. Hotel recomendations have gotten better since we first started and the hotels seem to modify to your mode also. What are you gonna do with us all when we are 80?
No guides to suggest but a comment on the changes that you noted: I am recently back from a 2 week trip in Italy and think that the ATM’s work fine, the smokers are still as annoying, and I don’t have a cellphone but do carry an iPad. I find your guidebooks to be most helpful for sightseeing, transportation, and travel philosophy. Although I would not travel without pre-reading and taking your guidebooks, I think that the accommodations section is much less valuable than in years past. Other online sources are more inclusive and more up-to-date. I fear that your endorsement lets the hotels charge more and provide less. Your website provides lots of good information about accommodations, I encourage others to see what you readers have to say.
Thanks for the many years of helpful guidance!
I would buy a railpass no matter what. One of the things that I like about Europe are the rail system and I am excited about a rail system similar to that of Europe and Japan being proposed by the U.S Government to have a presence in the United States. I am not fond of flying. I am more fond of taking a train.
I agree with Roger. I find your guides very useful for logistics and museums in major towns, but less and less useful for hotels as your listings get more and more expensive. I never did find your restaurant recs of much use, lol, but I like to sleep cheap so I can eat well.
I also find the guides less useful than they used to be, because so many people use them. You really need some new back doors…
Bon voyage
BTW, I’m thinking of moving TO the Pacific NW to get away from the horrible summers in NC. Be careful what you ask for, high heat and humidity are no fun.
Hi Rick –
I believe we spotted you walking through Vienna this evening! Can you confirm? It was around 10pm along the main strip and a side street. We so wanted to meet you because we are big fans and my dad is the biggest fan! Hope you didn’t think we were stalking you : )
Hope you have a good trip!
Allison
We have been watching your shows for years and just bought the “90 shows addition”. We raised our 5 children in Stuttgart, Germany and LOVED living in Europe. I’m from London, England and my husband is American, retired from USAF. We LOVE traveling- now that our children are all grown we’re looking into living out there again. In the meantime I have a whole summer planned next year to visit friends and family in Britain and Southern Germany! Thanks for all your wonderful shows and all the tips! We just ‘Keep on Traveling!’
Suzy
I would recommend contacting the following tour companies for outstanding guides in Germany.
In Berlin – Insider Tours, in Munich – Dark History Tours, and in Frankfurt – Frankfurt on Foot Walking Tours
The other comments regarding lodging recommendations got me to thinking. At first I thought it “SACRILIGE!” to speak poorly of your recommendations. But upon reflection I think I’ld have to agree. It used to be that the majority of your recommendations would be attractive to a true budget traveller. But for whatever reason, it is harder and harder to find comfortable clean and inexpensive recommendations in central,safe neighborhoods. Perhaps it is because the hoteliers ARE taking advantage of their inclusion inyour guidebooks. Or maybe you’re getting up there in age as we all are and your recommendations reflect your willingness to pay more for more comfort. (Or maybe thats what you are offering to your readers who are themselves “getting up there”.)
I have found there still exists these type of lodging (good,clean & cheap) but I have found these via hostelworld and other web sites that include conventional hotels, B&B’s etc among their offerings.
I would never buy a RS book, but have perused at a bookstore. I tend to agree with comments about the recommendations Rick gives. Although I did use a recommended guide in Pompeii that was recommended by RS on one of his TV shows, my feeling overall is that Rick’s recommendations are lodging and restaurants miss the mark. Listening to RS stating his views over the years, I have come to the conclusion that his recommendations are not always accurate. He tends to think people using his products, mainly Americans, ARE wealthy like he is. Even his history lessons are not 100% historical, but as he ages are more laded with his OPINIONS. Not something I necessarily want to hear from an objective travel writing.
I think that recomendations for hotels is a hard one now a days. Even in the US try and stay at a Motel 6. You need to be so careful what part of town who owns the hotel. Bed bugs Rif Raf and all. I would think that Europe is having some of the same problems. And in your 50’s and older it is hard to sleep on a sloppy mattress for two or three weeks. I can remember doing that in Italy about 10 years ago and ended up throwing the mattress on the floor because it sagged so bad in the middle.
Sophie, when has Rick been objective? One of the main reasons he is successful is because he shares his opinions.
