Do any of you use a travel guide book when preparing for a vacation? Particularly to a foreign country? If so, would love any feedback on those that you found the most useful. Or, if you've found other resources helpful, I'd be grateful for that as well! Planning a trip next summer in Europe and want to start researching now.

Thanks!

Google.

I've used Frommer's, they have an app available as well. I like their suggestions for one, three, and five day excursions in cities. depending where you are going, there may be a tourism office in the city if it is a large city, and the country would have one as well, try them too.

Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door- used his books for a few Europe trips over the years.

We planned our recent trips to Europe relying on a travel guide from Fodors and blogs written by local citizens of the country we were visiting. We supplemented our information with other guides that were found and browsed at the library or bookstore. I think blogs provide the most information though because you can glean information from many different perspectives and even see feedback from users of the blog. The books are static and only hit highlights important to one author, but they are a good starting point. The caveat being, our travel style is to stay off the beaten path and try to blend in with the locals.

I've used Rick Steve's books and website for a couple of trips. Really like his approach to traveling, packing tips, etc.

I like Rick Steve's too. I prefer having the book applicable to the individual country(ies) I am visiting versus through all of Europe as it has more detailed information. I would like the "all Europe" though if we were going to a lot of countries on 1 trip. These books, like Frommers, also have itineraries for a certain number of days, etc. Another good source is the travel bureau of the country/city you are visiting-- they often have downloadable walking tour information - for free.