How old is too old, for good and reliable advice?

Sarah... you can certainly preface it with that information... some things change in a few months, and some don't change for years... so posters have to realize this information, while it can be invaluable, is still just free advice based on the opinions, memories and travel style of that poster. I very rarely give advice on particular hotels because I do not keep detailed records and can very rarely find the info on past hotels, but there are a lot of people here who can. Just voice your opinion the same as everyone else here.

Certain things, of course, probably will never change in our lifetimes, like museums, churches, monuments, etc. If you think your information may be out of date, you can always preface your post with something like "I was there several years ago and things may have changed, but...".

Ah, but James, surely there is no expiration date for the abiltiy to deflate pretentious snobbery?

Should we start planning the RS retirement home?

If you haven't been back to a country for 10 years, you can be considered "retired" from that country...right now I'm sitting on the porch of the Italy old folks home in my rocking chair, reminiscing about the hotel in Rome I where I stayed way back in two thousand-aught-one...

Should we start planning the RS retirement home? Let's see ... we'd have to go to the supermarket so we could picnic.... the main entrance would be bolted so we could use >>the back door << .... hand drawn maps would be posted on the walls (not absolutely accurate or to scale) ... only half the beds in the home would be used so we could spread out ... the residents would have to carry their own things from room to room ... Thanks, Jo! LOL!!

It depends. There definitely is an expiration date on things like hotels and restaurants and prices, but it depends. I like it when people clarify their experience. For example, "I stayed at the abc hotel in 2009 and ..." or "we spent a week in Venice in 2008 and ..." This helps the reader put the info in context. I would be ok if someone mentioned a hotel they stayed in 10 years ago as long as they made that clear and provided information in context. For example, it would be fine if someone said, "I stayed in Hotel abc and thought the location was very convenient for visiting the museums; however, since it has been 10 years since I stayed there, I'd suggest you look for more recent reviews."

Most important rule for the RS retirment home... (can I shout this?) NO GRUMPS ! (Gramps okay , but no grumpy gramps)

I'd feel so much better about getting old if I knew there was a Rick Steves Retirement Home in my future. Awesome idea, Jo!

If you want to see if advice is valid or not when it gets too old, take a gander at the archived sections of the Graffiti Wall. Seriously old info about television in Europe, phones, internet, anti-American incidents, etc. and most of it almost 10 years old if not older. Please Mr. Webmaster, can we start anew with the Graffiti Wall?

Also consider the history of the places you've stayed, if you have that information. For example, three years ago I stayed at a hotel in Rome that my mother stayed at in the 1970s. Of course it had gone through renovations in that time, but it was a family-owned hotel that has kept its charm! I also ate at the same gelato shop she ate at. I'd have no problem recommending these types of places in five to ten years, of course with a preface that "things could have changed."

I never look at restaurant advice, especially from travel guides. By the time it's in print, it's old. I rely instead on same-day recommendations from locals. Hotels aren't quite so bad but five years can add a lot of wear and tear, plus management could have changed. I tend to look at reviews within the last six months (or maybe last tourist season) to get some ideas. Medieval sites probably won't change too much in a decade. Cities and sites are the advice I'm mostly looking for. It's always best if in the context of your likes/dislikes. I'm not into modern art. If I give a negative review of a modern art gallery, it's not really helpful.

Thanks for your advice. Linnae - you're right about the history of particular places. People often post on the To the Boot section about where to stay in Rome and other cities and I've been reluctant to tell them that I stayed in the cheap Hotel Serena near the Termini in a kind of sketchy area (I didn't feel unsafe but it wasn't the best place to walk around in at night). Maybe that area isn't sketchy anymore and maybe the hotel is nicer (and more expensive). I could suggest it (with the caveat that the area was a little sketchy as of 2001) and give the website, and let people decide for themselves. I have never asked a question on here about places to eat. I'm the kind of person who walks around and sees what looks good, unless I'm traveling with someone who lives there or knows the area. Brad - you have a good point about what to look for in terms of advice. If someone doesn't like modern art or medieval architecture, then their advice about museums and monasteries might not be the best.

Restaurant - 1 year Hotel - 3 years Apartment - 5 years Things to see - 10 years or more All advice has to be taken with a grain of salt. I try to include the year we were there with any advice based on our visit.

Yes, Rick should consider creating retirement villas in Europe, or at the very least have a service that helps people retire there on their own.