CINXE.COM

<html xmlns:tvservices="http://www.msnbc.com"><head><script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=7YQSqjSh" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://msnbc.msn.com:80/id/7656071/","20060619070022","https://web.archive.org/","web","https://web-static.archive.org/_static/", "1150700422"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=p7PEIJWi" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web-static.archive.org/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"><meta http-equiv="pics-label" content="(pics-1.1 "http://www.icra.org/ratingsv02.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (nz 1 vz 1 lz 1 oz 1 cz 1 ) "http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html" l gen true for "http://www.msnbc.msn.com" r (l 0 n 0 s 0 v 0 ))"><meta name="description" content="One of the most important purchases you’ll make when you head to Europe this summer is a guidebook."><meta name="Search.Document" content="story"><meta name="Search.Title" content="Europe-bound? Pack these guides"><meta name="Search.Byline" content="Charles Leocha"><meta name="Search.Source" content="Tripso.com "><meta name="Search.Updated" content="Fri, 03 Jun 2005 18:39:00 GMT"><meta name="Search.Section" content="Europe "><title>Europe-bound? Pack these guides - Europe - MSNBC.com</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20060619070022cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20060619070022cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7181924/"><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Europe Travel" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/6559192/device/rss/rss.xml" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"/><link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="MSNBC - Top Stories" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://rss.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032091/device/rss/rss.xml"><script src="/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script type="text/javascript">gEnabled=false;</script></head><body leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://ads1.msn.com/library/dap.js"></script><span id="URholder" style="display:none"><script language="javascript" src="/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/msnrrua.js"></script><img src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnrrua/b25.gif" border="0" id="Rating" usemap="#RatingMap" originalimg="/images/msnrrua/b25.gif" style="cursor:hand;"/><map name="RatingMap" hp="/rate.ashx" ct="0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs" ii="CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d" it="long" ai="7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938" key="rr3%2508%2507K%25051%257ckx%2506xfZ%2540%2512b6H%2505%250f" hc="-1006394871" rtxt="You rated this item %userrating%"><area shape="RECT" coords="0,0,6,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y05.gif', 'Rating', 'zLnvdrWNHTsteJNWflKPhg%3d%3d', 0, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=zLnvdrWNHTsteJNWflKPhg%3d%3d&c=0&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d1%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 0.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y05.gif" v="0.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="6,0,12,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y10.gif', 'Rating', 'z8l27fYfDzG41w7Jj7F7lw%3d%3d', 1, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=z8l27fYfDzG41w7Jj7F7lw%3d%3d&c=1&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d2%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 1" i="/images/msnrrua/y10.gif" v="1"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="12,0,18,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y15.gif', 'Rating', 'dvur928V7xI%2fPL%2bLiwNZUw%3d%3d', 2, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=dvur928V7xI%2fPL%2bLiwNZUw%3d%3d&c=2&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d3%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 1.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y15.gif" v="1.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="18,0,25,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y20.gif', 'Rating', 'FtWyJLd42cD4xEFzJtXpSg%3d%3d', 3, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=FtWyJLd42cD4xEFzJtXpSg%3d%3d&c=3&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d4%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 2" i="/images/msnrrua/y20.gif" v="2"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="25,0,31,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y25.gif', 'Rating', 'ZygwqTv1moDPuxRHXVYvdQ%3d%3d', 4, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=ZygwqTv1moDPuxRHXVYvdQ%3d%3d&c=4&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d5%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 2.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y25.gif" v="2.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="31,0,38,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y30.gif', 'Rating', 'MFDxCer8TjJVTOsNyDIhUA%3d%3d', 5, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=MFDxCer8TjJVTOsNyDIhUA%3d%3d&c=5&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d6%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 3" i="/images/msnrrua/y30.gif" v="3"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="38,0,45,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y35.gif', 'Rating', 'oOZ8c5tDdJPAVQCox7Q%2f6Q%3d%3d', 6, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=oOZ8c5tDdJPAVQCox7Q%2f6Q%3d%3d&c=6&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d7%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 3.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y35.gif" v="3.