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General Travel and Tourism Information and Guides

Europe


Train Travel - Here are two books I like and use for train travel in Europe. 
On The Rails Around Europe : A Comprehensive Guide to Travel by Train.
Eurail and Train Travel Guide to Europe.

Europe in General
Europe on a Shoestring, offers travelers a comprehensive guide to affordable European rambling without sacrificing style, comfort, or safety.  This is an especially good book for younger travelers.

Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2001 : The Travel Skills Handbook for Independent Travelers Budget travelers once again find innovative ways to blend in with the locals, as well as tried-and-true tips on packing, transport, and sleeping and eating well without breaking the bank.

Fodor's Europe  Fodor's Europe gives you the "best" of 36 countries with good information on cities and towns, the country and scenic coasts.  This book is a must for first timers and great for those of us who travel to Europe regularly.

Frommer's Europe   Frommer's has published a fresh guide to Europe that highlights of 18 countries in their normal easy-to-follow format.  Along with the 72 maps there is a detachable Eurail guide.  With over 1,000-plus pages, this edition packed with tips on getting around, where to stay, where to eat, and things to see and do.

Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.


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Austria
In Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland, Rick weeds through the endless possibilities each country offers and gives you his personal recommendations in an honest and entertaining style. He highlights the best local sights and activities, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans and itineraries that mix the famous and not-so-famous, and clear transportation instructions that make it easy to get anywhere by car, train, or foot. Chapters include Munich, Bavaria, the Rhine Valley, Berlin, Vienna, Salzburg, Gimmelwald, and Prague. "The book is designed for travelers with little time and money who want to get the most out of their travels. It is honest and frank about likes and dislikes (as in 'try this, but don't bother with that')."-Swiss American Review.

France
A French Affair - Few people know more about Paris than Mary Blume who, for more than 30 years, has been writing about this wonderful city.  A French Affair is a wonderful collection of her essays examining everything from window-shopping to a look at the French "sense of class."

Hello France! An Insider's guide to French Hotels, $50-$90 A Night For Two! - This is a great little book that includes hotels in Paris and 20 other cities.  You will find locations for single, double, and triple occupancies, hotel discounts, tips on hotel reservation, directions to hotels, and much more.  Buy the book - Find a hotel you like - And then, get back with me and I will give you any information I have about the location.  Even if you are planning only one trip to France, this book is worth the investment.

Fodor's France - I really enjoy this series of guidebooks.  They are very well written and easy to follow.  I believe everyone who is going to France will enjoy this book whether it is their first time or they are a seasoned French traveler.

The Riches of Paris - In The Riches of Paris, Maribeth Clemente shares her insider's knowledge of the choicest boutiques, restaurants, wine cellars, and auctions to help you find endless treasures. Whether you're looking for designer fashions, Limoges china, the finest perfumes, the best Bordeaux or just browsing, The Riches of Paris is an indispensable guide for making your visit to Paris enjoyable and unforgettable. And, if you enjoy The Riches of Paris, you will also enjoy Maribeth Clemente's other book, The Riches of France. Whether you're a shopper, a browser, or a traveler with a love of all things French, this is your one-of-a-kind guidebook to the culture of regional France represented by the products and centuries-old craftsmanship of each region. At prices lower than what you would pay in Paris or the United States, you'll find endless treasures as you tour boutiques, small factories, artisans' workshops, and wineries and distilleries. Complete with details on exchange rates, shipping, French customs, touring, and restaurant and hotel selections, The Riches of France is an indispensable sourcebook for exploring every province in France.

Fodor's Paris  This is my favorite guidebook for Paris, especially for the first-time visitor.  It is filled with a lot of good recommendations and easy-to-follow walking guides for many areas of the city.

