If you could say one thing to Rick Steves, what would you say?

Stop telling people they need cash

I would tell him thank you for the leadership he demonstrates in his community and in our country, for how he runs his business, and for his many avenues of philanthropy.

And indeed, thank you for the Forum too, as I have made treasured now in real life friends here and enjoy exchanging with so many others I have yet to meet !

To answer the question, “thank you.”

Agree with Kim and Claudia - THANK YOU! You happen to have loved travel and shared that joy and personal growth with all of us. But that has been your passion (to our benefit), but what you really have given us, as a role model, is sound, generous-of-heart, empathetic and thoughtful reflections on what it is to be a good human being and citizen of the world.

It is something you could very easily
monetize, but instead you give it to us with virtually no ads. The
result is the most pleasant place on the internet to read about and
talk about travel.

Well said!

Agree with Kim and Claudia - THANK YOU! You happen to have loved travel and shared that joy and personal growth with all of us. But that has been your passion (to our benefit), but what you really have given us, as a role model, is sound, generous-of-heart, empathetic and thoughtful reflections on what it is to be a good human being and citizen of the world.

Couldn't have said it any better. Thank you for being someone with the character we can all aspire to.

Good Job! Thanks.

While sampling an artisanal cheese in a sun-drenched market, there an evocative, work-a-day, commanding view that carbonates a convivial and laced with majestic and stately glory days back door that my friend and fellow tour guide says will maximize fun per mile, I too would like to add thank you. Keep on travelin'

Met him at the Washington DC travel show a few times a number of years ago. Can’t remember what we said to him.

Excellent point about the Forum/Graffiti Wall.

Since he’ll already have been thanked for that, I’d mention to him that his food recommendations have improved by leaps and bounds in the last 10 years, better places with much better food. Looks like Rick’s not just getting something quick and cheap these days. Having said that, assembling a picnic at a market is still tasty and fun, but sometimes you want/need a sit-down meal, and his recommendations now are actually quality places.

Next, does he have a new “Cinque Terre,” a place not horribly overrun by visitors? I fear that his wholehearted recommendations of the Cinque Terre over the years has contributed just a tiny bit to that overcrowding.

Maybe, just maybe, he’s got a Special Place he could recommend, but he’s keeping it secret.

Last, how much of his show’s potential outtakes actually make it onto his outtakes bit at the end? How much of the rest of his filming winds up on the “cutting room floor?”

I'd thank him too. In fact I got to do that when I ran into him in the TSA line at SeaTac several years ago. And I too appreciate this forum as a good place to get and share info, and connect with what I expect are some very good people.

But I'd also ask him to stop putting his name and face on all the gear he sells. It's good equipment, and of course the marketing imperative affects his business like all others, but I just think it's tacky.

BTW, I doubt very much if he lurks on this forum, much too busy and hopefully protective of his limited personal time. But it wouldn't surprise me if the webmaster or someone produces a periodic report on trending topics and issues. The forum is much more than just customer feedback, but it's that too.

So... if you had the chance to catch Rick's gaze and say one thing... what would it be?

https://youtu.be/J-ifjIAoleI?si=5UngUFTfcPoscaBP

Kim and Claudia have said everything I would have said.

But it wouldn't surprise me if the webmaster or someone produces a periodic report on trending topics and issues. The forum is much more than just customer feedback, but it's that too.

Of course our posts are intelligence that is drawn on by guidebook creators (I am also thinking of Fodor's, Frommer's back in the day, the former Thorn Tree (Lonely Planet), etc). I once heard: if you don't pay anything, you are the product. But having said that, I recognise and appreciate Rick's approach and philanthropy, he is certainly unique!

Lavandula

I would thank Rick Steves for the many travel guide books that he has written. They have been practical, and the maps and walking tours, locations of restrooms, and information on attractions are so helpful. It has enabled me to feel comfortable planning my own trips to Europe and realizing that this is very doable.

This travel forum is a bright spot in my day where I can read about suggestions from others on places that I would still like to visit.

Thank you! Thank you!

"Thank you for changing my life."

-- Mike Beebe

"How's your health?"

I'd say thank you. I'd tell him our early trips were successful because of his books, and that's given us the confidence to go far and wide. And I'd tell him a quick story: on one of those early trips I kept pulling out the book and muttering "what does Rick say", DH got frustrated and used the famous Princess Diana line "there are three of us in this marriage!". The next day HE grabbed the book and wanted to see what Rick wrote about something.

That's hilarious Andrea.

I'd ask him for a job.

I laughed, Dave, because I did exactly the same thing a year or so ago. Paid extra for the hors d'oeuvres and mingling in a small group onstage. However I am not often an introvert, so before the Q&A I asked for a selfie which he graciously obliged (but he takes it - and I wasn’t the first to ask).

