Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' 1999 Europe Through the Back Door (Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door)

5 star:		(53)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I like this philosophy for traveling, not all, but a great part. If you want to have fun on your Europe trip, read this book, understand the points it makes, then go. No tour, no guide, all alone or with your "traveling partner". This is the way to travel, and to experience the people and the culture of where you are. Rick does a great job letting you in on some great ideas. He'll also open your eyes as to what to get from your travels, or lose from your travels.

If you go to Europe and say once "It's not the way I have it at home", then don't read this book unless you're ready to change your attitude. If you raise your voice louder and continue to speak English, then stay home and don't read this book. If you want the adventure of traveling to Europe and immersing yourself in the culture and people, way of life, and past, then read this book, buy your plane tickets, and get going. All the tools you'll want are in this book. You just add the adventure. Be brave.

This is the best story telling instruction book I've read in a long time. Rick gives you all you'll need to get off anywhere in Europe and be able to survive and enjoy. He'll encourage you to free your mind, talk in bad local language with a smile, change money, ride the train, order dinner at the local eatery, and how to just enjoy the life you're experiencing. Remember you go there because it's different from where you live.

There is so much information for the traveler here that it's hard to grab 1 or 2 ideas and discuss them. The one thing that stands out is that you'll approach your trip to Europe from a totally different angle after reading this book.

Rick, we go in 10 days, and thanks for the help.....

I have read Rick Steves' books for years, and like the others, this one contains helpful information. His conversational style and middle income budget make this book perfect for average American, especially the first time traveler. The down side to this book and other Rick Steves books is as follows: 1) the maps are very poor- hand drawn and definitely low tech. Frommer does a better job in this area 2) costs are listed only in the foreign currency instead of following with the approximate cost in dollars in parenthesis. You must constantly dig out the calculator. 3) a lot of the material (whole pages at a time) is a direct copy from the previous edition, making for a repetitive read. That said, I would not take a trip to Europe without this book. I have never met anyone who went to Europe and used his tips and was sorry. However, I have met a lot of people who have used Lonely Planet and Let's Go who were disillusioned. I'm taking this book and Frommer's when I go this summer.

Traveling Europe last summer, my cousin and I were armed with every travel book that we could carry on a 2 1/2 month expedition throughout Europe. Europe Through the back door provided the most unique and awesome experiences that we had. Gazing onto the majestic scenery in Lake Como, Italy to the personal quarters in the scerene mountains of Switzerland. Rick Steves book was great and I suggest it to anyone who desires to experience Europe to it's fullest extent.

Maybe I'm too used to Michelin or Fodors, but I found Through the Back Door to be more on the philosophical benefits of packing light, using the railpass and staying in lesser known places than on seeing, exploring, and experiencing Europe. Much of this material is already covered in packing books and general travel guides (not necessarily European).

I agree with several of his picks (and will be sure to check out others on my next trip there), but his recommendations about what to do in these places occupy only a small portion of the book.

Already a believer in packing light and meeting the locals, I wanted a book that would cover in more detail the "Back Door" towns that he recommends. My advice would be to get this book from your local library, check out his Back Door towns, photocopy the restaurant/lodging recommendations of those towns, and then get a Michelin guide for more detailed information.

Before buying this book, understand that all of the "secret" back doors are known to EVERYBODY that reads this book. You'll find yourself among ETTBD readers everywhere. There's a virtual army of Rick Steve's-toting 35+ "independent" travelers everywhere in Europe.

The general travel advice is good - the hints on hostels, trains, packing, etc. are important.

Do yourself a favor - get over to Europe with a couple of good maps and just find your own Back Doors.

Europe Through The Back Door is the best travel guide out there. When planning to travel solo around Europe for a month, Rick Steves was my guide, and I had a great time. Every little secret "Back Door" I went to were amoung my favorite places, with only carriers of this book and no other Americans to be found! This book is also the most enjoyable travel guide to just sit down and read! It is really entertaining. Only complaint is that his focus is more centered to older people and not the young student traveller like me, but its still great. But don't buy it, so all of us "In the know" travellers don't need to share the Cinque Terre!

