The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget

by Jonathan Bousfield, Tim Burford, Lucy Cowie

The new full-color Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget is the ultimate guide to exploring the continent without breaking the bank. Detailed color maps, stunning photographs, and in-depth coverage of how to get around go hand-in-hand with suggested itineraries and authoritative accounts of every attraction. Plan your European trip with the help of itineraries for each region and highlights for each country, from island-hopping in Greece to exploring Istanbul's edgy Beyoglu area, and from clubbing in Berlin to soaking up the sun on a Mediterranean beach. This guide covers the best things to see, do, and experience in 39 countries, including Ukraine, Morocco, Turkey, Scandinavia, and all major western and eastern European countries. This book is packed with useful tips, clear and comprehensive travel information, recommendations for budget hostels, cafés, restaurants, clubs, and bars in every major city, plus information on great local festivals and outdoor adventures. For those who fancy busting the budget once in awhile, "Treat Yourself" boxes cover slightly more expensive hotels, restaurants, and other attractions, such as spas and cocktail bars. Make the most of your European adventure with The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget .

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

1280 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Sonja Isaacson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the other reviewer stated, this would be a great guide for first time travelers to Europe. I am not convinced on the "budget" aspect though aside from suggesting campgrounds and lower-priced hotels, especially since about every page had a "splurge" item. But if you're considering a number of places, this is a great book just to try and compare everywhere at once.

[Gordon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only good if you use it as a starting point. Always google places you want to visit and use trip advisor to determine interesting attractions. Several places named are closed, prices are misquoted. Best/cheapest hostels and restaurants left off.

One only wishes Let's Go would come back.

[Grey Klee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will probably never find myself traveling to Europe but I loved this read. It had a quick history timeline to each area, as well as information on how each place varies from how things are here in the states (such as a head nod means "no" and a quick shake of the head means "yes" in Bulgeria).

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Covers everywhere, but nothing in great depth. A good starting point for more research to a European break.

[Wayward Child · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough and well-thought out. Will probably be leaving for my European adventure in two months' time and I can't wait.

[Paddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a generally useful guidebook, but it suffers from two principle flaws:
1. Not enough price information. A "budget" guidebook should not list train and bus options between towns without giving their price. It makes planning very difficult. While they give some price info for accommodation and restaurants, it was not as specific as it could be. Publishers: don't list a single good, service or experience in a budget guidebook without listing the cost!
2. Too broad. Since it attempts to cover the whole continent in a single book, this means there is very little information on any given city. While I should have known this when I bought the book, it also would be better if they offered regional (Eastern and Western Europe) multi-country books.

Again, this was a decent guidebook without any significant flaws beyond those two, but solely because of flaw #1 I'll be going with Lonely Planet next time.

[Laura De · Rating 5 out of 5]

My faithful guide has not yet let me down!!! Sure, it's not heavey on background or details, but it has all the countries you'll want to see and all the important tourist spots in (at least) the capital cities. It's been very accurate on prices and transport (for 2009) and although this can't be the only guide you'll use for a long trip, it's great for weekends or short stopovers.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

huge travel book
first impression that it is of no use .. to much information in one place, so the content cant be that organized and complete.
And yes it's not.
Seams to be the worst possible travel guide ever, you can buy it just to have an overview of the country where you wanna go, then buy a specific/per country travel guide
but i don't recommend it.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have to see how useful this will be while I'm travelling. Not a lot of details on some places, but a good overview.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that they had a lot of details from local people and they included main attractions as well as things off the "beaten" path that would be less money and less crowded.

[Martin Linkov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful, like encyclopedia of just the stuff you need plus phoned

[Sia · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you want a general overview of the sights to see, or some lodging idea it is a good book. Otherwise, it's not worth the money. It does not give specific details, so you can't rely on it.

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

do yourself a a favor, and don't be a cheapskate and try to save money by buying a general guidebook when you need one that provides more than 6 pages on major cities.