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Title: Rick Steves' Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 2001 by Rick Steves ISBN: 1566912334 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: 30 January, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.92
Rating: 4
Summary: This book was key in our planning our best vacation ever
Comment: While we don't share Rick Steve's taste in lodging or dining, this book was great in helping us plan a driving trip across Europe that focused primarily on the Romantic Road in Germany, Salzburg and Switzerland. We had a elementary school child in tow and his suggestions were among the ones that she found the most interesting. Super practical advice on being flexible, allowing experiences to happen, searching out more than just the usual pre-packaged touristy stops at any destination. (However, even though it was informative, we were a little unimpressed with the Sound of Music Tour in Salzburg!) I would recommend this book as basic reading to anyone considering a trip to these areas.
Rating: 4
Summary: Informative, Practical, and Enjoyable
Comment: Rick Steves' writing style is a great help to anyone trying to sort through the mass of information about these countries. He presents the history, vital information, and major sights in a friendly manner, as if you were talking to a friend who had recently returned from a trip. The major areas are covered in a logical manner, making the book easy to follow. The countries seem to come alive with his vivid descriptions. The advice and opinions he shares are, for the most part, valid. Having lived in Germany for eight years, I must agree with Steves' portrayal of the cities and culture to be found in this part of Europe. I am planning on returning to the area next spring, and purchased the book for information on low-cost lodging. I was pleasantly surprised with all the book had to offer.
Rating: 4
Summary: More to Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Comment: Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
Rick Steves
I like Rick Steves' travel philosophy, which is basically not to stay in hotels, pack a lunch, and travel frugally. There is some good information in this book. It helped us several times on a trip to Germany and Austria.
The coverage about the Mittelrhein is informative. I liked Steves' map of the castles between Koblenz and Bingen. Largely due to his coverage of the town of Bacharach, we spent two nights there. We were not alone. I actually saw a tourist walking down the street with a copy of this book in his hand. One place offering lodging had a sign out front about being mentioned in this book. Despite these things, Bacharach is a charming town, where one can walk everywhere or take a boat to the next town. The town is surrounded by vineyards, and the local wine that can be tried in several establishments in town is exceptionally good.
In Rothenburg, Steve's book came in handy late one afternoon, upon arriving after the tourist office had closed. Being in a walled city as evening approaches with no prospect of a place to stay can be a little traumatic. We studied the book, bought a city map, and navigated the twisting medieval streets to a place mentioned. We got a room. The host was a pleasant elderly gentleman, who offered a good room at a reasonable price.
Moving on to Salzburg, Austria, Steves' book failed us somewhat. We got caught in a lot of traffic, could not find the accommodation area he described, although stopping to ask several times, eventually gave up in frustration, and went to Berchtesgaden, Germany, not too far away. The book had very little information on Berchtesgaden although there were many charming places to stay there and in other smaller towns along the way. The country inn where we stayed was very pleasant. There were some great views of the mountains from the grounds. The Berchtesgaden area is truly beautiful, but one would not have known this from Steves' book.
I do give Rick Steves credit for directing us to the town of Reutte in Tyrol. The cozy farmhouse where we stayed in Ehenbickl, an adjacent town, had been in the owners' family for 700 years. The hospitality was second to none. Reutte is situated on the Lech River about a twenty-minute drive from Neuschwanstein, perhaps the most touristy place in Germany.
On the whole, this book by Rick Steves was quite helpful to us. However, his coverage is somewhat hit or miss. He does cover many interesting places to visit. However, he leaves just as many out and skips over others. Berchtesgaden would be a case in point. He also dismisses the city of Heidelberg, one of the most beautiful cities in Germany in a few sentences as being too tourist-oriented. This is ironic because Rothenburg, though worth a trip, is about as oriented to tourism as a town can be.
Despite some shortcomings, Rick Steves' book is still a good travel book.My advice, however, would be not to bind yourself to it, like the tourist I saw in Bacharach. Use the Internet to locate places to stay in the German speaking world and send e-mail to make reservations. In local inns and farmhouses, you will not have to give a credit card number. They will actually trust you. Austria has exceptional web pages. There one can find some of the most serene, beautiful farmhouse accommodations, at inexpensive prices, in Europe. Gute Reise! (Have a nice trip.)
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Title: Rick Steves' France, Belgium and the Netherlands 2001 (Rick Steves' France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, 2001) by Rick Steves, Steve Smith ISBN: 1566912318 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: 30 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2002: The Travel Skills Handbooks for Independent Travelers by Rick Steves ISBN: 1566913535 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: 09 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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