Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Europeans generally like Americans. But if there is a negative aspect to
their image of Americans, it is that we are loud, wasteful, ethnocentric, too in-
formal (which can seem disrespectful), and a bit naive. While Europeans look
bemusedly at some of our Yankee excesses—and worriedly at others—they
nearly always afford us individual travelers all the warmth we deserve.
Judging from all the happy feedback I receive from travelers who have
used this topic, it's safe to assume you'll enjoy a great, affordable vaca-
tion—with the finesse of an independent, experienced traveler.
Thanks, and happy travels!
From
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door
Travel is intensified living—maximum thrills per minute and one of the last
great sources of legal adventure. Travel is freedom. It's recess, and we need
it.
Experiencing the real Europe requires catching it by surprise, going casu-
al...“through the Back Door.”
Affording travel is a matter of priorities. (Make do with the old car.) You
can eat and sleep—simply, safely, and enjoyably—anywhere in Europe for
$120 a day plus transportation costs. In many ways, spending more money
only builds a thicker wall between you and what you traveled so far to see.
Europe is a cultural carnival, and time after time, you'll find that its best acts
are free and the best seats are the cheap ones.
A tight budget forces you to travel close to the ground, meeting and com-
municating with the people. Never sacrifice sleep, nutrition, safety, or clean-
liness to save money. Simply enjoy the local-style alternatives to expensive
hotels and restaurants.
Connecting with people carbonates your experience. Extroverts have more
fun. If your trip is low on magic moments, kick yourself and make things
happen. If you don't enjoy a place, maybe you don't know enough about it.
Seek the truth. Recognize tourist traps. Give a culture the benefit of your open
