This is a pre-trip guide for travellers planning their first trip to Europe. There is a section on highlights ("20 Things Not to Miss") and an introduction to all you can expect to enjoy on your trip. The book runs through all you need to know before your trip and on the road - how to buy plane tickets and get visas; where to stay; how to get around; and how to stay healthy and avoid trouble. The main focus of the text is the novice traveller on a budget.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Louis Casabianca first visited Europe on a three-month Eurail pass. This soon turned into an extended ten-month trip, including long detours to Russia and the Middle East. He has since had just about every conceivable adventure (and misadventure) during countless trips to the continent. When not on the road, he lives in Santa Monica, California.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
WHY GO CHEAPLY?
As recently as fifteen or twenty years ago, seeing Europe by staying in hostels or small hotels and using a Eurail train pass was pretty much a student option. No longer. Savvy travelers have recognized the rewards of such a trip in comparison with a much more expensive tour. Because of this, although I am speaking mainly to college students, recent graduates, and teachers who are planning budget trips for several weeks, the advice in this book should be useful for independent travelers of all ages. Indeed, if you are an "older traveler" finally getting to go to Europe for the first time, or someone who’s going back after having served there in World War II, I would like to add a special farewell. To those who are now realizing that European trip they have dreamed of for years or decades, congratulations. I hope it’s the best trip of your life.
Travelers with larger budgets who want to avoid bland hotels and crowded tours may also find the information contained here very useful as a worthwhile introduction and reference.
This is not a guidebook. There are plenty of excellent guides available to every conceivable region of Europe. This book is about the nuts and bolts of travel, especially with regard to planning, saving money, and getting the most out of a trip. I can’t guarantee that everything in this book is right for every traveler; after all, my advice reflects primarily my own experiences. But I can promise that I will help the first-time traveler avoid some very common mistakes and frustrations, save time and money, and skip the sometimes painful learning process I went through. This is the book I needed and couldn’t find before I left on my first trip. I hope you find it helpful on yours.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Required for First Time Travelers to Europe...,
By Casey Allen "Geographer" (All Over The World, as time permits of course...) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Rough Guide to First-Time Europe 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)
If you have never been to Europe and are thinking of traveling there independently (or, perhaps even with a tour, although tour guides tend to dislike "educated" tourists...) you NEED this book! I only wish I had such a book to guide me when I began traveling many years ago.
As the book itself states, it is NOT a guidebook for sites to see, lodging, specific costs, etc. What it DOES do (and rather well...) is outline the skills and tools you need to travel successfully--and not just in Europe, as the skills Mr. Casablanca relates are applicable in any travel situation. Being a well-traveled person myself, anytime someone asks me how I "do it", or if I hear of someone planning a trip to Europe for the first time, I ask them if they have read this book. If not, I tell them it is REQUIRED reading if you want your independent trip to go smoothly. Many of the tips and ideas laid-out in the book I had to learn by experience--not always a joyful thing when traveling. While I value experience in travel, if you can save yourself a few headaches, why not?? As I mentioned eariler, the skills outlined in this book are fully transferable across continents and local regions. The book gives you practical ways of dealing with almost any situation you will encounter--anywhere in the world. The information given is well-researched, easy to follow, and never goes out of style...it's always useful.
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for your trip to Europe,
By 10za "10za" (Alpharetta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Rough Guide to First-Time Europe 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)
What I like best about the Rough Guides is that they give critical reviews. They will point out the tourist traps and will give negative reviews. I find that Frommer's and Fodor's rarely point out the negatives to a particular... The rough guide is very critical and is a great balance to these other guides.If you aren't interested in "roughing" it and staying in lower priced hotels.. the guides are still very useful in rating attractions, and areas in which to stay... but you will need another book to look at more moderate and luxury hotels. I would definitely read this book before going to Europe.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for getting started,
By taka61 (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Rough Guide to First-Time Europe 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)
This book is great to help you plan your trip before you've even bought your tickets. It gives great tips and advise on packing and traveling. It doesn't discuss different countries...you'll need to get a "Let's Go" type of book for that. This book is strictly for preparation for people on a budget.
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