A thank you to each member of Helpline community, for being out there!

Toni, yes. I understand. If a person were fortunate enough to have the economic resources to travel at will, it would be wonderful. But I don't, and most of us don't. So we try to find ways to make the Helpline a place where people can come and dream and share their knowledge to help others. Your help on England, and Robin's, and the help of others that I'm not remembering right now, and the help of our UK residents who hang out here, has been greatly appreciated.

Thank YOU Kent...you are such a kind, sweet man...you're a ray of sunshine here!

Kent [INVALID] Our pleasure to assist as we can, and thanks to you and the others for the valuable information not readily avialable elsewhere!

You are so welcome it's a pleasure, and thank you for all the great information you have provided.

I agree, Kent! A huge thank you to all the Helpline members. The Helpline, ETBD and a cup of coffee is a great way for me to start the day!

These postings help countless travelers. I am mainly a "lurker" rather than a poster but I have learned so much as I've planned my upcoming trip to Italy and Greece. I've also had many laughs over some of the funnier comments (Rick Steves as a hottie). All you expert travelers - thanks for sharing your wisdon!

Thanks for the positive and uplifting topic Kent. I know I just like for people to have a good time when they come to Germany and if I can help them find their way around easier or find interesting things for them or their children to do, then this forum is worth it to spend time on. I also enjoy meeting people from this forum and wish I could go to some of the meet-ups. It is so much fun to put a face on the writing.

I enjoy checking in everyday to read the new posts. This forum was a great help in planning our trip and also encourages me to dream about future trips. :)

Kent- Thank YOU. It was people like you (and Frank and Frank II and a few others...) that got me hooked on this board when I first discovered it. I really like how MOST of the posters here are willing to share and share again and don't mind if others have a different perspective. It is generally a very plesant place to "visit". It also helps me cope with my "travelsickness" (as opposed to homesickness).

Thanks Kent -=- It is really nice when some of us have specialized knowledge and are happy to share it. It can assure you that I get far more out of helping somebody understand something that is new, scary, or unknown than it ever costs me in time or (sometimes) emotion. -=- For me it is pure pleasure. -=- Thanks again....

Kent, you're a true gentleman, and the most valuable resource this board has.

Again, our pleasure. AND a big THANK YOU Kent, for all your help to all of us.

Kent, You ol' softie. It is you who has been the most help of all.

I second that. I always check the board and wouldn't dream of traveling without using this as my resource. Thanks to all the experts.

Kent, you are definitely one of the most helpful posters on this forum. We started travelling due in large part to Rick's TV shows and this website/forum. Happy travels to all !!

Look who's talking! Thank you to you, too, Kent!

Aaww, shucks, Ken! I can't go a day without checking in on my fellow travelers. It keeps my travel fantasies alive! Everyone, keep on travelin'!!

I personally think the helpline is an AMAZING (and free) resource as we are all bonded by one thing: we LOVE to travel. I am personally thankful for anyone who took time out of their busy lives to help me in a travel-related question. Travel has made such a positive difference in my life. And, even if I don't post a question, I enjoy the other topics and experiences. Thank you to everyone! China

Awww, Kent, thank YOU!

Kent,, I think you are one of the most helpful and unbiased posters here,, you always seem to take a balanced view and I really apprieciate your contributions. One of the things I personally like about your postings is that you seem just as willing to learn as to inform.. and you rarely use CAPS! LOL I think we also have a few other truly amazing posters here who specialize in things that can be confusing, even for travellers who are not newbies,, like Tim ( transportation, bus, train, schedules,, so much to handle) and Lee and well , really there are at least a half dozen here I would consider experts in their areas of special interest or experience.

Ditto the thanks to all who post here. I freely admit to wasting far too much time on this website. I like to share information, but the main reason I keep coming here is that I always learn something new. Thanks to Lee and Tim for helping demystify Deutsche Bahn. Thanks to Jo for helping us realize that Frankfurt has more than an airport. Thanks to Ed and James for bringing everyone down to earth and fighting against the snobbery that can all to easily take hold when discussing Europe. Thanks to Kent (and Ken) for helping to keep things civil. Thanks to Frank (forget which one) for providing insights into the way the travel industry works. And many others... but not Steve...

