Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' Portugal 2007

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

 

 

We bought this (1/08) immediately, based on our favorable experience with the Paris and England books (used 6 months ago); this one is a slim volume and has really rudimentary information, omitting many of the small towns and descriptions which, in other works, enabled us to build an itinerary. It's extremely good for planning for/navigating Lisbon, and the sections on Coimbra and Porto are fairly thorough. (We didn't read the Algarve section, so can't comment on it other than it seems to occupy a good bit of the book.) But the coastal towns, north and eastern areas suffer some serious neglect. If I were only going to Lisbon, Sintra and that area, I would find the book worthwhile. If we were going to the Algarve, I'd pick it up and check through it to see what it offers. For the trip we plan, it's too weak in detail, and I would not buy it again. Sorry- am otherwise a solid fan of the guidebooks.

Love Rick Steves travel books. Prefer his to all others. Easy to read and excellent suggestions for touring on your own (ex. walking tours of a town - what to see and do, how to get there). When planning a trip I always look for his books first. The only disappointment is that he doesn't have books for everywhere in the world!

Rick Steves quality of guide and history makes this invaluable for travel to Portugal. He helped us prepare and eased our travels.

We have traveled by ourselves in several countries, using Rick Steves' travel books as our sole guide book. He makes it so easy to find your way around difficult cities such as Venice and Florence, and has wonderful suggestions for inexpensive, off the beaten path places to stay. The Portugal book was full of wonderful ideas of places to stay and places to go..I just sent my husband off on a 2 week trip as a "scout" for a future trip for both of us, and we have full confidence that he will travel with ease using Rick Steves' Portugal book.

Rick Steves gives you great detail on your destination spot.
Love to travel using his books.

We haven't been on our trip to Portugal yet, but we have used Rick Steve's books for Spain and Italy and been VERY happy with the information. Organized well with good hints on what to see and where to stay and eat.

If New York City were a destination in Rick Steve's Portugal, the guide would lead travelers to the Olive Garden in Times Square. For many tourists, this is a great recommendation that gives a taste of the country's culture.

This guide also led me to a restaurant/nightclub that was unsafe and xenophobic: for a travel guide this is unforgivable and shows carelessness on the part of the authors.

Using two books would be my recommendation: Lonely Planet and the Michelin Guide. If you like TV traveling and McDonald's, you could go with Rick Steve's, but otherwise just go for the fliers out of hotels and you'll get the same experience without the expense.