(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best european travel guides

I didn't see your r/travel post, so I can't interact with anything that was said there.

English is less widespread in Morocco than Europe or even other Arab countries. Moroccans generally interact with tourists in French. That said, you will find English in all expensive hotels an most inexpensive ones. Most "tourist" places will speak English at varying levels, and tourist shops will speak English, especially in the big cities. However, I highly recommend getting a French phrase book. It will open a lot more doors. If you don't like learning language, or it makes you feel stupid, get the Rick Steves' French Phrasebook:

http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-French-Phrase-Dictionary/dp/1598801864/

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If you like learning languages, get something more comprehensive like Lonely Planet:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1864501529/

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If you are kind of a bad-ass, get the Moroccan Arabic phrasebook:

http://www.amazon.com/Moroccan-Arabic-Lonely-Planet-Phrasebook/dp/1740591879/

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That's actually a great phrasebook, and will let you have a rudimentary conversation with ANYONE in Morocco. Using a phrasebook is a little bit of effort, but will greatly improve your trip. Moroccans love it when you use a little bit of Arabic, especially their dialect of Arabic, so try it!

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All point-to-point taxis (Petite Taxis) have meters. You will save money by having the driver use the meter, rather than a preset price. They have to use the meter if you ask. They do have the right to charge a little extra for a bag on the roof.
The larger Mercedes taxis have set rates to travel between cities or for long travel within cities.

They cram 7 people into the "Grand Taxi", but between towns you can buy two seats if you like to make it more comfortable for you.

https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Taxicabs_of_Morocco

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Ramadan will be a problem. I am sorry, but it will change Morocco a lot and it will affect your trip. There will be a lot of stuff that is closed during the day, or open only at irregular hours. Moroccans will be tired and irritable, especially if they are normally smokers.

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The website for train times:

http://www.oncf.ma/

It is often down, and the English site doesn't work (although it used to work). Use the French.

Second class is fine to use. I use second class for short trips, but first class for long trips. If you buy second class and don't find a seat or change your mind, you can walk up into first class and find a seat, then buy the upgrade from the ticket checker. He will give you a receipt. In fact, you can just board the train without a ticket and buy one from the ticket checker. Have your change ready.

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Climbing Toubkal was a lot of fun. You can do it on your own, but I would at least find a guide in Imlil (where the road ends). From there you hike to the refuge on the first day, then hike up the mountain and back to Imlil on day two. If you are in really great shape, you could do it all in one day, maybe, but check the distances. This is a fairly inexpensive. I think I paid 70 dh for a night at the refuge, although they will ask for 300 or more. You have to negotiate beforehand. I paid my guide 200 dh I think for all five of us, and he was awesome so we tipped him another 100 dh or so. You can just walk in to Imlil and find a guide; they will swarm you even in Ramadan.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Jebel_Toubkal

I don't see any good prices online to give you.

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Tip: few places will want to give you change. You will get large bills out of an ATM, then need to break them in convience stores (called a "Ha-noot") or other places that might have change. Keep some small change ready for taxis and tips.

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There are camel excursions closer to Marrakesh, so you probably won't have time to go all the way to Merzouga, but that desert is pretty awesome. An overnight excusion into the desert is fun:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Merzouga

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A lot of the ferry traffic in Tangier goes through the new port, which is harder to get to than the old port using public transportation. Know which company you bought a ticket from, and which port you need to go to.

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Lonely Planet forums are hit and miss, but worth a visit:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/forum

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Let me know what else you need.

As far as books go, the Culture Shock and Culture Smart guides are pretty good. The book From Good King Wenceslas to the Good Soldier Svejk is a deeper dive especially into 20th-century Czech culture, but a lot of the references now are more historical (life under communism, etc.) than applicable to contemporary life.

Broadly speaking, Czechs are proud of their culture, but not in any ostentatious way (outside of cheering for sports teams, for example, they're not really into flag displays like Americans).

People are generally reserved until you get to know them, but then they can be very friendly and generous.

People tend to project a somewhat skeptical, "realistic" view of the world, so some Czechs can be dismissive of "grandiose" theoretical frameworks (feminism, the EU, etc); on the other hand, many Czechs enjoy traveling and appreciate different cultures. Education is highly valued.

Most people aren't religious, and those who are are usually low-key about it. The only time you're likely to hear references to Jesus in a typical day would be when a middle-aged lady exclaims "Ježíš Maria!" or "Pane bože" (which sound much milder in Czech than English).