This book is mostly about traveling tips, not a guidebook for sightseeing or hotel reservations. Rick recommends getting other books for the specific countries you will be in and that is absolutely true. In fact, you will probably want to leave this book at home after you have read through it. The packing and general advice tips are fairly valuable and worth a read through at least once for new travelers. The rest of the book glosses over the backdoors Rick has found - but only in a summarized version. I would pick out the ones that seem interesting, then get the country guide to that area for more in depth information.

I recently went on an amazing life changing trip to Germany. I was in Berlin for 2 weeks! I was so inspired by Europe that I have made plans to go back for an extended period, and also to finish my degree. I have started to prepare for the opertunities of 'student travel' while in Europe and have found this book invaluable. Things that I learned from this book have been confirmed by fellow students just returning from European sojourns! I feel so much more confident setting out on this journey having this in my arsenal. Rick Steves' presents travel in Europe as not only an activity but a mindset and truly as a way of life; which is just as it should be.

This is the best guide to get if you are thinking of going on your own, seeing the true Europe, meeting the real people who live there. At the risk of overstating his style, reading this book is closer to reading a Hemingway novel, than a typical quidebook. It paints pictures without superlatives, relates custom and tradition without over-dramatization, and opens minds as well as back doors! If you are seeking a whilwind tour of the major 'commercial' sites, this is not for you. However, if you are seeking a more enriching, personal, and organic experience, follow the advise of this book. It's such a great read that you may want to pick it up just for leisure purposes.

This is the book that did it for me. When I first picked up this book I had never been to Europe. I had little inclination. After reading this book, visiting Europe became a priority. There was no stopping me, I was going! Five short months later I was on a four week tour of Europe. This book not only showed be how easy and inexpensive European travel can be but it also provided extremely motivating insights into the European travel experience. Each day is an adventure. The culture of Europe is so diverse, especially in comparison with the USA. A two hour drive or train ride can bring you into another world - different language, people, food, architecture, scenery, climate, history and plumbing! There is no experience like this in the USA, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.

Rick gives you everything you need to know. This book is packed with sage advice. What to pack, and not to pack. What are the pitfalls and how to avoid them. When to go. Whether to travel by train or car. Whether to take a tour, or do it self guided. How to find inexpensive accommodations in the best locations.

I recommend this book for anyone planning a trip to Europe. If you have ever considered traveling in Europe but thought the prospect overwhelming or too expensive - READ THIS BOOK. But be warned, you will be empowered.

I found this book to be very useful. First of all, this isn't a guidebook. This is basically a how to travel book. It shows you how to travel the back door way. In other words, travel as a guest rather than as a tourist. It's unfortunate how many tourists are happy to be herded into tourist ghettos to be stripped of their cash. This book shows how to avoid that, and how to enjoy Europe as the Europeans do. Also this book gives good advice on how to travel cheaply. I particularly admire Rick's philosophy of travel. He advocates socially responsible travel, getting to know the local people, and experiencing what's unique in each country. On the down side, Rick tries to be humorous, but a lot of the jokes are too corny. However this doesn't bother me too much.

In the second half of the book, he gives some recommendations for back doors into Europe. He covers all of the Western European countries. The back doors are little touristed spots which really breathe the magic of Europe and reflect what tourists expect to see before they go. After reading these, you won't be able to stay away from Europe. I just felt that I wanted to visit all of the places he recommended. At least visit one of these places, and I'm sure you'll be impressed with his skills for finding those perfect places.

If you're interested in a guidebook, you might want to buy one of Rick's country or city guidebooks. In those, he goes into detail about the sights and places to stay. If you're interested in some strategies for travel, and in recommendations for some very special places to visit, pick this book up.