Should I buy a new Vienna book?

First, I'm a frugal person. So keep that in mind.

I never take info from any guidebook regarding prices, dates, opening hours. I confirm all that by going to the website of the museum/venue.

In general, what I've seen with guidebook updates is minor changes to lodging and restaurants. Typically, some have been dropped and new ones added. And, for both, I'm still using other guidebooks/sources. What I tend to do is get a newer copy from my library, and make note of the changes to restaurants and lodging. I also quickly look to see if he has changed his list of recommended activities. Lastly, and probably most important, if I'm traveling between cities, maybe like Vienna to Salzburg, I look for changes to his instructions for the train/buses, etc.

We recently went to Istanbul. There have been a lot changes there to the historic sights like hours and other details. I think having a new book was helpful. For Vienna, I can't imagine much has changed.

That all said, others would say you spend a lot on a vacation, a guidebook is a minor expense.

The self guided walks can still be useful in older books. And the key sights from before 2017 will likely still have useful descriptions.

I wouldn't rely on an older book for restaurants, especially a book from before 2020.

The 2024 Pocket Vienna book for Kindle is $9.99. You could buy that for up to date hotels and restaurants and use your 2017 book to rip out pages for self guided walks.

If it were me, I'd either 1) check out the current version of the guidebook from your local library or 2) buy a more current used version from a thrift store (e.g., goodwillbooks.com, abebooks.com, or even used through Amazon). You can compare those to the 2017 version to see how much changed.

FYI, the current Vienna/Tirol book is 7th ed. dated June 2023, the pocket Vienna is 4th ed. dated May 2024. It takes about half a year to get a book printed, so the information in those is probably late 2022 at best. As noted above, current info for attractions and restaurants is best verified online.

In the section of the RS website that sells the guidebooks, there is a very useful page of updates for each book. Looking at the updates for Vienna might help you decide whether you need a new book and alert you to some changes. Here is the link enter link description here. (Sometimes my attempts to past in a link don't work.)

Personally, I find that older guidebooks are fine for major sites, self-guided walks, general overview. and even for hotels and restaurants to check out further to see if they still exist and have good reviews. The downside for me, is that once I am there, despite my intentions, I sometimes forget that I need to confirm days and times. If I were only going to places covered in one guidebook, I would buy a newer edition. But if I am traveling to places needing multiple guidebooks, I would be more likely to use an older one with caution.

Even with the latest guidebook, you should check online for most up to date site hours and fees, transportation, restaurants, lodging, etc. If you are using your guidebook mainly for background on main tourist sites, museum collections, etc then it's probably fine. Agree with suggestion to check out the most recent guidebook available at your library. I used my 2006(!) guidebook in 2023 (but I was on river cruise with included tours, not traveling independently :-D

The most important thing in this thread: whether you use an old or a new guide, verify hours/prices online.

Yes, this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0241533325/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile.

And this one for your Budapest stop. These are less planning books (that's what the internet is for) and more being there books. Small enough to fit in a guys back pocket. Amazon: https://a.co/d/5KK89i7

It's false economy to have a tourbook more than two or three editions old.

And I know it's common advice to use the library or a thrift store but please, do Rick the small favor of actually buying the book. That's what keeps him in business.

As noted, all the hotels and restaurants will be different somehow (especially your 2017 book is effectively ten years old), but none of the palaces have moved.

And I know it's common advice to use the library or a thrift store but
please, do Rick the small favor of actually buying the book. That's
what keeps him in business.

I drop $5-6k on each self-guided trip. Adding an updated RS ebook for each new country or if updated is worth it to me. I also check-out free ebooks from Fromers, Lonely Planet, etc. from my library.

I don't think Rick will be heading to a food shelf any time soon. I'm wondering if anyone has ever compared an old guide to the new one. They actually do not change very much except for hotel and restaurant recommendations. And, often there are certain aspects of the guides that are outdated before publication. I do love that he has provided guidebook updates. I also find I'm using the internet more and more for our trips. That said, I will always start with a RS guide at the beginning of my travel planning whether old or new.

When I get a new guidebook I do compare it to earlier editions. Over the years he's gotten rid of sections on things like how to call home and how to send faxes to make hotel reservations. There were also sections on Covid for a while.

I don't use his hotel recommendations, and rarely use the restaurant section. I want his advice on logistics and suggested sites to visit, knowing full well that prices and hours might change since publication.

Also a reminder to folks that there's a section on this website where his staff catalogues changes since the last published guidebook. Hotels and restaurants come and go and change ownership.