Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While the Irish look bemusedly at some of our Yankee excesses—and worriedly at oth-
ers—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 vacation—with the finesse of an independent, ex-
perienced traveler.
Thanks, and have a grand holiday!
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 casual...“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 transport-
ation costs. In many ways, spending more money only builds a thicker wall between you
andwhatyoutraveledsofartosee.Europeisaculturalcarnival,andtimeaftertime,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 communicating
with the people. Never sacrifice sleep, nutrition, safety, or cleanliness to save money. Sim-
ply 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,maybeyoudon'tknowenoughaboutit.Seekthetruth.Recognizetouristtraps.Give
a culture the benefit of your open mind. See things as different, but not better or worse.
Any culture has plenty to share.
Of course, travel, like the world, is a series of hills and valleys. Be fanatically positive
and militantly optimistic. If something's not to your liking, change your liking.
Travel can make you a happier American, as well as a citizen of the world. Our Earth is
home to seven billion equally precious people. It's humbling to travel and find that other
people don't have the “American Dream”—they have their own dreams. Europeans like
us, but with all due respect, they wouldn't trade passports.
Thoughtful travel engages us with the world. In tough economic times, it reminds us
what is truly important. By broadening perspectives, travel teaches new ways to measure
quality of life.
