Books Rick Steves' Germany and Austria 2008
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Perfect if you are planning a "normal" trip (a month or less)
The best description of the book is captured in the introduction of the book itself: "If you plan a month or less in this region and have a normal appetite for information, this book is all you need". That is absolutely true, and very likely even if you spend more time than a month. Yes, the Lonely Planet, the Rough Guide, and other books out there tend to have more information, but the bottom line is that there is so much to see, and if you are touring and have limited time, and do not intent to spent 3 weeks in the same place, then this is all that you need and this book will give you the best and assures you will have an unforgettable experience by pointing you to the best and most representative things that should be seen.

I spent 2 weeks touring Austria and Germany (Tirol, Bavaria, the Rhine valley, Cologne and Nuremberg) by car during August 2008 and this book was a goldmine. Truly!

I typically get two books when planing a trip and travel, and almost always one of them is a Lonely Planet book (I must admit I just love their format and consistency). It was no different this time. I had with me Rick's book and the Lonely Planet books on Austria and Germany. Regardless, I ended up using almost exclusively Rick's book.

There are so many essential, invaluable general tips (on accommodations, sights, how to prepare for the visit, ticket info, how to beat the crowds, etc.) that save me so much time and money that in the end paid for the book many, many times its cost!

Another aspect, that many other travel books just get so wrong most of the time by being out of date, was the recommendations for eating and sleeping; they just worked great for me almost exclusively - they truly were as described in the book.

A cautionary note on the time given in the book as required to perform certain visits... I found them to be on the overly optimistic side... I suspect many people will find them close to a "marathon" and that they require a more leisurely pace. Regardless, they can be done. Just keep in mind that you might want to budget for extra time. If you've seen Rick's documentary on how he makes his travel show movies you'll understand why... he's not your typical individual and it is amazing how much energy he seems to have, hence, no wonder the overly optimistic estimate of what one can do in a day.

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Rating: - A must have for Germany/Austria
Rick Steve's does an amazing job with these countries. We spent time in Munich, Salzburg and Vienna and used this book for each city and for stops in between (we had a car). His suggestions we spot on and had all the things that you should do with all the insider tips. I would now buy any of his books for any other place I travel to in Europe. He does a great job with giving some history, but not too wordy. You should buy this book! Happy travels.

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Rating: - Rick Steve's Germany & Austria 2008
Just got back from Oktoberfest in Germany. This book is invaluable to the traveler that wants to travel on their own. We used this book like a bible. I've been to Europe several times and have always use Rick's books and they really do come in handy.

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Rating: - rick steves' does it again
While we've not travelled yet...this book is full of helpful routes...places to see and to miss. Places to stay, good info on things to do, what to eat and where. We've used the internet to view areas that Rick mentions with the Trip Advisor and 9 out 10 times he's right on it.