Rick Steves Europe Facebook Group

I've been a member of the group for years. It can be interesting and informative. It's not as well controlled or patrolled as this forum. But, you know, just scroll on by the troll posts or snarky responses.

Been on it for a few years. You get more activity from his staff on there, unlike here where they only show up when it is really needed. Cameron has a FB page too.

Mrs. Jo, thx for the info on Cameron. Nancy, thanks for the input.
How have I been missing it all these years?

I posted lots of photos on it a few years back.
I haven't been on for quite sometime as apparently one of my photos was controversial and I copped a lot of abuse for posting it. Interestingly the same photo recieved no negative comments on other Facebook groups or Instagram. I had no idea it would be controversial, just thought it a good photo.

Cameron? Is that Cameron Hewitt?

I know that this group's page is a different animal than Rick or Cameron's own pages but it's too bad that FB pages for businesses aren't completely "read only" public - if chosen to be - anymore like they were formally. I'm not a FB member for personal reasons, and know others who've deleted their memberships or otherwise chosen to avoid it. It's too bad for the smaller businesses who'd chosen that platform as their primary ad/communication vehicle versus dedicated websites.

Maybe read-only access is still possible without having to input any personal log-in information (phone #, email) is still an option but I've not seen it.

I deleted my FB account years ago. I am not sure what they are about and will not have them demand any information from me. I'm not alone in thinking this way and have never regretted my decision.

The RS FB page pops up on my timeline. I find it disappointingly lame, and less civil compared to this forum. It can be quickly dispensed with after a quick perusal. It seems like there are even more basic un-researched questions than here, and a couple of often poor answers, then the post is buried. But that's the nature of FB discussions.

I was just thinking the other day about the differences and it makes me appreciate this Forum even more for the honesty and knowledge of the members. I can't believe how many uninformed (wrong) answers are given on FB. I used to be a more active member of that group but I don't use it much anymore. I laugh to myself when I read the webmaster occasionally pleading on this Forum to keep things civil because it takes a lot of work to go through the pages and delete comments. If that's the case here then it must be a full time job and a staff of 20 on FB. I recall when I first joined the FB site and someone had posted a comment about their first trip to England and marvelling that dogs were allowed in pubs. I'd commented that I'd love that and to be able to take my dog to the pub. It wasn't long before someone replied to me that they hated dogs and hoped my dog was dead before I had a chance to take it to a pub.

Oh Allan, what a dreadful thing for someone to say about your dog!

"I can't believe how many uniformed (wrong) answers are given on FB."

Yes, I find this to be true on Yellowstone planning-focused FB pages as well as on one of the big FB pages for Paris. You just have to know that anyone who takes advice without doing some research on the recommendations will just have to take what comes.

I do feel that this forum is has generally accurate crowd sourced advice. Opinions can differ but usually the concrete advice is from experienced travelers. AI generated answers of late being the exception but fortunately there are sharper eyes than mine who suss those out!

I'm not active on the RS FB group. Posts basically repeat RS information that you see in other places like the RS website. I posted a comment once and received troll responses wanting to make my acquaintance. Cameron's FB page is much more interesting and has information I don't see elsewhere, but again with the troll responses if you post a comment. Too bad.

I had a similar experience as some are commenting. I joined a couple of other travel FB groups, and I ended up deleting all of them. Too many general questions or questions that a quick Google search would answer. Or so many photos that it quickly lost its value.

And yes, the contrast of it and this forum made me appreciate this forum much more!

I admit to being a member but generally I take a quick glance at posts and scroll on past. I think it’s the scale of it and the different travel styles that show up there that make it not really worth my time.

There are a few groups that ARE worth my time (and yours too most likely if you do FB) that are very destination specific: one being New Zealand Travel Tips (that min told me about when I was in the very beginning stages of planning). It’s closely monitored and occasionally not my style (like here), but with great info.

...someone replied to me that they hated dogs and hoped my dog was
dead before I had a chance to take it to a pub.

A pox on that miserable someone, Allan. Honestly, the prevalence of bullying, name-calling, jeering, belittling behavior we learned was mean, inappropriate and/or disrespectful in elementary school is troubling at best. If I'd behaved like that at work I'd have landed in HR's office so fast my head would spin.

OK, all you nice forum people, I guess I'm not missing anything being facebook-less. :O)

I laugh to myself when I read the webmaster occasionally pleading on
this Forum to keep things civil because it takes a lot of work to go
through the pages and delete comments. If that's the case here then it
must be a full time job and a staff of 20 on FB.

Oy. Ya THINK? I've a feeling that our esteemed forum cleaner-upper may have hands particularly full in coming days but hope I'm wrong.

I follow the RS Facebook page, and occasionally I'll save a post because it has some information that I find useful. For the most part I glance at it and scroll on. Some of it is useful, but other times it's just repeat of the same information that you can find here.