John Bermont

The first time I drove a car in Europe nearly turned into a disaster. It was my dumb mistake and fortunately there was no damage. That was about three weeks after my boss had asked me to accept a job transfer to the Netherlands. Heck, I hardly knew where Amsterdam was and I certainly didn't know anything about driving in Europe!

My two years of working and living in Holland taught me a lot. And I learned plenty more over the years in travels on business, on my own, and on other extended relocations to France, Germany, and Switzerland. I've traveled throughout Europe by car, train, ferry, and plane -- Portugal to Ukraine, Greece to Norway, Turkey to Iceland, and almost everything in between. These experiences have been distilled down to "How To Europe: The Complete Travelers Handbook." There are 30 chapters cussing and discussing everything from finding a hotel or hostel to boarding a train to using a phone to eating good and cheap to avoiding pickpockets and much more.

Having penned a travel book sparks interest in many people. "Oh really! Europe on $5 a Day?" is something I hear often. Well, yes and no. Actually you can travel in Europe on less than that, and even earn a living if you get lucky and land a job over there. I've been lucky a few times. But unlike "Europe on $5 a Day," my book is not a guide to specific hotels, restaurants, and sights to see. I mention very few, and then only as examples. Rather, it teaches you how to find sleeping, eating, and interesting places that suit your individual style of life, whatever that may be. "How To Europe" is a do-it-yourself travel guidebook.

The finesse of "How To Europe" over similar books is my extensive use of captioned photos illustrating every-day scenes in Europe. Parking meters, street signs, rail station posters, and plenty of other mundane but critical information you need to know as a visitor in strange lands are shown in the 345 pictures. I took all of the photos except the few as noted otherwise. One friend told me that there is too much in the book, that it takes the mystery out of the trip. Better that alternative I think than having an auto accident because you don't know a "do not enter" sign from a Santa Claus poster.

If all you know about my book is this blurb at Amazon.com you might like to be better informed before making a $28.50 investment. Most people won't buy a cat in a sack, so to give you an idea of the scope and character of my book I've published about half of it on my web site. Several of the on-line chapters include photographs, basically the same or similar to those in the print edition. The photos in the on-line chapter 17, which explains the rail systems in Europe, are different. All photos in the book are black and white.

I do not consider myself a writer. Actually, I'm a chemical engineer. This is the only book I wrote, or will ever write. Travel in Europe is a topic which I know very well. My purpose in writing was to share my knowledge with others who are planning a trip to Europe. The first edition was published in 1982, and I continue to self-publish the latest edition. Sure, you can buy a travel guide from a well-known author or a publisher with dozens of books written by corporate employees. Some of them have been imitating my first edition for years. "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," but the others will never catch up. Buy the original.

I recommend that you study "How To Europe" before you go. Then leave it home because it is too heavy to lug around with you. It is a big 7"x10" with 470 pages and weighs two pounds.

Past, present, and future buyers of my book can contact me by email or phone in planning their trip. This is free so give me a call if you have a question. I'd love to hear from everybody who has read my book. My phone number and email address are in the front of the book and on my web site, www.enjoy-europe.com. You'll find more of my biography there also.