Many Czechs like to complain, but they also have a great, kind of dark or absurd sense of humor.

A lot of Czechs love nature, gardening, going for hikes, swimming and so on.

I think the biggest mistakes I might see a fellow American making would be labeling the country "Eastern Europe" (it's "Central Europe"), only talking about how cheap the prices are, being too informal in certain situations (i.e. wearing shorts to the opera), bitching about the inevitable cultural differences, and speaking too loudly in public. But Czechs also generally have a live and let live attitude about things (although they might privately grumble), so don't be too self-conscious.

Yes. That's the burden of moving into another culture. Ideally you should get some help from your advisor with it, but you are still the one who needs to do the bulk of the adjustment.

FWIW, it'll come in very handy later in your career, when you can put 'culturally aware' on your resume as a skill. But you are the one in their environment, and you can't expect them all to conform to your expectations. They are probably already making allowances that you aren't aware of.

Your advisor may have been giving you subtle behavioral clues that you've missed. Try talking with him about cultural differences; he may be able to give you more guidance to how things are done there, and can certainly give you a better handle on his expectations. But you need to be more aware that cultural differences are getting in your way. You seem to feel entitled to being accommodated; that's another very American trait, and not a good one. The stereotype of the Ugly American came from reality, just like many other stereotypes. We are not that special that the rest of the world should be accommodating us.

I've run into this many times in different countries. You'd be surprised at how many people think Americans are overly friendly, effusive, and loud. We call everyone by their first name and we generally aren't shy about our opinions, whether it's about politics, religion, money and finances, people's working styles, or lifestyles. And we're very casual in our dress and mannerisms. It can really rub people in other cultures the wrong way. Try observing more closely how they treat each other, and find ways to live with it.

And you will always be a guest in their country, at least until you become a citizen. Act like it, be more respectful, and play by their rules. When in Rome...

Edit: Here are some books(and this one)that may help with the transition. And please realize--this situation is by and large not a function of you personally, it's a cultural clash. Right now it may seem like they're rejecting you as a person, but they really aren't--they are put off by your americanisms. Try not to be hurt by that. It can feel very personal, but it's really not. Once you understand the culture better and how to function within it, you'll be fine. Meanwhile, finding friends in the international student groups and other interest groups would probably be a good idea.

First the books:
Lonely Planet is great but the lack of pictures usually don't make them fun to read. I love the Eyewitness Travel Guides and the one from Switzerland is quite good.
A great book (and must read imho) is Swiss Watching by Diccon Bewes. He also has a blog with great insights of Swiss life/culture.
As for websites, myswitzerland.com does a decent job.

1. Try and see one of the many fireworks on 31 July and 1 August. Maybe get yourself a cheap little bbq and go to a lake and have your own little grill party. Many spots around lakes have already built bbqs and grills so you only have to make a fire.
   
   
2. Endless possibilities, I would almost say: you could hike anywhere.
   
   
3. All neighboring countries are fun to visit. Cool, and reasonable close destinations are: Lichtenstein (I think train-wise it would be covered), Lago Maggiore in Italy/Switzerland, or [Castle Neuschwanstein] (http://www.neuschwanstein.de/index.htm) in southern Germany (the castle the was the inspiration for the Disney castle.
   
   
4. As a foreigner living here I have realized that the Swiss love politeness and minding your own business. Most people won't appreciate it if you start chatting to them in the train. They're not trying to be rude, they just like everybody to have their peace. Also, Switzerland is small but every region has it's own dialect/language. The French speaking region in the west is totally different from, say, Zürich, which is also different from the Italian speaking region in the south east. I would recommend visiting as many regions as possible.
   
   Well, and if you're around Bern, just send me a message, we can have a beer!

I recently did a trip to Salzburg and Munich and would be happy to answer any questions. Salzburg is gorgeous and worth going for more than just a day trip.

There are companies that do big bus tours to Sound of Music locations. However, most of the sights are in the city and can be easily seen on foot. I understand that the bus tour takes you out to the house which was filmed as the facade of the Von Trapp house, but you can't go inside. They also take you to the garden by the lake which was filmed as the garden of the Von Trapp House, and they take you to the garden pergola which is in yet another location. We decided it wasn't worth the cost and time commitment of the long bus journey just to see these, so we bought this book and DIYed it. We saw plenty including the 'abbey' (not actually an abbey), the 'cemetery' (it was filmed in a studio but rebuilt as a replica of a real cemetery in the city), the main square (where you see the Nazi flags unfurled in the film and in the I Have Confidence sequence), various locations from the Do Re Mi sequence (fountains, steps, ivy tunnel, bridge, etc) and more... this was all enough for us and it made for a lovely, leisurely walking tour. We went at our own pace and stopped at a beer garden en route.

