Rick Steves' Rome 2007 [Paperback]

Rick Steves (Author), Gene Openshaw (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2006 | Series: Rick Steves

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to see St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Colosseum? With Rick Steves’ Rome 2007, travelers can experience the best of everything Rome has to offer — economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, Rick Steves’ Rome 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; and Rick’s newest "back door" discoveries. America’s number one 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. 

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Revised edition (August 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566918219
• ISBN-13: 978-1566918213
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only Guide You'll Need for Rome, November 27, 2006

By 

Ken C. (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves' Rome 2007 (Paperback)

We just got back from Rome and didn't even bother bringing back the other guides we had brought along - the Rick Steves guide was all we used while over there. From his advice to spend a little extra to stay in Campo de Fiori to the adventurous day trip to Naples/Pompeii, the detail that Steves provides is invaluable, especially for those who haven't traveled through Europe extensively. The informative tour of the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel saved us from renting audio guides and helped us spend time efficiently. Take his advice and book early for Galleria de Borghese. The guide provided great tips to follow and although repetitive, Steves does not understate important details such as those relating to personal safety. If you've never been to Rome, or are going back after a long period, I recommend this guide. It helped us to better appreciate the city and bring home amazing memories of a wonderful trip.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the best choice, July 2, 2007

By 

John Knutsen (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick Steves' Rome 2007 (Paperback)

I took this guide on a recent trip to Italy, along with the Eyewitness and Blue Guide books. Rick Steves' books are designed for the traveler who wants a decent overview of a particular place, and as such they're not at all comprehensive. I understand that and it's a fine approach as far as it goes, but it makes no sense in a city like Rome to leave out the Aventine Hill altogether, as Rick does. We stayed on the Aventine because it's the quietest and least hectic part of central Rome, a short walk from the ancient heart of the city, and it has some fine hotels and beautiful ancient churches. If I'd never been to Rome and had only Rick's book with me, I would have missed it altogether. Rick is very good on practical tips such as finding the best museum passes, avoiding pickpockets, and navigating the world of rail passes (he also sells some great travel gear), but I prefer to have a more comprehensive book that lets me decide what I want to see, even if that means sacrificing detail. With that in mind, I prefer the colorful and user-friendly Eyewitness Guides for broad overviews and good city maps, and Blue Guides for historical, artistic, and architectural detail.

Another thing that bothers me about Rick's books is the tone and style of his writing. Many people love him precisely for that, which is fine, but I find his writing style grating and in many places his history is just plain wrong. He's particularly bad when dealing with Christian history, a very important thing to get right when dealing with Rome! Finally, the maps are not very helpful unless you're sticking with Rick's itineraries exactly.

The only thing that made this book worth having on my trip was the inclusion of contact information for English-speaking doctors who make hotel visits, which unfortunately came in very handy. Everything else I could have found on his website without buying the book. Overall, I found this book unhelpful and left it behind in our last hotel.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Guidebook You'll Ever Buy, March 20, 2007

By 

A. Houghtlin "Film Buff from Texas" (Plano, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick Steves' Rome 2007 (Paperback)

I purchased this book, along with three others for an upcoming trip to Rome, and glanced through it a few times before I actually left. I did book a room in a convent for my stay, per Rick's advice, but that was the only thing I used the book for before I left on vacation. Once I arrived in Rome, however, I used this book every single day. My favorite bit of advice is buying the Roma and archeological pass. This is really so helpful if you plan on visiting a lot of ancient sites and museums (and who doesn't?). However, his tips on utilizing the Metro, along with the stops for each site were invaluable. I followed the directions for getting from the Termini station to the airport shuttle when it was time to leave (the price is now 11 euro instead of the book's stated 9.50). If the book had been in my purse instead of in my luggage when I'd arrived in Rome, I could have saved myself a hefty 60 euro cab fare.

I also took the book with me to the papal audience and wandered around St Peter's, book in hand (lots of interesting tidbits about the basilica), while waiting for the pope :)