How do you feel about contributors in the Rick Steve's forum responding to a question by recommending that someone go to another forum for the answer to their questions?
How do you feel about contributors of the Rick Steve's forum being negative about the most basic tenets of the "Rick Steve Travel Philosophy"?
1) There is a lot of excellent info on tripadvisor and if I know of a post on tripadvisor that could help a poster, I will point them there. For example, I was able to buy tickets on renfe thanks to the extremely detailed info maintained by a tripadvisor contributor. Another example Is the good list of budget hotels in London that a TA regular put together. I use every resource I can when I plan my own travel and I get some of my best tips from Tripadvisor.
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2) I have no problem if people disagree with RS. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
This is not a cult.. I will tell people to go where ever I think they may get some help. Sometimes people post a question here that may not get alot of responses.. it could be on an obscure destination.. or very specific, or on a topic thats not well covered here "ie best hostels for young folks in ...?" I have no problem telling them to check out cruisecritics.com,. thorntree.com or tripadvisor.com.
RS staffers also refer to other sources; why not, if the info helps the poster?
I like seeing a diversity of philosphies among travelers, it helps me see outside my own frame of reference.
I guess if they feel the answer will not be addressed here they can suggest another place to look for answers.
@Pat... what do you mean it's not a cult?:))
Most people on this website do agree with some of the basic travel philosophy of the person who owns this website, but we are not all (as some like to conclude) sheep. I agree with a great deal of RS advice, but I am an independent traveler and do make up my own mind about what I like. My biggest pet peeve with people's opinions is when they state them as 'law'... don't visit here...I didn't like it, so you won't either... I don't appreciate it when RS says it, nor do I appreciate it when I hear someone else say it. I would just like to hear why they didn't find it appealing. I do agree that people are entitled to their own opinions, but when RS travel philosophy is ridiculed and picked apart it makes me wonder what they are doing here. If they are so much smarter why not start their own travel website? There is a way to express a differing opinion without being demeaning.
James, did you mean tenets?
No, Rick actually has people living above his garage...................................(thanks)
It's probably a huge garage and the tenants upstairs are quite comfortable.
You're welcome.
About recommendation on other forums: I think it is perfectly acceptable when other online source has more resource for specific questions Helpliners can't answer. I've sent people to Flyer Talk when people asked specific details of flying with miles... TripAdvisor forums, for many locations, have some good people there providing info on specifics like "have the subway digging works near hotel xyz ended and is the road in front still closed to traffic".
I have no problem referring people to TripAdvisor forums. The Scottish Destination Experts there are very good. They are for the most part locals and give really good advice about the best bus to catch, whether or not the road conditions are bad--the eternal tram problem in Edinburgh--or a good local restaurant. They are not as good at understand the American perspective. That's where we come in.
I've also going to refer people to other guide books. Rick's books are good for what they offer, but if you want to go to the Northwest of Scotland, Rick's guide is not going to help you. The same is true for Germany and other countries. I'm also going to suggest other useful websites.
I don't see the need to bash "ricknics" which sometimes happens. He's helped a lot of people travel to Europe and have enjoyable experience that often goes beyond the most well known sites. If you have places to recommend that are outside his guidebooks, then recommend them. There is no need to point out that they are not ETBD sanctioned locations! :)
To me, while it's now called a forum, it's still the helpline, a place to provide help to people who are planning a trip to somewhere in Europe.
Pam
I've posted many replies here, been on Rick Steves tours and am a fan of his videos and guidebooks, not to mention the Travel Forum. But I still regularly check TripAdvisor for information when planning a trip, particularly for hotels and restaurants. I like to view the photos of places that visitors have published.
(I have posted a few reviews there too). I think TripAdvisor is a decent resource, though I trust and like the RS Travel Forum more.
I actually post my reviews on TripAdvisor and think that other sites can be great for certain questions. I think FlyerTalk, CruiseCritic, SeatGuru and the ManInSeat61 are great resources. The idea is to give people the best information for their situation.
I am all for different travel styles.
No problem directing people to other forums. Information is always good. I go to TripAdvisor quite often. I post reviews. I read reviews. I ask the occasional question. Some other sites are excellent as well.
There is also nothing wrong with disagreeing with any of Rick Steves' specifics in his guide books or talks. People can disagree about a site, a town, a restaurant, a lodging, etc. Insisting that others agree with everything would indeed be like a cult, or like "sheep".
But disagreeing with "the most basic tenets of the Rick Steves Travel Philosophy" is something else. Everyone is free to disagree with anything. But for that person to park his/her negative opinion here goes beyond unhelpful. It makes about as much sense as parking on a Ferrari fan discussion site and constantly complaining that they get poor mileage, are overpriced, and don't make a minivan. It would not be at all inappropriate to suggest that that person might better use their time somewhere else.
Despite reddit's best attempts, there is no single place on the internet where you can find a forum to fit 100% of your questions and needs. And sometimes a question is best answered by sending someone from a more generalist forum to something more specialized. Yeah, I roll my eyes at the 'Wah! I'm a double kryptonium flyer and I didn't get my free business class upgrade' mentality you can find from some posters at Flyertalk but they're great over there at compiling cheap international airfare opportunities and figuring out how to maximize chain hotel loyalty programs. (I figure if 90% of the people staying at an Ibis are EU passport holders, it counts as a sufficiently European experience for me.)
