Out of curiosity, WHY is he unpopular? (Oh dear, I hope this is sill travel-related)

Hi Heatherfeather,

I actually really enjoy his travel programs, so thanks for the heads up about his podcast!

By the way, tpuryear, I think Heatherfeather might mean that he's not really known in the UK, therefor not so popular across the pond. Not alot of Britons know of him.

Thanks for the heads up Heather - I just got done browsing through the London 2008 book! I'm lucky enough to live close to his travel center and will be attending the travel festival on January 19.

I know there are some out there that don't agree with his travel ideas and things he's said in his travel guides. Honestly though, whether you like/don't like him you have to admit he's been quite sucessful.

Rick Steves is to travel what training wheels are to bicycling...a great way to start, and gives plenty of reason to feel secure, but best used when you're getting started, and remembered fondly, but never used once you feel confident.

He's made an awful lot of money, you're right.

I like to read through some of the tips and things on his website - some of the things he comes up with are pretty good.

I think as long as you remember that these things are "guides" and not "rules," he's not so bad.

One thing I like about his site are the packing tips and the tips other travelers have posted on the "Graffiti Wall." Again, not everything is something I'm definitely going to do when I visit London, but I've seen some really good tips I wouldn't have thought of otherwise.

I used his guidebooks when I was first starting out traveling. His ideology is seeing things "through the back door," avoiding tourist traps. Unfortunately, whatever he finds and reports back on inevitably becomes a tourist trap as hordes of his followers flock there.

I'm a little wary of the people that still worship him after having taken a number of trips, but you can definitely get some ideas from reading articles on his website as well as the graffiti wall.

Whilst I agree that Rick Steves has made immense bundles of $$$ with his travel guide/empire, and I bought his Great Britain guide and do suggest it to others ... I get extremely tired of his politics being interjected into his books and his travel shows. I think other than giving suggestions and advice to help visitors avoid being the stereotypical "ugly American", politics have no place in travel guides and shows.

That is probably the main reason he might be considered "unpopular" right now.

I had never heard of him until this week. I got to hear of him through the debate on money belts. Someone said "Rich Steve recommends them!" And indeed he does. Strongly. And with that I can tell that he doesn't really know what he's talking about.

In the middle of winter, ender lots of bulky clothing, you might get away with wearing one. But at other times the bulge will show. And unless it's near empty and you're used to wearing one there will be something in the way you move that will give away that you're wearing one. So you might as well carry a big sign saying "Hey, guys, I'm carrying stuff I think is worth stealing".

Who does Rick Steve write for? If it's backpackers, then using a money belt is good advice. I kept my passport in one when interrailing through Europe in my youth, and I would strongly recommend anyone to do the same today. If you're dozing on a night train or rushing through stations, the only sensible place to keep your travel document is in a money belt.

It wasn't apparent I was wearing a money belt - but even if it was, I'd like to have seen someone nick it without me noticing.