18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book makes you feel to go to places, Mar 17 2005
By Sentekin Can - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Rick Steves Europe through the Back Door 2005 (Paperback)
Most travel books in the market are too dry to read and are somewhat lists of cities, hotels, restaurants, etc. Mr. Steves reflects his impressions about people and their countries a down to earth fashion without boring you. He takes you from country to country giving you points for a pleasurable vacation down to estimate of the time is required. Yes, he candidly compares our life style in U.S. with European society. That makes his book more likeable and him more respectable. Because he can look at himself at a mirror and analyzes what he sees. He finally produced a travel book that you can read without being bored.
If he sounds like being negative about certain places he has right to express his true feelings. He was there, lived with locals closer than any of us dare for. He made me feel the warmness of Irish people and cannot wait for my next trip to Ireland with his excellent book in my pocket.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Standard for Europe travel books..., May 28 2005
By Steven Dennis - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Rick Steves Europe through the Back Door 2005 (Paperback)
Europe Through the Back Door is an invaluable book for travelers who want to experience the real Europe with real Europeans, instead of the sanitized versions offered by tour companies and big hotels.
Rick shows you how to enjoy your trip more by spending less money, by getting closer to the locals. You won't be disappointed. In my trips to Europe, Rick's advice led to life-changing experiences that I will remember for the rest of my life.
This book is also economically packed full of the kind of useful, practical advice honed through decades of editions. (Trust me, the guy knows his stuff).
Thanks, Rick, and keep up the good work!
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Caveat Empor!, Mar 31 2005
By Matthew Tomich - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Rick Steves Europe through the Back Door 2005 (Paperback)
Warning: this book is NOT a country-by-country travel guide for Europe, filled with specific information on prices, buses, trains, and local site recommendations like "Let's Go Europe" or "Lonely Planet's Western Europe."
It is a general guide to European travel with a explanations of what to take, how to pack, and single paragraph descriptions of what to see in each city to help you decide on an intinerary. While this might be useful for those who this is their first trip to Europe, this is not for those who are looking to update their pre-Euro copies of local guidebooks.
Rick Steves' individual country/reigional guides are wonderful for specific country information and quickly getting you oriented in a location and to the places of interest. However, unlike the books that you would find this next to on the shelf, this is not a handy general compliation of the more specific guides.