I just finished my last lecture tour of the year (Portland, San Francisco, LA, San Diego, Phoenix) last week, and now, psychologically, I can start thinking about next year’s travel schedule.
I need to commit for 2008 by the end of 2007 so our TV and guidebook research teams have their parameters set.
Each year it’s a similar basic routine: four months of work in Europe (April and May in the Mediterranean world, home for June, and then July and August north of the Alps). This year Jackie is graduating, so June will be a busy and exciting time to be home.
We produce, on average, six or seven TV shows a year. That’s about 40 days of filming—half in spring (in the south) and half in summer (in the north). It’s critical that I have good weather and lots of action to brighten up the footage, so I need to match the regions with the months.
In 2008, I think we’ll shoot two shows in Greece and a show in Istanbul in late April/early May, and probably three shows in Scandinavia in late July/early August.
When we shoot is also impacted by the need to provide an even flow of rough footage to spread out the demands on our editor back home. And in September — before all the shows are edited — our new series will debut. This means we’ll be committed to delivering a show a week for 13 weeks with several still in the works. It’s a bit scary because once we start the delivery schedule, there’s no room for any glitches in the production schedule. (We do this each season…and have always made it OK.)
With age and wisdom, I have learned to get over there early for some research to get in shape, tanned up, and acclimated to the road. I also give the crew a day before I join them to get some beauty shots (“B-roll”) in the can. Producer Simon and our cameraman are in a better mood to help me “cover the script” if they’ve got some pretty shots in the can first.
Once the TV days are set, I then need to divvy up the guidebook research chores. Each two-month trip is basically 20 days research, 20 days filming, then 20 more days research. My research time is determined by which regions are most used (e.g., many, many more travelers will use the chapter on Germany’s Rhine River valley than will use Norway’s Setesdal Valley), and which regions I didn’t make it to personally in the last year or two.
While we have researchers update every place covered in the books, with my visit I try to do more than check the existing material. I like to broaden the coverage and really revamp and freshen up the eating and sleeping listings. Another factor, of course, is new books planned.
For 2008, my priorities will be the following:
Bits of Italy I didn’t do last year (this is our bestseller, and — despite its immensity — I do everything thoroughly each two years…I’ll be sure to do Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, and Siena this year);
Vienna/Salzburg/Munich/Füssen/Danube Valley (we’re publishing a separate book on Vienna with Salzburg and Austrian side-trips in ’08);
Paris, Amsterdam, London (I love doing the city books personally every other year–I did Venice, Florence, Rome in ’07); and
Portugal/Galicia/Basque Country (Portugal’s past due for me, and I hope to get charged up to make a future TV script for Galicia/Basque with what I learn in ‘08 researching that zone).
Like anyone planning a trip, I need to be realistic about how much I can cover. I think this is way too much for my 80 days of available research time. Something’s got to go. Thankfully, I have a great staff of researchers and co-authors. Between us, we’ll cover it all.
Just thinking about all this European travel gets me seven kinds of all-charged-up.
Just came “home” after 20 years…from Stuttgart, Nurnberg, Berlin, Frankfurt & Catania…..so, with our one channel for so many years, I loved your shows… and met you in the Jardin hotel in Paris…..I smiled and said, “Enjoying your tour?” and, you said “Thank you….” Wrote to my friends that HE chose my hotel….since I was there first….and, was another man who hadn’t the slightest idea what I was talking about…. But……boogie on, Rick Steves… my kids are grown….and I gave them Europe as a resident……..a great life! 06042-3553 for Helge…..a German-American teacher who can tell about the war years…..and a prince who had to sweep the streets in penance….. Ruth callahan…SD now….
Hello Rick, for your video show production in Europe in 2008 : I recommend do shows on the Greek islands FOLEGANDROS and SIFNOS. I think there are not any videos (on television, or available to the public) of those two islands. I like Naxos and Paros, but the beautiful “VISIONS OF Greece” DVD includes glimpses of good places on Naxos. And Brad Thor made a (mediocre) video at Paros. In SCANDINAVIA : I recommend make a video show at Stockholm. I agree with you : Stockholm is Europe’s finest city. I was there this year. In the video of Scandinavia that you made in the year 1997, the part on Stockholm does not really show Stockholm. It shows folk dancers stomping there boots on the floor at Skansen, and the theatre at Drottningholm Palace. I suggest : at DJURGARDEN island have a view of the trees and green lawn). Have a view of KUNGSTRAD garden. And bring the camera into the interior of HALLWYLSKA MUSEET (mansion). And a sail boat at the Archipelago. Do a video show at Tallin Estonia.
OK, this is going to sound nutty but being the consumate tinkering type trying to improve traveling experiences. I suggest this for Europe through the back door. You should try setting up a general youtube account via your website so travelers can post video of your recomendations. Talk about salt of the earth first hand reporting. Heck, you could make a request of your loyal followers to hit an area take candid shots and put it on the web. That would be awesome. I would love to follow along with fresh raw video of locales in Europe. If you got everyone involved in shooting it would bring your company even further into my living room.
Rick, in my next life I want to come back as you!
I’m sorry that I am not 27 years old instead of 67 years old. That extra 40 years available to wander the backstreets of the world would be a great Christmas gift. I read Lowell & Tay Thomas travel books decades ago when I was too young and foolish to realize that I could put a backpack on and see and smell the world in its beauty too. I’ll put my two cents in for Stockholm and its islands also – so much to see, so much to do, so little time to do it.
I am sitting at my computer wearing the shoes I bought last summer in Florence, and getting lost in your entry. I actually get misty and choked up reading your entries. I must be addicted. Thanks for being my source!
