Travel Books

This was a very well-crafted and informative book, which I would recommend reading to those who haven't yet. For those who have, and who enjoyed it like I did, I would recommend Tent Life in Siberia: An Incredible Account of Siberian Adventure, Travel, and Survival, which George Kennan's account of his travels around eastern Siberia on dogs and reindeer sleds.

In The Other Side Of Russia, author Sharon Hudgins takes the reader along on her Trains-Siberian Railroad adventure through Siberia and the Russian Far East, an area that was closed off to Westerners (and most Russians) prior to 1990s and the collapse of the old Soviet Union. Here the reader will be treated to a unique travelogue that will take them from the frozen surface of Lake Baikal, to feast with native Siberian Buryats, the food markets and "high-rise villages" of Vladivostok and Irkutsk, Christmas celebrations, New Year's banquets, Easter dinners, and Siberian festivals. The Other Side Of Russia dispels the myths and misconceptions about the Asian part of Russia which extends across eight time zones between the Ural Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Offering a window of observation into this land of harsh winters, vast uninhabited spaces, friendly people, strange cuisines, and thriving modern cities, The Other Side Of Russia is a welcome, informative, and highly entertaining read which is especially commended to the attention of armchair travelers and students of Russian culture and history.

The Other Side of Russia is part travel narrative, part social history, part memoir, part food writing. All these parts come together to make a terrific book.

Sharon Hudgins and her husband Tom spent a year and a half in post-Soviet Siberia teaching business management for the University of Maryland's overseas program. As peripatetic ex-patriates, they were familiar with unfamiliarity. But they were still not prepared for what Siberia had to offer them.

Join Sharon and Tom as they picnic with the Russian Mafiya, try to teach in an educational system that discourages questions and independent thinking, and ponder why a herd of horses is tangled in downtown rush hour traffic.

In "Absurdistan" it is just one perplexing thing after another. The electricity and water in their poorly-constructed apartment building work only intermittently. But in spite of such challenges, they make friends and entertain regularly. Cultural differences mean that the same friends who swoon over delicacies such as wafer-thin horse liver slices rolled with layers of horse fat, are unable to enjoy a Hudgins Tex-Mex feast.

Hudgins's previous work as a food and travel writer are evident here, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn that she writes fiction as well. The narrative is effortless and the stories she tells are by turns engaging and frightening.

The Other Side of Russia emerged from Barbara Hudgins experience of living in Siberia for a year and a half, from 1993 to 1994. Working as the onsite program coordinator for the University of Maryland University College in Siberia and the Russian Far East, she worked and lived in Vladivostok and Irkutsk.

Hudgins book is the first book about Siberia I'd come across written by someone who spent extensive time in Siberia. This gives her a depth of understanding that adds a lot to her memoir.

The structure of her memoir is unusual. She's divided the book into two sections. The chapters in part one focus on place - Irkutsk, Vladivostok, Lake Baikal, etc. - and the chapters in the second part focus on aspects of life and culture in Siberia - housing, education, food and festivals. Hudgins supplemented her first-hand experience with extensive research. This offers readers an in-depth source of information about many aspects of Siberian place and life.

What's lost in this non-chronological format is Hudgin's own adaptations and reactions over her time in Siberia. She does insert some feelings and personality, but the focus is on the topic, rather than on her personal experience or characters who change and develop over the period.

Hudgins seems to have thrown herself into Siberia with a remarkably open mind. She expertly captures the small details of Siberian life and renders vivid pictures of feasts shared with Russian friends. For those who have been to Siberia, this book will take you back there. For those planning on going, The Other Side of Russia provides a great overview of the life and culture.

In THE OTHER SIDE OF RUSSIA, the University of Maryland University College has established a joint undergraduate degree program in business management with the Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok and the State University in Irkutsk. In the summer of 1993, author Sharon Hudgins and her husband, Tom, packed off to Siberia and the Russian Far East to serve as teachers in this cooperative venture, while the former was also Maryland's on-site program coordinator in both cities. This book chronicles their experiences from their arrival until their departure in December 1994.

