Europe Through the Back Door 2010Favorite discoveries or tips: RADIO: Rick, as an experienced world traveler I have found it useful to carry a small, good quality portable AM/FM radio while traveling in Europe. There are many stations on the Armed forces Network which can be picked up in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and other places. Of course the broadcasts are in English and provide Stateside news, sports, music and other programming that may be of interest to some travelers. The frequencies are available from the Armed Forces Network ( Europe ). The radio can also be used to listen to the BBC as well as other foreign country sations. AM stations are generally available only after sundown. FM stations can be picked up all day long if you are close to the stations. I think a paragraph or two about this may be useful to many travelers in Europe. WILLIAM RODRIGUEZ in JACKSONVILLE, FL USA 11/05/2009 Hiking in the Dolomites was wonderful!! John and Cheri Courtnage in Eugene, Or USA 10/26/2009 Hello, I have started a travel blog, well actually, more of a serialisation of a book I am still trying to get published. Although I understand that you may not be the person who would make such a decision I would like to get your feedback and comments on it, and if you like it, to pass it on to your friends and family so they can tell me how bad it is. http://akaclothing.blogspot.com/ and http://akaclothing.wordpress.com Thanks Andy Andrew K.O. Amaning in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom 09/10/2009 We went to Spain earlier this year (2009) and Rick Steve's advice was perfect! In fact, in Sevilla we took Rick's advice and found this flamenco place with gives discounts if you bring in the Rick Steve's book. We found the place in the book, followed the directions and received the discount. We also encountered other with the same book at La Alhambra in Granada. Rick described how to take pictures so you get the perfect reflections, we will never go anywhere without Rick again. He is amazing! Rebecca in ARLington, VA USA 08/09/2009 Yes but I am not putting them out for the locust hordes of tourists to destroy. Eric Hermqn in Lake Forest, IL USA 07/25/2009 be yourself and not american. get the best time by meeting the locals. Russ Gaiser in Buffalo, ny USA 07/20/2009 If you booked a cruise with a travel agent, always ask if they can provide a transfer from the boat to your hotel. I didn't ask and ended up walking from the ship to the train station in Civitavecchia for forty minutes because the Port Shuttle Bus would not pick us. They refused to pick us up and was picking up the other 10,000 passengers diembarking from other ships that day. Amanda in New York, NY USA 06/25/2009 The smartest thing I did on my trip to Germany (just got back May 18, 2009)was to follow Rick's packing list to the letter. My husband, Jim, toted too many items and was most uncomfortable slogging through the airport on his way to our destination and his bags did not fit in the overhead compartments (none of his bags rolled). I, on the other hand, had my great Rick Steves back pack and Rick Steves carry on suitcase (I love it because it's inside sections have a zip up mesh cover as well as the tie down belts interior to them to keep the stuff on both sides of the suitcase separate and secure. We ended up buying an extra suitcase on our way home and that lightened Jim's load significantly. I also used every item I took along (including the copy of my VISA info, although, fortunately, the restaurant where I lost it eventually found my card, I had the info I needed to cancel it easily and that relieved a lot of stress). I'd let people know to bring a larger size antibiotic cream than most "first aid kits" include with their packets. Women with unruly, straggly hair like mine may want to bring a curling iron would be my only addition to the list. I will definitely bring mine next time (the one I purchased in Germany) I used Rick's videos of Bavaria, his book and a couple others (like Eyewitness & Frommer's) to do my research before I left home. Using the info in the guides (that I had summarized or copied into a 3 ring binder with protective sleeve pages for things like reservation confirmations, maps, tour plans, train info, and some post cards from home (which I left with people and is also a Rick Steve's idea), I could be my own tour guide and see what interested me. I used the protective sheets to stick my receipts and ticket stubs in with the haufbrau haus coasters, museum ticket stubs and other map, menu souvenirs/postcards. It's the Rick Steve's Through the Back Door style of traveling all the way for me. You learn so much my interacting with people in the country you are visiting, being interested in their culture and ideas and in trying to learn language skills. I am much braver about traveling than before I left, to a country w/o English. (Visited Ireland and France before) Colleen in Eugene, OR USA 05/20/2009 We are 70 year old twins traveling in Europe for 3 months. Using the hostels and depending on our Rick Steves guidebooks to find our way. Check our blogspots to see how we are doing. the-traveling-twins.blogspot.com or marthajans.blogspot.com Mary Bender in Palmetto, FL USA 04/01/2009 Dear Mr. Steves, Hello! I am a Junior at Harvard