As far a hotels recommendations go he could drop them completely from the books and it would have no effect on me, I don’t use them.
I agree that we could all use some new back doors to Europe because previous and current portals seem to track all the other tour companies’s routes and destinations. As for the Pacific NW, it is great for four months annually. And then it becomes gray, damp, chilly. Buy your vitamin D in bulk
jd – The point I was making is that if you want “objective” travel writing you are coming to the wrong place, Rick has never been objective. I personal like that he is not objective, I like when people or companies express opinions is stead of the bland vanilla marketing that is forced upon us.
As far as historical accuracy goes, I don’t care, I will research it myself. And I really don’t think Rick will see any lost business from not being accurate.
since you are researching towns in Northern Germany, suggest to take a stop in Brilon in the Saarland area about an hour south of Paderborn. It really is off the grid but quite reachable.
I have no complaints about Rick’s books or his recommendations. I wouldn’t travel without him. I find, though, that I now prefer the higher end reservations ($$instead of $).
Amen Troy!!
Sorry about that!! Hit the wrong button.
Anyway, Rich the phone guide helped me firm up our plans. We are looking forward to a great Germany trip with lots of great advice from Rick Steves’ and co.
Rick, we are taking some advice from Lonely Planet and hiking down from the Zugspitze and also an easy hike in Berchesgarten to the Eiskapelle.
The first part of my comment flew off somewhere else, but anyway, we have travelled and lived in Europe and also Asia. Used Backroads a few times(great!), Cycletours(also great), and done it on our own. We never plan a trip without checking out Rick Steves.
Recently, for our upcoming Germany trip, we used one of the phone tour guides at Rick Steves’. Really helped us fine tune our trip. Of course, we customize our trips to please ourown interests, etc, but I really can’t complain about his advice and tips. Keep it up, buddy!
My wife and I will be escorting her parents on their first trip to the Continent for their 50th Anniversary, visiting Italy and Austria. I’ve been a Rick Steves follower since the “2 to 22 days in XXX” books, before he was on PBS. I used to be a budget traveler but I’ve probably moved up to midprice. I always consult multiple books, but I find Rick’s to be the most helpful for sightseeing recommendations, transportation logistics, and the detailed guides for top museums. I love the free audio guides for Paris, Rome, Florence, and Venice. I have to agree with other posters that I find his hotel and restaurant recommendations less. As for more backroads — Rick has such a big following now that anything he mentions is going to get swamped. For Tuscany, his latest books do say, here are the most popular places to see. But you can just drive or ask locals and discover your own backdoor. There’s no other way.
Happy travels, everyone!
May I just say, Rick, I find nothing “dorky” or wrong with your wire rim glasses. They’re just fine, don’t distract from your screen presence, and a lot better than the current fad for thick, heavy, black, mile-wide NERDY frames that scream “GEEK!” I’m keeping mine until this fad passes.
We were in Amsterdam in 2010 and had a wonderful local guide named Carolla give us a marvelous tour of the city. She educated us not only on the history of Amsterdam, but all the local news and happenings (World Cup was on at the time). Sorry, don’t remember her last name and she worked via Globus – I know, a tour, sorry, but our group of 8 wasn’t bold enough to traipse through Europe on our own. But we did purchase a lot of your stuff for our trip! Anyway, I’ll enjoy reading your blog this summer.
I totally disagree re the criticism of Rick’s lodging recs! I have traveled with his books since he began, and I have indeed noticed the changes re price & quality and joked about Rick gettng older and needing more comfort — but I’m right there with him! I traveled in Holland and France this summer, staying in his hotels in Chartre, Giverney & Paris; they were all reasonably priced and characteristic of the country. Prices go up, folks! I an a woman who loves to travel solo and appreciate that I can trust any hotel Rick recommends to be in a safe area; also I can pick the “quaint” ones, which I love, from his descriptions. Keep it up, Rick! P.S. I accidentially left my RS tourbook in Chartres and suffered greatly from the loss — having to look for a hotel w/o his guidance and not having his signtseeing suggestions made me realize just how helpful those books are!
We had an absolutely wonderful guide in Bruges – Paul – older local, great charm and sense of humor — made the city come alive for us. He doesn’t do it full time. He was assigned by the TI … what luck!
Rick, I’ve been traveling with you since the 2 to 22 days books.. huge thanks!! keep going!