Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #862572 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-28
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 1456 pages

Customer Reviews

very useful guidebook with personality
Let me start by stating something that should be obvious: if for whatever reason you do not like Rick Steves, you will not enjoy reading through this guidebook. Although Rick is not the only contributor, it is very much written in his style of speaking. Personally, I think it makes his guidebooks more approachable, especially for people with little travel experience.

This book is more for people who don't really know where in Europe they would like to go, or for those planning a multi-nation trip and would rather not buy an armful of books on each country. That being said, do not limit your trip research to only this book or you will miss other Rick Steves favorite locales that didn't make it into this book. Rick's website (along with his shows and radio/podcasts) has a wealth of information.

Take a look at this book's Table of Contents to see what places are included. Rick includes information on traveling from one place to another (mainly by rail and air), sights (description, costs, hours, websites, phone #s, and his rating), recommended hotels in a variety of price ranges, places to eat, when to see sights in order to avoid long tourist lines, important tips (like which sights you should get reservations for), self-guided walking tours, regular tours, how long you need in each locale, etc.

For those who prefer to integrate into a new culture while traveling and experience the real nuances of Europe!
Cheers to all the Rick Steve's backdoor travelers! I live in Germany, and my family and I constantly refer to these guidebooks for a more personal, informative, and enriching vacation. Rick Steve's purposefully chooses towns or villages that are oftentimes not on the other guidebooks lists. By doing this, he gives a traveler more of a "real" experience. We love his guided walks through towns as he interjects oftentimes witty and always informative facts that we would not be privy to otherwise. Sorry this book was not for the first reviewer, but I endorse it whole-heartedly!! It lacks the bells and whistles of other more flashy guidebooks, but it's practical and educational text makes it worth every penny. I own his DVD's too, which are fun to watch before and after a visit to one of his locations. "Keep on traveling!"

The only guide you need
If Rick Steves has a book for your destination(s), then do yourself a favor - buy it. You do not need any other guide for your trip. We've just returned from a trip through much of western Europe (London, Paris, Milan, Florence, Venice, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona and Brugge) and this guide was indispensable.

We avoided long lines to visit museums in Venice and Florence, lived in great local hotels and dined in non-touristy and cheap restaurants serving amazing local food. We also had Frommer's with us at the beginning of the trip but we threw it half way through the trip - it was too bulky and did not add any value to our experience.

Rick Steve's conversational style is non-intimidating and makes for a much more interesting read compared to the cut-and-dry, facts only style of other guides. All guides will have some out of date information but this guide is very current. In fact, a tour-guide with a company in Rome that is recommended by Rick Steves' told us that while other publishers just call them every year to verify that they are still in business, only Rick Steves' company actually sends someone to take part in the tours to make sure that the experience is still consistent with the description in the book.

This book is a must have for your Europe trip.