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="45,0,51,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y40.gif', 'Rating', 'EZsIDj63igiyM4oNu%2f2Fxg%3d%3d', 7, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=EZsIDj63igiyM4oNu%2f2Fxg%3d%3d&c=7&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d8%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 4" i="/images/msnrrua/y40.gif" v="4"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="51,0,58,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y45.gif', 'Rating', 'NdI2ORJDFLKbygwOaigs0w%3d%3d', 8, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=NdI2ORJDFLKbygwOaigs0w%3d%3d&c=8&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d9%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 4.5" i="/images/msnrrua/y45.gif" v="4.5"></area><area shape="RECT" coords="58,0,63,12" onmouseover="UCI(this,'Rating')" onmouseout="URI('Rating')" onclick="return UR('/images/msnrrua/y50.gif', 'Rating', 'UMngSEMXlBLEK48hdDWV4g%3d%3d', 9, this)" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/rate.ashx?ct=0fQ%2fRL7a%2ff%2fk%2fnaO9vV%2f%2bmuqK8qoh6K7dFMbC%2buk6d8niTDyScCKmo5%2bc32I36Fs&ii=CDZiazokAq4tpY5NBhgi7A%3d%3d&it=long&ai=7f333340-ad1e-4978-9b5d-f92512fa6938&r=UMngSEMXlBLEK48hdDWV4g%3d%3d&c=9&u=0&ru=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fDefault.aspx%3fid%3d7656071%26uart%3d10%26uarc%3dRating" alt="Rate it 5" i="/images/msnrrua/y50.gif" v="5"></area></map><img id="rrir_Rating" src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnrrua/1x1.gif" width="1" height="1" style="position:absolute;"><input type="hidden" id="rrur_Rating" style="behavior:url(/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7656071/#default#userData)"><script language="javascript" defer="true">UGR('Rating')</script><script>var usrRating=2.5;var totalUsers=69</script></span><script type="text/javascript">s_prop41=usrRating+"|"+totalUsers;</script><div id="wrapper" class="w779"><div><a href="#skipnav" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">Skip navigation</a><script>pd_top('Story','html40','7656071','Europe-bound? Pack these guides','One of the most important purchases you’ll make when you head to Europe this summer is a guidebook.','Travel','Europe','','1','2','14:39, 03/06/05','Charles Leocha','nopic','','','6559192','69966','', '1',0);pd_om('msnbcom','100');</script><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://c.msn.com/c.gif?NC=1316&NA=1154&PS=69966&PI=7329&DI=305&TP=http%3a%2f%2fmsnbc.msn.com%2fid%2f7656071%2f" width="0" height="0" border="0" alt=""/><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/js/s_code_remote.js"></script><div id="nm_c1" class="nmX"></div><div id="nm_c2" class="nmX"></div><div id="nm_c3" class="nmX"></div><div id="nm_c4" class="nmX"></div></div><div id="head" class="w779"><table width="779" height="105" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="adbar"><tr><td align="center" valign="top"><script>ad_dap(90,728,'&PG=NBCTEF&AP=1390');</script></td></tr></table><div class="dMSNME_1"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="w779 pb9"><tr><td class="container" nowrap="true"><form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/" id="search" method="get" onsubmit="return sr_DoSearch()"><fieldset><input type="radio" class="ml0t10" name="search" value="Web"/> <label class="v4" accesskey="s" for="q">Web</label><input class="ml0t10" type="radio" name="search" value="MSNBC" checked="true"/> <label class="v4" accesskey="s" for="q">MSNBC</label><input type="text" id="q" name="q" size="14" maxlength="150"/><input type="submit" class="button" name="submit" value="Search"/><input type="hidden" name="id" value="11881780"/><input name="FORM" value="AE" type="hidden"/><input type="hidden" name="os" value="0"/><input type="hidden" name="gs" value="1"/><input type="hidden" name="p" value="1"/></fieldset></form></td><td width="10px"></td><td class="container netnav pt9" nowrap="true"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://alerts.msnbc.com/" rel="nofollow">Alerts</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7422001/" rel="nofollow">Newsletters</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/" rel="nofollow">RSS</a>  <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/" rel="nofollow">Help</a>  </td><td align="right"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td class="container netnav pt9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/00" rel="nofollow">MSN Home</a></td><td width="10px"></td><td class="container netnav pt9"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/02?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Hotmail</a></td><td width="10px"></td><td class="container netnav pt9"></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/14" rel="nofollow"><noscript><img alt="MSN.com" id="logo" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://sc.msn.com/global/c/lgpos/MSFT_pos.gif" height="35" width="118"/></noscript><script type="text/javascript">sr_UpdHead();</script></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="page" class="fL"><div id="mbody" class="fL"><div id="nav" class="w130 fL"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><tr><td><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/"><img width="130" height="90" border="0" alt="MSNBC News" src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/logo01.gif"></a></td></tr><tr><td align="right"></td></tr><tr><td align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="122" class="nmTB"><tr><td height="20" class="nmIBD" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032122" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLBD" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/">Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="12518263" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12518269/">24-Hour Layover</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="7394114" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7394115/">Travel