I first went on this board with a question about car rental insurance in Ireland. I immediately got the answers to my questions and then I was hooked! Although not currently planning a trip, I too love to start my day with a cup of coffee and this board. I learn and I laugh and I love it!

Kent, thank you for your very kind & considerate responses to the many questions posted on this board. When I first started using this website there were many regulars along with Kent that I enjoyed reading their responses which were also very helpful to me & others & I'm going to call them out. Ken, Frank, Norm, Frank II, Lee, Ken, Jo, James, Beatrix, Norma, Toni, steve, pat, Darcy, Cate, Nancy, Eli, Liz, Swan, Kate & a few others who no longer post or very seldom. There are so many new members & I have enjoyed reading their responses so a big thank you to all of you especially Ed as sometimes his response is a hoot to read. Thank you everyone!!

Ditto what everyone's said, right back at 'cha, Kent.

So happy to see you posting more on the Helpline Kent! Not only have you helped me with questions about European travel but you also helped me plan a terrific trip to the Northwest! Thanks!

Hi Sharon (above post). Sharon was out here (Pacific Northwest) during the only hundred degree weather we had this year, maybe it wasn't a hundred but it was one of our rare heat waves, as I recall. But she had a good time anyway. :)

From one Kent to another...Thank you. In fact, thanks go to all of the "old" or rather "experienced" travellers" who have helped us enjoy our trips even more. Well done.

I really appreciate the Helpline not only for the suggestions and the latest news but it keeps our dreams alive in between our trips! Thank you everyone!

I appreciate all the great information I receive on this helpline, and I hope that I have been able to help others as well. Kent, you are the heart of this helpline. No matter what, you have always been a gentleman. It has not gone unnoticed by me, and many others I suspect. Thanks to all for their participation.

Ditto what Andrea and others said. I appreciate all that I have learned from all of you and a special thank you to Kent, too.

Not only a gentleman but also he is Superman!

I wish this Traveller's Helpline would have an extra section : for GENERAL EUROPE, for topics that are not requests for help in planning a trip. There are many of that kind of discussion threads here. If that kind of topic were in a separate section at the Helpline, people could make more efficient use of their time in reading and replying to the requests for help. I guess : some people spent much time reading the General topics that are not requests for help, and they did not have time to read the requests for help. If the website manager says there is not enough space in the computer for creating a new section in the Helpline, many of us could delete many of our old postings at the Helpline. I am doing that, using www.Google.com, but it is a slow process. Perhaps all of the Postings at the Helpline, that were posted more than 12 months ago, could be deleted. (?)

Hi Ron: Good to see you posting, you and I have both been hanging around this site for a long time. About your suggestion, now might be a good time to send suggestions directly to the Webmaster (in addition to posting them here, the Webmaster wears several hats and may miss it here but will see it if you click Contact Us at the bottom of the page). The reason I say this is (and I have no inside info whatsoever, just what the Webmaster has said publicly) is that they may be considering a software change and, if they are, that might be the time for them to make programming changes, like you propose, that are not feasible for them to make without a programming change. So those who have ideas, this might be a good time to send them to the Webmaster, but don't tell him I told you to do so!

I can only echo what others have said. I would not have had such a smooth trip either time without all the help I received here from others. Always happy to chime in if I can be of help and love reading the posts every day!

Yes, thank you, thank you, thank you, to everyone that has answered my multiple questions on this board. I have gotten so many great tips, I can't wait to put them to use in 10 days, wait it's 1150 pm or 2350 as they say in Europe, so make that 9 days to goooo!! I also enjoyed just reading everyone's insights. This is an awesome board, I even love the sniping, it's very entertaining. Thank you again!

Kent, I sent my suggestion to the webmaster, Sept. 20

Agree with all the others. I just got back and brag about you guys to everyone. Even met several fellow travelers carrying Rick's books around who were unaware of this amazing website. I'm sure they'll be joining in soon.

Why, you're welcome, Kent! - Just Kidding ;-) .........Seriously, I do try to live up to the standards of (some of) those who went before me - as in only talking about those things that I know about, and prefacing my opinions with a disclaimer, etc. I just try to do some good, hopefully no harm, and have some fun, too! A Big Thanks to all other Helpliners, too, and to everyone who has asked a question - without you, there would be no Helpline!