Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels, 7th Edition

Rick Steves' Amsterdam, Bruges, and Brussels, 7th Edition Summary:

By Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw
Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing
Number Of Pages: 514
Publication Date: 2009-03-01
ISBN-10 / ASIN: 1598801031
ISBN-13 / EAN: 9781598801033
Product Description:
Check out works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh and bike along canals fringed with Dutch elm trees—with Rick Steves’ Amsterdam, Bruges & Brussels, travelers can experience the best of this world-class destination—economically and hassle-free. From historic sights to progressive politics, the Netherlands offers endless sights and activities, and no one knows how to experience it all without wasting time and money better than Rick Steves. Rick covers the famous destinations, such as the Anne Frank House and the Red Light District, as well as a number of off-the-beaten path options that will take away from the city and into a countryside filled with windmills and old farm houses. So whether it’s enjoying Flemish art in Bruges or some of thein Amsterdam, Rick Steves’ Amsterdam, Bruges and Brussels leads the way.

Summary: detailed and accurate
Rating: 5

We carried the Frommers and the Rick Steves, but found the Rick Steves to contain more detailed, personal knowledge, was easy to follow, and his maps were clear and useful. It felt like he was standing beside us, anticipating our questions and concerns, giving us tips, etc. We have always used Frommers or Fodors and have been satisfied with both, but we are now Rick Steve's converts. He also gives lots of historical background which we found interesting and helpful. We found ourselves, after a while, using only the Rick Steves book. ( An interesting sidebar: The Frommers' book, when discussing the Anne Frank House, such an important and much visited site in Amsterdam, the author failed to even mention the basic fact that the Frank family was Jewish and that Anne and her family were persecuted because they were Jews. )

Summary: Insider info for your trip
Rating: 5

My fiancee and I used this book on our trip to Amsterdam and Bruge and it paid for itself in transportation savings. Whether by alerting us to the use of stippenkart for the trams or the easiest way to use public transportation to get to the main train station so we didn't have to use a taxi (again) and pay an obscene fee, we were in the know and grateful to be so. I already had a good idea of what I wanted to see in Amsterdam, but reading through the book gave me great ideas for some other unusual things to see (tour an actual private houseboat in the canals and the pipe museum, the low down on the "coffe shops"). Yeah, you'll look like a typical tourist dweeb carting this thing around everywhere, but the cultural notes and extra goodies you'll see from doing so are well worth it. Great example: one day we stumbled on the Red Light District on our own and wandered around and checked things out. Later we studied the map and details the author had laid out for the "Red Light District Walk" and thought Woo-ee! We missed the good stuff! We went back and saw some great things we would have otherwise missed.

Summary: Rick Steves' AnsterdamBruges and Brussels
Rating: 5

This book is amazing and gives an indepth review of what to see. It also is completely revised from the earlier editions. I prefer Steves' books to any other travel books on Europe.