Rick Steves' Best of Europe 2007 [Paperback]

Rick Steves (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rick Steves | Publication Date: August 8, 2006

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to visit Etruscan caves in Central Italy's hill towns, shop for cheeses in Avignon's open-air market, or catch an accordion performance on Amsterdam's city streets? With Rick Steves’ Best of Europe 2007, travelers can experience the best of everything Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland have to offer—economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, Rick Steves’ Best of Europe 2007 includes:

• Opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights
• Friendly places to eat and sleep
• Suggested day plans
• Walking tours and trip itineraries
• Clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot

America’s #1 authority on travel to Europe, Rick’s time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Steves preaches a low-cost, low-to-the-ground style that not only saves money, but gets you closer to the real Europe, the way Europeans experience it.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1400 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Revised edition (August 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566918073
• ISBN-13: 978-1566918077
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,146,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 40 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe -- and Europeans -- for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.

Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.

Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice (with more tours, including London, coming in 2010).

Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 40 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.

Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 70 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 300 departures -- attracting around 10,000 travelers -- annually.

Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (working to reform marijuana laws in the USA). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.

Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just like American Express... Don't leave home without it!, January 9, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Milwaukee, WI, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves' Best of Europe 1998 (Serial) (Paperback)

I traveled through Europe last summer with the '97 edition of this book, and found it to be the best travel guide out there - and several jealous travelers, who either forgot, lost, or never knew about the book until they arrived in Europe, envied mine, echoing my sentiments.

Rick has a great philosophy towards travel: see the world through the "back door." He thinks a traveler can have a much richer travel experience if he meets and interacts with the locals, living as they do (or living with them, in quaint pensiones and B&Bs,) eating where they eat (or better yet, eating with the locals they meet along the way) and seeing the world with an open mind. I agree. This book lists some of these great (and budget-friendly) sleeping and eating establishments.

Better yet are Rick's 'what to see' recommendations. Like all the guidebooks out there, he gives a description of the top tourist sights. But what sets this book apart is two things not found in other travel books: Rick gives his opinions on each sight, and recommends many other lesser-known sights.

Rick isn't afraid to tell you if seeing or doing something is a waste of time; on the flip side, there are sights that he says you'd be crazy NOT to see. If my time was short in a city, I'd be sure to see Rick's "must-see" sights and skip the rest - I never felt as though I missed anything, and had a wonderful experience.

Secondly, Rick recommends lesser known, out-of-the-way (and not so out-of-the-way) places. It was in these places that I often got the best "feel" for what a country was truly like, as these were the places that locals frequented. I remember lying on a beach in Cinque Terre, Italy (one of Rick's favorite "back door" towns) talking with my travel companion. A Milanese man on the next beach towel over asked us how we found out about his favorite vacation spot - he'd never heard anyone speaking english there before! (Although we found the town to be full of Rick Steves followers!) We had a wonderful time there, met many locals, and truly experienced Italy.

This is a fantastic guide book - friendly budget hotels, yummy places to eat, descriptions of Europe's "must-see" sights, places you'd be better off not seeing, and back-door towns where you can really meet the locals and learn about each country's culture and individuality. Don't leave home without it!

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta have it...., November 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rick Steves' Best of Europe (Serial) (Paperback)

Of several books we lugged to Europe recently, this one (actually a 1997 version bought off a sale table) was by far the most useful! At first I was disappointed by the lack of photos and snappy graphics, but once I started reading it aloud in our rental car, we were all laughing out loud and were hooked. We used several of his recommendations for laundromats and hotels, where we bumped into other Rick Steves devotees following the same advice. Some of the hotels he recommends may be full due to his good word, but ask there for similar accomodations and they may point you to an equally agreeable place - we did this in Interlaken and found a the wonderful Hotel de la Paix. Now we are planning another trip to Europe and are stocking up on Rick Steves' latest books to take along.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rick Steves' Best of Europe 2000, April 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Rick Steves' Best of Europe 2000 (Paperback)

Though it is perfect for those seeking direction for a fist-time trip, this guide is not the only book you will need when travelling to Europe. The guide is very focused on what Steves' believes are the best spots to visit, which is fine if you share his tastes. However, if you decide to be adventurous and stray from the book's prescribed list of locations you will find yourself in need of additional guides and maps.

Also, the number of readers that are devoted to Steves' guide is so great that many of the places he mentions are overrun by people following his book. Steves' best kept secrets are not secrets at all to the thousands of people who have read his book. Therefore, you may have considerable difficulty obtaining reservations in his recommended accomodations. And, you will most likely run into many travelers with the same book following the same itinerary as you are.

Despite its shortcomings, this guide is ideal for those who want to start planning their first trip to Europe. Europe is a large place with lots to see and for those who find choosing an itinerary overwhelming, Steves' guide is a great place to start. It is very helpful in suggesting must-see locations and travel routes. However, after determining your basic travel plan, be sure to purchase more thorough guides for the countries you plan to visit; this strategy will enable you to be more spontaneous and adventurous in your travel while ensuring that you see Europe's essentials.