Whether she's describing the immensity of pristine Lake Baikal, the problematic living conditions in their high-rise apartment, local customs and food of the Buryat people, the vagaries and perils of shopping for household necessities, maddening water and electricity outages, local festivals, the growing pains of a free-market economy, the university students' learning ethic, or the conviviality and generosity of their Russian friends, Hudgins has a keen eye for small details, as when describing an open air market:

"An Uzbek woman ... sold raisins and nuts in small paper cones made out of official forms from the Irkutsk Municipal Water Department ... In one part of the market, a pretty teenage girl, wearing a garish, flower-printed dress and a thousand-yard stare, held a handful of peacock feathers and sipped a can of Dr Pepper, while in another section two older women, both drunk, tried to punch each other out in a fist fight."

I haven't been so engaged by a travel essay about Russia since Hedrick Smith's 1976 bestseller, THE RUSSIANS. My only criticism is the relative lack of photographs - only a couple at most per chapter. Luckily, Sharon's poetic prose paints pictures almost as effective as snapshots, as this from her vantage point on the Trans-Siberian Railroad:

"A profusion of wildflowers carpeted the meadows, like an Impressionist painting exuberantly expanding beyond the limits of canvas and frame: undulating shades of yellow, gold, and blue, maroon and magenta, soft pink and pristine white, the pale purple globes of wild onions gone to seed, thousands of red-orange tiger lilies, whole fields of dark purple Siberian irises, and occasionally a single red poppy or two, like a stubborn symbol of politics past. Outside Chita a small lake glistened under the midnight moon."

For me, a travel narrative is all it can be if it makes me want to go there myself. THE OTHER SIDE OF RUSSIA accomplishes that. Well, maybe for just a brief visit, perhaps, because I certainly wouldn't want to live there.

This book is full of good ideas for making the ordeal of packing easier. I have implemented some of those ideas for my recent trips and it has made my life easier.

Very useful book. Perhaps a litte too much detail, but the universal packing lists, esp. for children. are excellent. I now have an index card with a packing list for my daughter which makes things a lot easier.

The one thing I dread about traveling is dragging my heavy luggage around. I appreciated the author's solid tips on packing lighter. I'm going to try her bundle packing method in 2 weeks and believe it will work just great. I appreciated her lists and pointing out the things I probably could leave behind. She also listed many websites where I could review and buy luggage and packing accessory items. If I follow her advice I think my next vacation will be a little more pleasant than previous ones. Thanks!

All my life I have yearned for some unknown knowledge. Feeling incomplete, I began at an early age to selfishly take in as much information as possible. I read everything I could get my hands on, encyclopedias, dictionaries, textbooks, but nothing could quench this thirst. That is until I found this book. I still remember the day fate brought it to me. Opening its crisp pages I began to take in its glorious advice. Immediately captivated, I read the book uninterrupted from cover to cover, twice. Hours later, as I reluctantly closed the book, I breathed a sigh of relief. My soul at rest, I put down "The Packing Book: Secrets of the Carry-on Traveler".

First, decide you're ready to travel hassle-free (or as close to it as possible). Next, visualize your perfect carry-on travel wardrobe. Author and packing expert Judith Gilford makes it all a breeze in this readable, oddly interesting handbook. She includes specific lists to jumpstart your thinking about packing for business, vacation and special itineraries - adventure, business or cruise travel, for instance. She offers great tips, from how to pack a layered bundle to keep your clothes wrinkle-free to the best practices for stain removal. getAbstract recommends her guidelines if you want to be able to travel light and still have everything you need upon arrival.

