Let'g Go or Lonely Planet?

[juliagulia]

Now I've never gone to Europe or to any other place for that matter... besides Brazil... but that doesn''t count

BUT, I have read tons and tons of guidebooks. The BEST is BY FAR (if you''re going to Europe) "First-Time Europe" with Rough Guides. It's written by Louis CasaBianca. I wouldn't suggest taking the book with you to Europe. Read it bfore you go, and then take the information with you. It's an easy read, CasaBianca makes it interesting, and you can't stop reading. It took me less than two weeks to read it. It explains all you have to know about Rail passes, it has various maps (an international rail map, world time map, eurail countries, europass countries, and eight pages of colour maps of european countries/regions), and it had really funny stories so you can learn from his mistakes.

It's directed for budget travellers, and he says himself that most his information is for students, but then he compensates by directly telling travellers over 25 how they can save money, what they can do, etc. etc. He also has example budgets, itinerarys, and many suggestions on places to visit.

To take to the trip, I suggest you get Let's Go if you're younger, but Lonely Planet if you want as much information possible. Both is okay but... (I learned this from travelpunk...) rip out or photocopy the ones you need!!

If you're oging to only one country in Europe, or another continent, Rough Guides has a mini series (pocket sized, they dont really appeal to me but, whatever) and they have various other countries and ocntinents (i searched on their website, which isnt too swell, and they have Asia, Australia, New York City, Greece, Italy, and a loooooot more).

Uh....... I think thats about it... Websites, like others have mentioned before: TRAVELPUNK!! I found ALL the information I needed here. I just read other books b/c I''m weird like that... and I didn't really understand rail passes until I read CasaBianca's book.

Whoa... just noticed I wrote a lot... hehe...he... well... I''m not gunna delete it. you''ll just have to read it

hope this helped!! have fun (wherever you are going... i envy you so.....)

[juliagulia]

i forgot to mention that the First Time Europe is the fourth edition copyrighted 2001. I think theres a few other ones... last I heard was one in 2004. you should probably get that one since I think that one of the rail passes he mentions was chucked. go to a book store and get the most recent one you can find!!

[butterj]

Originally posted by bellelass@Feb 17 2005, 12:42 PM
They are pretty cynical and sarcastic

You rarely hear that as a plus point but i agree totaly being a cynical bastard like me