Is RS book 'Europe through the back door' worth getting?

I agree with trying at your local library to see if you can get a copy. A lot of his travel tips and philosophies can help you save money and get a lot more out of your trip. Even if you can't get it at the library, it's worth getting a copy, not to take with you, but to read before your trip. Like he says, not buying guidebooks is being penny-wise but pound-foolish. You'll save at least as much money as you'll spend on the book.

"Europe 101: History & Art for the Traveler" is also worth reading, if not carrying on your trip.

It is a very interesting book and has many travel tips especially in saving money.

I purchased the book shortly after it came out in either 1980 or 1981.

Definitely a worthwhile purchase.

Brigette,

Europe Through The Back Door is more of a "pre-read" Guidebook that covers a lot of topics on how to travel in Europe, and the differences that travellers from North America will encounter. This is particularly important for first time travellers to Europe. One of the most relevant chapters covers "Rail Skills", but the chapters on money, languages, cultural differences, etc. are all useful.

My first suggestion would be to see if you can find the book at your local Library or larger bookstores like Chapters. You could certainly buy it also, and use it for reference to plan future trips, but given the fact that you already have the Italy 2010 book, I'm not sure whether ETBD is essential for this trip?

Regarding Rail Skills, you could also download the FREE PDF Rail Guide from this website. Click this link and then the link at the centre bottom.

Happy travels!

It's a useful read, but I would see if your local library has a copy rather than buying it, especially as you already bought the Italy book.

Brigette: You can browse the actual pages of the 2009 edition, online, by going to the Google Books site, search on the title Europe Through the Back Door 2009.

I have confession - I hope it doesn't get me booted from here - okay, here goes...I have never read Europe Through The Back Door." I know it is chalk full of good information, but there you go. Haven't read it.

I'm sure that you might learn some things from reading the book, but it is not necessary in order to have a great trip. Having the Italy 2010 book is good. We leave next month for our first trip to Italy and I have the 2009 book (started planning early), and I don't know if it is necessary to get the 2010 book. The phrase book is good too (I have the triple threat - Italian, French & German), and I am thinking it might be a good idea to have a small English/Italian dictionary. People also recommend a city or regional book to supplement the country book, but unless you are spending a long enough time in a city I wouldn't bother. I bought the Tuscany book because we will be there for a week, but not other city books when we will only be there for a few days. I got them from the library and took some notes.

I too have not read Europe Through the Back Door, though I own a recent copy. I have bought other RS guidebooks though, and have taken 2 of his tours and viewed all of his videos multiple times, so I think I got just about all of the information that way. The book is undoubtedly a worthwhile read, you can never have too much information, but you can get it other ways too.

ANDREA, NOOOOOOO!!!!

(furiously typing email to Webmaster)

Andrea, if your Italy book is 2009, and ESP. in crazy We're-Making-It-Up-As-We-Feel-Like-It-Italy (gotta love Italy!), get thee to a bookstore and compare 2009's hours, days of operation, etc., with 2010. Italy's specific info (museum hours, what's open/closed) has been known to change with the weather. AND I would then back that up with a visit to the individual websites for each museum, etc. Like I said, changes with the weather. I've always found lots of little surprises.../:-(

Brigette, I don't know if it's necessary to buy "ETBD", but I agree with the suggestion to look at the 2009 edition or read the chapter headings, at least. Esp. if this is your first trip to Europe in general! You might find a little nugget of info not in the Italy book that makes it worth the $$$!

Why is it that so many folks will spend thousands of dollars on a trip to Europe yet not be willing to shell out for all of the guide books that could help them plan, save them money, alert them to "do's" and "don"t", etc. I go to Europe every summer and always buy whatever guide books RS has for the areas that I am visiting. I certainly bought the "ETBD" and "Europe 101" before my first trip ten year ago. I do purchase RS guide books (helps to support this web site) but also purchase others I might find interesting, like Lonely Planet, to compliment the RS books as was the case this year when visiting Turkey. And, I am lucky to live in Seattle the rest of the summer so it is easy to get to RS headquarters in Edmonds.

Charlie, do you work for a book store or publisher? The advice to check out books from the library is excellent. The OP already owns a guide book and phrase book. ETBD is not a book to take with you and it does not bear rereading. Read it once from the library. You may find out that some other guidebook suits you better than Rick's does.

