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Rating: 
Summary: Might as well take the front door
Review: Given Amsterdam's seedier side, you would think this Back Door Guide would help you sift through all the shops and scenes to give you some cool spots. But the guide was sorely lacking in this department. While giving diverse offerings for daytime fare, the book skimped on the nighttime activities, only listing a few 'highlights,' which were probably in the front door guide anyway. References to the seedier side were left at that - only references. No recommendations. Perhaps their back door guide to a more sedate town like Brussels helps you find the hidden jewel at nights, but this back door offering might have well just said to wander around and go in what looks appealing. Thanks for the help.
Rating:
Summary: Might as well take the front door
Review: Given Amsterdam's seedier side, you would think this Back Door Guide would help you sift through all the shops and scenes to give you some cool spots. But the guide was sorely lacking in this department. While giving diverse offerings for daytime fare, the book skimped on the nighttime activities, only listing a few 'highlights,' which were probably in the front door guide anyway. References to the seedier side were left at that - only references. No recommendations. Perhaps their back door guide to a more sedate town like Brussels helps you find the hidden jewel at nights, but this back door offering might have well just said to wander around and go in what looks appealing. Thanks for the help.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: I have to agree with the review below - there is nothing alternative about this guide. And the writer is so sarcastic about some of the places reviewed, that I wonder why they were in the book at all.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Read; Great Information
Review: My husband and I bought both the Amsterdam and the London versions as we planned our honeymoon. What a great read! Reading the Irreverent Guide further fueled our excitement about Amsterdam and our trip and we found the city to be true to the book's description.The style of the books are very easy to read, with useful information and a slightly sarcastic, biting tone. The information is presented in a funny manner and it definitely differs from the dry-as-a-bone descriptives that classify so many travel books. Because the book is written based on information from locals, and even partially by locals themselves, this travel guide has more of a travelogue feel than a travel guide feel, which definitely appeals to me. It offers good information about how to really *see* a city or a place the way its seen by people who live there, even if you are only there for a few days. We used the Amsterdam guide to find our hotel, look up attractions, learn enough about the culture so that we weren't annoyed with the slow wait service, and many other things. We did not have a single negative experience in Amsterdam from following any of the book's recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your money
Review: This guide is not your typical boring tourist drivel. It gives you the lowdown on A'dam: what's the deal with pot and hash at the coffee houses, about the redlight district, cool places to stay, where to eat and where to avoid, etc. It's a light, fast read that I did in one sitting. I decided on my hotel and mapped out some things I don't want to miss. The weak parts of the book concern the areas that I am going back to A'dam for in the first place. It should give a better picture of the Redlight district. They only mention the girls in the windows, but don't give you any detail like how much and what you get, no recoomendations (except for one brothel). Also, no detail on the coffee shops. If they treated these two areas as well as the hotels and resturants, then it would be the ultimate party guide to the city. Hey, buy the book - it gives good background and advice. But you need to find details about your particular jollies elsewhere. I am buying the Irreverent Guide to Disney World next!
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