Rick Steves' Provence and the French Riviera 2007 [Paperback]

Rick Steves (Author), Steve Smith (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rick Steves | Publication Date: September 26, 2006

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to see Arles, Avignon, the Cotes du Rhone, Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Monaco, Antibes, Cannes, St-Tropez, and the Inland Riviera? With Rick Steves’ Provence and The French Riviera 2007, travelers can experience the best of everything these regions have to offer – economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, Rick Steves’ Provence and the French Riviera 2007 includes:

• Opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights
• Friendly places to eat and sleep
• Suggested day plans
• Walking tours and trip itineraries
• Clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot

America’s #1 authority on travel to Europe, Rick’s time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Steves preaches a low-cost, low-to-the-ground style that not only saves money, but gets you closer to the real Europe, the way Europeans experience it. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Rick Steves is on a mission: to help make European travel accessible and meaningful . He has researched and written 24 travel guidebooks --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Revised edition (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566918200
• ISBN-13: 978-1566918206
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Travel > Europe > France > Provence

More About the Author

Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 40 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe -- and Europeans -- for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.

Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.

Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice (with more tours, including London, coming in 2010).

Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 40 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.

In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.

Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 70 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 300 departures -- attracting around 10,000 travelers -- annually.

Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (working to reform marijuana laws in the USA). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.

Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Trip to Nice, France, September 2, 2008

By 

Tracy "Traveler" (Melbourne, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves' Provence and the French Riviera 2008 (Paperback)

This is the second Rick Steves book I have taken to Europe. This trip took me to Nice and the French Riviera, and with this travel book it made the trip stress free. Two tips from the guide book were taking the public bus trip from Nice to Menton and traveling inland to the French Grand Canyon. We took the bus trip on Sunday, which only cost us one euro per person for an hour and 15 minute trip, in a clean, comfortable bus and my boyfriend was able to enjoy the views since he didn't have to drive. The second item from the guide book was a trip inland to the French Grand Canyon. What a beautiful ride and the views were spectacular. Worth the trip - but only would have know about it with the guide book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, February 8, 2007

By 

Peter Cooper (Radium Springs, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rick Steves' Provence and the French Riviera 2007 (Paperback)

I felt that Rick's Provence and the French Riviera guide has some of the essentials but not the inspired coverage of his other books. There isn't the excitement that he presents in his Italian and other European guides. The coverage of the hill towns of Provence is somewhat perfunctory.

28 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine for planning your itinerary I suppose, August 18, 2005

By 

E. M. Mills (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rick Steves' Provence and the French Riviera 2005 (Paperback)

As far as information goes, this book deserves 5 stars ... it's great for figuring out how to get around, what to see (and what not to see!), and how much money to bring. However, I couldn't give 5 stars, simply because I was hoping for better maps and maybe a few color photographs. The book has crudely drawn maps -- almost with a cartoonish look about them -- that don't seem all that helpful. And as for photos, well, the one on the cover is about it. This is a great book to have when planning your trip to Provence ... however, I would advise supporting it with a 2nd guidebook that touts glossy pages with color pictures and maps!