St Barts is about great food and this book completely encapsulates the essence of the island cuisine. You want some incredible recipes?. Then get this book and bon appetit

St. Barts is very dear to my husband and I, but more so for me. It holds a very special place in my life. It has offered me peace, contentment, a chance to regroup, recharge. We have placed our copy of Paradise Found on our coffee table at home. Robert and Kara have produced a book that is both a recipe book and a history of St. Barts. The book takes me back there whenever I look at it, read it. They have captured not only the essence of St. Barts, but the people that make St. Barts what it is. The stories are fascinating. The photographs are breathtaking and when I look at the photo on the front cover, I can smell the ocean, hear the ocean, feel the sun, feel St. Barts. I have tried several of the recipes and so far none have failed. As a "wanna be" gourmet chef, this is quite the accomplishment ! We have been to most of the restaurants featured and have now visited those we hadn't previously. This is a beautiful, wonderful book and if you love St. Barts, you'll love this book. If you've not been to St. Barts? This will make you go !

Debby Best

This book reveals St. Barthelemy in a unique way. The Brooks' exceptional photographs & revealing interviews with resident restaurant owners present a compelling case. "Paradise Found" is in a class by itself--more than a guide, more than a cookbook. For those who already know the island, it keeps the flame alive between trips. For those contemplating a first trip, it will give a feel for the people, the marvelous cuisine and the ambiance of a special piece of paradise.

As a long time visitor to the island, I found the book accurately captures not only the cuisine, but the feel of the island...the blend of french and caribbean influences creates some memorable meals, which the book will allow you to duplicate (well, sorta...LOL) in your kitchen at home.It's a great way to keep memories of St Barts alive, and a wonderful introduction to the island for a first time visitor.

This book is a wonderful blend of terrific recipes and an inside look at the beautiful island of St. Barths. The photos are breathtaking and the recipes delicious! If you haven't already been to the island, you'll definitely want to put it on your travel list after reading this.

I found this a fantastic guide to finding many of the hidden gems that we all take for granted when visiting Disney World. You blink you will miss them. I like some of the history and meanings behind many of the items that I would have missed otherwise. I think this guide would be great to entertain and the teens on your trip.

This lets you see the ins and outs of Disney. It lets you look at Disney in a different way. It's just fun and it's great. So it's great fun!!!!!

My husband and I are avid Disney goers, visiting at least once a year. We always try to find something different to do when wer're there (i.e. tours around the parks). This book has provided that new fun thing to do on our next trip. It asks a lot of questions and you really have to hunt for answers. There are differnet levels of hunts so it's great for kids, teenagers, or kids at heart. Enjoy!!!!!!

I'm sure this is a perfectly wonderful book and I'll give it 5 stars based on how well it's written and how much fun it looks like it would be. However, I bought this book along with the Hidden Mickey's book and we soon learned it was impossible to do both, so we chose looking for Hidden Mickeys. I think the Treasure Hunts would be a lot of fun for large families, church or school groups.

This book is a necessity for anyone who visits WDW. We have been 11 times now, and thought we knew everything. WRONG. We had more much fun on this last trip using this book than ever before.

If you look around at WDW, everyone is hurrying, running, to get to the "next" thing. What you may not realize is that every step IS the next thing.

WDW is not just about shows and rides. It's all the little details that create the whole fun effect. We had never even stopped to read all the handprints in front of The Great Movie Ride, examine the fountain in front of Muppet Labs, notice all the details inside Country Bear Jamboree, or a million other things. Treaure hunting gave this trip so much more and really made this trip more "magical" than ever.

I just finished this book, the 2nd time travel I've read, and I thought it was excellent. It was a real page turner. For the most part, it didn't have a lot of funny scenes (except when it finally dawns on Nadine that she isn't in Kansas anymore, just after deciding that everyone was not in on some kind of a joke involving her), but
the last line in the book was hysterical! It ended on such a happy note. I really liked Faulk, and I realized fairly early on that he truly loved Nadine, though he denied it through to nearly the end. The book was more of a reincarnation book than a time travel, I thought. If it had been more of a time travel, it would have been interesting to see the medeval Nadine in our modern times.
I hope to read Sandra Landry's other book, The Wishing Chalice,
soon.

I really enjoyed reading A Perfect Love. It's a very interesting story and made me laugh and feel tender at the same time. All the confusion situations of past and contemporary are showed in a very funny way during the dialogues between the two main characters. A love with no barriers, even time... I'm longing to read something else from this author, definitely she has her own style!

