Backpacking Europe books for young adults

Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Let's Go are all pretty comprehensive for backpackers. MTV has published some European travel guides that they have put out in partnership with Frommers. If it's her first time going to Europe and she needs some general advice on basic travel skills, creating an itinerary, getting around, etc. - you can get her a copy of the Rick Steves "Europe Through The Backdoor". The "Time Out" guides are also pretty good for info on shopping, dining and nightclubs - but most of the lodging suggestions are too pricey for backpackers.

You may also consider getting her some DVDs on the destinations she is going to. GlobeTrekker has a good series of DVDs (each about 1 hour) and many episodes are available to watch online for free or a minimal fee.

Hi,

Since the late 1980s I have been using guides for planning my trips to Europe; in the 1970s I never used a guide for my trips to Germany, France and Austria. There are only two which I recommend and upon which I rely: Rough Guide and Let's Go. They are good definitely for the budget traveler and for travelers wanting moderately priced accomodations...from hostels to 3 star hotels.

The three mentioned Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, and Let's Go are the three that are oriented most to the young backpacker.

Which is the best? You should check them out at the library and get a feel for each then decide which one you want to buy.

It's also worthwhile to check when they were published. These guides are really comprehensive but not updated as often so you're likely to find a lot of out of date information.

Lonely Planet's Europe on a Shoestring is one I see a lot when I meet people in hostels going through multiple countries and not just one region. I've never personally used it, but it seems popular.

Lonely Planet's website is usually my first stop for online travel information (heresy maybe, but they have addresses, maps, etc.). Hostelworld.com actually has some pretty decent free printable city guides that are nice for an overview and are definitely aimed at young budget travelers.

Another gift idea is Ayun Halliday's "No Touch Monkey!" which is not good for planning, but a funny book about budget travel.

Lonely Planet is a pretty good source, with one major caveat. They don't update their books very often, and sometimes I wonder if they even proofread the text before slapping a new year on the cover. Example: A Germany 2010 book I own contains references to museums and attractions that are scheduled to close or undergo renovation "sometime in 2007".

Have her also check out Rick Steves' children's blogs about their travels in Europe. These trips happened within the last couple of years and will give some insight from her peers. How old is she?

Pam