Rick Very interesting to see how you and your staff do your jobs. I like the fact that your entries are so detailed. One small suggestion – it would help if your Blog Gone Europe hyperlink was on your main “Welcome to Rick Steves’ Europe†home page (instead of under the monthly Travel News link). It would make it easier to access and a popular item more high profile for the many people who enjoy a great blog. Thanks Rick.
There is a link to the blog direct from the homepage. It’s just under the photo of Rick, on the left. Happy Travels!
As we are planning our 30th ann. trip round the world next april, i notice your book in my screen-saver shot taken in Vienna with our daughters apr/07, i cant help saying “thank-you” for such a wonderful tour of vienna and budapest! looking forward to your next work, i am so grateful our daughter Lydia knew about you and your travels! We wont be travelling to Europe again without you!Thanks again, elaine & peter
We used your book so much when we went to Naples, Positano and Sorrento this past March. The Naples “Spaccanapoli” walk was terrific, and the details off the Piazza Tasso in Sorrento were wonderful. I know there’s not as much to write about Positano since it’s so small, but I hope you spend at least a night there on your tour to recommend the passagiata there. What a wonderful town. We rented a villa there, and we saw the landlord & his parents all over town! I’m so glad your new South Italy tour spends 2 nights in Positano. It is the most magical place I have ever been in Europe. Wonderful. Happy holidays to you, your staff and the fun bloggers I love to read on this site (even the crazy ones).
This recommendation is NOT for everyone…but in Avignon, my husband and I dashed into a Vietnamese restaurant to get out of the rain and have supper. The food was excellent and it was a nice change of pace for what we had been eating. Anyway at the end of the meal, we were offered free sake. I declined because I don’t much care for it, but my husband accepted. He gets his glass, looks at it and starts giggling. I have no idea what is going on and then he shows me….at the bottom of his glass was a full on NAKED lady. I about died! It was so funny. A great moment to prove to you that you are not at home! I cannot imagine a restaurant in the US giving this to unsuspecting patrons! When he finished his drink, the bottom fogged over and you couldn’t see the lady anymore. Clever! If anyone knows where I could buy these sake glasses, I would love the location. I would surprise my husband for Christmas. Will always be a great memory. Is that weird?
This week I have received holiday greetings from several of my fellow GAS 2007 tour travelers. Many included photos (luge is popular), a gnome up to his neck in snow in Murren, Switzerland, and a water color sunset painting of the lake at Murten, Switzerland painted by one of my companions. Great memories and I can’t wait until my next ETBD tour! Happy Holidays to all!
Happy travels in 2008. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
I was born in France and lived and worked in 5 countries. I have seen much from working in commerce to telecommunications and Law. I mainly worked in France, the UK and USA for the past 24 years and am only 44 years old…I know about quality in programs and people. YOU ROCK. Your attitude of educating positively the American people without an unfounded fear of the unknown as well as those great traveling shows you do which are not dumbing down people but enlighten them is BRILLIANT. tHE EU, which is, after all, a co operation of countries but so different from each other from languages to economic trends, foods and items specialities and cultures as well as history with a twist of their own thinking in many matters. WE MUST NOT FORGET that the USA are VERY YOUNG as MOST countries in the world are about 2500 years…the USA IS ONLY not even 250 years old…YOU OUGHT TO introduce more languages tips as English might be used as a bridging language but is limited in opening many doors
Hi rick, yes traveling charges me many times up. Just finished danube river cruise visiting 5 christmas markets along the way. New traveling experiences keep showing themselves as each day passes. Your christmas show made me seek first hand how germany and austria celebrate. Am going back to germany today to visit the munich scene of christmas so thanks for the new york herald tribune article reminder. Love the tribune when I travel europe. Best american news in english.Keeping us in your travel loop is terrific, like showing us the “backdoor” to travel show production adds to my enthusiam for your new programs. Traveling on… Larry from springfield
I hope you leave some time for relaxing. As much fun as traveling is, it’s not the same if it’s all work.
Dear Rick, Was in Turkey in 2007 and would really like to recommend for your segment in 2008 on Turkey looking into “Heritage Traditional Nomadic Art” – located at Caferiye Sokak 6/A 34400, Sultanahmet. Quite near Topkapi Palace and down the road from Ayasofya Pansiyonlari. It is a “school” teaching traditional art and selling art from local artisans. Please see http://www.heritagekilim.com The school welcomes visitors and you can “attend” classes to see what is being taught. We heard about this the last day in Istanbul and weren’t able to take advantage of attending classes but it is a “through the backdoor experience” that your viewers and clients would like. No tour guides recommend it that I know of (commission?) Another would be the Turkish government shop for kilms and rugs in the old Hamam (Baths of Roxelana) near the Blue Mosque. The Bath is interesting and the rugs are beautiful even if you aren’t in a buying mood – who knew? Here one can buy “true” Turkish rugs (not like in the Grand Bazaar) and they are truly beautiful. Hope the above have given you food for thought!
Dear Rick, I am really pleased to hear that you are planning to film some shows in Scandinadia. I hope that you will do another show in Helsinki since Finland has changed a lot since it joined the EU. I had not visited the country of my birth for many years and now the last two summers I have spend there and the change is amazing. I would love to see a show that would combine Helsinki with Tallin, Estonia. That would be very entertaining. Have a merry Christmas!
Because of your dvd (PBS Special) and friends who have hiked there I spent 5 days in August in Monterosso, Cinque Terre. I went back in November and found it even more beautiful and exciting if a little quiter. I stayed both times at Manuels Guesthouse because of the fantastic view. Even after 11 days there I still have things I missed….perhaps June would be a good time to return. I used your Italy 2007 guide constantly….found it especially useful in “surviving” purchasing train tickets. Keep up the great work!!!!!