If you are not an internet cruiser and traveling, you need this for planning purposes!

Purchased this while planning a trip to Europe to replace my c. 1987 edition. That was 25 yrs ago, and that edition was very useful - especially in cities and countries that are not gay meccas. This edition has some updated material especially useful for such areas. Yes you can get similar info on line but it lacks the practical info you need to know if you are new to an area. My interest and commentary addresses Euopean destinations, and I often go to establishments in non-gay areas and like the more "rural rustic" types over 50. In that regard this guide is useful. You just have to go to the places listed and "network" to find what you really want. Nothing new there.

Although he spends way too much time talking about gay lib political stuff (this is a guide primarily for travelers - so, who cares?) I do appreciate his comments on those (particularly European) areas not in gay meccas, that are not "open gay friendly" and some discretion is needed. How true that is! Particularly in Europe, where, lately, there has developed, some reactionary behaviour to the recent onslaught of gay marriage legislation (not surprising, really); here he does a useful commentary - not seen in other guides. In addition, if you are "conservative" gay, it is important to note that the gay establishments in European countries like Italy Poland Ukraine and the Balkan countries among others, can often be "too gay." In this regard, the former edition was more astute at listing non-gay bars (hotel bars in particular) and some other places where men could be met. There are less of those listings in this edition - I presume due to such potentially available guys now primarily using the net to meet. He has largely dropped the terms "twinks" and "sissies" which are useful to describe primarily gay scenes in the above mentioned countries.

If you are like me, and don't plan to use the internet for meetups, and prefer to meet guys face to face in a "g" or "NG" bars (or elsewhere), this guide is still indispensible, but as far as Europe is concerned, less complete(?) then the former edition - for whatever reason; less such listings then previously in the countries mentioned, but that may be the dour reality in Europe. It certainly is the case in the "flyover country" of the US (where, incidently, as before, listings in this guide are incomplete and not updated - use some other guide for that).

Loses one star for too much gay partnership talk for what should be a travel guide. I am not traveling to settle down and get married for petesakes. Save that stuff for another guide.

Yes, "fine print" I affirm that I am over age 13 and, as such, am qualified to comment on this product.

Brand	N/A
Rating	4.5 (29 ratings)
Price	$N/A
Category	Travel

Spartacus International Gay Guide, 2013-2014 (English, German, French and Spanish Edition)