Germany

Fodor's Germany is my favorite travel guidebook for Germany. I never travel in Germany without it. One of the things I like best about it are the interesting side trips and city walks that are easy to follow and take you into some of the less familiar areas. There are also good listings for accommodations and dining to meet every pocketbook. Jim

In Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland, Rick weeds through the endless possibilities each country offers and gives you his personal recommendations in an honest and entertaining style. He highlights the best local sights and activities, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans and itineraries that mix the famous and not-so-famous, and clear transportation instructions that make it easy to get anywhere by car, train, or foot. Chapters include Munich, Bavaria, the Rhine Valley, Berlin, Vienna, Salzburg, Gimmelwald, and Prague. "The book is designed for travelers with little time and money who want to get the most out of their travels. It is honest and frank about likes and dislikes (as in 'try this, but don't bother with that')."-Swiss American Review.

Lonely Planet Germany is a very large country and one for which you will need a guidebook. Smack in the middle of Europe, Germany's got the Bavarian Alps, windswept North Sea islands, the Black Forest and the castle-dotted Rhine. And there's Berlin, a city where you could easily spend all your vacation and not see a tenth of what it has to offer. Germany has history aplenty, an enormous variety of museums, cosmopolitan sophistication and rural beauty, camping, beer gardens, and music of all kinds. In short, Germany is the kind of place where a guidebook makes all the difference. Lonely Planet Germany could make that difference!

Let's Go Germany is a great guidebook for the younger set. Comprehensive, budget-minded coverage for the independent traveler, from Black Forest castles to Berlin nightlife. DANCE the night away in Berlin's hottest techno club and sip a thirst-quenching caipirinha for $10. TREK through Saxony's towering peaks and sleep in a medieval fortress for $15. MARVEL at the view from atop Cologne's 600-year-old cathedral for $2. If you are a college student traveling in Germany, this is the book for you!

Holland (The Netherlands)
Get Lost! The Cool Guide to Amsterdam 
Joe Pauker, who refers to himself as "a goof," has compiled what is perhaps the funniest, most original guide available to the city of Amsterdam. Get Lost! The Cool Guide to Amsterdam, which is clearly not aimed at mainstream travelers, will take you to the places that standard guidebooks don't bother to cover.

Ireland
Fodor's Ireland -
No matter what your budget or whether it's your first trip or fifteenth, Fodor's Gold Guides get you where you want to go. I will admit that Fodor's is my favorite guidebook with insider information that always up to date. Every year local experts update each guide to give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do -- from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, engrossing and just plain fun-to-read guidebook than the Eyewitness Travel Guide: Ireland.

Emerald Greens : The Essential Guide to Golf Vacations in Ireland - A reader from London, England says about this book, " It is not often that you pick up a book about golf courses and find it hard to put down. This inspirational book is well researched both in terms of the Golf courses and the local history, geography etc, but it's strength lies in the author's ability to convey her own evident passion for the subject by weaving these strands together to give an evocative picture of the places and give you a feel for the rich culture and history. I am a keen 10 handicap golfer and have visited Ireland many times over a number of years, this book really captures the charm of playing golf in Ireland. This will be the second thing I pack on my next trip - after the golf clubs of course."

Frommer's Ireland From $50 A Day has everything you need for an unforgettable, affordable trip: Inviting places to stay, from country mansions to Victorian townhouses--for as little as $24 per person per night! Great dining at unbelievably low prices, from $6 Dublin pub lunches to a three-course gourmet supper at a cozy inn for $19. The best of the Emerald Isle: Norman castles, Celtic sites, city strolls, literary landmarks, day hikes, fishing villages, gardens, and museums--plus a complete guide to Ireland's beautiful countryside.

Ireland Guide: Be a Traveler -- Not a Tourist  - This is a terrific book for the traveler returning to Ireland. It provides more detail for someone who is already familiar with the country, adding sights that may be just off the beaten path a bit.

Frommer's Ireland  - You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's Ireland . It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money.

