The Martlet

Still dreaming of that backpack trip through Europe, but don’t think you can afford it? Maybe you’re simply unsure of how to start. All wannabe travelers are in luck, because Bolen Books is presenting travel guru Rick Steves for an informative travel talk this Saturday.

The author of Europe Through the Back Door and host of the Rick Steves’ Europe TV series will be sharing his latest experiences and some insider information on the best parts of European travel.

Steves, a Washington native, said he is taking an even more budget-focused approach to travel because of the weak American dollar.

“Whether you’re a student or not a student, it’s just really important to know how to get the most out of your time and your limited budgets,” said Steves.

He encourages travelers to become “temporary locals” — going to the small mom-and-pop shops for dinner instead of the chains on the main streets, and getting to know the people actually living in a community. His books focus on getting the feel for a city, rather than the uniform luxury found in hotels worldwide.

“Students have more fun when they’re meeting locals over there,” Steves said. “There are great places to discover in every corner of Europe.”

Europe Through the Back Door is a two-part guide — “Travel Tips” and “Back Doors.” Steve’s travel tips include just about everything you’d need to know for European travel, including tips for women traveling alone, gay travelers and senior travelers. Steves also includes vital knowledge about dealing with language barriers and understanding cultural sensitivities — like not wearing that miniskirt in a 1,000-year-old church.

Steve’s all-around guide also includes back doors into almost everywhere in Europe, making it the perfect travel companion for the backpacker with big intentions but little packing space.

Though he has recently been traveling in Eastern Europe, Steves said, personally, his favourite country is Italy. He has been traveling in Europe since 1969, and since 1973 has spent 120 days of every year exploring the continent. He has written 30 guidebooks and runs a European tour company.

When it comes to European travel, Steves is the man. His website (www.ricksteves.com) is packed with information and travel tips, including a section called “Daring to Sleep Cheap,” which covers the ins and outs of small, cheap hotels and guest houses.

Steves said he likes to share his most recent travel experiences during his talks, which for the Bolen Books event could include Turkey or even Iran, where he was recently visiting.

Tickets are on sale at Bolen Books for $5.