Which travel book for Europe is the most helpful?
Jul 11th, 2002, 02:52 PM
#4
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Without Rick Steves' book, we would not have spent two days in Beaune and two days in Chamonix. These places ended up being two of the highlights of our trip to Europe. I didn't want to lug thick books around, so I tore out the pages that were pertinent and took those.<BR>I also liked the AAA spiral-bound guides to London, Venice, Tuscany and Rome.<BR>Pam
Jul 11th, 2002, 04:21 PM
#5
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Eyewitness and ... uh ... Fodors!<BR><BR>I also like Tripbuilder booklets (Rome, Florence, Paris, etc.) which provide basic descriptions of the most popular/important sights arranged in walking tour order. The Tripbuilder maps, however, are too skimpy for me, so I always carry a good city map. (Although I've seen some Tripbuilder booklets in Barnes & Noble, I bought mine on Amazon.)
Jul 11th, 2002, 06:09 PM
#9
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<BR>This looks like another of the weekly Rick Steves trolls. Doesn't he have his own web site and bulletin board? Michelin, Fodor's, DK Eyewitness, Lonely Planet, and others are much better guide books. Whether or not Steves is the "most popular" is irrelevant.
Jul 11th, 2002, 06:14 PM
#10
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Slider,<BR><BR>Steves books are not my favorites, but they are easy to follow and simply written. Not much artwork, but valuable none the less.<BR><BR>However I really dislkie his choice of lodging. He thinks everyone needs to sleep on a bunk bed or be mucho spartan.<BR><BR>Not all of us travel to Europe on a shoe string.<BR><BR>US
Jul 11th, 2002, 06:15 PM
#11
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Hi Sally,<BR><BR>I'd never heard of Rick Steves until I saw his name on this board! Personally, I think each guide book has its own strong area. Generally, if I had to take only one book, I'd go with Lonely Planet. However, to me, DK has the most comprehensive photos, which is important in planning a trip, I think. As for shopping, restaurants, and nightlife, Time Out series is my absolute favorite. For the most information packed in as little space as possible, I like Michelin. Cadogen often contains information not found in the others. Personally, I would find it extremely difficult to read only one book!<BR><BR>Jennifer
Jul 11th, 2002, 06:19 PM
#13
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I took the "Lets Go" books with me on my trip to Europe, and I thought they offered good descriptions about neighborhoods and museums/attractions.<BR><BR>I don't know if anyone else felt this way about the Lets Go books, but I didn't like the hotel recommendations they made, and I think the food section if focused especially to budget/student travelers.
Jul 11th, 2002, 06:23 PM
#14
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Open Road. Lots of good ideas on eats and lodging. I admit less important since I found this forum.<BR>Eyewitness for maps and pictures.<BR>Fodors and Frommers will take you where all the other Americans are but you will hit all the high spots which is not all bad. They are up to date and accurate<BR>etc.<BR>etc.
Jul 12th, 2002, 12:23 PM
#17
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I respect Rick Steves (especially for less experienced travelers) but posters should realize he is a U.S. phenomenon.<BR><BR>It depends on what budget & style you have for travel and what countries or cities you are most interested in. For instance I found Let's Go Amsterdam perfect for my first visit to that city last month. (Fodors, Frommers, etc. would not have even addressed some of my specific questions about the city, i.e. 'coffeehouse' scene.)<BR><BR>My suggestion for Sally is go to a bookstore and look thru them all herself... Besides the contents, ease of use, layout of information, index, maps, etc. are important and different in each one.