This was a wonderful story full of heart and wit and was a enjoyable read. I would recommend it to anyone who loves romance or especially time travel romance.

This is a book I couldn't put down! Great characters, great plot,great pacing-- this book has it all. Do yourself a favor and buy it today!

Modern day Nadine du Monte reluctantly leaves her family in Rouen, France to study in London. Prior to leaving, Nadine and a friend decide to visit a gypsy--who prophesizes that 'death is only a transitional time' which initiates a vision in which Nadine sees herself--or at least a woman who LOOKS like her and shares the same name 800 years in the past. Unnerved by the experience, Nadine seeks comfort from her beloved mother before she leaves for London. Upon her arrival, however, Nadine learns that both parents perished in an auto accident that day. Unable to get a late flight, Nadine faces her crippling fear of water and boards a ferry across the English Channel. Once again, Nadine is overcome with a vision of the medieval Nadine and falls overboard. Lord Faulk of Whitecastle, loyal knight of Richard II, had long delayed acting on his promise to his father to return from the battlefield, take a wife and sire an heir. Upon his father's death, Faulk guiltily returned to Whitecastle intending to immediately carry out his duty. Only when he found the waterlogged body of Nadine du Monte lying upon the beach near his home did he recall the witch's prophesy: a golden vision with the mark of the rose would come from the water and would be the only woman who could bear his children. Cared for by Faulk's beloved retainer, Nadine recovers and finds herself, unbelievably, in the 13th century. Reluctant to accept her circumstances, plagued with the grief from her parents' deaths and trying to understand the flashes of "memories" she experiences of her apparent previous life in medieval England, Nadine must temporarily rely on Faulk's largesse. She refuses, however, his offers of marriage, but does find herself powerfully attracted to the honorable man who believes she is the woman of a prophesy. To complicate Nadine's identity crisis even further, a man claiming to be her betrothed arrives at Whitecastle and demands she return to Rouen with him immediately. Nadine's memories of her medieval life return in bits and pieces and she cannot recall her bethrothed. She decides to return to Rouen to learn more about herself, but the man she has come to love and the man who claims to be her betrothed constantly posture and fight. Upon her arrival in Rouen, Nadine learns of her medieval life and is inundated with the memories of her former life and, conversely, her memories from her modern life become vague and distant. Faulk knows Nadine is the woman of the prophesy and must find a way to make her his. He cannot, however, offer her his love because of the betrayal he suffered from his first wife. Nadine loves Faulk and realizes that she could live happily in medieval England with him--if she could believe that he wanted her for more than just her ability to bear his children and fulfill his promise to his dead father. But the prophesy must be satisfied or Nadine will be returned to the future--and only Faulk's love will hold her in his time.

An original combination of time travel, reincarnation and prophesy. A great debut from Sandra Landry.

In my second visit to Istanbul I bought this book at the Istanbul airport minutes before boarding the plane back home as a "divertissement" for the long flight. It turned out I couldn't put it down. Is a poignant memoir of a life style gone forever and happy times that would never come back. As a woman I ached for the mother, she is really the central character of the book, and of the author's life as well.
Is a sad, beautiful book which I enjoyed very, very much

Exellent book realy well written (if a little dry in some parts) This is Irfan Orga's personal biography of most of all how his mother held the family together in one of the most difficult periods of Turkish history. How his father sadly passed away fighting in Galipoli (something many Turks can relate to) but most of all the sad, pointless way he died as so many Turks did during those years not just in Galipoli but on the Eastern front against the Russians not by bullets buy by poor supply lines, confusion and lack of communication and support.

It should be kept in mind that Irfan Orgas family were of the middle class and were largely receptive of the reforms of Ataturk (I would be interested to read something from those who were not) There are some interesing parts of this book such as how when he was at school under the old system students would be punished for missing prayers under the new system they are now punished for attending them. How their hats (so important in Ottoman days) where slowly changed to have a peak on them in order both to make them more 'western' and also to prevent prayer.

Well written and interesing, worth a read.

