I also cut up the guidebooks I'll be taking with me. RS is fine if you're visiting the places he's covering, but I always need more.

I use Insight and DK when I'm planning, but wouldn't think of traveling with them. Fodor's new Gold Austria guide is good, but I usually rely on Lonely Planet for logistics. For my next trip I'll likely take Rough Guide's Budapest, pieces of Fodor's Austria, and LP's Venice, with a few copied pages from RS on Vienna.

I make xeroxes of the pages we need. Usually we have a general plan and our hotels are taken care of in advance. I do not like to cut up books since I am guidebook fanatic. That practice is especially useful when posting on the baords because I dot remember the particulars.

As I noted in another Rick Sreve's discussion he is to travel writing what Barry Manilow is to rock n roll.

My solution: Copy and bind the relevant pages of Rick Steves and Fodors. Add current suggestions from the Fodor's board. Per the Michelin Green Guide, the latest editions include some restaurant recommendations as well (and are especially good for the less traveled places). I don't know whether this applies to the Green Guide for Germany, however.

<i>As I noted in another Rick Sreve's discussion he is to travel writing what Barry Manilow is to rock n roll. </i>

Didn't see your other post Aduchamp1 but if you mean that they are both unimpressive I agree.

Yes, I have seen Steve's on PBS and now someone gave us a book as a &quot;gift.&quot; It is like traveling with a wet mop. It is useful but extremely limited. His books are like somone yammering in your ear.