Rick Steves' France, Belgium & the Netherlands 2000

Rating:
Summary: Slim Pickin'...
Review: Although Rick Steves' France, Belgium & the Netherlands 2000 was our primary guide during our 2 week vacation in France, we felt that he did not do justice to such a beautiful country like France. This book dedicates over 60 pages (out of 330) talking about Paris and leaves out beautiful places in the Alps and the Atlantic Coast. Also, this book has not lived up to the standards expected in the new millennium such as providing complimentary information regarding websites related to travel in France. I recommend using the Michelin Green Guide as a supplement, especially if you plan to drive around France. As always his recommended eateries, hotels and places to visit are always on the mark. The hand-drawn maps and helpful hints always came in handy. For example, following his advise about using alternative entry into the Louvre saved us over an hour of waiting in line. Otherwise, despite its shortcomings, this book still is my top choice, especially if you intend visiting the touristy-most-visited places in France.

Rating:
Summary: Now this is outdated!
Review: I understand that this book is only two years old, but I was surprized how much was missing. I scrolled to the last page of the search and got the 2002 instead (it's now 2003 when I'm writing this) per a suggestion I read. It was more on target about things friends had said and suggested.

Rating:
Summary: Not much about Netherlands
Review: I was looking for a guide book about the Netherlands, but this had very little about this area. It is mostly devoted to France. I also didn't feel it was organized in a clear fashion.

Rating:
Summary: Now this is outdated!
Review: It will give you the courage to go, and that's a big plus. I found fault mainly with the limited number of places he covered (none of which I was going to be near), and his sense that it would be very easy to get around France with minimal French because English is so widely spoken. This was not my experience at all. Perhaps the places he likes are that way (and maybe that is why he likes them). I found instead that I was getting along very barely with my minimal French, some signs, but very rarely any English spoken even though I always started in French.

Rating:
Summary: Good basic
Review: It will give you the courage to go, and that's a big plus. I found fault mainly with the limited number of places he covered (none of which I was going to be near), and his sense that it would be very easy to get around France with minimal French because English is so widely spoken. This was not my experience at all. Perhaps the places he likes are that way (and maybe that is why he likes them). I found instead that I was getting along very barely with my minimal French, some signs, but very rarely any English spoken even though I always started in French.

Rating:
Summary: Good guide
Review: This was a good guide to this area of Europe. Most of all, I found that it had the most up to date information which I was looking for. I have now been able to plan my trip to Europe with a little more confidence. The book reviews the different places to see in this region with good background information. Its only shortcoming would be that I would have preferred more information relevant to visitors outside the EU and US, but we can't have everything!

Rating:
Summary: A Guidebook That We Put to the Test
Review: We've just returned from a 2-1/2 week vacation in France, the Netherlands and Belgium -- and we used Rick Steves as our primary source of information for accommodations and sights (for restaurants, we mostly went our own way). All I can say is that this book worked out great.

All the accommodations at which we stayed were Steves recommendations, and they had three things in common: They were comfortable, friendly, and reasonably priced. We paid $60/night in Paris and Amboise; $40/night in Bruges; and $100/night in our "splurge" stop, Amsterdam. Info on accommodations has always been a Rick Steves specialty, and he has not failed us this trip.

I am especially grateful for Rick's recommendation of the Zuider Zee Museum in Enkhuizen, Holland. Most other guidebooks either don't mention it or just mention it in passing, but it was one of the highlights of our trip.

We also used the minibus service Steves recommends for the Chateaux of the Loire, and as a result had a memorable time.

Not all guidebooks are good for everyone. Steves economizes by concentrating only on locales that he likes and only on accommodations in selected areas (only three neighborhoods in Paris, for example). If you must stay in Montmartre or Menilmontant in Paris; visit Montpellier and Clermont-Ferrand; and spend a week in Utrecht or Luxembourg -- then Steves is not for you. But if you are not the world's most seasoned travel and want to put together a memorable European vacation, then you could hardly do better.

Rating:
Summary: Good Guide
Review: While I only visited the French Riviera, Rick's guide was some valuable but overall no slim. He recommended the best restaurant I have ever eaten in, L'Authentica in Nice but really didn't cover the cities I was visiting very well. For a country guide I would have expected a little more information - and better maps. It's still a great choice and probably would be even better for those staying in Paris.