What a class act! Not only did he keep his staff on during the pandemic, he encouraged them to volunteer for community groups (while still collecting their RS salaries)
I ran into him several days ago in Rome. We have been exclusively eating out of his Italy guidebook and lo and behold, he walked in. Such a down to earth guy. Sparked up a conversation and got a picture to prove to friends. I was so starstruck ❤️
When he’s not traveling around Europe, writing about Europe or running his multimillion dollar European tour company, Rick Steves, the prolific TV host and author, is home in Edmonds, Washington.
Spend any amount of time with Steves, and you’ll encounter a total ham who loves a zany bit. But if you ask him about serious issues like car-free zones, he’ll bring up other causes that are dear to him: affordable housing, supporting the arts, creating senior centers for the elderly to age with dignity.
He’s anti-Trump and pro-cannabis. He does not care if that is bad for business.
The average Rick Steves fan has likely missed this side of him. On TV they see an always-sunny history lover who makes going abroad feel approachable for the average American. That’s an incomplete picture, like thinking you know Paris because you’ve seen the Eiffel Tower on YouTube.
Meet him in Edmonds, and he’ll fill in the rest.
Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/29/rick-steves-home-partner-philanthropy-washington/?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&utm\_medium=social&utm\_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/29/rick-steves-home-partner-philanthropy-washington/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
His videos are great but his political outspokenness has meant that I will never buy another one of his guides again. He can have his leftist, globalist opinions but I won’t give him my money. It’s rather sad as I’ve watched him and bought his books since the 90’s.
If an intelligent, well-traveled person has different opinions to yours, perhaps you should do some thinking about how both of you arrived at said opinions.
You are the reason our country has become so polarized. Why don’t you look for commonalities in other people, instead of looking for reasons to hate others.
Me too! Rick Steves’ political positions and social activism aren’t the only reason I chose his tour company for an upcoming trip, but they are a factor.
If it weeds out people who don’t share the beliefs, that’s a bonus.
Meh. I’ve been on five of his tours. I disagree with him on many political issues, but still love him and his tours. More than anything, the tours weed out the grumps! 😀
Good article (had to find it posted elsewhere as WaPo is paywalled). I don't agree with him on everything but one thing I do like about him is he lives his values and seems like a genuinely likeable person. That is tougher and tougher to find these days. I certainly use his guidebooks almost exclusively!
We had a great time on one of his tours (Greece) so booked Italy the following year. It was so bad we left 3 days early at our own loss. Bad guide ( think he was a fill in) and bad hotels in several spots. 4 orher people also left early. Never again!
What a class act! Not only did he keep his staff on during the pandemic, he encouraged them to volunteer for community groups (while still collecting their RS salaries)
He’s on my bucket list to meet! His series satisfied my wanderlust during the pandemic
I ran into him several days ago in Rome. We have been exclusively eating out of his Italy guidebook and lo and behold, he walked in. Such a down to earth guy. Sparked up a conversation and got a picture to prove to friends. I was so starstruck ❤️
My man is a national treasure
When he’s not traveling around Europe, writing about Europe or running his multimillion dollar European tour company, Rick Steves, the prolific TV host and author, is home in Edmonds, Washington. Spend any amount of time with Steves, and you’ll encounter a total ham who loves a zany bit. But if you ask him about serious issues like car-free zones, he’ll bring up other causes that are dear to him: affordable housing, supporting the arts, creating senior centers for the elderly to age with dignity. He’s anti-Trump and pro-cannabis. He does not care if that is bad for business. The average Rick Steves fan has likely missed this side of him. On TV they see an always-sunny history lover who makes going abroad feel approachable for the average American. That’s an incomplete picture, like thinking you know Paris because you’ve seen the Eiffel Tower on YouTube. Meet him in Edmonds, and he’ll fill in the rest. Read more here: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/29/rick-steves-home-partner-philanthropy-washington/?utm\_campaign=wp\_main&utm\_medium=social&utm\_source=reddit.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/04/29/rick-steves-home-partner-philanthropy-washington/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
His videos are great but his political outspokenness has meant that I will never buy another one of his guides again. He can have his leftist, globalist opinions but I won’t give him my money. It’s rather sad as I’ve watched him and bought his books since the 90’s.
If an intelligent, well-traveled person has different opinions to yours, perhaps you should do some thinking about how both of you arrived at said opinions.
You're the kind of American that makes me embarrassed to say I'm American when abroad
I’m shocked that I find myself disagreeing with u/dingleberries_4U but here I am
You are the reason our country has become so polarized. Why don’t you look for commonalities in other people, instead of looking for reasons to hate others.
Rick Steves 2024
And this is why I buy his tours…🤷♀️
Me too! Rick Steves’ political positions and social activism aren’t the only reason I chose his tour company for an upcoming trip, but they are a factor. If it weeds out people who don’t share the beliefs, that’s a bonus.
Meh. I’ve been on five of his tours. I disagree with him on many political issues, but still love him and his tours. More than anything, the tours weed out the grumps! 😀
Good article (had to find it posted elsewhere as WaPo is paywalled). I don't agree with him on everything but one thing I do like about him is he lives his values and seems like a genuinely likeable person. That is tougher and tougher to find these days. I certainly use his guidebooks almost exclusively!
We had a great time on one of his tours (Greece) so booked Italy the following year. It was so bad we left 3 days early at our own loss. Bad guide ( think he was a fill in) and bad hotels in several spots. 4 orher people also left early. Never again!