Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels 2003 (Paperback)

~ (Author), Gene Openshaw (Author) "Amsterdam is a progressive way of life housed in Europe's most 17th-century city..." (more)
Key Phrases: sex museum, initial zero, grand place, Dam Square, Golden Age, Centraal Station (more...)

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.

Product Description

Rick Steves doesn't just list where to travel in Europe, he leads travelers through the "Back Door," and reveals how to give every journey an extra, more authentic dimension. He shows travelers how to delve into European culture, make friends with the locals, and experience each region's natural wonders -- economically and hassle free. Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels 2003 is packed with opinionated advice on visiting top sights, such as Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, Bruges' 14th-century belfry, and La Grand Place in Brussels. This book provides a healthy dose of Back Door intimacy with visits to local markets, community theaters, and family-run chocolate shops. Also included is a broad array of dining and lodging options, from cheery cafeterias and backpackers' dorms to trendy cafes and elegant inns; self-guided walking tours that mix the famous and not-so-famous; practicalities, such as when to go, planning your time, estimated costs, red tape and taxes, and banking hours. This new edition has the most current information available in any European guidebook, based on research conducted during the summer before publication. "It's Rick Steves again, that one-man Euro-dynamo." -- Chicago Tribune

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 367 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 2003 edition (February 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566914531
• ISBN-13: 978-1566914536
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,674,961 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #28 in	Books > History > Europe > Luxembourg
  #55 in	Books > Travel > Europe > Belgium > Brussels

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only travel guide you'll need, March 17, 2003

By	L. Brennan "laurafromva" (Harrisonburg, VA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

My friends and I just returned from 6 days in Amsterdam with a day trip to Bruges. We took along several travel guides but this book was the one we ended up using again and again. It clearly lists the top attractions and how to get the most from them. We especially liked the museum tours and self-guided walking tours. The maps are great and easy to use. Tips on negotiating the train system were very helpful. The restaurant choices were also very good. We stayed at the Hotel Hestia in Amsterdam and loved it (great location, reasonable price, friendly staff). Be sure to also pick up a free copy of "Boom Chicago's Guide to Amsterdam" when you get into town for a humorous look at the Dutch Culture and a discount offer on a hilarious comedy show.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just returned....this guide helped make our trip wonderful!, August 22, 2003

By	Courtney (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

This guide beats all others, hands down. We relied on it almost exclusively.....just returning from Holland and Belgium. The guide through the Rijksmuseum & van gogh in Amsterdam were super. We followed Rick's tour through Brugge which was very enjoyable.

We stayed at Rick's suggested picks for hotels: Hotel Heritage in Bruge and the Diseptiem (sp wrong) in Brussels. They were top notch as well. The book provided great tips that added to the ease and enjoyment of our trip (for example....we knew to head right to the train station to park in Haarlem).

Only thing the book didn't adequately prepare us for was the difficulty of driving---in any city. Street signs are incredibly tough to see and getting lost is the norm. Detailed driving directions are a must - and locals don't know how to give them! And don't drive to Bruge!!!!!

Also, prices must be updated (euro is way up), and there is significant fluctuation in exchange rates by country. Holland is much better than Belgie or France.

46 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great for museum info, terrible for general travel info, December 15, 2003

By	William R (Houston, TX, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels 2004 (Paperback)

I travel extensively and have been trying different travel guidebooks like DK Eyewitness, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, and Moon guide. For my recent trip to Amsterdam, I ordered a book from yet another guidebook writer, called the "Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels 2004."

Rick Steves has been hosting PBS travel shows for years, concentrating on Europe. I recall seeing some of his shows and they were interesting, so I thought this trip to Europe would be the best (if not only) time to try one of Steves' books.

As a travel guide, I would say Steves' book is TERRIBLE! I would rate it as poor, and would not recommend it to anyone who needs a TRAVEL guide.

When I am traveling to a new country, especially a big city in a foreign country, I need a travel guide to provide me with the BASICS such as 1) an explanation of the parts of town, so I know where to stay and hang out, 2) plenty of recommendations for accommodations, 3) suggestions for good restaurants and local food, 4) basic terms and phrases to help me communicate when there, 5) a list/glossary of local terms, local food, local customs, and so on, 6) a good map, 7) suggestions for what to do and see. (A little history is nice, but not necessary) Steves underperformed in 6 of these 7 categories.

Steves provides too much information about the tourist sites, and too little information about the travel basics. In the book, Steves dedicates about 140 pages to Amsterdam. Of this amount, about 115 pages (82%) are dedicated to sightseeing and museum tours. He only provides about 6 pages for accommodations and about 6 pages for dining options (which is about the same amount of space he gives to smoking marijuana in Amsterdam). He provides only 2 pages for nightlife, and a few pages for shopping. He provides very little on neighborhoods or districts of the city, he offers no helpful phrases, and he offers no list of terms/glossary. His maps are made to look like they are hand written and are acceptable, but could use improvement.

Steves' book is not without merit, however. It is nice if you want a tour book for some famous museums or historical architecture. In fact, he does a nice job with this section of the book. If you know where you are going to stay, know the local food and customs, can speak the local language, and simply want a resource to help you understand the local museums or famous architecture, then you might appreciate Rick Steves' books. However, if you need a real TRAVEL guide, one that helps you with your actual travel plans and travel decisions, and one that helps you get around and communicate in a foreign land, then avoid this book.