Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' 1999 France, Belgium & the Netherlands (Rick Steves' France)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you are planning a whirlwind trip of France and want someone else to set your priorities then this book is for you. Rick Steves does a pretty good job of identifying the must sees in France, but, I think his itinerary is crazy. Those who follow it must spend most of their time on trains and in cars. (If you plan to follow his itinerary you should take his bus tour - less stress.) While I found this book useful to my planning process, I could not imagine a trip in France with only this book. It omits too much. If you have already spent much time in France then I don't think this book would be of much help to you.

This is the second time we have used Rick for European travel and the books are terrific. From wonderfully friendly and clean hotels, to charming reasonable restaurants, walking tours, picnic suggestions and his accurate opinions on worthwhile attractions. We used it for 5locations and enjoyed each one. I think he is a little biased about the Riveria, could have used one more day there, but that was because we were trying to do as much as possible for each location and we fell in love with Villefranche.

I recently travelled to France using Rick Steves' reference guide to this area. He had an unsually amount of useful and accurate information that placed you right in the middle of the action. We found ourselves frequently referring to this guide when we entered a city, in order to plan our days and nights adventure. Rick, we are stuck on your down to earth commentary that keeps us laughing in the worst of situations. No one will feel intimidated or unsure after reading this selection. Good luck in your travels and may peace follow you.

Rick Steves' did it again. This book is a great guide for seeing the main areas of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. I stayed in one of the B&B's and a hotel he recommended for Brugge, and they both were everything he said. The information on Paris is exact and helpful, especially the way he separates Paris into three maps. The hotel prices for all countries are right on the money, even in the busy season. One of the best things about this book, is that he always includes helpful information; i.e. how to use the phones; where the tourist info. is; the approximate exchange rates, etc. I love his books and never go traveling without them.