-- Covers London, Edinburgh, North Wales, Dublin, and Northern Ireland
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More About the Author
Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 40 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe -- and Europeans -- for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.
Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.
Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice (with more tours, including London, coming in 2010).
Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 40 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.
In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.
Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 70 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 300 departures -- attracting around 10,000 travelers -- annually.
Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (working to reform marijuana laws in the USA). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.
Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.
Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.
Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice (with more tours, including London, coming in 2010).
Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 40 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.
In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.
Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 70 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 300 departures -- attracting around 10,000 travelers -- annually.
Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (working to reform marijuana laws in the USA). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.
Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tested A++ in Two Trips to Britain,
By James Paris "Tarnmoor" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rick Steves' Great Britain & Ireland 2000 (Paperback)
In both 1998 and 1999, we travelled to Britain using Rick Steves as our primary guide. I have used other guidebooks before: Frommer, Let's Go, Rough Guides, and Lonely Planet. While I admire the detail in the latter two series, I trust Steves only in two important areas: (1) Trustworthy accommodations recommendations (he and his people really do check out the places he recommends) and (2) Useful training in the practical "how to" aspects of travel, such as how to phone home without using your overpriced American telephone credit card and how to take trains and other public transportation. The man is a serious educator: witness his entertaining PBS TV series. He is willing to make himself look like a dork to make you enjoy European travel. On the negative side, Steves' restaurant recommendations are sparse and uadventurous (though this is an area in which no one excels). Also, in selling the areas in which he is most interested, he leaves out large areas of the British Isles (especially in Scotland, where the omission of Glasgow and the Orkneys may take some explaining). In the rec.travel.europe newsgroup, Steves has legions of detractors and defenders. Mere mention of his name sets off knee-jerk flaming responses from people who do not understand him. The simple fact is this: If you follow his recommendations --particularly if you are relatively new to European travel -- you are likely to have a better time. Why? The man is not afraid to be prescriptive (instead of largely descriptive like Lonely Planet). Also, you are not likely to waste as much money, because you will weight your trip more on the side of small towns than large cities.
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A "how to" on planning and getting the most from your trip.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Rick Steves' Great Britain & Ireland 1999 (Serial) (Paperback)
All you need to know about planning your iteniary and nothing you don't. Good, honest, reliable information. I customized my book by adding tabs at all the places I planned to visit. I had nearly worn my copy out before I even left for my trip!
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Don't use this as your primary guide,
By snowman "esnowman" (Westford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Rick Steves' 2001 Great Britain & Ireland (Rick Steves' Great Britain) (Paperback)
I used this book, along with many others, during my trip to Scotland this year. The book is very fun to read and gives interesting recommendations; however, Rick Steve's books are not for those who want to explore an area deeply. He tends to give you the "whirlwind tour" along with the occassional interesting off-the-beaten path site, but doesn't give you the deep detail on every site you might be interested in. If you are spending significant time there and want to get deeper, I would use Rick's guides, along with Eyewitness Guides, when planning the trip for the broad outline only (and leave them at home), and then use Fodor's and Michelin's Guides to get deeply into the areas you want to explore (and take them with you).
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