I remember last year finding some of the remarks in his Spain guide to be insulting (for instance calling the group day trips to Morocco "pathetic" -- heaven forbid you don't spring for a private guide.
This morning I read a "if you have the misfortune of staying in Killarney you'll know what I mean" In a chapter that has nothing to do with Killarney (note: we will be staying in Killarney -- ha!) and I am currently reading a blurb about the "lame" Blarney Stone and the "mindless" "lemming tourists" who visit it. Yet going to countless trad sessions is a must for you to live like a temporary resident during your Ireland trip, as if that's how real Dubliners spend all of their Saturday nights.
Was he always such a dick and I just didn't notice it (I tend to be a skimmer) or has he become more forthcoming with his insults/more my-way-or-the-highway lately?
Was he always such a dick and I just didn't notice it (I tend to be a skimmer) or has he become more forthcoming with his insults/more my-way-or-the-highway lately?
I've read a little of his books, caught a few minutes of his show here and there over the years. Recently, though, I did see a part of a show where he and his family had this really neat "local" experience. I can't remember where they were or, really, ANY of the details. But it seemed really neat - and what I do remember - I thought to myself "You're getting that experience BECAUSE you're Rick Steves. Normal joe blow isn't going to get the chance to do that. But you can because of who you are.".
Between that and what you just said, I'm wondering if he's gotten a little too big for his britches, if he's forgotten what it's like to travel as "normal folk".
I could be off base - maybe he's always been like that. But I did have that very clear thought about that recent episode. It stood out to me for some reason.
I think he has become more dick-like. I watched a couple of his shows it the mid-90s (man, when I write that I realize I am getting old) when I was preparing for a solo trip to London and found them helpful.
Last time I watched one of his travel shows, I was less impressed.
He is a dick. And apparently hates Ireland (or at least that what the folks on the Ireland trip advisor forum seem to say lol).
We went to one trad session, and then after a beer said "this isn't us" and found the folk rock pub with some guys doing saw doctors covers. Much happier
He seems to be rather normal on the shows I've watched, but I haven't read any of his stuff and don't watch him that often. I'm sure he sees a rather insulated/biased side of any place he goes.
I'm with you on Killarney (heck, that's where we're staying) but I do love me some trad sessions. Does that make me a dick? LOL
Post by steamboat185 on Sept 4, 2015 7:33:04 GMT -5
Yes. I don't understand the hype. I believed it and bought his 2014 Ireland book for a trip last year and I doubt I'll buy another of his again. I remember reading the comment about Killarney and while I'm glad we stayed elsewhere it wasn't bad.
drloretta -- will you please report back on your favorite and least favorite things when you get back? Besides hotels we've done little planning so far
I think seeing some trad is nice -- and hey, if you love it see lots of it. But I am skeptical of the idea that THAT's the authentic live-like-a-local experience
He's pretentious for sure. But when I'm doing one of his guided walking tours through some European city, I'm okay with it.
Random side note, I was flipping through his guidebook in line at Versailles, and an older couple in front of me asked me about it and if I was a stoner like him. So I think his reputation is more pothead than ass.
Post by marshamarsha on Sept 4, 2015 8:37:22 GMT -5
This post makes me laugh as my husband and I have an ongoing joke that Rick Steves is actually a huge baller that swears like a sailor, sleeps with beautiful women, and after they film him going to sleep in his quaint little inn he jumps out and heads to the nearest 4 star hotel.
I like that he advises people to leave the big cities and travel to places off the beaten path. That being said I rarely take his advice on what to see and do. I know it may be overrated but damnit I still want to see it!
It's kind of ironic for someone who is selling millions of copies of tourist books telling tourists where to go to thumb his nose at tourists and tourist sites.
Well, also, much of what I was reading this morning went on and on with disdain about the tour buses that overcrowd portions of Ireland, and how to drive around to avoid them so you can get an authentic experience. NEVER MIND that he sells many, many tours of Europe. How do you reckon his groups get around? (Spoiler alert: often by bus.) There's no more authentic way to experience Europe like a local than on a bus with 24 other 60-something white upper middle class (but value-oriented) Americans!
My mother thinks he's gotten too big for his britches since the divorce. Ha!
In the past I have used his guides because SO MANY people recommend him, but there were total garbage. As were the walking tours I listened to of his in Rome. I've found his recommendations (especially restaurants) to be terrible and I hate how judgmental and choosy he is in what sites he promotes.
I don't know if he's a dick, but I take all of his advice with a grain of salt. I think he has horrible taste in restaurants for the most part, and he and I just have different highlight interests. His general tips about areas are helpful, though.
I guess I am the odd one out. I really like his books. I love his walking tours and he does a good job of narrowing down what is worthwhile to see. My biggest complaint is that he mainly seems to have travel books for Europe. Thanks MM. Now I am going to be looking for dickish comments from him.
drloretta -- will you please report back on your favorite and least favorite things when you get back? Besides hotels we've done little planning so far
I think seeing some trad is nice -- and hey, if you love it see lots of it. But I am skeptical of the idea that THAT's the authentic live-like-a-local experience
Just wanted to throw out my strangest "live like a local" Ireland story.
