1. ISBN13: 9781598802870
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
4. Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

Excellent travel guide

This is a great book with great information for people who aren't likely to go on guided tours but still want to get the benefit of the information. I also downloaded the Rick Steeves' podcasts from iTunes.

Rating :

Poorly organized, the worst of Steve's guides

If you know Paris well, Steve's "Paris" might be useful. Might. Only "might" because his recommendations are sorted by neighborhoods. Worse yet, some "neighborhoods," like the centrally located Opéra, are given short shrift. The entertainment/nightlife section/s are also skimpy. For once the "F" gides -- Fodor, Frommer -- and others are far better than Steve's; and such on-line guides as Virtual Tourist and Trip Advisor are also more informative and reliable. Steves's Paris is virtually worthless.

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Happy with my first Rick Steves guidebook purchase!

Although I use Amazon reviews for most of my buying research, this is one of the handful of times I feel compelled to put in my 10 cents. My friend and I went to Paris a couple months ago - my first time, her second time. Our edition, purchased in December 2009, had no publishing mistakes. Despite being tempted to buy the full-color Fodor's Paris 2010 guide, I eventually decided to give Rick Steves' hand-drawn maps and self-guided museum tours a shot.

My friend and I are very glad I did. We dragged this book all over Paris with us in a small backpack purse. We were able to find almost everything we needed in the book, no matter where we were, whether it be checking on hours/maps for a museum or looking for restaurant recommendations while walking down Rue Mouffetard/around Versailles. We liked the doing-as-the-French-do approach to the guidebook, e.g. Metro etiquette (pp. 30-31) and Parisian cuisine explanations (pp. 387-397). Back at our hotel, while one of us was napping or in the shower, the other was often chuckling over Rick Steves' commentary - learning more about things we'd seen the day before or preparing for the day to come. We used the book so much that my friend has decided to buy a copy (and a small backpack purse to carry it in) for her next trip to Paris!

A few tips:
1) On "What the Paris Museum Pass Covers" (p. 43), it is not mentioned that the pass does NOT include the Versailles audioguide. (There's a brief blurb in the Versailles Day Trip chapter, but we didn't see it until we were already on the train there. Also, not sure if the increase in audioguide price from 6 to 7 euros is recent or seasonal.) Be sure to download the free audioguide from Rick Steves' website. Aside from the continued savings, our iPods would have been easier to wear than the clunky things we rented at the Chateau.

2) A bit light on restaurant recs, so you may want to research on [...]paris, [...], or other favorite chow review website, but for our needs, it was nice to have some direction than no direction at all.

3) I don't know how the lodging recs are since we were traveling on my friend's hotel points, but someone we ran into while at the Eiffel said that there are some lovely, affordable B&B's in the area which Rick Steves doesn't seem to have any advice on (just hotels, hostels, and apartments), so maybe worth researching elsewhere?

By the way, a funny thing happened on the way back to our hotel one night. While crossing the Place de la Concorde, we passed someone looking through HIS copy of Rick Steves' guide. Maybe other people had their guidebooks in their warm jackets, but that was the only one we saw actually IN USE by someone other than us!

I can't wait to return to Paris some day to check out the rest of the book I didn't get to visit this trip!

Rating :

Don't Leave Home Without It

Would never consider taking a European trip without consulting Rick Steves. Great look at all aspects of the trip from his unique - Back Door - approach. Coupled with Zagat's Restaurant Guide, this is all you need for a spectacular Paris experience. Walk and Metro are the key ways to see this city.

Rating :

You Still Need Another Book

My wife and I bought two books to Paris with us. Rick Steves book and the Travelling Professor's Guide to Paris.

Rick Steves book has EVERYTHING in it. So, if you need to know about the Rocky Horror Picture Show (page 448) or staying in a Youth Hostel (I am 54 years old) or even where to find a public urinal (page 300) and you want to carry around a 617 page book with you, Rick Steves Paris is what you should buy.

However, the other book we used easily fit in my wife's purse and it had everything we needed to know in a book that was about 1/4 of the size of Rick Steves book.

My assessment: Rick Steves book is good but it has way too much useless stuff in it.

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1. ISBN13: 9781598802863
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

Rick Steves Italy 2010

I have traveled to Italy many times. Every other year I purchase Rick's book on Italy, I always learn many new things. March will be my 33 trip so I know what I am talking about. experiment a little take a chance and travel if you can.