I would also recommend the Mozart birthplace museum which is in the centre of Salzburg. And if you're into history then a visit to the Eagle's Nest is a must-do. We did a bus tour for that one.

In Munich, the English Garden is a lovely way to while away an afternoon. Take a pack of cards and stay for a while. The Olympic Park is fun; there's a mini golf course there which we enjoyed. We loved the Pinakothek der Moderne art gallery.

Neuschwanstein is also an absolute must-do, it looks incredible from the outside and the inside is fascinatingly bizarre. We went with a company called Mike's Bike Tours and I would 100% recommend them. They do it as a whole day trip including cycling through the Bavarian countryside and wild swimming in a beautiful alpine lake.

I did 5 weeks on $500 in 1998. It's easy to pinch pennies. I also had no plan. I got off the plane in Paris and the only thing i knew was I had to be back at the same airport in 5 weeks. i picked a direction and started walking.

bring a tent - campgrounds are very inexpensive. the tent also provides emergency shelter in a field or on a beach if you get stuck. those were some of my best nights.

hostels are cheap and amazing.

always carry food with you. you can find bread, cured meat, peanut butter, nutella, cheese & grapes everywhere, and inexpensively.

buy and carry a bottle of wine with you instead of going out. I loved sharing wine at the campgrounds.

like /jimhodgson mentioned, travel through small towns. they're full of friendly people who are likely eager to share drinks, food and laughs with you.

I think I had this book: http://www.amazon.com/Lonely-Planet-Europe-shoestring-Travel/dp/1742204171

every town I got to, the very first thing i would do would be to consult the book. it would tell me where campgrounds and all the quality inexpensive experiences were at. of course my trip was before the smartphone. there might be a lighter alternative now. =) then i would head for the campground and set up camp. then head out

good luck and be safe!

favorite places: Dijon France, Lyon France (check out the huge park and rose garden), Nice France.

You could drive all the way around Iceland in as little as 8 days!

I went to Iceland 2 years ago, renting a camper is expensive but was really nice, we had an excellent experience with JS Camper. I strongly recommend getting a 4X4 vehicle, because going up into the Highlands was the best. 4X4 is required in the Highlands because you're crossing streams and shit that you cannot do in a regular vehicle (plus, many regular rental vehicles have a clause that you cannot take such vehicles into the Highlands). We had about 10 days in Iceland and ended up exploring the southern part of the island. Locals told us you could drive the entire ring road in about 24 hours of nonstop driving. We found that it's much more pleasant to take our time.

Oh, and definitely hit the Blue Lagoon as you come from the airport, and again right before you leave the country. It's the best feeling ever to soak away your worries after an international flight. Shower out completely (wash/shampoo everything) before using any pool/hot tub/hot spring in Iceland. They have secure lockers for all your belongings. We brought travel towels, swimsuits, and flip-flops, which worked just fine. I want to say it was about $30 a person to use the Blue Lagoon, but especially for a honeymoon, there's nothing like lounging in the freaking Blue Lagoon, looking around you at the gorgeous Icelandic lava fields and sky.

Get a travel guide, I liked the Lonely Planet one. Learn a few phrases in Icelandic. Oh, and oddly enough, Iceland doesn't have much of a drinking culture outside of Reykjavik on the weekends (seriously!). Turns out that many locals will assume you have a drinking problem if you get a midweek pint in a restaurant. Just sayin'. Oh, and buy alcohol duty-free in the airport when you land--another HUGE budget traveler tip!

Have fun, it's one of the most amazing places I've ever been!

When I was about 15/16 I read an account of 3 Englishmens Interailling experience called Don't Lean Out of the Window. It's puerile, but exhilarating and extremely funny in places and it inspired me to seek out adventures in Europe by train (unfortunately it took me 10 years to get round to doing it but that's another story).

Another one that certainly awoke some wanderlust is On The Road by Kerouac. It's fiction but it perfectly captures the breathtaking thrill of not having a plan and having that burning desire to see the next destination, wherever it may be.

Not sure if /u/DelonteWestLuvXpress was referring to this but it's as good an opportunity to plug this book as any. Read 'The Miracle of Castel di Sangro' by Joe McGinniss Amazon link.

