Rick Steves' Europe All 80 Shows DVD Boxed Set 2000-2009 [DVD]

Rick Steves (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rick Steves | Publication Date: May 1, 2009

This 12-DVD boxed set includes all 80 Rick Steves’ Europe TV shows and specials produced from 2000 to 2009: Italy’s Cities; Italy’s Countryside; France; Austria and the Alps; Germany, Benelux and More; England; Ireland and Scotland; Spain and Portugal; Eastern Europe, Israel and Egypt; Greece and Turkey; Scandinavia; Travel Skills and Specials — plus a 13th bonus disc of Rick’s travel lectures. Running time: 40+ hours.

America’s expert on Europe, Rick Steves spends four months each year exploring the continent, and his candid, humorous advice will steer travelers to the very best sights and museums. Rick’s guides allow his readers to beat the lines at the major monuments, find hotels and restaurants that make the most of their vacation budget, and discover cozy villages off the tourist-beaten path. At the end of the day, they’ll know that they used their time well, spent money without regret, and had some unforgettable adventures along the way.

Product Details

• DVD
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Second Edition edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598802402
• ISBN-13: 978-1598802405
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #245,437 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a great value! :), January 25, 2010

By 

Brian M (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

What a great value! :) This guy's a nerd but you gotta love him! He gives a great in depth cultural and historical representation of each country he reviews! He's gotten less nerdy in his newer films and finally gotten rid of those HUGE glasses so that's good. Comparing the Rick Steves' Europe Box Set to the Rudy Maxa "Europe to the Max" box set, this one definitely wins because Rudy Maxa doesn't include Greece or Spain and this one is by far more thorough. If you don't care about Greece or Spain, you may want to see those as well for a less in depth tour. Although these are great and in depth at times it gets a little long winded. You'll get all 80 Rick Steves' Europe TV shows and specials on 12 DVDs with outtakes, interviews -- and a bonus 13th DVD with Rick's most popular lectures.

# Italy Cities 7 shows, 3½ hours * Venice: Serene, Decadent and Still Kicking * Venice Side-Trips: The Best of Veneto * Milan and Lake Como (WS) * Florence: City of Art * Caesar's Rome * Rome: Baroque, After Dark * Naples and Pompeii (WS)

# Italy's Countryside 6 shows, 3 hours * Cinque Terre: Italy's Hidden Riviera * Siena and Assisi * Tuscany's Dolce Vita (WS) * Italy's Great Hill Towns (WS) * Italy's Amalfi Coast (WS) * The Best of Sicily

# France 8 shows, 4 hours * Paris: Grand and Intimate * Highlights of Paris: Eiffel and Monet to Crème Brulée (WS) * Normandy: War-Torn Yet Full of Life (WS) * Provence: Legendary Light, Wind and Wine (WS) * French Riviera: Uniquely Chic (WS) * France's Alsace * Burgundy: Profoundly French (WS) * France's Dordogne (WS)

# Austria & the Alps 7 shows, 3½ hours * Vienna (WS) * Vienna and the Danube (WS) * Salzburg and Surroundings (WS) * Alps of Austria and Italy * Alps of France and Switzerland * The Best of the Alps: Switzerland's Jungfrau Region * Great Swiss Cities (WS)

# Germany, Benelux & More 7 shows, 3½ hours * Munich and the Foothills of the Alps (WS) * Germany's Romantic Rhine and Rothenburg (WS) * Germany's Black Forest and Cologne * Berlin: Resilient, Reunited and Reborn * Belgium: Bruges and Brussels (WS) * Amsterdam and Dutch Side-Trips * Little Europe: Five Micro-Countries (WS).