Tips</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="7184224" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7184213/">Family Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="9074927" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9074921/">Golf Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="7184437" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7184434/">Road Trips</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="12465815" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12465814/">Summer Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="10913770" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10913769/">Down Under</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="6559192" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6559190/">Europe Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="6576212" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6576217/">Active Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="8077111" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8077103/">Travel Deals</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="6629189" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6845110/">Luxury Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="6891023" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6891010/">Cruising Vacations</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="6559151" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6559150/">Business Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="9521377" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9521376/">Destinations</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIB" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="9065451" nm_suf="" cm_sf="Ex" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLB" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6981409/">Your World Photos</a></td></tr></table><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="130" class="nmTS"><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="4001724" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8004316/">Video</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032524" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/">U.S. News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032506" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507/">World News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032071" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072/">Business</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032112" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032113/">Sports</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032083" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084/">Entertainment</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032117" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/">Tech / Science</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3088327" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076/">Health</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032127" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3362034/">Weather</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032122" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/">Travel</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032104" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032105/">Blogs Etc.</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3104486" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3948437/">Local News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032541" nm_suf="/site/newsweek" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/">Newsweek</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="5183445" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4999736/">Multimedia</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="7956945" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most Popular</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIP">NBC NEWS</td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3096433" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/">MSNBC TV</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032632" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/">Today Show</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032618" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/">Nightly News</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032607" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/">Meet the Press</a></td></tr><tr><td height="20" class="nmIS" id="nmb" name="nmb" nm_sn="3032599" nm_suf="" cm_sf="" cm="NewsMenuL1"><a class="nmLS" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/">Dateline NBC</a></td></tr></table><script>nm_init('/id/', '1', 'useropt', '');</script></td></tr><script>nm_st('1');</script></table><div style="padding-bottom:15;"><map name="map10641979"><area coords="0,0,130,22" shape="rect" alt="MSNBC Classifieds" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5289372/" id="gted" ce="1-1-1"><area coords="0,23,130,42" shape="rect" alt="Shopping" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://shopping.msn.com/partnercategory.aspx?catId=646&ptnrId=1&ptnrdata=134&0dm=C102P"><area coords="0,43,130,62" shape="rect" alt="Jobs" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://msn.careerbuilder.com/PLI/R/FindJobs.htm?siteid=CBMSNBC017"><area coords="0,63,130,91" shape="rect" alt="Dating with Perfectmatch.com" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.perfectmatch.com/trk.asp?CID=6172"><area coords="0,92,130,112" shape="rect" alt="Autos" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.cars.com/go/index.jsp?aff=msnbc"><area coords="0,112,129,142" shape="rect" alt="Real Estate with