It's the story of the tiny Italian club Castel di Sangro (population: five thousand) who suddenly found themselves in Serie B back in 1996. American writer McGinniss lives in the village during the season and follows the club very closely in their fight against relegation, developing relationships with all the players, the manager, the owner and everyone in the village - all of which are in some way a bit crazy.

It's a really amazing book, I would recommend it to anyone interested in football and/or Italy. If you're interested in reading it don't read CdS's wikipedia by the way, because it'll spoiler some of the book (I personally really liked reading it without knowing if they were staying up or not).

The similarities to Luzenac are probably that both teams are from tiny mountain villages and suddenly win promotion to a level they usually wouldn't reach. Castel di Sangro played some of their home matches in a different stadium too, because their stadium wasn't fit for Serie B.

> I want to visit Berlin forsure but don't know if I should stay there for entire month or visit other cities

Berlin is big in the sense that it is spread out over a large area and sights of interest are scattered all over the place: you could certainly spend a couple of weeks in Berlin and still not see everything. Berlin has had a fascinating history from the 12th century onwards, and each era has left its mark on the city. I highly recommend Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Guides to get the most out of a big city like Berlin. As well as being packed with insider tips, history, art and architecture, they also have a comprehensive guide to everything from how to recognise a police officer to how to use the public transport.

Even so, a month is long enough to strike out and explore a bit. It depends on what you're interested in, but here are a few ideas that are easily within reach of Berlin:

• Potsdam (literally right next to Berlin)
  
• The Spreewald, around Lübben and Lübbenau; the home of the Sorbs, a Slavic ethnic minority, in an area of marshland with more canals than roads; the only place in Germany where the post is delivered by punt
  
• Dresden
  
• Leipzig
  
• Schwerin
  
• Hamburg
  
• Erfurt
  
  Prague is close enough if you spend a night or two there (not Germany, of course, but definitely worth a visit if you can manage it).

I've been to Glenelg a few times, as I go up to that area a few times every year. As far as fishing on Skye goes I have never actually fished there, but there is good fishing in the area around. As far as getting to Skye, you can get the ferry from Glenelg which will put you on the South pretty quickly, however you are right that it will take you a while to get to the North.

Round towards Kyle of Lochalsh there are a number of Lochs that are easy to access and are free to fish, unfortunately when I went there I didn't have much success, but did see very large fish jumping.

If you go toward Strathcarron, the Attadale estate have a number of Lochs that have a lot of small trout in and are also free to fish.

The Lochs in the Applecross Hills are good to fish if you like a little walk and can be fished for a small donation to the Applecross estate.

If you haven't already, I'd suggest getting a copy of Bruce Sandison's Rivers and Lochs of Scotland, it lists as good as every Loch and River in Scotland, who owns the rights, what can be expected, what flies to use etc. Just check on an OS map, see what Loch is nearby and then reference the book. It is a must for fishing in Scotland. I don't have my copy with me currently, if I did I'd have a look for you.

Here's the book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rivers-Lochs-Scotland-Anglers-Complete/dp/1845027116

Unfortunately I have never fished near Glenelg as it is just a bit too far from where I stay (Lochcarron), but if I were you I would get a copy of that book and I'm sure you'll be able to find somewhere pretty quickly.

Since it looks like you're interested in some general overviews, I'm going to recommend books that give just that. If you're looking for books that go more in depth on Roman topics, I'm more than happy to supply some.

For a brief introduction to Italian history in general, I would recommend Valerio Lintner's
[A Travelers History of Italy]
(http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/review/1566565219/R1B2MURVDQWPAT/ref=mw_dp_cr?cursor=2&qid=1407607391&sort=rd&sr=8-1). This offers a great overview of Italian history for someone with little exposure to the topic. It will show you plenty of topics you might want to investigate further.

As general overviews of Roman history (survey-level books that provide a contexualized narrative of Roman history), I'm going to recommend two books. [The Romans: From Village to Empire: A History of Rome from Earliest Times to the End of the Western Empire] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0199730571/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407608174&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40), by Mary Boatwright and others, and [Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0521711495/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407608616&sr=8-1), by Christopher Mackay.
Boatwright's book provides an excellent in-depth overview of the general trends of Roman history, from the origins of the city of Rome itself until Late Antiquity. Though focusing on the political development of the Roman state, there are decent introductions to social and cultural history of the Empire. As the title implies, Mackay's work presents a survey-level overview of the political and military history of Rome, with emphasis placed on the Republic and Principate.

