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Product Details
Series: Rick Steves Snapshot
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; Second Edition edition (January 24, 2012)
Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe. Rick produces a public television series (Rick Steves' Europe), a public radio show (Travel with Rick Steves), and a podcast (Rick Steves' Audio Europe); writes a bestselling series of guidebooks and a nationally syndicated newspaper column; organizes guided tours that take thousands of travelers to Europe annually; and offers an information-packed website (ricksteves.com). With the help of his hardworking staff of 70 at Europe Through the Back Doorin Edmonds, Washington, just north of SeattleRick's mission is to make European travel fun, affordable, and culturally broadening for Americans.
Rick Steves advocates smart, affordable, perspective-broadening travel. As host and writer of the popular public television series Rick Steves' Europe, and best-selling author of 40 European travel books, he encourages Americans to travel as "temporary locals." He helps American travelers connect much more intimately and authentically with Europe -- and Europeans -- for a fraction of what mainstream tourists pay.
Over the past 20 years, Rick has hosted over 100 travel shows for public television, and numerous pledge specials (raising millions of dollars for local stations). His Rick Steves' Europe TV series is carried by over 300 stations, reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets. Rick has also created two award-winning specials for public television: Rick Steves' European Christmas and the ground-breaking Rick Steves' Iran. Rick writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions.
Rick Steves also hosts a weekly public radio program, Travel with Rick Steves. With a broader approach to travel everywhere, in each hour-long program Rick interviews guest travel expert, followed by listener call-ins. Travel with Rick Steves airs across the country and has spawned a popular podcast. Rick has also created a series of audio walking tour podcasts for museums and neighborhoods in Paris, Rome, Florence and Venice (with more tours, including London, coming in 2010).
Rick self-published the first edition of his travel skills book, Europe Through the Back Door (now updated annually), in 1980. He has also written more than 40 other country, city and regional guidebooks, phrase books, and "snapshot" guides. For several years, Rick Steves' Italy has been the bestselling international guidebook sold in the U.S. In 2009, Rick tackled a new genre of travel writing with Travel as a Political Act, reflecting on how a life of travel has broadened his own perspectives, and travel can be a significant force for peace and understanding in the world. Rick's books are published by Avalon Travel, a member of the Perseus Books Group.
In addition to his guidebooks, TV and radio work, Rick is a syndicated newspaper columnist with the Tribune Media Services. He appears frequently on television, radio, and online as the leading authority on European travel.
Rick took his first trip to Europe in 1969, visiting piano factories with his father, a piano importer. By the time he reached 18, Rick jokes, "I realized I didn't need my parents to travel!" He began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In 1976, he started Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), a business which has grown from a one-man operation to a company with a well-traveled staff of 70 full-time employees. ETBD offers free travel information through its travel center, website (www.ricksteves.com), European Railpass Guide, and free travel newsletters. ETBD also runs a successful European tour program with more than 300 departures -- attracting around 10,000 travelers -- annually.
Rick is outspoken on the need for Americans to fit better into our planet by broadening their perspectives through travel. He is also committed to his own neighborhood. He's an active member of the Lutheran church (and has hosted the ELCA's national video productions). He's a board member of NORML (working to reform marijuana laws in the USA). And Rick has provided his local YWCA with a 24-unit apartment building with which to house homeless mothers.
Rick Steves spends about a third of every year in Europe, researching guidebooks, filming TV shows, and making new discoveries for travelers. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.
Yes, yes; it's all great info and we all love Rick Steves. (Seriously. I've traveled to 13 European countries using Rick's guides and I use no other.) I bought 'Snapshot Scotland' along with Rick's 'Great Britain 2010' because I am considering a GB trip focusing on Scotland. But doggone it, 'Snapshot Scotland' contains precisely the same information as the Britain book. Like, exactly. Carbon copy. The back cover of 'Scotland' says, "This 208-page Snapshot guide is excerpted from 'Rick Steves' Great Britain 2010.'" *****But Rick/Amazon couldn't mention that in the 'Scotland' book description so that I didn't waste my money?***** I'm peeved about that.
No, I haven't traveled with it yet so I can't speak to this issue but in all my travels I've only had one bad experience with a B&B Rick recommended and it wasn't enough to cancel out all the truly insighful, wonderful, spot-on advice Rick gives. Those are pretty good odds. At the price of these guides you can't go wrong. I'm a big advocate of doing all your planning while you're sitting on your couch at home so you don't have to do it while you're burning up valuable travel dollars (time is money) sitting confused on a bench on vacation. Just buy it already. (Unless, of course, you already have GB 2010.)
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
This book was very light on information and not that helpful. As one reviewer said, it's right out of his Great Britain guide. I found Frommers much more helpful.
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I like the idea of a mini-book just for Scotland. However, if you're not visiting Edinburgh & St. Andrews, this book will not provide much help. If those are your destinations, you'll enjoy the book. That's not where I'm headed, so I was disappointed in that regard.
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We visited Ediburgh and the Isle of Skye. Rick Steves reviews and ideas were right on. His suggestions made the trip very easy to visit the spots and get around Edinburgh and Isle of Skye easily. We used ferries and trains and that was so much easier with his suggestions. I consider his books a must for any trip.
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13 of 17 people found the following review helpful
I won't know for sure until we actually GO to Scotland, but the information provided in the book is much more specific and seems more helpful than the other guide book I purchased.
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I have used Rick's guides throughout Europe, this one seems to be light on specific information. I think I will have to buy another guide to supplement this one. I also was disappointed there isn't a foldout map.
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OK...When I first traveled years ago I would not leave home without Rick's books. They were unique at that time for people on a budget who were dependent on public transportation. Over the years they became more and more like any other tour books and no longer unique or my favorite as a travel guide. With the use of the internet especially, I prefer more visuals like Eyewitness books. I found this more than a little disappointing and a bit sad.
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I read that this Snapshot publication is simply lifted from the RIck Steves guide for England. Whatever, it had just the right kind of information to help me plan my vacation in Scotland. Once again I am impressed with the qualities of the Rick Steves guidebooks. One minor shortcoming of this extract is that it omits the usual packing list suggestion and the information about local weather.
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