HomePages.com" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://clk.atdmt.com/USE/go/msnnkhpg0040000006use/direct/01/"></map><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Sections/zClassifieds/newsmenu_classifieds4b.gif,standard.jpg" vspace="0" hspace="0" usemap="#map10641979"></div><div style="padding-bottom:15;"><div class="textSmallgrey" style="text-align:center;width:122">Advertisement</div> <table width="122" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td><script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://shopping.msn.com/i/ptnrContent.aspx?ptnrId=1&ptnrData=10039&mapKey=TRAVELACOL"></SCRIPT </td></tr> </table></div><div style="text-align:center;padding-top:15;"></div><div style="text-align:center;padding-top:15;"><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3054039")</script><div class="box_3054039" style="width:122;"><script></script><table width="122" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3054039"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3054039"><div class="textSmallBold"> RESOURCE GUIDE</div></td></tr></table><table width="122" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3054039"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3054039"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textSmall"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0AD00026/801313.1??HCType=1&CID=801313&PG=NBCRG2" target="_blank">Dating with Perfectmatch.com</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textSmall"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://clk.atdmt.com/USE/go/msnnkhpg0040000008use/direct/01/" target="_blank">Find your dream home today!</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textSmall"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://shopping.msn.com/content/shp/?ctid=196">Shopping</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div></div><div id="content" class="w649 fL clrR"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="649"><tr><td height="36" bgcolor="#26386B" class="ff1 cDEF p12"><span class="f65"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/" class="lk1">MSNBC Home</a></span><span class="cFC0 b f70"> » </span><span class="f65"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/" class="lk1">Travel</a></span><span class="cFC0 b f70"> » </span><span class="f65"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6559190/" class="lk1">Europe</a></span></td><td width="77" align="right" bgcolor="#26386B" class="t4 f65 cFFF"> Sponsored by </td><td width="123" bgcolor="#26386B"><script>ad_dap(30,120,'&PG=NBCTEH&AP=1025');</script></td></tr></table><div class="linkSubSectionTab bgCCC p13"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.weatherbug.com/YourPhotos/MSNBC/YourPhotos.aspx?zcode=z4719&photo_tab=2&lid=YPSSUBMIT2">SHARE YOUR PHOTOS</a> | SOUND OFF: <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://boards.live.com/MSNBCboards/board.aspx?BoardID=512">BAD TRIPS</a> |<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://boards.live.com/MSNBCboards/board.aspx?BoardID=471">SUMMER VACATIONS</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://boards.live.com/MSNBCboards/board.aspx?BoardID=509">CRUISES</a>| <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://boards.live.com/MSNBCboards/board.aspx?BoardID=511">DESTINATIONS</a></div><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/SiteManagement/SiteWide/Images/MSNBC10 section front headers/Travel/europe_hdr01.gif" height="25" width="649" vspace="0" hspace="0" alt="Europe"><div class="clr"></div><a name="skipnav"></a><h1>Europe-bound? Pack these guides</h1><h2>Must have guidebooks to make the most of your vacation</h2><div class="p14"><div id="finalPos"></div><div class="WCCol w300 fR clrR"><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619070022cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619070022cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> Most Popular</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr><td><table cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" class="headlineList2"><tr><td id="boxB_3053751_tab1" align="center"><span class="bulletRed" id="boxB_3053751_tab1_bt">• </span>Most Viewed</td><td><img scr="/images/cleardot.gif" width="2" height="1"></td><td id="boxB_3053751_tab2" align="center"><span class="bulletRed" id="boxB_3053751_tab2_bt">• </span>Top Rated</td><td><img scr="/images/cleardot.gif" width="2" height="1"></td><td id="boxB_3053751_tab3" align="center"><span class="bulletRed" id="boxB_3053751_tab3_bt">• </span>Most E-mailed</td></tr></table></td></tr><tr valign="top" id="boxB_3053751_tab1_c"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13361343/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">North Korea likely to have fueled missile</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13285579/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Green Beret regrets revealing Aiken encounter</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13380881/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Witnesses: U.S. soldiers held by Iraq gunmen</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13404319/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Oil company execs defend high pump prices</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13409649/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Wade’s monster night gives Heat series lead</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most viewed on MSNBC.com</a></b></span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top" id="boxB_3053751_tab2_c" style="display:none;"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13355796/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Disaster relief firm's 9/11 fraud not prosecuted</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13351335/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Gates