“I swear by Rick Steves books! They come with me on every single trip. Honestly, it’s a real struggle when I venture somewhere Rick doesn’t cover. Suddenly, everything feels so much more complicated.”
This sentiment echoes in conversations with fellow travelers across Europe. The loyalty to Rick Steves guidebooks is palpable, almost unwavering – perhaps even to a fault. (As some Bed and Breakfast owners playfully grumble, their meticulously chosen, local restaurant recommendations are often overlooked by Rick Steves’ readers, simply because they aren’t “in the book.”)
This devotion to Rick Steves also highlights a common frustration: what happens when you travel somewhere without a Rick Steves guide? Recently returning from a trip to New Zealand, a destination not yet within Rick’s European focus, I experienced this firsthand. Navigating travel information that felt vaguely helpful but ultimately left me with more questions than answers sparked a deep reflection: what truly defines a good guidebook? From my perspective, having contributed to Rick Steves’ guidebooks for over two decades, I want to share my insights into the “secret sauce” that sets them apart.
During my New Zealand journey, I packed four different guidebooks, aiming for comprehensive coverage. Each offered valuable tips and suggestions, proving their worth at various points. Yet, surprisingly, these books spent more time tucked away in my bag or the rental car than in my hands. While useful to a degree, they weren’t essential. They lacked that feeling of traveling alongside a knowledgeable and insightful friend. What was missing?
The Depth vs. Breadth Dilemma: Why Focus Matters
One critical issue with many guidebooks is their pursuit of comprehensiveness, often sacrificing depth in the process. It’s the classic “Jack of all trades, master of none” scenario. A typical guidebook publisher covering a destination like New Zealand might feel obligated to include every city or town above a certain size, regardless of its actual appeal to tourists. This approach inevitably spreads resources and word count thin, resulting in superficial coverage.
Conversely, Rick Steves guidebooks are sometimes criticized for their selectivity. Travelers are often surprised to find that cities like Bologna in Italy, Geneva in Switzerland, Valencia in Spain, or Bordeaux in France are not included in their respective country guides. This omission can be disappointing if you’re visiting these places. However, this strategic selectivity is a cornerstone of Rick Steves’ philosophy. Years ago, he recognized that focusing on fewer destinations allowed for richer, more thorough guidebook content. If a place is featured in a Rick Steves book, it’s covered comprehensively. This depth comes at the cost of breadth – we simply can’t cover everything.
The Value of Opinionated Guidance in Travel Planning
Another aspect where many guidebooks fall short is the assumption that all travelers are fiercely independent and averse to detailed, prescriptive advice. While some travelers certainly fit this mold, and might even find Rick Steves’ books overly directive, the reality is that most travelers, when venturing into unfamiliar territory, deeply appreciate guidance in shaping their trip. This could come from a well-traveled friend, a social media influencer whose travel style resonates, or, crucially, a reliable guidebook.
This need for clear direction is amplified for travelers from countries with limited vacation time. For instance, Americans often have shorter holidays compared to many in the developed world. Efficient and smart time management becomes paramount, even when the goal is relaxation. After all, some destinations are inherently more conducive to relaxation than others, and travelers want to know which are which.
This is where the opinionated nature of Rick Steves guidebooks becomes a distinct advantage. We unapologetically present our perspective on the best way to structure your time and utilize our “pyramids” ranking system to highlight sights based on our subjective, yet experienced, assessment of their worth.
However, it’s important to note that Rick Steves guidebooks don’t dictate an inflexible itinerary. While we confidently recommend certain experiences as exceptional, the vast majority of our listings are described with precision, clarity, and actionable details. We understand that not every place resonates with every traveler, and our aim is to empower readers to make informed choices aligned with their personal preferences. When describing a hotel, restaurant, museum, or any point of interest, our guiding principle is to provide enough information for the reader to decide if it merits their valuable time. We strive to help travelers knowledgeably navigate their options.
Consider the example of beaches and the pursuit of relaxation. If you’re in a region with multiple beaches, our role is to help you differentiate them based on your preferences. Are you interested in boogie boarding or snorkeling? Do you prefer gentle shallows or crashing waves? Sand or pebbles? Family-friendly atmospheres, tranquil settings, or lively beach bars? Sun or shade? Are you looking for long walks or sunbathing opportunities?
The Personal Touch: Travel Guides with Personality
This attention to nuanced choices contributes to the personal, handcrafted, and approachable feel of Rick Steves books, setting them apart from more generic guidebooks. When training new researchers and editors, a common challenge is convincing them that the quirky observations, memorable phrases, offbeat humor, and informal, even irreverent tone, are not flaws, but rather defining features. These elements remind the reader that real individuals, with genuine passion for travel, are behind these pages, guiding them through Europe.
