Rick's Curious Hotel Listings – Brussels

http://tinyurl.com/79pbb6n

The Flock will always follow their Shepherd. Michael, you've been around here for awhile, have you not? Surely you're not just now noticing this?

...and Tom has certainly been here long enough to recognize a troll question without being sucked into it...

I've noticed it to be sure, but I've tried to stay above the fray until now. Troll...really? The intent of the question is to understand why RS would list tons of expensive B&Bs in a big city like Amsterdam but only one for Brussels when there are so many B&B options available at reasonable rates there....actually much cheaper than in Amsterdam. Curious for a guy who normally recommends less expensive B&Bs so one can "feel like a local during your visit". Furthermore, he suggests Brussels isn't a good city for B&Bs...where's that coming from? And since nobody here recommends B&Bs for Brussels, it would appear people aren't doing much research on their own, going only with what Rick suggests, which leads me to the point about no reviews from Rick fans for places not covered well in his books. People don't visit a place when Rick doesn't give it much press, so you'll see no reviews from RS fans on TA for a place like Aachen or Bamberg. But search for Beilstein on TA, and the reviews mention Rick by name over and over. And back to Brussels, most here seem to suggest it's only worth a few hours. See the Grand Place, eat a chocolate, walk around, and leave, which is one of the suggestions straight from Rick's book. All I'm saying is that I have observed many (not all, of course) Rick fans apparently never deviate from his recommendations. But even Rick says travelers should use other guide books and resources to find their own back doors. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Rick fan, and I use his guidebooks. It's certainly possible for a tourist to use nothing but his books and have a great vacation. But it can be harder to find good budget B&Bs when he just leaves them out altogether for some reason. I mean $177 USD for a B&B in Amsterdam and nothing for Brussels? That's impossible. These are legitimate points.

Rick can't be everywhere and recommend B&Bs for every place. Clearly, he doesn't feel that Brussels is worthy of much attention. That's when I would pull out a different guidebook for recommendations if I wanted to stay there. No use wondering why he excludes it (just like he excludes much of Germany and over half of Spain) - he just does. And yes, many of his followers never deviate from his recommendations, and they miss a lot in the process.

Some of us also go on other forums,, RS has a good forum and good guidebooks,, but they are basic, and do not cover everything for sure!! When I spend thousands of my hard earned dollars I do my homework,, and look at many sources, not just one. I am the same when I buy a new fridge or car too. Some people may have lots of money and not lots of time, so basic information is all they need or want.. they don't need to spend hours finding a good hotel thats not booked 7 months in advance,, and is still under 100 euros and well reveiwed. There really isn't a right or a wrong here, Rick Steves does not proclaim himself a Europe Travel God,, even if SOME of his followers do.

Thanks for the shout out! Personally, I like RS message boards and I read his guide books but also I go to the library and take out all the other guide books too. RS lodging advice has never wowed me - i would never book a room wholly on what Rick says. TripAdvisor recommendations are worth more. The B&B in Brussels (Gabriel I think - its rated number one) was really special - a lovely French woman's apartment right near the train station. A few months back I started a thread about how I think Rick needs to mix it up a bit as I find his guides stale. Read them all and each new edition is the same old same old. a back door is only a back door for so long! I understand his guides are for people maybe just starting to travel and I get the need to "acquire" new readers but he must understand the need to "retain" his current ones.

HUGE Rick Steves fan.......but that said, I'll look at his lodging recommendations then hit Trip Advisor (from which I will make my final decision). Love the reviews from a wider audience on Trip Advisor, and love the photos (both lodging provided and user provided). Also like when Trip Advisor posters give pros/cons to specific rooms, such as room 323 was noisy, room 504 was quiet and had the most wonderful view, etc. Agree with the poster who said if RS does not recommend devoting a lot of time to a city, then it is understandable there would not be a lot of lodging reviews for that city. ........and Michael, re: the lack of reviews from Americans for certain places, maybe those places are not popular stops on group tours for MANY big American tour companies (who really impact the numbers of visitors to Europe) or not written up in the tour books (RS and the many others) that Americans typically read.....just guessing?? But maybe they are popular with European travelers....or maybe they can't get reservations in the hotels/inns/B&Bs that Americans are advised to or tours use, because we tend to book earlier (as it is a bigger deal for us to cross the ocean) then for a European to decide to go somewhere for a weekend and some places are already booked solid? Sort of like, how far in advance would you book for Europe vs. a trip to St. Louis? Don't know.....again, just guessing.

"or maybe they can't get reservations in the hotels/inns/B&Bs that Americans are advised to or tours use, because we tend to book earlier (as it is a bigger deal for us to cross the ocean) then for a European to decide to go somewhere for a weekend and some places are already booked solid?" Just in my own personal experience, I doubt it. Since I moved here, I don't think I've reserved a hotel any more than two weeks before, and I've never had trouble finding a room- and some of those hotels were in the Blue Book Canon.

Of course, there's no right or wrong way, and RS has never claimed to be some sort of expert with the final word on lodging recommendations. And everything in his books reflect only his opinion. I get it. It's just interesting that he only lists one B&B when he seems so intent on recommending a healthy dose of B&Bs for everyplace else. And if a fan from the middle of Kansas prefers only his recommendations and loves B&Bs, they're probably going to be in for quite a shock once they catch a glimpse of the erotic gay art on the walls. I mean, couldn't he throw in 1 or 2 additional B&B options for a little variety? Nope...just not a good B&B town, except for this one. Why that one? I'm sure it's fine. Still, it probably wouldn't work for 99% of his fans. Well, anyway, it's pretty obvious Brussels isn't worth the time. I guess I'll scratch it off the list and head back to Paris. :)

This appeared to me as a troll as well which is why I haven't contributed as yet. My question now is that I would like to really understand the true point being made here. Is it that Michael wants ETBD to remove the existing B&B because of its sexual orientation? Is it that he wants to rant because he was offended? Or is it because he found another B&B he prefers and would like it included? Is this just a rant, such as we have seen before, against all things Rick or people who follow Rick? Surely not all Americans are readers of ETBD books so why the concern about American reviewers and Baden-Baden and Aachen? Is the OP really about Americans? I just don't get it....

I agree, Nigel. Not sure which B&B it is, but when did "evocative" art become "erotic" art.

This from a guy with pretentious postings about fielding dense questions from travelers who, in reality, just need a little help? Talk about wanting to stir things up for the sake of stirring them up. It's really not that complicated, Nigel. And believe me, I'm definitely not offended. As for Rick's verbiage...he calls it "well-hung" art in his Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels guidebook. So, I guess I was wrong with evocative and erotic. I'm making a reservation.