Okay - in my defense - I have not read ETBD, but I have bought RS guidebooks for the 3 European trips I have taken, and also for the one I am leaving on in 4 weeks. As for buying the 2010 Italy to "upgrade" my 2009, even having the "new" book does not guarantee up-to-date info. I will be bringing my netbook and can look at the individual websites for current information. I do have the 2010 Tuscany book.

If I can't get the information that way, I'm sure I can ask whatever I need to know on the helpline. I'm sure someone can provide a link to what I need if it comes to that. :)

Yes, you should definitely read it but not necessarily bring it along for the trip. If you can't find it at the library, try Amazon or ebay. Or join Borders for free, they will send you 40% coupons via email and you can buy the book at a great discount. Or, go to the bookstore, find the book and one of those comfy armchairs and settle in for a good read! Buy a cup of coffee so you don't feel so guilty about reading for free :-)

James, you've hit that one on the head!! And don't folk look at previous threads before asking the same question as posed dozens of times before?

Shouldn't this be a place where we answer the unusual?

== I think, BTW, that the OP here asked a good question, and I go along with the answers, too.

From James (of Ansbach): "If everybody had a copy of ETBD and actually read the book, 50% of the questions posted on this forum would never be asked."

Yep.

From Nigel: "And don't folks look at previous threads before asking the same question as posed dozens of times before?"

Sometimes they do.

To help with these issues, last year we finally got the sticky FAQ's created, the stickies at the top of each section, to help people new to the site with questions that come up all the time. The good news: We've got a bunch of patient and kind people on this site who just go ahead and answer the repetitive questions and/or provide links to prior discussions (when appropriate).

It's all good. The Helpline is a nice little corner of the big, bad internet: a place where travelers help other travelers, just 'cause they're kind.

@Charle: In a sense your right, however.........how do you think many people can afford a trip like this unless they are a bit 'frugal'. Also, I already planned the trip, including, air, transportation and lodging. And I had read somewhere else that RS books can be repetitive (especially on area books). So I was wondering for 'my personal' situation if it was worthwhile.

@Charlie, James, Nigel & Kent: I guess if we were all as knowledgable as you all we wouldn't even need forums like this!! I am sure many of these forum questions are repetitive, however, that's the purpose of forums. I am a first time traveler to Europe and am thankful there are ones on here who are 'patient' with us 'newbies' with our dumb and repetive questions.
Going back pages and pages sometimes is not feasible to find ones exact question answered. I also feel, if you don't want to bother with us 'newbies' then don't!

@Everyone else: Thank you for your kind responses. Very much appreciated.

I hope one day I can be of help to another traveler.
This site has been a god-send to me, very informative and on the most part, responses have been very kind.
Ciao! :)

I think "Europe through the Back Door" was the most influential book I ever read on travel in Europe. It's not the specific information, but the travel philosophy. He taught me,

1) to pack light and carry on,

2) when you stay in small, family run Gästehäuser and Privatzimmer, you have a better cultural experience, and you save a lot of money, and

3) you have to find your own back doors.

Admission- I never read it! However, my father and "mutter" were teaching me Europe "through the back door" before I could read. ; ) We were already staying in unknown pensions, towns no-one has ever heard-of, eating locally, and using the trains in the 70's and 80's when I was a kid living in Germany and seeing W. Europe.

I have, however, read (and purchased) other Rick books, watched the videos, and I've seen him speak in person (and read almost the entire content of the website).

When I have a question, I check the helpline, use Google, use Google advanced to check to make sure the question hasn't been asked anywhere else, and then ask it. Usually, (I think), most of mine are pretty specific, and wouldn't be covered in ETBD.

Brigette, it depends on what kind-of trip you have planned. Are you just staying in Italy? How long will you be there?

"Europe Through The Back Door" is more than a primer for travel, it is a reference book that I review before each trip. As for being frugal, think about the money you can save on travel agents, lodging and travel, not to mention avoiding wasted time on the few days of vacation that most of us Americans can manage each year. No, I am neither a Rick Steves employee nor a star-struck fan of his. I use other books and resources, as well, when planning a trip, but I think the perspective and information he provides are a tremendous help.

Check it out from the library or look for one on ebay. It does have things in it I would have never thought of.

I have picked it up at the library many times. I really enjoy getting a stack of travel guides t keep bed side - just for browsing.

Just bought my copy for $15 off Amazon, what the heck.