The narrator, “Rick,” (whether personally written by Rick Steves or not) prides himself on leading you to a hidden local tavern to sample regional spirits or to a bakery to savor a beloved pastry. Along the way, he shares anecdotal insights about the neighborhood you’ll be exploring. He might introduce you to a local owner or point out unique décor. This level of intimacy is unconventional and rare in guidebooks, and it’s a significant reason why travelers connect so deeply with Rick Steves books.
My experience with other guidebooks in New Zealand often felt like piecing together fragmented clues. For example, reaching Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula, a major attraction, wasn’t straightforward. It’s not a simple park-and-walk scenario. There are at least three different hiking trails, varying in length and difficulty, plus options like water taxis, kayaks, and RIB tours from a nearby town.
This crucial information was scattered across various guidebooks, requiring supplemental online research. Simply figuring out how to get there to this iconic location, a must-see for most Coromandel visitors, consumed a significant portion of my precious vacation time. My “guidebook author” instincts were screaming: Why couldn’t one of these guidebooks include a section titled “Getting to Cathedral Cove,” clearly outlining the options with pros and cons?
Anticipating Traveler Needs: The Heart of Rick Steves Guidebooks
When crafting Rick Steves guidebooks, our primary goal is to anticipate what travelers need to know just before they realize they need to know it. The writers, editors, and researchers behind these books are travelers themselves. We’ve encountered similar situations and understand the questions and challenges of navigating a new place efficiently. Rick Steves’ key directive for updates is to “live the book.” Even if you’ve visited a location countless times, follow the guidebook’s instructions as if it were your first visit and identify any gaps or areas for improvement. This demands time, dedication, empathy for the reader, and a passion for problem-solving.
This leads to another defining characteristic of Rick Steves books: frequent, in-person, and meticulous updates. While I can’t definitively speak for other guidebook publishers’ update processes, I strongly suspect that the frequency and rigor of our updates are unmatched.
This suspicion is largely based on feedback from businesses featured in our guidebooks – hoteliers, restaurateurs, museum staff, and more. During research trips, I often encounter surprised reactions from Europeans who recognize me from previous visits, astonished that I’m back so soon to re-verify information. “You’re back already?” they exclaim. “Weren’t you just here?” Then, often in a hushed, conspiratorial tone, they add, “I haven’t seen anyone from that other guidebook in years.”
This commitment to on-the-ground research is what truly distinguishes Rick Steves books. This extensive travel not only ensures unparalleled accuracy and up-to-date information but also fuels all the other qualities that make these guidebooks a unique breed: created by travelers, for travelers, through travel.
Staying Focused: Why Rick Steves Remains Eurocentric
So, why doesn’t Rick Steves expand coverage beyond Europe, or to numerous other global destinations? It’s a valid question. And, personally, I’d be thrilled to see a Rick Steves New Zealand guidebook.
However, Rick consistently declines, and rightly so. He recognized long ago the value of specializing and excelling in one area rather than diluting quality through excessive expansion. We could put the Rick Steves name on countless guidebooks, from Disney World to Las Vegas to Australia, but they would inevitably lose that personal touch, that depth of expertise. (In today’s business jargon, this is called “scaling.” Rick may not use that term, but this focused ethos has been his guiding principle for decades.)
In the meantime, for destinations not covered by Rick Steves, finding reliable alternatives is key. Large guidebook brands can be decent, but quality is inconsistent. Often, the best options are those created by individuals with a narrow focus and long-term passion, mirroring Rick Steves’ approach. For Hawaii, Andrew Doughty’s Hawaii Revealed series is my trusted companion, offering deep, hard-earned knowledge and a charmingly informal style, making them the closest equivalent to a Rick Steves Hawaii book. For Costa Rica, James Kaiser’s Costa Rica: The Complete Guide offers a similar valuable approach.
Beyond traditional guidebooks, GyPSy Guide audio driving tours, covering numerous national parks and scenic routes in the US and Canada, are exceptional. I’ve used them extensively in Hawaii and eagerly anticipate using them in new locations they cover. Like Rick Steves books, they seem to anticipate traveler needs, suggesting perfect spots for breaks and local treats.
Other trusted non-guidebook resources include Katie Parla, an American expat offering insightful and opinionated restaurant recommendations for Italy, and Michelin Guide’s “recommended” or “Bib Gourmand” restaurants, offering more affordable and accessible dining options than their starred establishments.
What are your go-to travel resources for destinations outside of Rick Steves’ European focus? And, on the topic of Rick Steves books, what do you value most about them? Or, do you disagree with any of my observations?
Finally, speaking of up-to-date guidebooks, 2022 was a landmark year for updating all Rick Steves titles after the pandemic disruptions. These new editions are essential for anyone traveling to Europe this year, reflecting the changes brought about by COVID and the passage of time. You can find all the latest Rick Steves guidebooks at the Rick Steves Travel Store and wherever books are sold.
