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Rating: 
Summary: A Different Take
Review: I found this guidebook very useful on my recent trip to Europe. Using it, I found some really nice, out of the way spots that weren't mentioned in standard guidebooks. I also found it a little friendlier and easier to use than some of the other guidebooks. The only downside is that the maps are kind of hand-drawn and not quite as precise and detailed as those in other books.
Rating: 
Summary: Great for museum info, terrible for general travel info
Review: I travel extensively and have been trying different travel guidebooks like DK Eyewitness, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, and Moon guide. For my recent trip to Amsterdam, I ordered a book from yet another guidebook writer, called the "Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels 2004." Rick Steves has been hosting PBS travel shows for years, concentrating on Europe. I recall seeing some of his shows and they were interesting, so I thought this trip to Europe would be the best (if not only) time to try one of Steves' books. As a travel guide, I would say Steves' book is TERRIBLE! I would rate it as poor, and would not recommend it to anyone who needs a TRAVEL guide. When I am traveling to a new country, especially a big city in a foreign country, I need a travel guide to provide me with the BASICS such as 1) an explanation of the parts of town, so I know where to stay and hang out, 2) plenty of recommendations for accommodations, 3) suggestions for good restaurants and local food, 4) basic terms and phrases to help me communicate when there, 5) a list/glossary of local terms, local food, local customs, and so on, 6) a good map, 7) suggestions for what to do and see. (A little history is nice, but not necessary) Steves underperformed in 6 of these 7 categories. Steves provides too much information about the tourist sites, and too little information about the travel basics. In the book, Steves dedicates about 140 pages to Amsterdam. Of this amount, about 115 pages (82%) are dedicated to sightseeing and museum tours. He only provides about 6 pages for accommodations and about 6 pages for dining options (which is about the same amount of space he gives to smoking marijuana in Amsterdam). He provides only 2 pages for nightlife, and a few pages for shopping. He provides very little on neighborhoods or districts of the city, he offers no helpful phrases, and he offers no list of terms/glossary. His maps are made to look like they are hand written and are acceptable, but could use improvement. Steves' book is not without merit, however. It is nice if you want a tour book for some famous museums or historical architecture. In fact, he does a nice job with this section of the book. If you know where you are going to stay, know the local food and customs, can speak the local language, and simply want a resource to help you understand the local museums or famous architecture, then you might appreciate Rick Steves' books. However, if you need a real TRAVEL guide, one that helps you with your actual travel plans and travel decisions, and one that helps you get around and communicate in a foreign land, then avoid this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great for museum info, terrible for general travel info
Review: I travel extensively and have been trying different travel guidebooks like DK Eyewitness, Fodors, Frommers, Lonely Planet, and Moon guide. For my recent trip to Amsterdam, I ordered a book from yet another guidebook writer, called the "Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels 2004." Rick Steves has been hosting PBS travel shows for years, concentrating on Europe. I recall seeing some of his shows and they were interesting, so I thought this trip to Europe would be the best (if not only) time to try one of Steves' books. As a travel guide, I would say Steves' book is TERRIBLE! I would rate it as poor, and would not recommend it to anyone who needs a TRAVEL guide. When I am traveling to a new country, especially a big city in a foreign country, I need a travel guide to provide me with the BASICS such as 1) an explanation of the parts of town, so I know where to stay and hang out, 2) plenty of recommendations for accommodations, 3) suggestions for good restaurants and local food, 4) basic terms and phrases to help me communicate when there, 5) a list/glossary of local terms, local food, local customs, and so on, 6) a good map, 7) suggestions for what to do and see. (A little history is nice, but not necessary) Steves underperformed in 6 of these 7 categories. Steves provides too much information about the tourist sites, and too little information about the travel basics. In the book, Steves dedicates about 140 pages to Amsterdam. Of this amount, about 115 pages (82%) are dedicated to sightseeing and museum tours. He only provides about 6 pages for accommodations and about 6 pages for dining options (which is about the same amount of space he gives to smoking marijuana in Amsterdam). He provides only 2 pages for nightlife, and a few pages for shopping. He provides very little on neighborhoods or districts of the city, he offers no helpful phrases, and he offers no list of terms/glossary. His maps are made to look like they are hand written and are acceptable, but could use improvement. Steves' book is not without merit, however. It is nice if you want a tour book for some famous museums or historical architecture. In fact, he does a nice job with this section of the book. If you know where you are going to stay, know the local food and customs, can speak the local language, and simply want a resource to help you understand the local museums or famous architecture, then you might appreciate Rick Steves' books. However, if you need a real TRAVEL guide, one that helps you with your actual travel plans and travel decisions, and one that helps you get around and communicate in a foreign land, then avoid this book.