turns focus to global health giving</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13370762/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Dirty rats prove a little grime is good for health</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13374443/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Fledgling U.S. missile shield largely unproven</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13378156/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Navy thinks it’s found long-lost WWII sub</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most viewed on MSNBC.com</a></b></span></div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top" id="boxB_3053751_tab3_c" style="display:none;"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13119225/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Episcopalians elect 1st female national leader</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13361343/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">North Korea likely to have fueled missile</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13410241/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Report: Nokia, Siemens to combine operations</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13404319/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">Oil company execs defend high pump prices</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10737777/" id="gted" ce="Link-1">The fittest and fattest cities</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><b><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/">Most viewed on MSNBC.com</a></b></span></div></div></td></tr></table><script>pop_pushTabBox('boxB_3053751');</script></div></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619070022cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> Share your opinion</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/TRAVEL/Tz300/Tz300_Destinations.jpg" height="45" width="298" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://boards.live.com/MSNBCboards/board.aspx?BoardID=511" target="_blank">Sing the praises of the well-trod paradise or give a shout-out to the road less-traveled.</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><link href="/web/20060619070022cs_/http://msnbc.msn.com/css/html40.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"><script src="/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbc.msn.com/js/std.js"></script><script>var cssList = new Array();</script><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> YOUR PHOTOS</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td height="100%"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060522/060522_trav_colorbox_pic.thumb.jpg" style="border:1px solid #000000;" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://weatherbug.msnbc.msn.com/YourPhotos/MSNBC/YourPhotos.aspx?no_cookie_zip=&no_cookie_stat=&no_cookie_world_stat=&zcode=z4719&category_id=270&lid=YPFCL" target="_blank">Beaches</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://weatherbug.msnbc.msn.com/YourPhotos/MSNBC/YourPhotos.aspx?no_cookie_zip=&no_cookie_stat=&no_cookie_world_stat=&zcode=z4719&category_id=213&lid=YPFCL" target="_blank">Sunsets</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://weatherbug.msnbc.msn.com/YourPhotos/MSNBC/YourPhotos.aspx?no_cookie_zip=&no_cookie_stat=&no_cookie_world_stat=&zcode=z4719&category_id=311&lid=YPFCL" target="_blank">Boating & cruises</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.weatherbug.com/YourPhotos/MSNBC/YourPhotos.aspx?zcode=z4719&photo_tab=2&lid=YPSSUBMIT2">Submit your photo</a></span></div></div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3053751"><tr><td class="boxFI_3053751"><div class="textSmall"><p>Powered by WeatherBug</p></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div class="CCol w160 fR clrR"><div style="padding-bottom:20px;"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:300;"><script></script><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> TRIPSO</div></td></tr></table><table width="300" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="right" style="padding-left:12px;padding-bottom:5px;"><tr><td><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/SITEWIDE/PartnerColorBoxLogos/Release10_PartnerLogos/TZ125_Tripso.gif" height="45" width="125" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td></tr></table><div class="boxBI_3053751"><div class="textMed"><b>More on Tripso.com</b></div><div class="textHang"><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.tripso.com/archives/news/index.html">Tripso Daily: Late-breaking travel news</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.tripso.com/archives/columns/index.html" target="_blank">Looking for travel deals?</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.tripso.com/subscribe.html">Subscribe to Tripso's free newsletters</a></span></div><div style="padding-bottom:3px"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="textMed"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.tripso.com/forums/" target="_blank">Tripso Forum: Sound off about your trip</a> </span></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="padding-bottom:20px;"><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022cs_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3053755/"><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/components/interactives/tools/mailbag.js"></script><script language="javascript"> oMailbag = new Array();mainsectionID="";navsectionID=""; oMailbag.appWidth = 300; oMailbag.BoxStyle = 3053755; oMailbag.appHeader = "Email Charles Leocha"; oMailbag.sTBHead = "Message"; oMailbag.sSubject = "News from Tripso on MSNBC.com"; oMailbag.sMailTo = "leocha@tripso.com"; oMailbag.bReqEmail = 1; if (window.MailbagYB) { MailbagYB(oMailbag); } </script></div></div><div class="mR165"><div><div class="textMedBlackBold">By <a href="javascript:OCW('https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.com/m/bio/default.asp?id=bio_leocha_charles&job=cor','bio','height=400,width=298');">Charles Leocha</a></div><div class="textMedBlack">Travel columnist</div><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.tripso.