Bought in a bookshop in Istambul in a more expensive edition. Found it deep on both sides of personal and historical insight. Relates from a child clear and sharp eye the involvement of Turkey in WWI and Ataturk "modernizing" impact on the country. Individual struggles outlined on common sufference and historical stream. Mooving and never pathetical. For foregner reader language is quite easy, reveals a non-native-tongue writer, yet is subtle and sort of classical. Pity most of I. O. books are out of print.
a.m.negri, pavia, italy

"Portrait of a Turkish Family" is a memoir of the decline of old Istanbul, and of the author's once-wealthy merchant family, during the military and economic crises that followed Turkey's entry into World War I, the wars of the early 1920s, and Mustafa Kemal's (Ataturk's) nationalist revolution. The book, republished by Eland Publishing Ltd., was written originally in English and in an elegant, end-of-the-19th Century style. In the Afterword, the author's son Ates, hints that his father Irfan planned the book and wrote a sketch, but that his aristocratic English mother drafted it. This warm and tragic remembrance is a minor classic of English literature; it echoes the aching nostalgia of the British upper classes for things oriental in 1950, the evening of the British Empire.

Though British in style and sentiment, the book belongs to Irfan Orga's very Turkish memories of childhood. It is his touching, often moving, evocation of the charms of a world lost forever; the world of servants, comfort, and of cloistered women and small children. Women of this social class stayed mainly at home in the Ottoman era, leaving their homes only with relatives and completely veiled. Small children were happily spoiled.

This charmed if out-dated existence was destroyed by Turkey's entry into the First World War and by the succession of military reversals that followed. These brought blockade, food shortages, inflation, and repeated drafts of militarily unqualified civilians. Many died, including the author's father; who was drafted, hardly trained, and sent off with his battalion, dying en route from marching day after day on swollen, bloody, and then infected feet. The fires that periodically ravaged old Istanbul burned the family home, and most of its savings --in paper notes- were lost. The tale follows the family's quick slide into poverty and even hunger, Irfan's mother's struggle to remake her self, by acts of will, to earn money through labor, and his grandmother's incapacity to adjust to new realities.

With the victory of the Mustafa Kemal's revolution, their mother places Irfan and his younger brother in officer candidate school, to avoid hunger and provide some education, and Irfan goes on to a career in military aviation and, during World War II, to a posting in Britain. What follows is sad, and according to the Afterword; although this book won recognition and sold reasonably well in Britain when it was first published, Irfan Orga fell into poverty once again.

Although Orientalism is famously out of fashion, this book is worth reading for its sincerity of feeling, for its extraordinary style, and for its personal point of view on the end of Ottoman Turkey. For an alternative point of view on Old Istanbul, this time of the 50s and 60s, read the Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk's Istanbul: Memories and the City. This is also a mémoire of childhood and youth, but it is less sentimental, and instead, absorbed with eccentric aspects of Istanbul's near-past.

Portrait Of A Turkish Family is the true and biographical story of a Turkish family's effort to persevere through incredible and disastrous wartime hardships by Irfan Orega, a son of that family. World War I brought poverty and desperation to the formerly affluent Orega family, and small triumphs over something as small as a silver candlestick became crucial pieces of hope for the family's survival. A powerful true story of endurance and adaptation, Portrait Of A Turkish Family is an extraordinary biographical testament and very highly recommended reading.

When I got to the last page of this book, I simply did not want to leave the characters, the setting, and Resau's beautiful language. This is one of my favorites of the year.

Sophie's unusual family group -- she lives with her English mother, Latino stepfather, and Bosnian refugee great aunt -- becomes a little more unusual when a small boy, Pablo, is found in the desert with Sophie's father's business card in his pocket. Poor little Pablo has seenhis parents die trying to cross the border, and barely survived himself. Sophie, whose favorite book is The Little Prince, decides that Pablo is her pricipito who came from parts unknown, and is thrilled when he becomes part of their family.

However, Pablo's surviving family is eventually located in a tiny Mexican village, and it is decided that Pablo should see his family, and make a very difficult decision for a very small boy.

