Rite of Passage: Tales of Backpacking 'Round Europe

I actually learned from this book as well as enjoy it. So much of it was hilarious, you seriously need to read it.

fun book, tells it how it is. good book 2 have with your lonely planet europe on a shoestring guide

Pretty much all the reviewers seem to be in agreement that this is a very worthwhile read. Anyone who has the slightest bit of interest in travel or adventure will not be disappointed. The collections of short stories of travels in Europe are easy to read and entertaining. The very fitting title explains how a lot of North American and Australian youngsters start out in the independent international travel world. Most common of Americans who wish to get their feet wet in the monumental first time experience of going abroad. These riveting stories capture the array emotions a young traveler might experience from felicity, excitement, enthusiasm, to pure awe from being in a strange surrounding and not having the smallest clue about what your doing.

Organized into a series of independent stories in a host of European countries; each of them always seem to have some sort of twist or surprise ending. In between the chapters are excepts from the Lonely Planet travel forum, usually with advice or jokes from young travelers. There really is no other book like it in print today-travelers experiencing Europe for the first time, carrying nothing more than a backpack.

At first, I was a bit skeptical of reading very broad and boring sounding "travel literature" genre, imagining it would resemble a personal journal filled with long stale entries filled with personal grievances about life. This was not the case with "Rite of Passage". Every short story has something unique and promising in the end. Most of them are humorous and inspiring, all of them arouse excitement in anyone from someone on board a plane heading to Europe to a travel-hungry day dreamer at home. This book will most likely wet your appetite for more about European travel.

I'm preparing for a trip to Europe, and reading firsthand accounts prepared me for a lot of backpacking quirks that traditional guidebooks don't convey. Will be taking this with me on my trip!

I purchased this book 4 months after returning from my own lengthy backpacking trip. Within the first few essays I was in tears. It so perfectly captures the experience of traveling abroad that it immediately made me wistful for my own trip, even the stressful and absurd parts. I disagree with the idea that these are cliched or second-rate depictions of teen-angst, and as someone who's been in many of the situations described, I can only say that it's clear that anyone who thinks so has not actually taken a backpacking trip. Somehow it never boils down to the museums and monuments you saw, but you look back fondly on the late night sitting in the courtyard of your hostel with 4 strangers drinking wine and telling stories.

This book is a must-read for anyone who has taken this "rite of passage" trip. You will find yourself gasping for breath as you alternately laugh in recognition, or cry in wistfulness. For those who love to travel or are considering a trip, definitely read this book, but I might recommend waiting until you get back, as your appreciation will be much deeper.