Rick Steves' Spain and Portugal 2003 [Paperback]

Rick Steves (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2002 | Series: Rick Steves' Spain

Rick Steves' Spain & Portugal 2003 Covers Madrid, Barcelona, Andalucia, Lisbon, the Algarve, and includes Morocco Rick Steves European guides are the most current information available in any European guidebook, based on research conducted during the summer before publication. He shows travellers how to delve into European culture, make friends with the locals, and experience each region's natural wonders-economically and hassle free. Inspiring yet practical, Rick Steves' guidebooks are perfect for anyone hoping to make the most of their limited holiday time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Today's tourists are as likely to be toting Rick Steves as Giorgio Armani, tasting the good life without burning through the Kids' college fund. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 345 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Pub; Revised edition (November 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566914604
• ISBN-13: 978-1566914604
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,676,869 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

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, concise travel guide, September 5, 2003

By 

Steven Lee "sfosteve" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves' Spain and Portugal 2003 (Paperback)

As indicated in his book, the author does not try to pack anything and everything into his travel guide. Rather, he tries to winnow things out and focus on the important highlights of a particular country. That is why this book was so appealing to me. Other books are like heavy tomes that contain more facts and information than you need and are not likely to remember. I think Rick Steve's cuts to the chase. My only criticism of his book is that I found the restaurants he recommended to be uneven. Some of the restaurants were good and others were simply average at best. I felt that his other recommendations as to sights, entertainment and accomodations were very good.

If you have never been to Spain or Portugal before, I would highly recommend this book. If, however, you have been to Spain before or plan to spend several days in just a few cities, you should consider another travel guide that contains more detail.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Big disappointment for highly touted book ..., November 10, 2003

By 

Jerome Dubois (Belmont, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rick Steves' Spain and Portugal 2003 (Paperback)

This book would only be useful if I were travelling to Spain. And even the 3 days I spent there, not a single word was mentioned of Bilbao, Valladolid, and the northern Atlantic cities. Very dissappointing. The book reserves all of about 30 pages on Portugal, none of which provide nearly as insightful as the Lonely Planet or Michelin guides. My advice, save your money and buy something else.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A book that will talk you out of going to Portugal, September 7, 2004

By 

njoy - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves' Spain and Portugal 2004 (Paperback)

Surprising for an RS travel book. I've used his books heavily in planning many a trip. His team usually does a nice job of providing a balanced view of a country or city. This one showed mostly the unpleasantness and mediocrity of Portugal. Can't speak for the Spain section, as I'm not considering travel to Spain in the short term, and did not review that as carefully.