Customer Reviews

Frommer's Hanging Out in Europe

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

During my three month backpacking trip, I used my copy of "Hanging Out in Europe" as a supplement to the more traditional "Let's Go" guides, and two things quickly became obvious about this book: (1) I was very glad I had it, and (2) I was even more glad that it wasn't the only guide book I had. Some of the criticisms offered by other readers are correct--the maps are absolutely useless, and the information is often dated, inaccurate, or both. Every address has to be double checked, and many phone numbers are wrong. The book is highly irreverent, which means the PC crowd will be offended at some point (the puritanical, the PC folks, or those whose idea of partying is having two glasses of wine with dinner should probably skip this book and go with the guides that the Harvard kids put out instead). But I truly enjoyed the irreverence of this guide--I often found myself reading through the guide just for fun, which I can't say about the other guides. I mean, how could you not be amused, with gems like, "Prague is party heaven--and I'm not talking about where dead communists go"?

The fact is, unlike the other guides, this one is aimed at a very specific subset of backpackers: young people who want to party, experiment, or do things that the other guides probably wouldn't talk about because their lawyers won't let them. (In fact, "Let's Go" has a bad habit of derisively labeling as "frat-like" any bar or hostel populated by people who look like they might have actually been on a date sometime before their senior year of college.) The drug culture in every city is given a thorough treatment and they are pretty precise about where certain things are okay and where they're not. This book does not treat you with kid gloves or worry about the possibility of offending you--it simply tells you everything it can and then leaves you to decide what to do with that information. Use it, ignore it, or be offended, they don't really care.

Another underlooked benefit of this book is that so few backpackers have it. The problem with "Let's Go" and "Lonely Planet" is that EVERYBODY has a copy. This means that every hostel, restaurant, or bar listed in them will be on the tip of most backpackers' tongues. With "Hanging Out in Europe," I had a completely different list of hostels in case the ones in "Lonely Planet" were booked up, and a different set of bars to suggest while everyone else in the hostel was itching to go to the one with the star next to it in "Let's Go." In addition, each city has a section full of suggestions for conversation starters with the locals (from which we got that tidbit about insulting the French Belgians to curry favor with the Flemish Belgians, sparking another reviewer's outrage). But these little tidbits are great and are somewhat unique to this book.

So the skinny on this book is: Buy it if you're part of its target demographic (young, non-PC, itching to party). But make sure you supplement it with a copy of "Let's Go" or "Lonely Planet," where you'll get more accurate info and more tips on where to take in the culture.

I am currently studying in France and am using this book to travel around Europe. It's a good reference, but should not be considered authoritative. The book assumes that the reader is a college student who wants nothing more than to pick up, take drugs and party into the wee hours of the morning. If you don't fit this description, you may find the writing style grating and obnoxious.

What's good:
-It gives you a basic overview of each city, the history and the culture, so you get a feeling for the city before you even get there
-It tells you the major museums to see (which you could find out from any tourist guide, not just this one).
-The hostel information was generally good. My friends borrowed the book to find hostels in their travels and they never complained.
-They do point out the hot spots in each city, but they're so obvious once you get to the city anyways. Look at flyers, search online and just explore, and you'll find the listed places and more.

What's bad:
-There was no information on European culture and customs. The typical traveller would not be able to enter many of these places due to their own behaviour.
-The book gave no hints on cheap travel or ways to save money. They should have had information about various rail deals, alternate food and lodging ideas, etc.
-Most of the information was either outdated or false. Phone numbers were wrong, some spots only open a few months a year and prices were way off. Yes, cool spots appear and disappear overnight, but the book led me to places which seemed never to exist in the first place.
-The information is geared to make North Americans feel at home. 'Hanging out' shouldn't mean 'finding American-style places in Europe'. Most of the recommended hang out spots were either public touristy places or American-style bars.
-The book seemed to encourage drug use. Although decriminalised, drugs are still illegal in Europe and should not be consumed by foreign travellers.
-The authors were obnoxious and downright degrading to some cultures. In the Antwerp section, they encouraged the readers to insult the French Belgians to endear themselves to the Dutch ones.

Like any guide book, this one was outdated before it even hit the press. If you use it, double and triple check sites before you go or wind up being disappointed.
It's a good read just to get the feel for a city, but you'll find the same information and more just by 'hanging out' on your own, without a book to tell you how to be cool.