The best introduction to the history and workings of the Roman military is [The Complete Roman Army] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0500288992/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407609072&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40) by Adrian Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy is one of the leading Roman military scholars, and provides an incredibly readable yet detailed overview of the Roman army. Seriously, if you read only one book on the Roman military (but please don't!) read this.

While much more academic than the other books I've recommended, Arthur Eckstein's [Mediterranean Anarchy, Interstate War, and the Rise of Rome] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0520259920/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1407610158&sr=8-1) is the preeminent text on the rise of Rome. Using ideas from the modern Realist school of international relations, Eckstein argues that Rome became preeminent in the Mediterranean not because they were "tougher" than other states, but rather because they more effectively understood and exploited the power dynamics of the Mediterranean world. This is probably not the easiest book for someone just being introduced to Roman history, but if you can get through it it'll be worth it.

Since you mention Venice, I have a book in mind that might be useful, but I'm blanking on the title. I'll get back to you if I can find it ( I'm on mobile right now). I hope you find these titles useful, and if you need any other recommendations please let me know!

I agree with you that Florence is the greatest city on earth. But I disagree with renting cars in Italy. From florence you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't rent a car, and cruise around Tuscany, and check out Orvieto. The countryside around there is absolutely gorgeous, rolling fields of grapes, and agriturismos everywhere.

Plus if you enjoy driving on twisting gorgeous, mountain passes Italy has it in spades. I have road tripped all around the country, from the Riviera, through Parma, on to Florence, and Tuscany, Down to Rome, and to the Amalfi coast. Trust me most of the gorgeous things I saw were inaccessible via public transportation.


If you are ever interested in some amazing driving pick up this book.


http://www.amazon.com/Back-Roads-Italy-Eyewitness-Travel/dp/0756695929

Well if you are staying at a hotel I would ask them to make the reservation. If not learn to say "do you speak english" as best you can in italian and call them yourself.

Also in Florence go to this market, buy a nice hunk of 24 or 30 month Parmigiano-Reggiano and carry it on your trip to nosh on afternoons in the hotel. Bonus add some prosciutto di parma. I like good yet affordable wine, anyone can buy a expensive bottle and be relatively certain it will be nice but finding good and cheap is special. In Italy they sell wines from the local wineries that aren't large enough for mass distribution from the cask bottled at the shop called Vino Sfuso, try this one.

In rome, good pizza at La Gatta Mangiona. Great dinner Riscoli Also check out Katie Parla, she does this for a living.

One last thing, buy this book, it's old but has never let me down and it cover all of Italy.

You need a passport. Get that going first. (If you're a US citizen, this is the link you want.)

I think the best thing to do is to pick up a travel book for your intended destinations. Read through it, use it to plan and budget, then bring it along when you go. Let's Go is geared towards young adults. It's kind of fun to read through and plan.

Kayak.com is great for finding budget flights. Late night and early morning flights, mid-week flights, and flights with a few connections save airfare. Basically, less convenient = lower fare most of the time.

You'd probably do well staying in youth hostels. You can meet other people your age very easily in them. There are also rail passes for western europe that can save you money and hassle. There are also very cheap flights to be had within Europe: Ryanair comes to mind.

Plan to pack light, it will save you money and make your trip far better. www.onebag.com is a helpful resource there. You really only need a couple changes of clothes, a bathing suit, a travel towel, toiletries, a smartphone, and some warm & waterproof layers. Packing light makes a trip so much better.

Thanks for responding! So far, I'm absolutely floored by how friendly and outgoing the Swedish community has been! Somebody else also mentioned that shoes come off at home, so I'll be sure to do that! The gift thing is something we do in the USA, if the party is formal (and wine or chocolates are pretty common - or a side dish for the meal) so I can handle that. The staring thing will take some getting used to. Where I live in California, if somebody is staring at you it usually means they want to come talk to you or want you to come talk to them. I'll have to get used to that.

I'll look that book up as well. Culture Shock Sweden Does that look like it? At six dollars (roughly 40 Swedish Krona) that's definitely worth it.

Thank you!

its a good time to go, not too many lineups for the touristy stuff. I enjoyed the parthenon, walking around the forum, coliseum (watch the scumbag gladiators, they will offer to take your picture then try to extort you for significant amounts of euros) and the vatican of course. Nothing too off the beaten path really. The cappucin monk crypt was kinda funky/spooky. Fontana di trevi, and about a billion churches. Just fun to sit and people watch, and enjoy the cuisine. Never take anything from anyone - nothing is free. Also tell your girlfriend not to take anything when offered, flowers for instance.