Rating: 
Summary: You're going to LOVE THE BENELUX!
Review: I've been to Belgiun and The Netherlands many times. Here are my reviews of the best guides to meet you r exact needs.....I hope these are helpful and that you have a great visit! I always gauge the quality of my visit by how much I remember a year later......this review is designed to help you get the guide that will be sure YOU remember your trip many years into the future. Travel Safe and enjoy yourself to the max!
Rick Steves' books are not recommended. They may be an interesting read but their helpfulness is very poor. They don't do well on updates, transportation details, or anything but the first-time-tourist routine and even that is somewhat superficial on anything but the mega-major sites.
Frommer's
These are time tested guides that pride themselves on being updated annually. Although I think the guides below provide information that is in more depth or more concise (depending on what the guide is known for), if your main concern is that the guide has very little old or outdated information, then this would be a good guide for you.
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet has City and Out To Eat Guides. They are all about the experience so they focus on doing, being, getting there, and this means they have the best detailed information, including both inexpensive and really spectacular restaurants and hotels, out-of-the-way places, weird things to see and do, the list is endless.
Blue Guides
Without doubt, the best of the walks guides.... the Blue Guide has been around since 1918 and has extremely well designed walks with lots of unique little side stops to hit on just about any interest you have. If you want to pick up the feel of the city, this is the best book to do that for you. This is one that you end up packing on your 10th trip, by which time it is well worn.
MapGuide
MapGuide is very easy to use and has the best location information for hotels, tourist attractions, museums, churches etc. that they manage to keep fairly up to date. It's great for teaching you how to use the public transportation system. The text sections are quick overviews, not reviews, but the strong suite here is brevity, not depth. I strongly recommend this for your first few times learning your way around the classic tourist sites and experiences. MapGuide is excellent as long as you are staying pretty much in the center of the city.
Time Out
The Time Out guides are very good. Easy reading, short reviews of restaurants, hotels, and other sites, with good public transport maps that go beyond the city centre. Many people who buy more than one guidebook end up liking this one best!
Let's Go
Let's Go is a great guide series that specializes in the niche interest details that turn a trip into a great and memorable experience. Started by and for college students, these guides are famous for the details provided by people who used the book the previous year. They continue to focus on providing a great experience inexpensively. If you want to know about the top restaurants, this is not for you (use Fodor's or Michelin). Let's Go does have a bewildering array of different guides though. Here's which is what:
Budget Guide is the main guide with incredibly detailed information and reviews on everything you can think of.
City Guide is just as intense but restricted to the single city.
PocketGuide is even smaller and features condensed information
MapGuide's are very good maps with public transportation and some other information (like museum hours, etc.)
Michelin
Famous for their quality reviews, the Red Michelin Guides are for hotels & Restaurants, the Green Michelin Guides are for main tourist destinations. However, the English language Green guide is the one most people use and it has now been supplemented with hotel and restaurant information. These are the serious review guides as the famous Michelin ratings are issued via these books.
Fodor's
Fodor's is the best selling guide among Americans. They have a bewildering array of different guides. Here's which is what:
The Gold Guide is the main book with good reviews of everything and lots of tours, walks, and just about everything else you could think of. It's not called the Gold guide for nothing though....it assumes you have money and are willing to spend it.
SeeIt! is a concise guide that extracts the most popular items from the Gold Guide
PocketGuide is designed for a quick first visit
UpCLOSE for independent travel that is cheap and well thought out
CityPack is a plastic pocket map with some guide information
Exploring is for cultural interests, lots of photos and designed to supplement the Gold guide
Rating: 
Summary: Rick won't steer you wrong
Review: Rick Steves gives no-nonsense advice on the things you really need to see. He's a little more enthusiastic than warranted when it comes to Brussels (blecch!), but his other recommendations are spot on. We used this book so often on our Low Countries trip that we started referring to it as "the Bible." One caveat: expect to see other Rick Steves-toting tourists wherever you go.
Rating: 
Summary: Quirky
Review: Sorry, but I appreciate the comprehensiveness of a Fodors, etc. After being stuck with Steve's book for a weekend excursion, I could appreciate its usefullness for keeping my loose journal papers from blowing out the open window.
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