Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' Germany and Austria 2005

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

 

 

Ricks book on Germany was, for the most part accurate and useful. I had booked my trip and planned my itinerary before I had purchased the book so I mainly utilized the dining, shopping, and points of interest information. Rick was dead on about skipping Mainz--I should have--but didn't and wasted 2 perfectly good days in Germany. However, I feel Rick was totally wrong about skipping Rudesheim, inasmuch as I had the best time partying with the natives in the beer gardens along the Drosselgasse, and the Asbach cognac factory tour and tasting was neat too. Combo gondola/chairlift/river boat ride package from Rudesheim to the Germania monument then to Assmannshausen to sample spatburgunder and back to Rudesheim for 9 euros was a bargain and great fun too. Rothenberg was more of a tourist trap than I imagined, but Rick's book got me some incredible discounts at the store he recommends. A very useful book to have, but not the only one I would use !

This book is decent, has some good tips (like which places you can get tickets in advance, like Neuschwanstein). Only bought in because several coworkers recommended it...otherwise would've just bought a different one. It's great if your tastes match Mr Steves', but if not it won't do you too much good.

The first and worst assumption is that if you're going to Germany or Austria, you will of course be visiting the other. Another assumption is that you will not wish to use train very much at all...Europe is famous for having a thorough public transportation system, and not taking advantage of it seems to me like missing out on part of the experience of being in those countries.

The book does have its moments though, and gives very thorough information about each of the areas and activities it mentions. It's definitely worth a peek if you're not sure where you want to visit.

I agree with the other reviewers, who objected to Steves' dismissal of Rudesheim and Heidelberg. It's particularly arrogant of him to include nothing about them in the book. I visited both and enjoyed them, particularly Heidelberg, and I'm not a Disneyland/Hilton kind of traveler. He has some good nuggets of info. For example, we tried to get a room in Dresden on the spur of the moment, and the tourist office had nothing within 10km of town. But an agency listed in his book, renting private apartments a stone's throw from the Frauenkirche, had some very nice, reasonable units. That alone was worth the price of the book, but overall I think Steves is a little too sure that he knows the one and only right way to see Germany. Take another book with you, too.

I got this book before I went to Germany and Austria. I read ahead about the sites I was particularly interested in--I could plot out a map and historical review and list "must see" famous places. When I couldn't get the telephone to work, his hints of how to dial the number helped me. I liked his reviews and comments.

You must be joking, Rick! He said that Heidelberg, with its magnificant castle and breathtaking scenery isn't worth a look, yet he blathers on and on about Rothenburg, which is a HUGE tourist trap. I lived in Europe for 15 years, traveled extensively, and Rothenburg was absolutely the most crowded, tourist-ridden site I visited!!

Rick must be getting old. Time to retire, dude.

Will be bringing this with me in Sept. for a tour of Bavaria and Austria. Rick's books even have up to date hotel information. Can't wait to try his recommendations.