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Art/SourceTripso.gif" height="20" width="140" vspace="0" hspace="0" alt="Tripso"></a><div class="textTimestamp"><div id="udtD">Updated: 2:39 p.m. ET June 3, 2005</div><script language="javascript"> function UpdateTimeStamp(pdt) { var n = document.getElementById("udtD"); if(pdt != '' && n && window.DateTime) { var dt = new DateTime(); pdt = dt.T2D(pdt); if(dt.GetTZ(pdt)) {n.innerHTML = dt.D2S(pdt,((''.toLowerCase()=='false')?false:true));} } } UpdateTimeStamp('632534207403600000'); </script></div></div><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>One of the most important purchases you’ll make when you head to Europe this summer is a guidebook.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>A good guidebook can be a blessing. A bad guidebook can create problem after problem. A good guidebook is honest, well-researched and accurate. A bad guidebook is a result of lazy writers and editors who simply reprint previously researched entries without quality and fact-checking.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Some guidebooks on the market today are little more than glossy brochures that are wonderful for planning where to travel and what sights may be worth seeing, but are better left at home since, their travel value is not worth their weight.</p><div class="aC"><div class="textSmallGrey w320"><a href="#storyContinued">Story continues below ↓</a><hr noshade size="1"> advertisement <div style="padding:0 10 10 10;"><script>ad_dap(250,300,'&PG=NBCTEG&AP=1089');</script></div><hr noshade size="1"></div></div><a name="storyContinued"></a><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="left" style="padding:5 15 0 0;"><tr><td><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022cs_/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3088867/"><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/components/interactives/_prod/Travel_CableLeocha_050525/data.js"></script><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://www.msnbc.com/modules/poptext/poptext_codeV2.js"></script><script>if (window.Travel_CableLeocha_050525) { displayApp(Travel_CableLeocha_050525); }</script></td></tr></table>There are guidebooks that focus on the cheapest student lodging and dining spots. Some cater to affordable travel experiences. Others concentrate only on the most expensive city-center hotels and restaurants that will drain a wallet dry. </p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>It is a question of trust. Here are guidebook series travelers can trust. These books save time, provide insight and are packed with trip-enhancing details.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>The best guidebooks for travelers going through Europe planning an affordable and comfortable vacation are the Michelin Red and Green Guides and Rick Steves’ guides. These guides have been well-researched and provide excellent information travelers can trust.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>The only problem with hotels, pensions and B&Bs detailed in the Rick Steves’ series is the zealous legions of Rick Steves fans who seem to fill these places. From Paris to Sorrento and Rome to Madrid, troops of tourists have their breakfast of coffee or tea with toast and jelly intently reading their Rick Steves’ guides. However, breakfast at your hotel can turn into a great time for fellow travelers to compare notes and help each other make the most of time in town.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>Suffice it to say, if you want to stay with the locals, you won’t find them in these Rick Steves’ accommodations. Normally, the top hotels listed by Rick Steves are middle-of-the-road favorites providing good and affordable lodging. Read the descriptions carefully — they are normally very accurate.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>The overview of sights presented by Rick Steves is as good as I have read in years. His neighborhood walks are always fun and informative. His museum guides, complete with commentary about historic sculpture and storied artworks are wonderful and add another dimension to sometimes stodgy, hard-to-comprehend museums.</p><p class="textBodyBlack"><span id="byLine"></span>At the other end of the scale are the Michelin guides. These famous guidebooks are packed the best and most expensive lodging and dining that Europe has to offer. If any traveler finds dining experiences one of the most important factors in a vacation, the cryptic Red Guides are a must.</p><div class="t1 f70 c666"><span cm="PageNavBot"><a class="b" id="gted" ce="2" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7656071/page/2/">CONTINUED</a><hr size="1">1 | <a class="b" id="gted" ce="2" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7656071/page/2/">2</a> | <a class="b" id="gted" ce="2" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7656071/page/2/">Next ></a></span></div><div class="userRating t1 b f11 c000" style="margin-top:20px;"><nobr> Rate this story </nobr><span style="white-space:wrap;"></span><nobr> Low <span id="URplace"></span> High </nobr></div><span class="t1 f11 c000" style="display:none" id="userRatingTotal"></span><span> </span><span class="bulletRedSmall"> • </span><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7468311/" class="t1 b f11 c000">View Top Rated stories</a><br><script>moveURCode();</script><br><div class="textMedBlack doThis" style="text-align:center"><span class="dSp"><a href="javascript:printThis('7656071')"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/print02.