Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland 1998 (Serial)

Rating:
Summary: For those who want to confirm their stereotypes!
Review: If you are going to Europe hoping to find that Germany consists of Neuschwanstein, oompah bands, and wurst, Switzerland is all Heidi, cheese, and chocolate, and Austria the Sound of Music personified, you might find this guide useful. I have found that there are a lot of American travelers who take this approach to international travel, and the book will definitely guide you toward these experiences. On my fifth visit to the region, however, I wanted to appreciate the variety of these countries, and I was struck by the limitations of Steves' approach.

I will admit that my budget was what originally motivated me to buy the book, but I found that I got more bang for my buck by asking locals where to stay or eat - although I have to admit that since I couldn't try out every place listed, I may have simply chosen the wrong options. I also quickly realized that many of the towns in which I decided to stay (I made very few advance reservations, preferring to leave my options open) were not included in the book.

What disturbed me far more was the number of times, while trying to telephone places listed in the book, I was told that I had a wrong number. After this happened repeatedly, I threw the book out halfway through my trip.

Although I agree with a previous reviewer that the book was pleasantly written, I found Steves very dismissive of some cities, without recognition that people's tastes vary. In Heidelberg, for example, I have experienced wonderful walks along the Philosophenweg, terrific concerts in the churches, and generally great hospitality. Yes, there are American military bases nearby which mean that a lot of English is spoken, but that hasn't ruined the town for me. In Rothenburg, on the other hand, which Steves loves (and I have to agree that it is physically a charming town), I found everyone so geared up for tourists this summer that I had a hard time practicing my German, and there was a general surliness in the atmosphere which made for a less-than-enjoyable experience. Steves just doesn't include a town if he doesn't personally like it, leaving a traveler who either wants to or needs to stay there stranded.

Overall, I have to conclude that I wouldn't use this guidebook again. I haven't given it the lowest rating because I was not very pleased with any of the options available this year - my advice, if you don't need to make plans in advance and can wait until you get to Germany, is to buy a guidebook there. Both the German guides (in German) and the British ones (in English) available there were far more interesting and accurate.

Rating:
Summary: Written by a real person with a sense of humor!
Review: Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland guide is a laid-back tour of all the "undiscovered nooks and crannies" of the region. Like all of his guides, this one is enjoyable just to read. His guide is personalized, definitely written by a real person with a sense of humor.

If you plan to do more than just read Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland, you have chosen THE BEST guide possible if you enjoy meeting locals, learning about cultures, and traveling off the beaten path. I have found that in many of the places Steves' writes about, the only other English-speakers you will meet will be Steves' followers. He also includes names and descriptions of restaurant, pension, hostel, hotel, and shop proprietors so that you can go in and say "hi!" Steves' constantly updates his books and you can be sure that the person behind the counter is the one described in his book. You will be greeted enthusiastically by these people because Rick is a well-known nice guy to them. In some cases you will receive discounts with these proprietors (I received a free town map from a shopkeep in Rothenburg o.b. because I carried Steves' book with me).

If this is your first trip to Europe and you are interested in seeing the most popular tourist attractions, or if you feel more comfortable in a tourist situation, take along a mainstream guide like "Let's Go" to use in conjunction with Steves' guide. His off-the-beaten path approach is great for students, families, solo-women travelers, groups, and senior citizens. I have seen all of these types with his book.

Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland is the best guide you can get. The experiences you will have will leave you longing to return to his "undiscovered nooks and crannies."

Rating:
Summary: For those who want to confirm their stereotypes!
Review: Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland guide is a laid-back tour of all the "undiscovered nooks and crannies" of the region. Like all of his guides, this one is enjoyable just to read. His guide is personalized, definitely written by a real person with a sense of humor.

If you plan to do more than just read Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland, you have chosen THE BEST guide possible if you enjoy meeting locals, learning about cultures, and traveling off the beaten path. I have found that in many of the places Steves' writes about, the only other English-speakers you will meet will be Steves' followers. He also includes names and descriptions of restaurant, pension, hostel, hotel, and shop proprietors so that you can go in and say "hi!" Steves' constantly updates his books and you can be sure that the person behind the counter is the one described in his book. You will be greeted enthusiastically by these people because Rick is a well-known nice guy to them. In some cases you will receive discounts with these proprietors (I received a free town map from a shopkeep in Rothenburg o.b. because I carried Steves' book with me).

If this is your first trip to Europe and you are interested in seeing the most popular tourist attractions, or if you feel more comfortable in a tourist situation, take along a mainstream guide like "Let's Go" to use in conjunction with Steves' guide. His off-the-beaten path approach is great for students, families, solo-women travelers, groups, and senior citizens. I have seen all of these types with his book.

Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland is the best guide you can get. The experiences you will have will leave you longing to return to his "undiscovered nooks and crannies."