Switzerland
In Rick Steves' Germany, Austria & Switzerland, Rick weeds through the endless possibilities each country offers and gives you his personal recommendations in an honest and entertaining style. He highlights the best local sights and activities, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans and itineraries that mix the famous and not-so-famous, and clear transportation instructions that make it easy to get anywhere by car, train, or foot. Chapters include Munich, Bavaria, the Rhine Valley, Berlin, Vienna, Salzburg, Gimmelwald, and Prague. "The book is designed for travelers with little time and money who want to get the most out of their travels. It is honest and frank about likes and dislikes (as in 'try this, but don't bother with that')."-Swiss American Review.

Fodor's Switzerland - This is the one I always have when I am traveling in Switzerland. No matter what your budget or whether it's your first trip or fifteenth, Fodor's Gold Guides get you where you want to go. I will admit that Fodor's is my favorite guidebook with insider information that always up to date. Every year local experts update each guide to give you the inside track, showing you all the things to see and do -- from must-see sights to off-the-beaten-path adventures, from shopping to outdoor fun.

Frommer's Switzerland has everything you need for the perfect trip: Great places to stay for every taste and budget including grand hotels, luxury ski resorts, intimate inns, and affordable chalets. The latest on dining, from fresh lake trout and hearty farmer's plates to fondue bourguignonne and Swiss cheese pie. A complete sightseeing guide, from cosmopolitan cities to charming alpine villages--with tips on exploring off the beaten path.

The United Kingdom
Fodor's London  I personally enjoy Fodor's guidebooks better than any other. With these guides it seems to not make a difference what your budget might be or whether it's your first trip or you have been there lots of times. Special color planning sections help you decide where to go and what to do with citywide tours that include cross-referencing to the main text along with a full-size, foldout map keeps you on course.

The information always seems to be up to date and it is written by local experts give you the inside track on everything from "must-see sights" to "off-the-beaten-path" locations. Add to this the hundreds of hotel and restaurant choices in all price ranges, from budget-friendly B&Bs to luxury hotels and casual restaurants to the hottest new eateries. There is also an excellent section on "Smart Travel Tips A to Z" helps you with all of those unforeseen items that can make vacation planning a real terror.

Here are several good Fodor's guidebooks that complement Fodor's London Fodor's Citypack London: A full-color pocket-size guidebook and a full-size color map, all in one sturdy plastic sleeve; Fodor's upCLOSE London: Designed for travelers who want to travel well and spend less; Fodor's Exploring London: An information-rich cultural guide in full color; and Fodor's To Go: 48 Hours in London: A magnetic micro book containing two smart itineraries lead you to experience the best of London in 48 hours.

London  A wonderful story that spans the entire scope of the history of London from prehistoric through current times. If you have ever visited London or have the urge to travel there some day, get this book!  It is a great introductory book that will really help you to understand this complex international city.

Lonely Planet London  This full-color guide reveals the city's top spots, and features: 25 detailed maps and plans of key sights; the city's best eating options, from fish and chips to tea at the Ritz; hundreds of places to stay, from budget hostels in Bayswater to boutique hotels in the West End; special sections on London's vibrant markets and cutting-edge contemporary architecture; day trips out of the capital, including Windsor, Cambridge and Brighton. A good compliment to this book would be

Access London  This book will help you to 'access' all of London. Well worth the price as you will get much more out of reading this book before beginning your visit to London than you could ever imagine. In this completely revised and updated edition, visitors to historic London will find restaurants, shops, and museums, plus trips to Greenwich, Cambridge, Oxford, Bath, and much more. One of the best features of the book is the inclusion of 25 detailed neighborhood maps that will help you immediately locate the hotels, restaurants, shops, and sights of London.

Cheap Sleeps in London  I highly recommend this book. It is excellent! A good companion book would be Cheap Eats in London. Another good book dedicated to helping you wave money during your visit to this somewhat expensive city.

City Guide for London provides you with all of the information you need to tour London on your own.

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Date this page was last edited: Saturday, August 02, 2008 17:10:43

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