Rick Steves Biography

Rick Steves is a renowned travel expert advocating smart, affordable, and perspective-broadening travel. He is the host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe and the author of over 50 European travel books. Steves encourages Americans to travel like temporary locals, connecting much more intimately and authentically with Europe and its people for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay. Steves' passion for travel began when he first traveled to Europe in 1969 with his father, a piano importer. After that, he started traveling independently, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, Steves founded Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business that has grown from a one-person operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 80 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website, European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. The company also runs a successful European tour program, attracting around 11,000 travelers annually with over 450 departures. Steves has also hosted over 100 travel shows and has created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and Rick Steves' Iran. These specials were produced through his company, Back Door Productions, which he co-owns. His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of US markets, and has raised millions of dollars for local stations through numerous pledge specials.

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