Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61117 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-12
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Running time: 720 minutes

Customer Reviews

Best travel DVDs for Europe
As far as I know of, the two main travel-guide videos are Rick Steves's and Rudy Maxa's. Rick Steves seems to be the more popular of the two since his shows are more frequently shown on the PBS channels (at least in the DC area). But in my opinion, Rudy Maxa's videos are better. First, although both are very informative, Maxa's writing and dialog seems to be better and more eloquently presented...he's almost poetic. His narratives are clear, substantive, and colorful. His portrayals also include splashes of historical facts or cultural trivia that not only make vacation spots more intriguing, they also provide the viewer with a better understanding of the people and their customs. Second, Rudy Maxa's videos seem to be more vibrant and more colorful than Rick Steves's--blues skies are bluer and green pastures are greener. I'm not sure if there is a varying type of filming quality, but for some reason, Rick Steves's DVDs have a dullish hue to them, even when he films under the sunniest conditions. Third, it seems that Rudy Maxa's videos were made with a larger budget than Rick Steves's. From what I can remember, all of Maxa's videos were always filmed on sunny days--displaying vacation spots at their best-conditioned visuals. I remember seeing Rick Steves visiting the Swiss Alps in rainy weather--absolutely not optimal for such magnificent panoramic views. Also, Rick Steves filmed Austria's Hallstatt--probably the most scenic Alpine town--in cloudy weather. Finally and perhaps most importantly, Rudy Maxa's videos use "proper" soundtracks to complement his visual displays. If you have ever done theater or film production, you know that the sound is almost just as important as the visual. Maxa's use of classical music or traditional cultural music from the visited country creates an effect that unites your visual and auditory senses and produces a mood that carries you as if you were there. Rick Steves uses some classical music, but more often utilizes...I'm not sure how to describe it, but I'll label it "elevator" or "cheesy" music that when you see and hear it together, you say to yourself "hmmm...something's not right." It's even evident in his opening credits. Again, it seems that Rudy Maxa's budget was higher and his producers seemed to have strived for perfection to showcase vacation spots at their best rather than filming with a limited budget in mind.

If you are planning to travel to Europe, I recommend viewing both Rick Steves's videos and Rudy Maxa's videos--both will provide you with very good information and great ideas of what to do. But, whereas Rick Steve's videos will make you say "That would be nice to see", Rudy Maxa's will make you exclaim... "I have to go there!"

Regarding this box set, this series and Rudy Maxa's other box set--"Hidden Treasures: Europe to the Max" (which Amazon titles "Rudy Maxa: Europe To the Max - Return Trip")--are sensational. From what I can tell, the shows are exactly the same as his "Smart Travel" series. Each box has 6 DVDs and each DVD contains 4 or 5 "half-hour" shows, plus other extras such as "Rudy's Travel Tips".

This box set has the following DVDs and their descriptions are as follows (I'm copying verbatim from his website):

Disc #1: Molto Italiano!
Rome beckons with its ancient treasures and modern pleasures. Rudy makes the most of your visit with stops at Rome's cafes and shops, and informative historic city walks. Your itinerary includes a detour to Vatican City. Rudy winds his way through Sicily with its vibrant mix of history, tradition, and intense cultural pride. A trek to a still-active volcano outside of Naples, a drive along the spectacular Amalfi coast, and explorations of the castles, vineyards, and walled cities of the hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria complete this unforgettable Italian travel adventure.

Shows:
* Rome
* Naples and the Amalfi Coast
* Sicily
* Hill Towns of Tuscany and Umbria

DVD Extra Features:
* Scenic Tours: Ancient Rome, ancient ruins, Paestum Greek ruins, Sicilian Greek ruins, St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral.
* Maps: Rome, Naples, Sicily, Italian hill towns.
* Rudy's Travel Tips: Carry-on essentials, pre-booking accommodations, train travel in Europe.


Disc #2: Enchanted Italy
Join Rudy as he surrenders himself to the charms of some of Italy's most magical cities. In Venice, Rudy tours the famous sites, and also shares his secrets of how to escape the crowds by visiting the neighborhoods of Dorsoduro, Cannaregio, and San Polo. In Florence, Rudy brings the Renaissance to life through the fabled city's glorious museums and architecture. Rudy explores Milan, a European center for finance fashion, then takes a train north to visit serene Lake Como. Old World elegance and La Dolce Vita await in Genoa and the Italian Riviera.

Shows:
* Venice
* Florence
* Milan and Lake Como
* Genoa and the Italian Rivers

DVD Extra Features:
* Scenic Tours: San Marco, The Uffizi Gallery, Lake Como, and Palazzo Reale.
* Maps: Venice, Florence, Milan, Genoa.
* Rudy's Travel Tips: Ticket consolidators (Part 1), ticket consolidators (Part 2), travel in any language


Disc #3: The Heart of France
Paris is the city of style, art, and pastries. Hit the sites from Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, and then stroll through the parks, markets and cafes that make Paris " Paris." France's Burgundy region boasts exceptional French wines, world-class cuisine, and romantic canals. The Loire region offers magnificent chateaux. Rudy makes forays into Provence's picture perfect villages and countrysides, and points out the glamorous French Riviera's hottest spots and most beautiful beaches. Rudy offers invaluable tips on riding the Metro, enjoying summer festivals, touring wine country, and renting a car.

