I know this is short notice, but if anyone lives in the NYC area, the largest travel show in the US will be at the Javits Center Feb 7&8. In addition to RS, other notable travel celebrities will be in attendance: Arthur & Pauline Frommer, Samantha Brown, Patricia Schultz, and Andrew Zimmern. I've been to previous shows through the years and it's a lot of fun. At other shows I've met Michael Palin, the various hosts of Globe Trekker, and of course RS!
www.nyttravelshow.com
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Michael,
That would be an incredible show to attend! For future reference, is the show open to the public or is it just for those in the travel industry?
I watch most of the shows you mentioned, so it would be a great opportunity to meet some of the hosts.
Cheers!
Posted by
OP
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
It's a three day show Friday-Sunday. Friday is for the trade only; Sat/Sun for the public. It's usually held in the fall, in fact they just had a show back in October with more or less the same celebs, including Rick. I don't know if they are switching the date to February permanently, or possibly making it twice a year show? But it caught me off-guard as I just found out about it a couple days ago. As long as the weather holds up, I'm planning on attending.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Michael,
Hopefully you'll be able to give us an "after show report", especially with items concerning European travel (take notes!). I'm sure the group here would be interested!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Ask Andrew Zimmern for some restaurant recommendations...
Posted by
OP
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
Will do. First thing on my list is attending Rick's "Travel as a Political Act" seminar. I'm also going to visit the South Africa booth, to see if they can convince me to travel down there for the World Cup next year. I'm torn between going to the actual games or traveling through some of Europe's great cities to watch the games on the big outdoor screens.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hi Michael. If Rudy Maxa is there, ask him : "What is your Favorite cafe at ETRETAT in Normandy, France ?". (Etretat is at the ocean coast -- English Channel -- between Le Havre and Dieppe. The white chalk cliffs are near Etretat). Other people may answer that question here.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Michael. I guess South Africa is a great country to visit, but NOT when there are an extra 200,000 people there for the World Cup event.
Posted by
OP
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
200,000 sounds good to me! The best part of the World Cup is meeting all the different fans from all corners of the world. The "funnest" trips I've taken to Europe have been the ones for soccer tournaments like France 98, Holland/Belgium 2000, Portugal 2004, and Germany 2006. Soccer is the one few thing on this planet that unites most all it's inhabitants. My hesitation about traveling to South Africa (other than the crime issues) is that there isn't a heck of a lot to do in SA in term of sightseeing. The country does have amazing natural beauty and lots of safari possibilities, but getting from the bush to the matches is very time consuming....and the soccer has to come first:)
Posted by
Morristown, NJ, USA
83 posts
I live in North Jersey and will indeed be attending the travel show. I've been looking forward to it. I've seen Rick at this show in previous years as well.
Posted by
TN/USA
208 posts
Michael & Steve, hope you will give us a post travel show update on what Rick had to say about european travel this year. Looks like it will suffer like everything else this year. Do you know if he is a guest speaker or just has a travel booth at the show? I have never seen him attend any show in the southeast before but always look at his schedule as I hope to meet him someday. I have bought enough of his travel books over the last several years to finance a trip to Nashville for him.
Posted by
OP
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
In addition to signing books, he is doing two seminars, the political one I mentioned and a general Europe travel talk. There is also an RS booth.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Michael,
To add to Ron's post, if Rudy Maxa is there ask him when he's going to be making some more European travel shows for PBS. I'm getting a bit weary of the re-runs of his "Pacific" series (although I never get tired of watching his Europe shows).
Even though his travel style is somewhat over my budget, the shows are awesome!
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
It sounds like there may actually be two Rick Steves, the real one and a double. The question is whether the hard-working double knows more than the Master and is being paid for it.
Posted by
OP
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
Don't forget this is the NY Times travel show...If the NY Times says he's gonna be there, he'll be there:) You don't mess with New Yorkers! I just found out the Javits Center is also hosting a Sci-Fi/Comic Book convention at the same time.. I hope there is extra security on-hand, it's well known that travel geeks and comic book geeks hate each other!