Rating :

the best guide book ever

Rick Steves is specific about what to see, where to stay and what you actually get, what not to miss and how to get to everything. Oh, and how much it will cost. I have used other Steves' guidebooks, and he is right on the money.

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Rick Steves knows Europe!

I mostly rely on various websites when I travel but I found Spain to be just too large to handle on my own; so last year, I decided to get Steves' Spain book. Now that I'm getting ready to explore Italy, I've once more turned to Steves' guide book. He offers the most valuable practical information at the fingertips of the ordinary traveler. I know now what to expect and I can't ask for more.

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Advice, Not Just Information

We are still planning our trip to Italy, but are finding this book to be the most valuable resource we have. It goes beyond lists of hotels and lists of restaurants. This book truly gives tips, advice, and 'how to'. It's given us the confidence to attempt this trip on our own.

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Every American in Italy has this book!

We went to Italy in 2007 and had the corresponding Steve's guidebook...as did every other touron in Italy that fall. Don't get me wrong the guidebook was great but I sure felt like a dork sitting in a restaurant with 20 other people who all had the same guidebook. "Oh what does Rick say I should eat here?" Guidebooks are good for a general plan...but we used it a little too much "to the letter" and frankly the experience lost it's luster. "Oh, Rick says we should go look at this but gee... I'm not quite as thrilled as he said I should be!"

So in that sense maybe it was user error on my part. Travel should be about adventure, not canned experience IMHO, a guidebook should be bare bones or used as such. On our next trip I'll probably use a guidebook to lay out the general itinerary and leave it at home to add a little adventure.

With all that said it's a good book. The maps are accurate, the hotel advice was great as was the restaurant info and recommendation.

Rating :

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1. ISBN13: 9781598801880
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

useful

I like that this book has phrases that you might not think that you will need. it categorizes phrases by subjects which helps when youre in a rush (food, greetings etc)

Rating :

Not that good

I'm going to have to break with other reviewers here, and give my less-than-stellar review of this book. We purchased this before we left for our European trip to Paris and 3 cities in Italy. We also purchased the French book by Steve's. Before we left we thought we'd found the perfect book with the perfect phrases, although they were harder to find due to the way he lays out the book. But after much research we settled on these books and were happy....until we had to use them in France and Italy. I quickly discovered that although the book had helped with pronunciation, almost none of the words we needed were in the dictionary in the back, nor could we find simple words or phrases in the proper sections of travel and dining, that we found in real life situations. This was very disappointing, first in France then in Italy. I quickly went to Google translator, put in all the phrases I needed but did not find in the book, and wrote them all down. This helped tremendously. I also searched for words that weren't in the dictionary and wrote them down, as well. Almost every night I did this as we encountered new circumstances that the book didn't have anything helpful for. Also, when you're in the moment and you need something, trying to find first the section which seems haphazardly placed in the book, then the area of the section where the phrases are located, then go down the list for the correct phrase, is time consuming of time you don't have, and frustrating when after all that time you don't find what you need. Meanwhile the person you're trying to speak to is just staring at you. Things worked much better when I whipped out my handwritten phrases and asked my direct question. Just remember that you probably won't understand what their answer is unless it's a simple yes or no.

After this trip my advise is to borrow basic language books from the library, type out what you need and get a good pocket dictionary if you need, something with substance which this dictionary is not. Use Google translator for the most used phrases you think you'll need and go from there. Save your money on this book.

Rating :

Italian phrase book

Was so well taken care of by tour director that I didnt need to use this book, but enjoyed reading it. Left it with tour director.

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Very helpful

This will be very helpful on my trip to Italy in April....altho I know Italian, there are some things I don't remember.....

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Just love everything Rick Steves publishes!

Haven't been to italy since we bought this but reading it allevietes any fears of "language barriers". Looking forward to using it.