# Scandinavia 4 shows, 2 hours + bonus extras * Copenhagen (WS) * Denmark beyond Copenhagen (WS) * Oslo, Bergen and the Fjords * Stockholm and Helsinki * Bonus Interview * Outtakes * The Steves Kids in Europe

# Eastern Europe, Israel & Egypt 8 shows, 4 hours * Prague and the Czech Republic * Czech Republic Beyond Prague (WS) * Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz and Warsaw (WS) * Budapest: The Best of Hungary (WS) * Slovenia and Croatia * Surprising Bulgaria * Israel * Egypt

# England & Wales 8 shows, 4 hours * London: Mod and Trad (WS) * London: Royal and Rambunctious * Great Side Trips from London * Northwest England * South England: Dover to Land's End * Heart of England and South Wales * North Wales: Feisty and Poetic (WS) * England's Bath and York (WS)

# Ireland & Scotland 6 shows, 3 hours * Dublin (WS) * The Best of South Ireland (WS) * The Best of West Ireland (WS) * Belfast and the Best of Northern Ireland (WS) * Scotland's Islands and Highlands (WS) * Edinburgh (WS)

# Spain & Portugal 7 shows, 3½ hours * The Majesty of Madrid (WS) * Highlights of Castile: Toledo and Salamanca (WS) * Sevilla and Andalusia (WS) * Spain's Costa del Sol * Lisbon and the Algarve (WS) * Portugal's Heartland * Barcelona and Catalunya (WS)

# Greece & Turkey 7 shows, 3½ hours * Athens and Side Trips (WS) * Greece's Peloponnese (WS) * Greek Islands * Istanbul (WS) * West Turkey * Central Turkey * Eastern Turkey

# Travel Skills & Specials 4 shows + 2 specials, 4 hours * Travel Skills Special, Parts I, II & III (3 shows) * Rick Steves' Europe: The Making Of (WS) * Rick Steves' Iran Special (WS) * Rick Steves' European Christmas Special (WS)

# Rick Steves' Lectures & Tour Experience This bonus DVD (not from the TV series) includes Rick's popular European Travel Skills and Travel as a Political Act lectures -- plus a trip across Europe with a Rick Steves tour group.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, entertaining, and just the fix I need between visits, June 19, 2009

By 

Heather "Here To Help" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick Steves' Europe All 80 Shows DVD Boxed Set 2000-2009 (DVD)

I love Europe. And these DVDs are just the fix I need in between visits. Besides making the wait easier for "Europhiles" this dvd set is also great for first time visitors to acquaint them with the different countries and give them valuable information that will save them time, money, and hassle on their trip. Rick's narrative is outstanding. He is enthusiastic, but not overly "perky" (like some of the travel guides out there). He also gives you just the right amount of history and art history, just enough so you know what you're looking at but not enough to lose your interest if you are not a history buff. Rick also comes across as the type of tourist I aspire to be - respected by the Europeans and enlightened, NOT the stereotypical tourist lugging huge bags, visiting every tourist trap imaginable, and ignoring every etiquette. Rick shows you the important sights, but he shows you the REAL Europe, not the one "manufactured for tourists". The camera work is excellent, and Rick visits many of the places you'd want to go and sights within those destinations. There is no better travel companion. This dvd set also features areas outside of Europe such as Iran, Egypt, Israel, and a day trip to Morocco, if you want something more exotic. There are also two of Rick's lectures, one on travel tips and one on travel as a political act. Both are outstanding. I can't get enough of these dvds. I watch them over and over again, never getting tired of them. Rick is truly a pleasure to "travel" with (through watching his shows) and these dvds are truly inspiring for planning your trip. You'll know what your "must see" destinations are after watching these, and you'll have the will power to save up and visit them! And if it's a place you won't get to, instead of wondering what you're missing you'll at least have a great introduction to the place (maybe next time!). I can't recommend these dvds enough. If I could only keep one dvd or dvd set in my collection it would be this one. If you want a small sample of what his shows are like check out Rick Steves' Europe video podcast on iTunes (make sure it's the video one). They are actually very abbreviated clips from his shows (and free!)

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, August 27, 2009

By 

Jay H. Colborn (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick Steves' Europe All 80 Shows DVD Boxed Set 2000-2009 (DVD)

My only criticism is that there wasn't more. He spent many hours on Italy, for example, but I could have easily watched three times as much.

He did an outstanding, professional job, yet I felt he gave a good, personal touch, talking directly to me and not giving me a lecture.