Was traveling alone, just driving about. Stopped at a little village on the west side of the country when it was getting dark. Checked in at the pub for a recommendation on a B&B (did this most of the trip and never got a bad recommendation). I was eating dinner at the bar talking to the bartender, surrounded by about a dozen men in their 60s and 70s who were giving me the side eye for being a woman traveling alone (at least that is what the bartender said about the side eye). They were all speaking Gaelic and listening to American country music.
Not sure anything like that would ever show up in a guide book.
It sounds like he has gotten worse. The appeal of Rick Steves has always been that he gives his opinions though. When I was newer to travel I liked that because reading long lists of choices for museums, hotels, cities, etc. felt overwhelming. The problem with opinions is that people are likely to disagree. I'll probably always love a good Rick Steves walking tour, but his books are certainly not the Bible if travel. Also, he likes some countries more than others and doesn't hide it. I think it was when we were going to Greece (maybe?) and I almost bought his book until the reviews uniformly said 'he obviously hates this country' which caused me to get something else instead. Generally Lonely Planet is my go to now.
I guess I am the odd one out. I really like his books. I love his walking tours and he does a good job of narrowing down what is worthwhile to see. My biggest complaint is that he mainly seems to have travel books for Europe. Thanks MM. Now I am going to be looking for dickish comments from him.
This has always bothered me too. Why not branch out? I know he goes other places and talks about them on his blog but that's it.
He sucks. His Switzerland guidebook has very little on the French speaking portion of the country and about six paragraphs on Geneva, the gist of which is to stay away. I understand having opinions but if you're putting together a guidebook allowing those opinions to keep you from covering a large chunk of a country makes you a douche.
I think he's really snobbish, especially about touristy things in Ireland. His recommendations to drive the opposite direction of the tour busses on the Ring of Kerry and Dingle (like counter clockwise instead of clockwise, or something) was useful, as was the recommendation to negotiate with the horse carriage drivers at the Gap of Dunloe. But he clearly loathed Killarney, and it was a perfectly fun, cute town. (It probably helped we were staying with a friend who had moved there, and took us to pubs the Irish tourists were going to, rather than the ones the American tourists were visiting.)
But he's on my shit list for giving a rave review to the waterpark in Tralee. We went there one of the days we were stranded, and it was this tiny, run down, algae and mold filled shithole. I believe my FB status that day was something like, "If this is a premiere waterpark, the rest of the water parks in Ireland must be stagnant backyard bird baths."
I think he's really snobbish, especially about touristy things in Ireland. His recommendations to drive the opposite direction of the tour busses on the Ring of Kerry and Dingle (like counter clockwise instead of clockwise, or something) was useful, as was the recommendation to negotiate with the horse carriage drivers at the Gap of Dunloe. But he clearly loathed Killarney, and it was a perfectly fun, cute town. (It probably helped we were staying with a friend who had moved there, and took us to pubs the Irish tourists were going to, rather than the ones the American tourists were visiting.)
But he's on my shit list for giving a rave review to the waterpark in Tralee. We went there one of the days we were stranded, and it was this tiny, run down, algae and mold filled shithole. I believe my FB status that day was something like, "If this is a premiere waterpark, the rest of the water parks in Ireland must be stagnant backyard bird baths."
That reminds me, the section of the book that I read this morning was kind of like "Ppity all those lemming tourists who want to see the lame Blarney Stone but here's a mini golf place you may like in Kenmare." 'Cause heaven forbid someone wants to see something really famous when they've traveled all that way, and we all know how hard it is to find mini golf in the US!
And god almighty, if he tells me one more time to find a favorite pub in Dingle where I can sing my heart out with the regulars...
He sucks. His Switzerland guidebook has very little on the French speaking portion of the country and about six paragraphs on Geneva, the gist of which is to stay away. I understand having opinions but if you're putting together a guidebook allowing those opinions to keep you from covering a large chunk of a country makes you a douche.
This is my issue everytime I try to use one of his guidebooks.
Like, his entire guidebook for England (not the UK, ENGLAND) barely a mention on the southwest of the country. And it's not like it's a wasteland of cultural significance (it inspired many famous novels), natural beauty (Exmoor, Dartmoor and the Cornish coast are all stunning in separate ways) or culinary delights (home of pasties! cream tea with actual DEVONSHIRE or CORNISH cream! Padstow with it's multiple Michelin-starred restaurants! Amazing seafood! Fantastic gastro-pubs!).
BARELY A MENTION.
I get that if someone wants to "see" the UK, the southwest may not be on their radar but since he's all about "off the beaten path" it's weird that in a guidebook to virtually leave off an entire region.
I haven't been awake long enough. I thought this thread was about whether anyone else thought Rick Steves was well-endowed...
I hate you for making me think about that.
I've never read his books and it sounds like he's more of a dick there than on his show. I never got that particular impression, though people do tend to become more crotchety as they age. Obviously he should partake more when he's writing his guides to help him relax, lol.