It just so happens that Great Aunt Dika's boyfriend, and his son Angel, were planning a trip South of the border, and it seems an opportune time to make a road trip. Just one problem -- Sophie is afraid of almost everything. Germs, car-accidents, other people... This road trip will be another kind of journey for Sophie, as she learns a little bit about
herself, and the lives of others.

This book had an uphill battle, because I had just finished What is the What and that was a tough act to follow. However, I was immediately engaged with the story, and couldn't bear to put it down.

The prose was so lyrical, and although Sophie is sort of your stereotypical, unsure, preteen heroine, she has a great voice that pushes past all that. The descriptions of people and places were intense and vivid, really putting one right in the story. And the characters -- well, that's the most important part. This is a very character-driven novel, and they all just sparkle.

One minor complaint: As usual in these books, Sophie will need a boy to convince her of her true worth. A boy which, I'm sure, we are supposed to be convinced is her teenaged soul mate, or something. However, I'll get over it. The story, if conventional in spots, was beautifully told.

Very much a girl book for girls around Sophies age -- 13 to 16.

This book is gorgeous, gut-wrenching, and fun. What I love about Laura Resau's writing is how she takes current, real-world issues (such as immigration) and turns them into adventures that are as thrilling to read as fantasy, while also being emotionally powerful. Red Glass puts a human face on the immigration issue, and though the subject matter is serious, Sophie keeps things upbeat, funny, and riveting. Not to mention that Laura Resau's writing (especially her descriptions of places, and the many vivid characters who are encountered in these places) makes you want to pack your bags and explore the world. Red Glass is a great reminder of how full of wonder the world is.

Sixteen-year-old Sophie becomes attached to a child found wandering alone in the desert. The boy, Pablo, has come north from Mexico, crossing the border illegally with his parents who end up dying of dehydration. Pablo stays with Sophie's family and becomes part of her heart, but she knows she should allow him the choice to return to his relatives. She agrees to travel deep into Latin America to reunite Pablo with his aunts, uncles and grandmother. But the trip is far from simple. Sophie is phobic about germs, and she's afraid to take chances. Not only that, but she will be traveling with a young man, Angel, someone she finds both attractive and mystifying.

During Sophie's journey, she overcomes not only her germ phobia but much more. She discovers courage she didn't know she had, love she never imagined, and profound friendships with people who transcend cultural differences.

Before I read this book I thought it would be completly depressing and not a very good story. After I started reading the book I realized that it is an amazing story about love and lost. The main character, Sophie, goes through many challenges but she learns to cope extremly well for someone so young. She learns many lessons that I think everybody needs to learn sometime in there life.

Its a great book to read. Easy to digest and helps me to think deeper in starting my own restaurant.The Restaurant Dream?

This book gives you a foundation if you are truly interested in the restaurant business. A good book to keep as a reference.

This book provides a good overview of the challenges the author faced in opening the restaurant. However, I was looking for something that was more instructional and specific...

I bought this book for a firend who is planning on opening his own restaurant. He told me he loved the book because it had more helpful suggestions and plans then other books he read.

This book does a great job of blending an easy to read writing style with providing essential advice for anyone thinking about or already involved in a restaurant endeavor. From picking the right location and negotiating terms in a lease to branding the restaurant, menu creation and much more - this author clearly has experienced the ups and downs of getting off the ground...the experiences shared in this book will definitely help you think through start-up requirements, avoid common pitfalls and point you in the right direction for your own venture.

Rick Steves is a total nut job wacko (I met him once in one of his recommended hotels in Paris!), but this is hands down the greatest travel advise I can possibly imagine. The Rick Steves style of travel is not for everyone (my mother-in-law for example) but by using the advise in this book, most people should have a fabulous European vacation.

This book is filled with great advise to successfully plan and enjoy a trip to Europe without the fuss of an organized bus tour. Meet locals, enjoy great food, and stay at charming little hotels on a suprisingly inexpensive budget.

