Rick Steves Europe DVD: Germany, Swiss Alps and Travel Skills

There's no travel guru like Rick Steves. He's easy-going, fun, down-to-earth, and extremely knowledgable. And while showing viewers a glorious vacation, he seamlessly weaves into each episode a solid education on the area he's covering, along with tips on how to get the best value and most enjoyment for your money. I've never yet gone on a "virtual vacation" with this author and not had a delightful time. If you dream of Germany and/or the Swiss Alps, you're in for a treat. The camera work here is superb, smoothly taking the viewer from one breathtaking vista to the next, while connecting with locals as if you're right there on location. It is impressive how much meaningful territory is covered on this single disc. It's so relaxing to watch that it has become one of a few DVDs that I reach for when I need a break from stress. Even the 3-Part Travel Skills Series, packed full of sound advice, is well organized and moves at a pace that holds your interest. You can find a larger selection of Rick's DVDs (some BluRay), plus a plethora of books, maps, and travel gear at his website: ricksteves.com.

Bought this for my mother in law who was born in Germany. She is a happy lady!

Rick Steves' Europe DVD's are universally excellent. Though I have been to Germany and Switzerland several times, I learned many new things about both countries. His natural humor always adds to the enjoyment. I highly recommend Rick's DVD's.

Good product. Would order again.

Eight Shows: This DVD contains eight complete "Rick Steves' Europe" TV shows on Germany, the Swiss Alps and Travel Skills, first broadcast from 2000-2005. Running Time: 4 hours. Closed Captioned. NTSC format, all region compatible. Join host Rick Steves on a 2½-hour wander through Germany and Switzerland - plus 90 minutes of valuable on-location travel tips - packed into eight half-hour "Rick Steves' Europe" TV shows. Starting in the Rhineland, you'll tour a lived-in castle and take a scenic river cruise. You'll shop at an open-air market in Munich, then get an insider's tour of "Mad" King Ludwig's remarkable castles - and climb to another that's been all but forgotten. In Berlin you'll see the amazing architectural (and cultural) changes taking place since the wall tumbled down, and in the Black Forest you'll dip into a classy mineral spa. And in the heart of the Swiss Alps you'll get a taste of village life, joining a volunteer fire department on a Heidi rescue drill. Your trip starts all over again with Rick's popular 90-minute "Travel Skills Special" - filmed on location throughout Europe. Germany's Romantic Rhine and Rothenburg: Cruising the Rhine, we dodge riverboat traffic and the legendary Lorelei. We tour Burg Eltz, a lived-in castle where the noble lady still puts out fresh flowers. In medieval Rothenburg we join the night watchman for a tour of the town's lamp-lit ramparts. Munich and the Foothills of the Alps: In Munich, we visit boisterous markets and go-for-Baroque palaces. Heading toward the Alps, we tour the fairy-tale castles of "Mad" King Ludwig and climb to the highest point in Germany. Then we cross into the Tirol to conquer a desolate ruined castle. Berlin: Resilient, Reunited and Reborn: We climb the Reichstag's new glass dome, sway at a modern-day cabaret, swoon over great art, and pop a few chocolates in the now thriving eastern sector. Then we crane our necks at Potsdamer Platz, Europe's newest Times Square. Germany's Black Forest and Cologne: Rick teams up with his wife and kids to appreciate the Gothic artistry of Cologne's cathedral. Then it's time to enjoy the good life, dipping into a classy mineral spa, devouring chocolate-cherry cake, and exploring Germany's most romantic forest. The Best of the Alps: Switzerland's Jungfrau Region: In a traditional farming village, we uncover modern artillery camouflaged in hay barns. We blast an alphorn, get sprayed by waterfalls raging deep inside a mountain, and join Heidi's volunteer fire department in action. Travel Skills Special, Parts I, II & III: Beautifully filmed on location, this 3-part, 90-minute special distills Rick's 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. "Wild Applause" (highest rating) from the San Francisco Chronicle: "Lately, when I want to relax, I put on slippers and I put on a Rick Steves show. The sameness about the shows is comforting: The theme music, the interplay of voice-over and stand-up narration, the exceptional photography, and the encounters with locals -- these elements are consistent. At the same time, the sights and locations change. There's always something new, fascinating and glorious to look at. Without doubt, the shows generate an intense desire to go places. At the same time, they give you some of the benefits of travel without your having to leave your sofa, and that's not bad either. The programs are also a document of what Europe and Europeans look like today, and in the future, the shows will be valuable as history. I find Steves enormously appealing -- good-natured, somewhat goofy in manner and yet clearly nobody's fool. If the Europeans he encounters come away believing that all Americans are like Rick, that's OK by me." -- Mick LaSalle

Wow! This DVD was very helpful! I viewed it several times before the trip, and happy to have done so.