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:printThis('7656071')">Print this</a></span><span class="dSp"><a href="javascript:emThis('7656071')"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/email02.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:emThis('7656071')">Email this</a></span><span class="dSp" id="blogThis" style="display:none"> <a href="javascript:blogThis('7656071')" title="Add to your blog on MSN Spaces"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/blog02.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:blogThis('7656071')" title="Add to your blog on MSN Spaces">Blog this</a></span><span class="dSp" id="imThis"> <a href="javascript:IMThis('7656071')" title="Send this story with MSN Messenger"><img border="0" class="dIc" src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/msnbc/icon_IM.gif"></a> <a href="javascript:IMThis('7656071')" title="Send this story with MSN Messenger">IM this</a></span></div><script>blogCheck();</script><img width="100%" height="0"><div style="padding-top:20px"><script>getCSS("3053751")</script><div class="box_3053751" style="width:100%;"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3053751"><tr><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3053751"><div class="textSmallBold"> MORE FROM EUROPE TRAVEL </div></td><td width="80%" class="boxH2C_3053751"><div class="textSmall"> </div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3053751"><tr valign="top"><td><div style="width:100%;background-color:#ffffff;height:100%;"><div style="padding:10px;width:16%;height:100%;float:left;"><span id="StoryNextButton" cm="StoryNextButton"><a id="gted" ce="Europe Travel" onmouseover="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextOver.gif')" onmouseout="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif')" onmousedown="swapImage('next_links','/images/buttons/next/buttonNextDown.gif')" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6559190/"><img src="/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbc.msn.com/images/buttons/next/buttonNext.gif" border="0" width="53" height="19" id="next_links"></a></span></div><div id="nextText" class="textMedBlackBold fL p11">Europe Travel Section Front</div></div></td></tr><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3053751"><span cm="StoryNextLink"><div id="nxtStry1" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13185584/" id="gted" ce="1">Crashing the World Cup</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry2" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13086423/" id="gted" ce="2">Top 10 European ports</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry3" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12762882/" id="gted" ce="3">Insider's guide to cruising Europe</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry4" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12940747/" id="gted" ce="4">Germany: World Cup host</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry5" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12954152/" id="gted" ce="5">A taste of genuine German beer</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry6" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12940481/" id="gted" ce="6">'Da Vinci Code' boosts tourism to chapel</a></span></div></div><div id="nxtStry7" style="width:100%;height:18;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12861442/" id="gted" ce="7">10 step guide to planning a trip to Europe</a></span></div></div></span><div style="width:100%;height:16;"><div class="textHang nxtStryPd"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a class="linkBlack" href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6559190/">Europe Travel Section Front</a></span></div></div><span class="textSmall"> </span></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxF_3053751"><tr><td class="boxFI_3053751"><div class="textSmall"></div></td></tr></table></div><script>nextStory("/id/13185584/^Crashing the World Cup|/id/13086423/^Top 10 European ports|/id/12762882/^Insider's guide to cruising Europe|/id/12940747/^Germany: World Cup host|/id/12954152/^A taste of genuine German beer|/id/12940481/^'Da Vinci Code' boosts tourism to chapel|/id/12861442/^10 step guide to planning a trip to Europe|");</script></div><div class="clr fL w464"><div class="fL w225 p15"><span cm=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div class="box_3182775" style="width:100%;"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3182775"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/Launch images/top_msnbc.gif,standard.jpg" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="textSmallBold"></div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13361343/" id="gted" ce="1">N. Korea closer to missile test?</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13398011/" id="gted" ce="2">U.S. forces block roads in Ramadi</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13380881/" id="gted" ce="3">GIs reportedly taken by Iraq gunmen</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13393641/" id="gted" ce="4">Senator: NYC subway plot was real</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/13119225/" id="gted" ce="5">Episcopalians elect woman leader</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div><div class="fR w225 p15"><span cm=""><script>getCSS("3182775")</script><div class="box_3182775" style="width:100%;"><script></script><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxH_3182775"><tr><td width="1%" class="boxHI_3182775"><img border="0" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022im_/http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Test-Dev/donna/msnbc10/Launch