During the Q&A, which was casual with everyone standing around holding their plate of hor d’oeuvres, I actually had the first question because it was a bit slow to get started (maybe we had a few introverts - and it definitely wasn’t a seasoned traveler group). So I asked if he was considering adding new tours and if so, where. Short answer was no but of course, he said everything more eloquently. I guess he changed his mind - but it got the ball rolling. I felt like the evening was geared towards his tours so I didn’t mention the forum. Maybe I should have. (This part was then followed by a large seated audience and his presentation.)

I'd thank him for keeping Monday Night Travel going. It's been a really fun way to keep thinking about and planning for future travel, and also getting to know the next generation of RS leaders.

I saw Rick many moons ago at the travel festival in Edmonds when they were still in-person events. I too am an anxious introvert at these sorts of things, but happily had the perfect reason to approach him - asking him to sign a friend's guidebook. What did I say? "My friend Charlie loves you!!!" Maybe not what I would have said for myself, but he laughed and graciously signed the book before zooming off to his next speaking engagement.

If I had a chance to see him now, I would thank him for setting an example of being the change he wants to see in the world. He has made remarkable multi million dollar investments in his community at home to nonprofits, arts, education, housing, seniors, etc.

The Story of Fascism in Europe is the most significant and courageous achievement of Rick Steves' career. His work as a historian is his greatest gift to me. Thank you Rick.

Thank you, not for always making it easy (wasn't always) but making it possible and enjoyable. Traveling with Rick's book in hand since 1998 - almost every year. Many great memories.

I would say "What's your beef with Heidelberg?"

Thank you for years of travel information.

Add Mainz along with Heidelberg being dissed.

Time to branch out, and visit some more medieval cities in Germany, not just in Bavaria.
Please drop the fake comments about Rothenburg being the best preserved medieval city. It isn't. Not by a long shot. Not sure what guide told you this, but a little research would have been good for that statement.

Frankfurt is not just banks and skyscrapers. It is one of the oldest and most important cities in Germany. Give it some credit for its' place in history. Maybe spend more than a day here?

About 12 or 13 years ago, Rick was giving a talk at the Cincinnati Public Library, and a friend of mine and I went to it. About 20 minutes before it was supposed to start, he came ambling out from the back and started wandering through the aisles, saying that he was bored and if anyone had any questions, he would answer them. I raised my hand, and he came towards me, and I asked him how he felt about promoting places like the Cinque Terre, that then turn out to be wildly popular and are no longer "off the beaten path."

He was honest about it, and he said that really didn't have an answer. That makes sense. On one hand, you want to tell people about beautiful off-the-beaten-path locations, but when you have a large audience, it can backfire sometimes. And of course, I don't think you can blame Rick for all of the attention that the Cinque Terre has gotten.

But if I met with him today, I would probably thank him not only for the forum, but for all the things he does for charity, society and civil rights.

You have shaped the way my family and I travel: low to the ground, local, authentic, looking for the "back doors."

Your guides and videos have helped me plan many memorable trips to Europe.

One small niggle: lay off the marijuana promotion. You're welcome to do it; its legal (at least in Canada and some states); but really, society condemned the promotion of smoking 40 years ago, and we really shouldn't be promoting it now.

Thanks for teaching so many people throughout the years that independent travel doesn't have to be intimidating.

Ditto darienblois on how RS travel style has enhanced 25 years of travel. Agree that omitting politics as well as marijuana have no place in the travel business.

THANK YOU!

What strain of weed he smokes. Seriously.

One small niggle: lay off the marijuana promotion. You're welcome to do it; its legal (at least in Canada and some states); but really, society condemned the promotion of smoking 40 years ago, and we really shouldn't be promoting it now.

That is so adorably last century. It's as if you still think it can only be used by smoking it.

Dave, marvelous thread!!!

I had a conversation with Rick several years ago. It was all in French! : ). I was at one of the free classes at his Edmonds office, and when the instructor told us at the end to practice with the person sitting next to us, I turned and there was Rick!

To answer this seriously, I would say a huge “Thank you!” So much of how I’ve traveled in Europe was due first to my People-to-People Ambassador experience (be a considerate representative of your country) & then our initial two RS tours.before heading off traveling independently. The free classes he offered & travel guide weekend conference were SO helpful! Also this forum! I appreciate that his company does care about making travelers kinder to visiting countries vs. the normal travel company filling seats.

Also, a tour question. “Would you consider creating an Austria, only tour?” Such a lovely country, and I would love to do it with a group.

It's as if you still think it can only be used by smoking it.

I don't think that. I do know that that is what RS does and promotes. Its not the "marijuana" that turns me off. Its the "smoking". SMOKING is what is so "last century."