EUROPEAN TRAVEL REFERENCES

Travelers in any budget range should read these books before planning
a trip whether considering traveling independently or with a group:

"Europe Through the Back Door" - an excellent overview of all that you
should know before you go to Europe;

"Europe 101" - 4000 years of art and history in 400 pages;

"Best of Europe" - a far better than average guide book;

"Let's Go: Europe", another excellent guide;

The first three are by Rick Steves (John Muir Publications), the last
from the Harvard Student Association.

"Back Door" (ETBD) describes planning, budgeting, enjoying and
traveling around on a European trip.  A wealth of information on
options for places to stay and eat, rail passes (32 pages of info),
culture, being a part of the scene, safety, and several
less-frequently-visited locales that are wonderful.  No one should go
to Europe without having read it.

"Europe 101" provides, in enjoyably irreverant fashion, the background
and context of Europe so you can appreciate what you're seeing.
There's nothing worse than spending all that time and money, and
wondering what you've seen.

The "Best of Europe" and "Let's Go" series provide excellent "guide 
books" for where to go, where to stay, where to eat, getting around, and 
what to see.  We'll not all agree with all their opinions.  Read *both* 
"Best of Europe" and "Let's Go", otherwise you'll have only one biased 
opinion.  With both, you'll have two opinions.  You'll be better able to 
sort out what interests *you*.  Each has companion books covering 
specific countries (or groups of countries) in detail.  The budget 
traveller will find lots of suggested hotels and restaurants.

If you're thinking of using a rail pass, Rick Steves also publishes a
*free* 48 page "Back Door Guide to European Railpasses." (206 771-8303), 
or via AOL at 'ricksteves'.

All should be available in some libraries, many bookstores, and at
most campus- or near-campus bookstores.

If you're not interested in hostels, camping or cheap hotels, Fodor's 
guides provide a useful 3rd opinion about what to see and give good 
information about hotels and restaurants beyond the budget scope of 
Steves and "Let's Go".

The widely-available Michelin Green Guides give *the* best coverage of
virtually every sight.  Steves' "Mona Winks" describes self-guided,
efficient, tours of the 21 most important museums and museum-like
sites in Europe.

Berlitz' "Italian (German, Hungarian, etc.) for Travellers" pocket
guides give useful introductions to languages.  Study them before your
trip and you'll be armed with a few words of something besides
English, and they're useful references on site.  A "Finnish/English"
(or whatever) pocket dictionary is valuable as well.  With modest
effort, you'll be amazed at the useful vocabulary you can add each
day, and the smiles you can bring to people's faces.

Many are available at a discount in AOL's Travel Books section.  If
you can't find them locally, these and many other travel books, maps,
and other travel references can be obtained by phone or mail order
from Forsyth Travel Library in suburban Kansas City, phone
800-367-7984.  (I'm only a customer, no other interest.)  You can also
get Rick Steve's books by mail or phone from: John Muir Publications,
P.O. Box 613, Santa Fe, NM 87504 Phone 800-888-7504.

About planning:  An acquaintance asked, "Is there any sense in
*planning* a European (2-month) trip?  My boyfriend and I are very
spontaneous and impulsive; besides, while we're over there I'm told
we'll meet other travelers and find out from them what's really neat."

I don't buy Forrest Gump's mother's 'box of chocolates' theory, so I'd 
want to think a little about how I'm going to spend a few thousand 
dollars.  I might also wonder how, when I'm on my way *to* somewhere, I'm 
going to meet people coming *from* there.

I believe in flexibility (one of the reasons I've avoided packaged,
escorted tours.)  Yet, there are reasons why you may want to plan
your trip to the half-day level.

Much of your enjoyment is captive to when transport runs, night train 
schedules, museum closing days, and the opening and closing 
hours of galleries and other attractions.  Where do you want to be?  What 
do you want to see when you're there?  When do you want to be there?

Without planning you've a high risk of missing things you really want
to see, and spending more money than needed.  Also, you risk diversion
to secondary attractions if you haven't done some 'triage' on *your*
priorities.  Finally, you'll want alternatives.  What if it rains when
you plan to picnic or visit an outdoor attraction?  What if there's a
strike (not unusual in Europe.)  What if Paris is a bore?

Be flexible, but understand random advice from strangers is only valuable 
if you can compare it against something, like your own knowledge, 
priorities and plans.  Going to Rome and haven't heard of Ostia Antica?  
Not for want of someone discovering it while you're over there. It's an 
excellent excavated city that's rarely visited (even by Italians), but 
*is* recommended by good guidebooks and experts on Rome.  Don't know 
where to find a bed for under $8 with a 'drop-dead' view in the heart of 
tourist territory in the Swiss Alps?  It's possible, and a good guidebook 
will tell you where.  And while other travelers will tell you what 
delighted *them*, they can't know what will delight you.  Do be aware 
that all guide books have prejudices as well, but the best are 
comprehensive.  If you read a couple you can draw your own conclusions 
about what *you* want to see.

So, make planning a priority, but don't make the plan *the* priority.
Having prepared, be flexible.  Once you know the options and have time
on the ground to add your own impressions to what you've read in
books, be spontaneous, impulsive, and, above all, enjoy!

Copyright 1996 E.J. Gehrlein

Questions or comments about these opinions?
Let me know: edgehrmkc@aol.com