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Travel

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,219 posts)

3. I heartily recommend that first-time visitors to any place in Europe buy

Reply to raccoon (Original post)

Sat Feb 1, 2014, 11:28 AM

Feb 2014

the Rick Steves guidebooks.

There are other guidebooks, but Rick Steves is especially good for inexperienced travelers.

I used his England guidebook (I hadn't been to Europe since I was a teenager), and he even lists things like what bus to take to get to various sights in London or tells you that you should book a hotel in Wells, England, if you want to stay for the evensong service because the last bus out of town leaves before it's over. What's not worth seeing. What the scams are. How to avoid making cultural mistakes. What things will be different from the States.

Much more practical than a lot of the other guidebooks.

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Highlight:

Travel question. Instead of an escorted tour, any of yall ever book at a hotel in [View all] raccoon Feb 2014 OP

We booked a Best Western 3 blocks from the Louvre liberal N proud Feb 2014 #1

I generally don't book anything in advance when I go to Paris Major Nikon Feb 2014 #2

Giverny and Versailles both wonderful mainer Feb 2014 #4

To really get the most of the museums I think it's best to do research ahead of time Major Nikon Feb 2014 #6

I couldn't agree more. I am an inveterate museum goer and have been to many of the greatest in CTyankee Feb 2014 #12

I heartily recommend that first-time visitors to any place in Europe buy Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2014 #3

Not a fan of escorted tours, so I would definitely do cbayer Feb 2014 #5

Just saying 'bon jour" to a shopkeeper is key mainer Feb 2014 #7

I have done both escorted tour and booked independently. I will say that not all escorted tours CTyankee Feb 2014 #11

Thanks for your suggestions. Checked out some French language CDs raccoon Feb 2014 #8

où est les toilettes, madame/mssr? works also, leave out the d'antan svp uppityperson Feb 2014 #9

I did that in Brussels. Found a great airfare+5 star hotel right near Grand Place and CTyankee Feb 2014 #10

Except Florence??? elleng Feb 2014 #13

Oh, yes. Florence is singular. It has been called "a museum of itself" and that is apt. CTyankee Feb 2014 #14

Will look for your review, elleng Feb 2014 #15

Check open days. We saved - think it was our last Tuesday Laura PourMeADrink May 2014 #16