Rick Steves' popular European travel guide corresponds to his own travel philosophy: to really see a country, one must "become a local", go "through the back door" rather than the front, and avoid tourist attractions. Drawing on 25 years of European travel experience, Steves gives practical tips on planning an itinerary, packing light, eating well on a budget, and more. Includes a 30-page analysis of rail options. 150 illustrations. 15-city author tour .
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Rick Steves has a singular travel philosophy: travel light, travel economically, and when in Europe, do as the Europeans do. In Europe Through the Back Door, Steves offers travel tips and practical information drawn from more than 20 years spent on the road, both as traveler and tour guide. Though Steves has produced a series of guidebooks that specifically target individual countries, Europe Through the Back Door serves as a guide to the world of travel in general. Within its pages you'll find a wealth of information about the nuts and bolts of travel: guided tour versus independent travel, car versus train, how and where to get rail passes, what to pack, how to plan, etc. There are tips for choosing a hotel, eating well on a budget, getting the most out of museum visits, and--best of all--making friends wherever you go. But just in case you're one of those guidebook junkies who just isn't satisfied unless there's an itinerary to follow, Steves includes a section at the back that highlights the best "back doors" in Europe and beyond. From Italy's Cinque Terre to the best medieval castles--plus information on Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt--Rick Steves's Europe Through the Back Door provides the inspiration and practical how-to information necessary to make your European adventure a dream come true.
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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.
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.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for independent travelers,
By A Customer
This review is from: Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 1998 (16th ed) (Paperback)
My wife and I used numerous books for our trip to Italy and France last year. (Our first ever to Europe). We bought Let's Go, Eyewitness, and the Rick Steve's Italy and France books. They were all very helpful, but Rick's books proved to be the best for down and dirty information to make the trip easier and more memorable. Not only are his practical tips worth their salt, but if you agree with his travel philosophy you will have much more success by following his suggestions. The other books are good in certain areas: Let's Go: additional places to stay in case your first choice(s) are full, Eyewitness: Great for pictures and facts so you know where to go when you are there. Everywhere we went travelers had these with them. We were on a tighter timeline so we studied before we left and left these heavy books at home. Rick's books are full of the basic information you need to avoid delays and prepare yourself for cultural differences so you enjoy them. I could go on forever...
5.0 out of 5 stars
How to experience Europe when you're used to seeing America,
By A Customer
This review is from: Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 1998 (16th ed) (Paperback)
This book teaches American travellers how to visit Europe so that they actually experience Europe. He explains how to travel lightly, happily, and inexpensively. Worried about a language barrier? Learn how to overcome that imaginary barrier and experience Europe for real.
5.0 out of 5 stars
COULD NOT HAVE MADE THE TRIP WITHOUT IT IN 1993,
By A Customer
This review is from: Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 1998 (16th ed) (Paperback)
THIS WAS A CRITICAL BOOK FOR US, WHEN WE WERE BACKPACKING IN EUROPE IN 1993; WE ARE 50 YEARS OLD, AND STAYED AND YOUTH HOSTELS, AND TRAVELED BY EURORAIL. WITHOUT THIS BOOK WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THE TRIP NEARLY AS SUCCESSFULL AS IT WAS. WE SPENT SIX MONTHS IN EUROPE AND THE BOOK WAS OUR BIBLE, AND WE TOOK AND USED IT EVERWHERE.THERE IS NO REASON PEOPLE OUR AGE CANNOT MAKE THE TYPE OF TRIP WE DID, IF THEY ARE EQUIPPED WITH THIS BOOK, AND ALL THE OTHER ADVISE WE RECEIVED FROM RICK STEVES. THANK YOU TERRY AND TRISH BRIMHALL
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