As far as I can tell, the people who gave this book a bad review are too old to be using it in the first place (who else uses phrases like 'jocular' and 'slap-dash'?) I just got back from Europe, and the authors were right on to recommend the clubs, bars, restaurants, hostels and culture for all the cities I went to. I can vouch for the sections on Copenhagen, London, Barcelona, Rome and Prague. However, some of the addresses are incorrect. But the people who have complained about this should have read the disclaimer on Page # 1 advising the reader to double-check any addresses, phone numbers, etc. before simply showing up in a foreign city. All in all, this book added so much to my trip; those of us who don't take themselves too seriously should definitely pick up a copy.

This review will read like Dr. J and Mr. Hyde. On one hand I was truly astonsihed at the lack of fact checking and utter misdirection that the book provided. Darn near every direction, location, or map was bogus. I was particularly frustrated when it give precise locations to absolotely no where near the desired location or to places which no longer exist. The specifics, or facts of the book are down right negligent, and perhaps even fraudelent.

Conversely, it's not the typical backpacker book (I'm sure as heck not) and has some leads to some very trendy places. Places where most backpackers can't even get into in W. Europe, but if you can get into NASA then you'll love the book for giving you a heads up on such a posh place. In my opinion a lot of the info in the book is extraneous--where to get a tatoo at, where to go to a beauty salon, and other places that are beyond the purview of most backpackers.

The book isn't really a guidebook, its' more of a "where to hang out if you've got money and are cool book". It provides a nice change of pace, and should be used soley as a supplementry and, not as a primary source.

This book really cut through the BS found in many a travel book-- and the authors are dead on about a lot the salient cultural provclivities of the Euros in each region. It was a welcome companion on my (absolutely rockin') european journey...but I also had other guides that were really excellent. Please click on my name to read my other reviews because I really detested some of the guides and loved others. Don't make the mistakes I did! This book was a real blast-- I read almost every chapter-- even for the cities I didnt intend to visit. It's also a very welcome thing when overseas to listen to the voice of American sarcasm.

This book is a hoot to read and led me to places I never would have found using the more conventional guide books. Very witty writing. Not for the timid, but then the timid shouldn't be traveling. If you're afraid of getting lost, stay home.

ok. so i just spent 4 months in good old europe, and in the end, i think i figured out this whole guidebook thing. "Hanging Out" is a great supplement to other guidebooks. It provides snotty sarcastic comentary, and more social scene advice to some of the other more dry guidebooks. just what you need when lonely planet is starting to give you a headache. ok. so here's my humble advice...

seven steps to adventure with a Frankenstien guidebook 1. Buy "Let's Go Eruope" 2. Buy "Hanging Out" 3. Find a friend with another guidebook of interest 4. Select destination and rip out appropriate chapters. 5. Tape or Staple them together. 6. Ditch the rest of the books at the hostel. 7. Head towards some interesting sounding area or location with a sense of humor and adventure- see something that sounds familiar? Voila! You have three different opinions about it if it is in your Frankenstien guidebook. (if not, you have made an exciting discovery! Hurrah!)

don't forget- a gidebook is basicly disposable. it will be out of date by the time you get home. so get messy! rip it up! write all over it! get rid of the chapters you are not going to use! (those things are damn heavy, and really, are you going to use that chapter on iceland?) compare, contrarast and dicover! Buon Divertimento!

This book is maybe not as reliable as others for a primary guide, but it has so much information that the others lack. Its the first guide that gives me hints about how to pick up local women, and that alone makes it worth the price.

This book finally gives a young, freewheeling traveler what he/she wants! Great bar suggestions, live music scenes and helpful tips on what to avoid. No more boring tourist garbage that will put you to sleep. I highly recommend this as a guide for those who love to party and meet locals. If that doesn't fit your personality, go with a different book!

I liked this guide alot. When I studied in Europe even though I was there for months I usually spent my time with other Americans, drinking too much beer and talking about American things. Which I could have done in Philly. This guide includes alot of places that the average tourist will probably never find on their own, more unique and the 'real' stuff of Europe. It was also easy to read and kind of funny. I would highly recommend it.