This book is awesome to make the best of a short trip:
http://www.amazon.com/Top-Rome-Eyewitness-Travel-Guides/dp/0756669472/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Have fun and be safe!
edit: oh one more thing, its really chilly in winter, gets super damp so dress more warmly than the temperature would suggest.

Well, you can't mask your accent. I would maybe watch your slang terms and contractions? Try to limit your y'alls...? I just got back from Paris and my best advice would be to learn enough conversational french to at least get past greetings and up to "I'm sorry, I don't speak French." Most everybody in Paris speaks some English, almost all the places have English menus printed out, but it's a show of respect to them that you try. It is France, after all. Most places we went to the people were very polite and hospitable to us, switching to perfect English after we'd politely reached the end of what French we knew. Several times we were sitting near other Americans who didn't try to speak French and the difference in the reception they got was huge. Just remember they put a lot more stock manners than we do. Not just "Bonjour", but "Bonjour, monsieur/madam." Where we would think someone was a fucking pod person if they walked into a GAP and said, "Good morning, sir/madam!" the French tend to find our casualness rude.

Also, you can never say "Merci" enough times to a waiter/waitress.

Also, Also This. This goddamned thing was a life saver. His rome book was also a lifesaver for us and I can only assume his Amsterdam book would be just as helpful.

Alrighty, if you want to learn Spanish, this is the method that I have been using so far... First off, I have to plug this book:

Fluent Forever by Grabiel Wyner - Amazon.com

I have read and tried a lot of different books on learning languages before I finally found this one, which I consider to be the holy grail. Nothing else has stuck before I read this book. The method is basically this:

1. Using Anki, a spaced-repitition learning (SRS) flashcard program, you start to learn the minimal pairs of your target language (words that differ by one sounds like "cat" and "cut"). This will help you later one when listening and learning words and will help you develop a better accent.
   
   
2. Using Anki, start to learn the most commonly used words in your language by gathering your own images and pronunciations to go along with them. Learn the base forms of verbs, you will learn to conjugate them in the next step. Here is the top 1000 words on a frequency list from Wiktionary and here is the 625 word list provided in the book. I suggest using the alphabetical word list rather than the thematic word list because if you start learning words thematically it can be harder to retain, explained within the book. Grab images from Google Images by typing in your target word after translating with SpanishDict and insert into Anki. Grab audio translations from Forvo.com if available.
   
   
3. Once you have plowed your way through 500-1000 words, you are ready to start learning to conjugate verbs and making sentences. He explains a great method for this in the book using mnemonics for different conjugations and provides a model deck you can install to use with Anki at this website. Also take a look at StudySpanish.com - Grammar Tutorial and start working your way through that at the same time. The reason you learn vocabulary first is so you have words to actually make sentences with, rather than using a smaller limited vocabulary to make the same sentences over and over.
   I suggest focusing on Linguasorb.com - Top 100 Spanish Verbs to start with conjugations that will be most commonly used.
   
   
4. Once you are able to construct basic sentences and have a decent vocabulary, you are ready to start really practicing. Find language partners or tutors on iTalki.com, write some short stories and stuff on Lang-8.com and get them translated by native speakers, practice whenever and wherever you can.
   
   
5. Start to acquire as much exposure to the language as possible. Watch TV Shows, read CNN en Español, listen to radio, watch movies, read books, whatever you can at this point to break through that intermediate fluency level.
   
   Other useful things:
   
   Books:
   
   

• Lonely Planet - Latin American Spanish Phrasebook
  
  
• Lonely Planet - Spanish Phrasebook
  
  
• Practical Spanish Grammar - A Self Teaching Guide
  
  Websites:
  
  
• 60 Insanely Useful Resources for Learning Spanish
  
  
• Spanish Linking Words - SpanishWithJudith.com
  
  
• Spanish Transition Words - TheSpanishBlog.com
  
  
• Palabras de Transicion
  
  
• Graaahh's Awesome Spanish Study Guide (for this one you have to make a free account, then go back to the page, click on "Share", then a download link will appear)
  
  This is all I can write for the moment, I am by no means fluent in Spanish but I am working on it. I have done a TON of research and this is some of the best stuff I have found, but my bookmarks folder is completely full of other resources if there is something in particular you are looking for.