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1. ISBN13: 9781598802900
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

Great "Back Door" philosophy

Getting Through the "Back Door"
Review of Rick Steves' travel guidebooks
Since 1980 Rick Steves' "back door" travel philosophy has guided Americans through Europe. Before publishing his first Europe Through the Back Door guide, Steves taught about travel in a classroom. Now he has a series of travel guides and is the host of a public television series and radio show. His expansive knowledge and experience with European culture and his charming personality have attracted many followers. Rick Steves' travel guides are ideal for the inexperienced traveler or for those going to an unfamiliar destination. Useful information for traveling in Europe is provided in a compact, affordable, paperback book. Steves' Ireland 2010 book costs [...] at Borders ([...] on Amazon) and his Italy 2010 book costs [...] at Borders ([...] on Amazon). Most of the guides are around 8 x 4 inches and weigh around one pound. The cost is suitable for a budgeted audience and its size is adequate for traveling.
Rick Steves' travel guides are colorful, neatly organized, and easy to read. At first glance readers will see a small, blue and yellow book with a destination labeled in large letters above a welcoming image of the location. Readers open up to a table of contents, making it easy to locate particular sections of interest. This is followed by a short overview of the country's history, culture, and people, accompanied by vivid pictures. The bulk of the book contains detailed information covering a number of topics. An index, map index, and appendix are also provided at the back of the book. While packed with information Steves' travel guides are never boring. In
fact readers will fly through the pages as Steves shares fun facts and important tips in an honest and sometimes humorous manner. He admits that when traveling things that seem "God-given" like "cold beer" and "bottomless cups of coffee" are no longer true. Instead of instilling fear in the reader, Steves evokes excitement.
There are several maps included in the guides displaying the country, its main destinations or cities, and other points of interest in the surrounding areas. A foldout color map of the country is provided in the back of all of his 2010 books, which can be carried while walking. Durable and small, it is a smart and useful item for any traveler to have. Besides maps there are also pictures on almost every page of the country's landscape, sights, and people. Most of the pictures and maps in the beginning of the guides are in color but the majority of them are in black and white. While color may be more appealing to the reader, it doesn't seem to detract from the quality of the guide. Steves' textual information is intriguing enough on its own, and pictures, while nice to look at, are not crucial.
Before journeying to a destination, Steves provides travelers with a handy set of packing and preparation tips. He explains what is essential to bring based on his own experience. This "packing checklist" is very helpful and easy to adjust according to the length of one's trip and one's personal taste. Steves also gives advice about when in the year is the best time to go to a particular destination. Preparing finances and insurance is also addressed. On top of it all he has a three-week trip plan with destinations and attractions that will ensure a memorable trip.
If there is a special place that may be under looked by travelers, Steves will make sure that the readers of his guides do not. Often Steves will provide information about small villages or towns away from the tourist scene. He is wonderful when it comes to encouraging readers to
explore the culture of a place, and become "temporary locals." He stresses the importance of communicating and connecting with the people, giving a culture "the benefit of your open mind." If a traveler is not enjoying a place, Steves feels that the person does not know enough about it. He urges people to wander and "seek the truth." To help direct them in their investigations, he provides routes for self-guided walks. These walks are an adventurous alternative to sightseeing tours, at no cost.
At the same time he acknowledges that people want to be tourists too, and certainly provides the information they are looking for. In his Ireland 2010 guidebook a section called "Ireland at a glance" provides highlights of popular areas and attractions on the island. Besides just giving information about these hot spots, he also mentions where and how to get discounts. He makes sure to include important sight rules and guidelines so readers know ahead of time how to behave and what can or cannot be brought. Special passes are also mentioned, particularly for seniors and children.
Sleeping arrangements are made easy with Steves' help. Steves lists different types of sleeping accommodations available in each destination, discussing quality, numbers of beds and baths, and costs. These accommodations range from hostels to hotels to farmhouses. Steves provides a rating system, or "Sleep Code", which categorizes accommodations by price. He also uses coded letters to distinguish what a room has in terms of beds and baths, and so on. His use of codes saves space and ink, also making the book itself smaller. While some accommodations such as hostels go for [...] a night, others such as farmhouses cost [...] per week. Hostels are good for backpackers and students on a budget, while farmhouses are better for families or adults who want to indulge a little. While some places are more expensive than others, Steves
provides readers with tips for saving money. To make reservations easier, he also supplies hotel reservation forms in the Appendix of the book.
As already seen, costs do vary depending on preference. But it is fact that one needs money to travel. Rick Steves values a tight budget and is constantly searching for the lowest prices without compensating quality. For sightseeing and entertainment costs in Ireland, Steves estimates that a person would spend an average of [...] a day. Airfare (if coming from the U.S.) is estimated at [...]. Steves also recognizes adults and students who are traveling, and provides different calculations for the two. For example, in Ireland 2010 Steves would say that the average adult should be prepared to spend [...] per day. On the other hand a student should be prepared to spend around [...] a day. This takes care of food, transportation, sleeping, and other miscellaneous things.
Although Rick Steves' travel guides contain no interviews or eyewitness accounts, they are not necessary. Steves is a man with great experience and dedication to his work. Every year he travels to his destinations to keep updated on current events and changes to businesses, costs, sights, and more. His Europe Through the Back Door series has become widely known for its outstanding information and advice. One Amazon reviewer regards his guide as "the most valuable resource" to have while traveling. Another claims that he has "used Rick's advice before and [has] never been let down."
Steves' travel guides can be used for any adult, family, or student traveler. His focus on low cost traveling appeals to anyone traveling on a budget. The ease with which information flows through the guidebooks makes traveling simple and less overwhelming for a person with little to no experience. For further information Steves provides his self-titled website on the back
cover of the book and also tells the reader to check out his television series. Follow Rick Steves' guidelines and get through the "back door" of Europe with the guarantee of an exciting trip.

