Guidebook authors would be the first to tell you that they cannot keep current on all the latest food, lodging, and entertainment bargains. But they can tell you about well-established budget haunts, and the methods for getting a good deal in a particular area. Here, I've featured guidebooks for Europe. But most of these authors/publishers offer destination guides for all continents.
Let's Go Western Europe
Let's Go started as a service to Harvard students on break and has grown into one of the best resources available to a budget traveler. The writers have a deep appreciation for the classic sights but also seem to understand many of us cannot afford to pay a classic price to see these things. From world-class museums to the wonders of nature, this volume directs you to the best for less.
Europe Through the Back Door
Rick Steves lays out a budget travel strategy as clearly and effectively as you'll find anywhere. The "back door" concept Steves champions dictates living as do the locals--not only to save money, but to experience the culture as well. Some people are less than thrilled with his lodging recommendations, but his overall advice is sound.
Fodor's Europe's Great Cities
Fodor's Europe has been around for nearly 60 years, and that fact alone should testify to its usefulness. This is not a budget travel volume, but since many travelers are interested in the occasional splurge along with their bargains, this guide is worth considering. The authors tend to live in the cities about which they write. Newsweek calls it "the king of guidebooks."
Europe on $85 a Day
Many consider Arthur Frommer the modern father of budget travel. His first book was Europe on $5 a Day, which shows you how long he's been advising travelers. Frommer's many volumes cater to a variety of budgets and tastes. Some say Frommer has strayed from his strict budget travel roots, but his advice on everything from lodging to museum visits is well worth considering.
Michelin: The Red Guide to Europe
Michelin is not a name you associate with budget travel. But if the foundation of saving money is good planning, consider the detail its Red Guide offers: Ten thousand addresses under the lodging category alone, internationally acclaimed restaurant ratings, and nearly 1200 maps. This guide covers only restaurants/hotels, yet it still tends to cost a bit more.
