5/5 Rudy to the Max
  by Inge Wolf (Glendale, NY)
Although Rudy Maxa is a knowledgeable tour guide, Rick Steves' videos are more in depth, giving a bit more information.

5/5 Europe to the Max With Rudy Maxa - Fairy Tale Europe - Germany and Austria
  by B. Emanuel (Vienna)
It is a beautiful and informative DVD. I have traveled in Central Europe several times, and this DVD brings back many wonderful memories.

Rudy Maxa is an excellent traveller and makes interesting comments and observations.

2/5 Unsatisfying
  by Peter Bridge (San Diego CA)
I can't figure out how Rudy has gotten the mileage he's gotten. I think I've watched all of his videos (heck, at some point, you've seen everything else), and I have found him to be consistently, extraordinarily, shallow in his research, and in his understanding of his subject countries and locales. Please understand, I say that in the context of knowing many of his destinations, in some cases quite well (I lived and studied in Germany and Austria, and have returned a number of times since).

If you want a light, fluffy, skim of the region, Rudy is your man -- he never covers anything that you wouldn't know about if you dedicated nine minutes to absent-mindledly flipping through a competent guidebook... and in the same depth. Think of Rudy as a tour bus, passing through at twenty miles an hour, giving you a glimpse, but never quite stopping to let you smell the roses, or the horse manure. Lite, cheerful, sanitized, smooth, and lo-cal.

For a basic introduction to a country or region, Rick Steves is a better resource (although Germany isn't his strongest suit), whether or not you are seeking bargain travel -- look especially to Rick for help with building and prioritizing a trip around available time, and for help finding special and intimate little spots the big books may overlook. If you want more than Rick offers, you'll have to start working your way through more serious volumes. Rudy ain't it.

On a positive note, the pictures aren't ugly. If your library has nothing else, and if you've seen everything else on Netflix, you probably won't regret the money invested. On the other hand, if you've already been to the destination, you may well be asking, "Why, Rudy, why? It would have been so easy to do a much better job."

Two stars. The subject matter, regardless of its treatment, doesn't allow me to go lower.

5/5 MEMORIES
  by Christopher A. Farinella (Afghanistan)
I am in the Army and was stationed in Germany with my family for six years. I bought this DVD for my wife. She absolutely loved it! All her memories rushed back to her in an emotional blow that brought her to tears. I said " Lissbeth, are you alright?" She just smiled and said that this was the best travel DVD that she had ever seen.This means alot coming from Rick Steves #1 fan!