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Title: Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels 2004 by Rick Steves ISBN: 1-56691-539-2 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: October, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.33 (3 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Quirky
Comment: Sorry, but I appreciate the comprehensiveness of a Fodors, etc. After being stuck with Steve's book for a weekend excursion, I could appreciate its usefullness for keeping my loose journal papers from blowing out the open window.
Rating: 2
Summary: Great for museum info, terrible for general travel info
Comment: 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.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Different Take
Comment: I found this guidebook very useful on my recent trip to Europe. Using it, I found some really nice, out of the way spots that weren't mentioned in standard guidebooks. I also found it a little friendlier and easier to use than some of the other guidebooks. The only downside is that the maps are kind of hand-drawn and not quite as precise and detailed as those in other books.
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Title: Streetwise Amsterdam by Streetwise Maps, Michael Brown ISBN: 0935039821 Publisher: Streetwise Maps Pub. Date: 01 July, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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Title: Rick Steves' Paris 2004 by Rick Steves, Steve Smith, Gene Openshaw ISBN: 1566915228 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: November, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Rick Steves' Germany, Austria, and Switzerland 2004 by Rick Steves ISBN: 1566915260 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: December, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Frommer's Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, Eighth Edition by George McDonald ISBN: 0764524348 Publisher: Frommer Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.99 |
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Title: Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2004: The Travel Skills Handbook by Rick Steves, Avalon Travel Publishing ISBN: 1566915317 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $21.95 |
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