Shows:
* Paris
* Provence
* Burgundy and Loire
* French Riviera

DVD Extra Features:
* Scenic Tours: Musee D'Orsay, Van Gogh paintings, Loire Valley Chateaux, Cote D'Azur.
* Maps: Paris, Provence, Burgundy, Loire, French Riviera.
* Rudy's Travel Tips: Travel via Internet, Internet vs. guidebooks, Internet vs. the travel agent.


Disc #4: London and Beyond
Rudy answers London's call with this expert tour of its traditional sights and contemporary and cutting-edge attractions. In London's breathtaking countryside, Rudy points out mythic castles, browses in the real Alice in Wonderland's candy store, visits Jane Austen's house, and gazes upon the mysterious megaliths of Stonehenge. Brussels and Belgium serve up superb chocolate and world-class beer. In the Netherlands, we bicycle to Amsterdam's great art museums, and share a moving visit to the attic where Anne Frank and her family hid from the Nazis.

Shows:
* London
* Out of London
* Brussels and Belgium
* Amsterdam and the Netherlands

DVD Extra Features:
* Scenic Tours: The Tate Gallery and Bankside, Marlborough Palace Maze, Lego Land, Rijks Museum.
* Maps: London, English countryside, Belgium, Amsterdam.
* Rudy's Travel Tips: Eating inexpensively, making dinner reservations, renting a car abroad.


Disc # 5: Fairy Tale Europe
From his base at Berlin's luxurious and historic Hotel Adlon, Rudy offers a new take on the Old World with unforgettable visits to this dynamic city's world-class cultural sites. In Munich and Bavaria, Rudy is your guide to the lively Marienplatz with its outdoor cafes, shops, and street musicians, as well as magnificent palaces and spectacular vistas. In musical Salzburg, Rudy visits the house where Mozart was born. In Austria's "Sound of Music" land, visit magical ice caves and stroll picturesque spa towns once frequented by European royalty.

Shows:
* Berlin
* Munich and Bavaria
* Salzburg and the Lake District
* Vienna and the Danube
* Medieval Europe

DVD Extra Features:
* Scenic Tours: The Egyptian Museum, Sommer Rollerbladen, Tegelberg, Hellbrunn Palace Water Garden, Nasch Market.
* Maps: Berlin, Munich and Bavaria, Salzburg, Vienna.
* Rudy's Travel Tips: E-mailing in Europe, getting around, medical insurance.


Disc # 6: Wondrous Europe
Join Rudy Maxa in the wondrous kingdom of legend and fairy tale - Denmark, where Vikings plundered and Hans Christian Anderson spun timeless children's stories. Sweden's luxuriant landscapes and Norway's grand panoramas prove irresistible to adventurers. Finally, from windmills in Holland to underground ancient Etruscan tombs in Tuscany, Rudy is your guide to Europe's dazzling getaways, each with its own unique charms.

Shows:
* Copenhagen and Denmark
* Stockholm and Sweden
* Oslo and Norway
* Europe's Great Getaways
* Renaissance Europe

DVD Extra Features:
* Scenic Tours: Karen Blixey Museum, Skansen Park, Euju-Bygdeton, Europe's great getaways, Renaissance Europe.
* Maps: Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Vienna, Salzburg, Provence, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Amsterdam.
* Rudy's Travel Tips: Overcoming jet lag, Internet car rental, airfare deal strategies.

The very best Europe travel DVDs
Congratulations to Rudy Maxa and the crew for a set of brilliant DVD travel documentaries on Europe - the best I have ever seen. It is a pity that the series has not yet appeared on Australian TV. Beautifully filmed, the DVDs capture the enchantment of each location and its people, while providing great travel tips, fascinating cultural and historical insights. They provide all the entertainment and trappings for travel enthusiasts like myself.

the most informative and beautifully photographed series!!
My husband and I brought the series with us to watch on the plane on our way to Europe. While we didn't visit all of the destinations (our focus was Germany) we were totally hooked once we started watching and it really gave us a lay of the land of Europe. The photography is excellent and Rudy is, in our opinion, the best travel show host - and writer - on the market today. If you've never seen him, he blows Rick Steves out of the water. Rudy provides tips for a much easier, classier and more luxurious vacation without spending a fortune whereas Steve always makes travel look so arduous! My husband and I are in our 30's so we're not looking for some on-the-cheap backpacking adventure; our time is too precious. Rudy knows his stuff and knows what's important for you to know before you go. Highly recommended and makes a great gift - we received as a wedding present.