Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door 2003: The Travel Skills Handbook for Independent Travelers [Paperback]

Rick Steves (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door | Publication Date: October 2002

Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2003 is the Travel Skills Handbook for Independent Travellers.. Rick Steves guide feature the most current information available in any European guidebook, based on research conducted during the summer before publication. He shows travellers how to delve into European culture, make friends with the locals, and experience each region's natural wonders-economically and hassle free. Inspiring yet practical, Rick Steves' guidebooks are perfect for anyone hoping to make the most of their limited holiday time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 515 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Revised edition (October 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566914655
• ISBN-13: 978-1566914659
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,119,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great resource needed only once . . ., November 17, 2002

By 

Alain Moreau "cineaste3765" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door 2003: The Travel Skills Handbook for Independent Travelers (Paperback)

I find that Europe Through the Back Door is an excellent resource for the novice traveler. It is particularly geared toward younger people, and those on a tight budget. It is useful for learning the basics of independent travel in Europe(washing your clothes in the sink), while many of his observations are useful elsewhere (Mexico, South America).

Mr. Steves has been criticized for divulging several of his "Back Doors", or secret corners of less discovered Europe, and thus ruining them. He admits this in not so many words, but continues to publish them anyway, indeed his whole series is built on this practice. My advice is to avoid his recommendations lest you find yourself in a small Portuguese beach town with 400 other Canadians / Americans clutching ETTBD to their breast. If you really want a "Back Door" experience, go to the towns that guidebooks describe as "ugly" or "not much to see". There may not be the plethora of museums and attractions, but you will find a quiet, out-of-the-way cafe in these places, and an opportunity to rub elbows with the locals. Sardinia comes to mind, but I won't say which towns.

This criticism aside, I recommend this book for it's practical advice, but you need not buy it every year, since it is rarely updated in full. The major updates have traditionally been in the section on his "Back Doors", which as stated, I would avoid.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great starting point!, March 10, 2003

By 

M. Neuman (Rockland, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door 2003: The Travel Skills Handbook for Independent Travelers (Paperback)

It's a good start, it gets you thinking how to plan, and also provides interesting ideas on combining countries in one trip. It provides valuable information on transit. Gives you the ideas you need to get started even with your first trip to Europe. It is also packed with bits and pieces of interesting tips.
Ultimately, once done with the book, I started doing my own research on the internet coupled with my own sense of planning, and that is what provided me with a plan that turned out to be an extraordinary 4-country vacation.
One negative, it is mainly focused for youngsters traveling throughout Europe over the course of several weeks. I traveled 4 countries in one week AND tremendously enjoyed myself, something that this book wouldn't even consider recommending. I would say he should add a chapter devoted for business people who wish to take short trips and cover a lot and have a good time too.
With the book itself, I would get no where, but without the book I wouldn't know where to start!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great travel advice, June 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door 2003: The Travel Skills Handbook for Independent Travelers (Paperback)

Rick Steves is a total nut job wacko (I met him once in one of his recommended hotels in Paris!), but this is hands down the greatest travel advise I can possibly imagine. The Rick Steves style of travel is not for everyone (my mother-in-law for example) but by using the advise in this book, most people should have a fabulous European vacation.

This book is filled with great advise to successfully plan and enjoy a trip to Europe without the fuss of an organized bus tour. Meet locals, enjoy great food, and stay at charming little hotels on a suprisingly inexpensive budget.

This is a must read for anyone who is even thinking about traveling overseas independently. Going to Europe independently (either solo, as a couple, or small group) is by far the best way to see Europe in all its pretentious, snobbish, dirty, crowded, smokey, rude, elitist, and hyprocritical, yet beautiful, fun, friendly, historic, great-tasting, exciting, and romantic charm.

**NOTE** This not a travel guide with suggested hotels, restaurants, etc. but rather a travel skills handbooks; how to find a hotel room, make your way around a European train station, or order a meal at a "No English spoken" restaurant. His series of guide books dedicated to individual countries are also worth checking out has yet to steer us wrong on three trips around Europe.