images/tv_highlights.gif,standard.jpg" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td><td width="*" nowrap="true" class="boxHC_3182775"><div class="textSmallBold"></div></td></tr></table><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="boxB_3182775"><tr valign="top"><td class="boxBI_3182775"><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261/" id="gted" ce="1">MSNBC-TV Question of the Day</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','b324e124-9cd8-4ac3-b33e-31d6c012c019','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13349517','America\u2018s Galapagos')">'Most': Llanos on marine preserve</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','83295197-cb57-488d-a3f7-352ed190493d','us','hotvideo_m_zarqawi','c1673','msnbc','','13351637','Troops under suspicion')">‘Hardball’: Marine under the gun</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','33806afd-295b-425a-9ed8-03e6f6ec5b81','us','News_Comment - Analysis','','msnbc','','13351199','Daughters vs. DUI dad')">Abrams: Daughters vs. DUI dad</a></span></div><div class="textHang" style="padding-bottom:3px;"><span class="bulletRedSmall">• </span><span class="headlineList2"><a href="javascript:msnvDwd('00','4b1ff580-b09e-4610-b65b-dd0de3b73876','us','News_NBC News','','msnbc','','13345802','21-year-old state lawmaker nominee')">MSNBC: 21-year-old lawmaker</a></span></div></td></tr></table></div></span></div></div><div class="textSmallGrey p2">advertisement</div><div class="eshopStory"><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://shopping.msn.com/i/ptnrContent.aspx?ptnrId=1&ptnrData=100220&mapKey=Travelbottom"></script></div><div class="w460 clr"></div><div class="w460 clr"><div style="font-family : Verdana, Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif;padding-top:15px;"><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://context3.kanoodle.com/cgi-bin/context.cgi?id=78053631&db=context&query=*general_network&cgroup=traveleu&format=table&numresults=5&width=459&bordercolor=7788AA&fillcolor=FFFFFF&title=1&signup=1&newtarget=1&fontsize=10px"></script></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="banbot" class="w779 p5 aC clr"><div style="padding-bottom:20;"><hr id="foothr" width="758" color="#000000" noshade="true" size="1"/><div class="bb" style="padding: 10 0 8 0;"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/">Cover</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032525/">U.S. News</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507/">World News</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072/">Business</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032113/">Sports</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032118/">Tech/Science</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032084/">Entertainment</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032123/">Travel</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032076/">Health</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032105/">Blogs Etc.</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3362034/">Weather</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3098358/">Local News</a></div><div class="bb"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032542/site/newsweek/">Newsweek</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032633/">Today Show</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/">Nightly News</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/">Dateline NBC</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/">Meet the Press</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3096434/">MSNBC TV</a></div><div class="bb" style="padding: 22 0 8 0;"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303510/">About MSNBC.com </a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/7422001/">Newsletters</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5216556/">RSS</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/8132577/">Podcasts</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/">Help</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3152772/">News Tools</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303596/">Jobs at MSNBC.com</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10285339/">Contact Us</a> | <a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3303540/">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://privacy.msn.com/">Privacy</a></div><div class="bb" style="padding=0 0 8 0;"><a href="/web/20060619070022/http://msnbc.msn.com/">© 2006 MSNBC.com</a></div></div></div><div class="container" id="foot"><ul id="legal"><li>© 2006 Microsoft</li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/20?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">MSN Privacy</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/18?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Legal</a></li><li class="last"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://g.msn.com/0nwenus0/AE/19?SU=http://msnbc.msn.com/" rel="nofollow">Advertise</a></li></ul><ul id="support"><li><script language="javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://hp.msn.com/scr/op/ol-fdbkv3_r1.js"></script><a href="javascript:O_LC();">Feedback</a></li><li class="last"><span class="bar">|</span>    <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3303511/">Help</a></li></ul></div></div><div id="DCol" class="DCol"><div><div style="width:152;overflow:hidden;"><div style="text-align:center;width:160;" class="textSmallGrey">advertisement</div><div class="AdEShopHead">Shopping on MSN</div><div class="AdEShopMain"><script language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20060619070022js_/http://shopping.msn.com/i/ptnrContent.aspx?ptnrId=1&ptnrData=10022&mapKey=Travel"></script></div></div></div><div><br></div><script>msnSideBar();</script></div><div id="AdOverThePageDiv"></div></div></body></html>