This is a must read for anyone who is even thinking about traveling overseas independently. Going to Europe independently (either solo, as a couple, or small group) is by far the best way to see Europe in all its pretentious, snobbish, dirty, crowded, smokey, rude, elitist, and hyprocritical, yet beautiful, fun, friendly, historic, great-tasting, exciting, and romantic charm.

**NOTE** This not a travel guide with suggested hotels, restaurants, etc. but rather a travel skills handbooks; how to find a hotel room, make your way around a European train station, or order a meal at a "No English spoken" restaurant. His series of guide books dedicated to individual countries are also worth checking out has yet to steer us wrong on three trips around Europe.

I love this book. What else it there to say. I refer to this book ALL THE TIME. I was living in the UK and planned a few trips to the continent, and this book was invaluable. From desitnation suggestions, to places to stay, as well as advice, and little secret tidbits. I love it. Anyone traveling to Europe needs to buy a copy of this book!

I have used Rick Steves' books for over 6 years in varying capacities, and if you read them with the idea in mind that he is first and foremost a teacher, you can get more out of these books. They are definitely helpful to those who find travel abroad intimidating at first, and after giving it a go, will follow his travel pedagogy and break out on their own path, looking for their own back doors. While he does 'reveal' some well-known (to Europeans) 'back doors', they are places that do offer a different aspect of Europe than the popular destinations.

I bought this book in preparation for my first trip to Europe last summer. Two of us were going to be traveling around Europe for approximately three weeks.

We're students so we were clearly on a budget but not incredibly limited.

This book was a God send! I used it to structure my budget, itinerary, everything. While I can't discount the help of online resources (particularly http://www.guideforeurope.com) I couldn't have planned the trip without this book.

I recommend this book to people planning a first trip to Europe or a first independent trip to Europe. Now as a caveat I think you should use parts of this book but not treat it like a Bible. It's a starting point and then the rest of up to you - but as a starting point it is fantastic!

In addition to this book I highly recommend Rick Steves Best of Europe book. His entire series is just fantastic -- if you use these books your trip will turn out incredible and you'll be a pro at planning!

I must admit, Rick Steves knows what he's talking about when it comes to travelling through Europe. I backpacked through four countries in Western Europe this summer and I followed much of the advice contained within this book in my preparation and travels. I encountered no problems in my travels, but it still felt good to be better prepared than not. As far as the back door adventures . . . well I didn't get to any of them. I stayed in the large cities and the "touristy" spots of Europe, but the information and advice within this book is beneficial to anyone, regardless of where they're going. The only thing I didn't do that Steves recommended is to leave the book in the hostel for the next traveler. I'm going to keep this book and use it the next time I prepare to fly off to Europe for awhile.

Any book that tells you how to say "May i give you a back massage" and "I dont have any diseases" in three different languages is definatly worth buying it. Also it has the basics and maybe the more useful phrases like "where is the bathroom" "check please" and the like.

I bought this book because of the reviews I read and it lived up to the hype. It came in handy in both routine and emergency situations - particularly when I had left my passport, money and credit cards on a train in Italy and had to communicate to the stationmaster in Genoa!

This is one of my best purchases in Amazon, it's amazing how good is this book. It's very practical for any traveler around the world, it has detailed content in subjects like: what to tell to italian men if they are bothering you (and as a woman... this can become very handy!) or everything you need to say in a medical emergency or how to enjoy the food in a restaurant (because you can understand now the menu). I really recommend this book if you are looking for a better experience in your trips or if you are learning a foreign language (like me). Greetings from Mexico. Nayeli

This books is great. It has many handy phrases that make traveling in Europe easier. Contrary to what most people believe, not everyone in other countries speak English. If you are the adventurous type and like to explore on your own, knowing some phrases to navigate the area is really useful.

I purchased additional copies of this book for a few friends that were traveling as well.

This book is full of practical advice and essential information that kept me from making some mistakes on our vacation this summer. Though I probably won't return to Europe for a few years, this book will stay in my bookshelves for future reference. I have always enjoyed Rick Steves' travel shows because of his down-to-earth, straight-forward style. The book follows that pattern perfectly. I highly recommend this book to any European travel novice.