College, concentrating in Archaeology. This semester, I am studying in Rome where I have the exceptional opportunity to intern at Case Romane, a rich archaeological site. I am writing to encourage you to visit this attraction in order to share its wonders with your readers. Due to its extensive occupation, Case Romane is well representative of Rome’s multifaceted past. In it’s early history, it served as a 2nd century domus which included a bath house, a 3rd century insula that housed the poor, and a 3rd century apartment complex where artisans gathered. At the beginning of the 4th century, an affluent man purchased the entire complex, transforming it into a posh residence, marked by its vivid frescoes. Later on in the 4th century, Saints John and Paul, officials of Constantine’s court, resided here. Having refused to serve Emperor Julian the Apostate after he had renounced Christianity, the saints were martyred and, according to tradition, buried in their house. As such, in the 5th century, a Roman senator built a basilica for John and Paul above the site, which subsequently functioned as a place for religious worship and storage. Having resided in Rome for the past month, I strongly feel that all who visit this remarkable city should explore Case Romane. I have found that Rome is a vast amalgamation of archaeological sites, consisting of structures from divergent time periods that are fully integrated into a common landscape, often touching one another. The Romans I have interacted with have proudly expounded on their homeland’s distinct configuration, urging me to understand Rome through its overlapping layers. Case Romane encompasses many of these layers, revealing what daily life entailed for Romans during different time periods and amongst different social classes. The personal nature of the site enables visitors to truly connect with its messages, projecting themselves into the past in a natural manner that is often difficult to do when exploring more overwhelming sites such as the Colosseum or Pantheon. Managed by the Spazio Libero Cooperative, the staff at Case Romane is amicable and welcoming. Additionally, the site attracts a steady yet manageable crowd each day, composed of eager visitors from a diverse array of nations. Expert archaeologists provide both daily and nightly tours, enlivened by a “witness” who recites Latin prose. If you are interested in visiting the site or learning more about it, please contact me at sherman@fas.harvard.edu. Thank you very much for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you! Best Wishes, Devon Sherman
Devon Sherman in Rome, Italy 03/18/2009 The Roman Jewish Ghetto & Museum Tour- This tour was one of my favorite tours and a highlight while in Italy for the first time. Micaela was an incredible guide. She was able to make herself available on short notice with my very tight schedule. And also was very patient even when I was running late. She is incredibly knowledgeable and I learned many things about my people and what they had to endure through history. Personally, for me, the experience helped increase my faith and belief. I would recommend this tour to Jews as well as Christians and anyone who is interested in learning more about history and their faith. Having been born in rome she is intimately familiar with all it's aspects. She has a great heart and passion for what she does. Walking through the streets she was also very patient and waited to continue while I took pictures. She also pointed out other important photo opportunities. She is well respected and received by her community as we walked around she was warmly greeted by many of the residents. This was a priceless experience worth every euro! If I travel to Italy again I would look forward to take her other tours. I rate her 5 stars of David! Robert in New York, NY USA 09/25/2008 I would love it if I could get the books in electronic format!! Much easier to carry as a file on my laptop! PDF Format would be the preferred format. Gene Looman in Anchorage, AK USA 09/08/2008 Bathrooms were not the problem I thought they would be. I'm glad I read this book before I went, and I kept change for the bathroom, but found places to go without having to pay. Just so many good tips from this book and I read it last, just 2 weeks before I left. I took photos of my hometown, house, family and postcards from my area, they were great conversation starters on the trains and at breakfast. I even took a mini atlas to show my new friends from Australia or Taiwan where Kansas is. Kris Berger in Whitewater, KS USA 07/29/2008 Olivier Hickman' wine tour (olivier.hickman@wine-uncovered.com) near Vaison la Romaine, France. Also, the Nyons Farmers Market on Thursdays. Theodore in Morro Bay, CA USA 05/06/2008 If this is in any of the books already, I apologize, but anyway, the best tip I can offer travelers in southern Europe, i.e. Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, parts of Italy, etc, is to drop a just a couple of bucks on a couple rolls of portable toilet paper. Just because there's a toilet does NOT mean that toilet paper will be provided. As you can imagine, this can really make your day miserable if you don't have any and there's none around you can buy quickly. Erik Anschicks in Chicago, IL USA 11/25/2007 While reading this guidebook, I noticed that Rick refers to "open jaw" airline tickets. I assume this is flying into one city and leaving from another. He says this is a cheaper way to travel to Europe. I wonder what it is cheaper than? I have looked and done quite a bit of research and can find no airfares cheaper than flying in and out of the same city. If Rick is refering to buying two (2) one way tickets, then an "open jaw" ticket is cheaper. Otherwise, purchasing a round trip ticket in and out of the same city is much cheaper. [Editor's Note: As we say in ETBD, you may save enough in ground transportation costs, extra hotel nights, extra meals, etc. to more than make up the difference in a slightly higher air fare. But you're right, it's not always cheaper. It pays to do the research and make an informed decision as to which flight would be better for your particular trip.] Steve Burnside in Rio Rancho, NM USA 10/10/2007 The EBTD 2001 Edition book provided me with good preparation for my first trip to Europe in April, 2001. Mindful of the good info I received from the book, I have shared my 2001 edition with several people considering or planning a trip to Europe. In the meantime, I have been blessed to be able to go to Europe each year since then. Recently I read EBTD 2001 through again for the first time in a couple of years. Wow - I didn't realize how much things have changed in the last 6 years after 9/11/2001 and with the ongoing European Union process. I think EBTD 2001 will be, for me, in the future a useful guide to 'how things used to be.' However, its clear I need an updated version of this valuable guide! Jana Wallace in Grand Rapids, MI USA 09/04/2007 Europe through the Back Door was great and helped us plan a 12 day trip to 3 countries. My 70 yo mother, 20 yo niece and myself went "backpacking" through Europe and road the rails. It was a trip we will never forget. We couldn't of done it without all of your help and advice. Make sure you take some Euros before you go, my mistake, my mother paid for the first three days there because it was over Easter holiday and there were no banks open until the following Tuesday. I did pay for the hotel at Walter's, luckily he took travelers checks!! Lisa Sutton in Franklin, Oh USA 08/06/2007 Hi! I'm a huge Rick Steves fan, which makes me like everyone else who visits this site ... but I'm also a writer/editor at The Aspen Times newspaper in Colorado. I wanted to share with you my review of Rick's books that ran in this weekend's edition of The Aspen Times Weekly at this link: http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20070602/ASPENWEEKLY03/106030063/-1/ASPENWEEKLY I've been to Europe three times now, and consider Rick Steves' books an indespensible part of my travel experience. So, thank you! Naomi Havlen in Aspen, CO USA 06/02/2007 You can change kilometers to miles by simply multiplying kilometers by 6 and then dropping the last digit: 100 kilometers x 6 = 600. Drop the last zero and you get 60 miles. Close enough to the actual 62.5 miles to give you a very good idea of distances between towns or the speed of your car. Again: 50 kilometers x 6 = 300. Drop the last zero and you get 30 miles (versus actual 30.25). Try it again: 40ks x 6 = 240. Drop the zero to get 24 miles (very close to actual miles). 25ks x 6 = 150 for 15 miles 20ks x 6 = 120 for 12 miles When you get used to it, you'll start multiplying 6 x 4 to get 24ks (for 40ks x 6 minus the last zero). You can do this in your head while driving and chewing gum and screaming at the kids to keep quiet because you're talking on the cell phone and listening to the radio and read a map, etc. For what it's worth, a Frenchman taught me this in the 1960s when I lived in Normandie. Cheers x 3. Jim Pitts in Fort Worth, TX USA 05/09/2007 Just got back from Europe and was amazed at how many tourists were carrying Rick Steves travel books, just like me: Paris, Vernazza, Florence, Rome, Venice, Munich, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bacharach, Amsterdam, Haarlem and Bruges. The Nightwatchman Tour in Rothenburg was hilarious! 90% plus Americans - most if not all Rick Steves readers, we were talking in the square while waiting for the tour to start. Maricel in San Diego, CA USA 04/19/2007 Barga, Italy is the most lovely European town I've seen in 3 1/2 years of living and travelling abroad. It has only one B&B and a couple of rental apartments within the old walled city. We will stay in the B&B soon and I will give you feedback. Prettiest little Medieval town with the nicest people and awesome food. Teresa in Mannheim, BW Germany 03/27/2007 The whole first section with all of the travel and packing tips Kevin in Kamloops, BC Canada 03/06/2007 There was a lot of very helpful information in the book regarding train travel, and in conjunction with the website, i have saved over $260 in rail pass costs. My husband and I intended to "go wherever the wind blows us" and save money----but the two don't go hand in hand. By reading this book, it was really easy to realize that with a small amount of planning (overnight train trips, working around easter in italy, calling ahead to reserve tickets at a museum, etc)we could still go wherever we wanted---and save money in the meantime. thank you thank you thank you! Michelle Smudde in St. Louis, MO USA 02/15/2007 |