Bibliography:

"Customer Reviews." Amazon. Web. 15 Feb 2010. [...]

"Rick Steves." Wikipedia. 24 Jan. 2010. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Web. 4 Feb 2010. [...]

Steves, Rick, and Pat O'Connor. Rick Steves' Ireland 2010. Pap/Map ed. Avalon Travel
Publishing, 2009. 504. Print.

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves' Italy 2010. Pap/Map ed. Avalon Travel Publishing, 2009. 1024.
Print.

Rating :

Great day on Dingle Peninsula

We spent 9 days in Ireland in summer 2009. We're a 50's couple and have traveled a lot and like to stay out in the country side. This guide is by no means a complete guide to Ireland, and there are a lot of places that are not mentioned. For example, we spent a great nice at Bantry House in Bantry Bay, not even in the index. But, if you follow his guide, you will see a lot of interesting things. We took his tour around the Dingle Peninsula and found it to be a great day and he made some great suggestions, like going the opposite way of the buses. I would get a rather conventional guide book and this one and use them both. Then, for your next trip you'll know if you are a Rick Steve kind of traveler or not.

Rating :

Rick steves Ireland 2010

This is probably the 10th book I have bought by Rick Steves. I travel alot. His books are full of information you can use or not it is your choice. I have nothing bad to say about his books. We are going to Ireland this summer for several books and have booked many B&B's he has suggested, also going to visit many of the places he suggested.
We hope to have a marvelous time as usual.

Rating :

Euronut

As usual, Rick has done a supurb job at bringing a country to life. A little history, a little joking, and a lot of what to see and where to go. Rick is right up front, Ireland is a country to be experienced, not just seen. The people are the real key to the heart of Ireland. Bring your voice and dancing shoes and be prepared to stay late!

Rating :

The Family Roots

It is always a pleasure to be in the old country. But things/shops/restaurants change of course. Rick Steves gives current news which helps the traveler re-visit the " I gotta go back and see the......... again" and dine/stay/travel/visit with ease and confidence.

Rating :

1. ISBN13: 9781598802832
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
4. Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

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Customer Review :

Best guide I found for Rome

We traveled to Rome December 2009. This was definitely the best guide book we found for Rome! I purchased several maps of Rome....none of which were as good as the one in this book. It's the only thing you need to tour Rome.

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For travellers from the USA

Potential Buyers need to know ... most of the personal info is aimed solely at US residents - thus if one dislikes being addressed as a resident of the US then this product is not for them.

Otherwise the information is useful.

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rick steves Rome

Outstanding!! I have been to Rome 4 times and have used this book the last 2 times wish I had the 2 times before

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Best Guidebook

I love Rick Steve's guidebooks. They give great information and tell you what is really good to visit. They also give great tips like shortcuts from one attraction to another. I carried his Florence book around every day during our week long trip last year and plan to do the same in Rome this year.

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made my trip a blast

Spent the first day without it and used a tour guide. That was a mistake. I actually went BACK to the roman forum and palantine hill and used the guide so as to get more info than what the 30 Euro guide missed. I also went to Pompeii and the book was invaluable as was all the information in Rome itself. I felt like I was walking around Rome with a good friend. Any other trip in Europe I take i will buy Rick's books for my travels.

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