Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
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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.

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!

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.

I have been to several of Ricks seminars and he is the best! . With this book you are ready to go! I wish I had it in 1990 and used Ricks style of traveling. When I went the first time on a tour bus that was totally in control of my trip it was hard to pass by the little out of the way towns knowing they were there with my trip planned for me. With this guide you can visit the little out of the way places most people dont get to see when you take a tour. You have control with your trip if you use this guide. I cannot wait to take my own backpack with the bare necessities and take in the sites. My friend went to Germany and used this book and it really helped her get around on her own. I also highly recommend Ricks Mona Winks to understand art history and the museums.

I must admit, Rick Steves knows what he's talking about when it comes to travelling through Europe. I backpacked through four countries in Western Europe this summer and I followed much of the advice contained within this book in my preparation and travels. I encountered no problems in my travels, but it still felt good to be better prepared than not. As far as the back door adventures . . . well I didn't get to any of them. I stayed in the large cities and the "touristy" spots of Europe, but the information and advice within this book is beneficial to anyone, regardless of where they're going. The only thing I didn't do that Steves recommended is to leave the book in the hostel for the next traveler. I'm going to keep this book and use it the next time I prepare to fly off to Europe for awhile.

Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door" is a must-have for anyone who will be traveling through Europe for the first or nth time. This book includes details that any European traveler should know, such as how to actually survive in a foreign territory.
I am planning a backpacking trip and I have not put this book down. Reading this book is getting me more and more excited about my own trip! If you are even THINKING about touring Europe, you should read this book!

I bought this book in preparation for my first trip to Europe last summer. Two of us were going to be traveling around Europe for approximately three weeks.

We're students so we were clearly on a budget but not incredibly limited.

This book was a God send! I used it to structure my budget, itinerary, everything. While I can't discount the help of online resources (particularly http://www.guideforeurope.com) I couldn't have planned the trip without this book.

I recommend this book to people planning a first trip to Europe or a first independent trip to Europe. Now as a caveat I think you should use parts of this book but not treat it like a Bible. It's a starting point and then the rest of up to you - but as a starting point it is fantastic!

In addition to this book I highly recommend Rick Steves Best of Europe book. His entire series is just fantastic -- if you use these books your trip will turn out incredible and you'll be a pro at planning!

Rick Steves's popular PBS television series gets detailed how-to treatment in this wonderful companion guide. Nearly every American wants to visit Europe, but the planning and expense of it all usually gets in the way. Fortunately, Steves's no-nonsense tips on traveling quickly reveal that a European trip is possible for anyone who is willing and interested. Along with the "Let's Go!" series of travel guides (best for college-age travelers) by St. Martin's Press, Rick Steve's 'back door' guide is one of the best European travel manual out there.

I have used Rick Steves' books for over 6 years in varying capacities, and if you read them with the idea in mind that he is first and foremost a teacher, you can get more out of these books. They are definitely helpful to those who find travel abroad intimidating at first, and after giving it a go, will follow his travel pedagogy and break out on their own path, looking for their own back doors. While he does 'reveal' some well-known (to Europeans) 'back doors', they are places that do offer a different aspect of Europe than the popular destinations.

I love this book. What else it there to say. I refer to this book ALL THE TIME. I was living in the UK and planned a few trips to the continent, and this book was invaluable. From desitnation suggestions, to places to stay, as well as advice, and little secret tidbits. I love it. Anyone traveling to Europe needs to buy a copy of this book!