Rick Steves' Prague & The Czech Republic

Of the three books we took - Rick Steve's Prague, Fodors, and DK this was the most useful. The book is easy to use and easy to read beforehand. I felt prepared when we stepped off the plane. His tours of the major sights are well organized with very good info. His maps are helpful, I referred to them constantly. He himself recommends buying a city map to supplement the book, so do I. We also took his advice when we visited nearby Kutna Hora, the book was very good there as well. Fodors was a little better with food, so bring that one too. When it comes to travel we are do-it-yourselfers. His book was just what we needed. Read the fine print, he even covers details like car rental, money exchange, and telephone.

Reading this book has helped me understand why Prague has become a top tourist destination. Now I, too, want to explore the architecture, music, food, and history of what sounds like an amazing city. With this book I feel comfortable planning a visit, even without knowing a word of the language. Having used other of Rick Steves' books in the past, I trust him to steer me to enjoyable, safe, and affordable experiences.

As in all of his books, Steves states his approach to travel clearly: he doesn't cover everything, just the "best" places, the best according to him, of course. My tastes and orientation align with his (interesting, moderately priced travel, including as much local immersion as is reasonable), so I rely on his books to provide the wonderful backbones of great trips. For visiting places other than his "best" I use a more comprehensive guide book, like Lonely Planet, in addition to (rather than instead of) his.

-Lynn Michelsohn, author of...Read more

This book provides an excellent overview of the city by sections that include maps, restaurants and hotels, places of interest, and transportation. I liked his helpful comments on money exchange - best to use your ATM card and be sure to let your bank know the country where you will be using it before you leave - (with the exchange rate in the back of the book)and tips on everything from tipping to enjoying a picnic lunch. You can tell he is familiar with the city. His advice to eat at local restaurants is good and one doesn't have to go far to stumble upon one. Whether walking or taking public transportation, Prague is an easy city to get around in and it's reputed beauty doesn't disappoint.