BabyBlue1157

Hey all,

I leave in 10 days for a semester in Scotland!

At first i decided that I didn't want to buy a guide book for Europe because I wanted to find out all of the best deals and best things to see from the locals but I have heard that it is pretty much a necessity. Is this true? Should i buy one, if so, which should i buy?

Thanks
~Ellen

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omisan

I'm not a fan of the all-encompassing travel guides, i.e. a Lonely Planet "Europe" book or whatnot. I tend to go for more specialized stuff based on where I plan to travel - i.e. if I'm going to hit Amsterdam, then I'll get the TimeOut Amsterdam guide. If I want to camp in Spain, I'll find a book on camping in Spain. There's a lot more specialized info in these specific books that'll give you better details on what's going on.

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skorch

Here are two reasons why guide books suck:

1)Places pay to be added to the guide. Who's going to give a bad review to a place that is paying your meal ticket?

2)Everyone else is going to be rushing to that same place since most people rely on the guidebook like it was the only source of info.

That being said, you have to start somewhere. I particularly like this site for hostel listings. They're full of user reviews of the hostel: http://www.bugeurope.com/

For finding out things to see, hostels are normally filled with brochures and travellers to ask.

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TheWills

Guidebooks, haha some pople say they suck yeah but then again other live by them, like it was said before if you are gonna do sometihng specific like camping in spain then get a book about camping in spain however if your just gonna be backpacking around Europe, then Lonely Planets Europe edition should do you fine, and you WILL find that special little extra stuff cuase your gonna talk too the locals and the other people at the hostels, they will tell you where too go. Another guide is Lets Go they are also pretty reliable, make sure though you get a fairly new book I traded some bloke 3 pairs of socks for an older guidebook and half the hostels in it didnt even exist anymore, it was frustraiting.
will

beergal

heh you should be able to pick up so much stuff at your local tourist information centre

or you could try this

visit scotland

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worldwidemike

I know some folks hate guidebooks, but I use them for research, not a "Trip Ticket." I'll generally read about 3 while boning up for ideas on what to do and see while there. I generally DON'T use them for places to stay, although if more than one guidebook agrees on a place, that is a good sign.

I ask folks that don't use guidebooks, but still want to see a country's sights, what source are you going to use? Hope for serendipity and that you just happen to run into someone who knows the cools sights in the area? Other travelers? How do you know they did their homework? I spent my first trip in Europe kind of just going from place to place, not really know what was there. I missed quite a bit of neat stuff I'd have like to see because I didn't do research, or at least have a guidebook with me to tell me, "Hey, there's this awesome castle just 2 miles away from where you are."

Now, for travelers that are not necessarily into the sights, the historic buildings, landmarks, scenery, etc., yeah, you really don't need a guidebook. Like I said, there of marginal use for the places to stay.

But hey, to each his own...

worldwidemike

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space virgin

I wonder who those people are though? I haven't met any of them. Even the moronic "Dumpster Bitch" party boys I met in Bavaria were interested in sights and scenery.

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skorch

There's definately some good info in 'em.. Info about climate, tipping, culture, sites, what to see for a #-day trip, etc. I find them pretty useless for places to eat and sleep and definately not worthwhile to lug around while traveling.

A guide book is just that: a guide. Some people will use their guide book as their bible and never deviate from what their guide tells them. If its not in the guide, then its obviously not worth seeing.

__________________
"There is nothing in the world more helpless and
irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an
ether binge, and I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff
pretty soon." - Raoul Duke

TimmyJames1976

any1 ever buy off of amazon? i was trying to, but the prices keep changing...example:

i find lonely planet western europe, it says buy new: 19.59 new and used: $21.04

i click new then it goes to next page

says new $27.99 (WTF? it said new $19.59 on the previous page for new)

then at th bottom it offers--BETTER TOGETHER - buy this euorpean phrase book with the guide book and saev, total list - $36.98 - today togeher - $27.68-----so,

great right? ill buy the two and even if the main book is $27, its like getting the 2nd one free right? so i click the button and it adds the two to my cart for a grand total of $36.08

WTF???

i am not a moron and i did this 3 times to see if i was reading it wrong or clicking wrong buttons, but everytime it came out the same....is this a normal occurance on amazon? wtf????

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Rozza

if your just going to scotland why buy a europe book? just get one on scotland, or if your going to a couple of other places as well do your research by getting a couple of books on those places, that whay you get a more indepth view of the countries your going to

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D2 Fresh

Hey!

I stay in Scotland but i'm leaving in March to go to Canada. If u need any help on places to go etc... round Scotland just let me know and i'm pretty sure i'll be able to help you out.

skorch

I buy off of Amazon all the time. Can't say I've ever seen that.

I just looked and it said that the price was $27.99. No idea what would be the problem.. maybe they just happend to correct the price just as you clicked on it. Could happen!

The 'buy them together and save!' is a joke. It is literally the two prices added together.

__________________
"There is nothing in the world more helpless and
irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of an
ether binge, and I knew we'd get into that rotten stuff
pretty soon." - Raoul Duke

TimmyJames1976

cool cool, thanx for the check up---i thought i drank some bad milk was taking a ride or something. It wasnt the cost that bugged me, it was the odd inconsistancies. And yes, wtf is up with that buy n save garbage...worst marketing ploy EVER!!! haha, thanx again.

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BabyBlue1157

Thanks everyone for your advice. It helped me a lot!!!

D2 where are you staying in Scotland?

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"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living."
~Miriam Beard