If you've ever thought of traveling Europe, you've probably heard of Rick Steves. Also known as the king of the European travel guide, Steves has written books, hosted a television and radio series, and organized tours of Italy, France, and beyond. My dad considers his books practically biblical in the travel realm, and, rather reluctantly, I've grown to appreciate Steves' expertise. Though holding one of his guides makes you look like the epitome a tourist, his books can help you get way more out of a trip to Europe.

1. His translation books cover everything

And I mean everything. Whether you need to order at a restaurant or know an Italian pick-up line, Steves' translation book is full of informative, and honestly hilarious, sections that cover any foreign word you're dying to say. The chatting section even includes a section devoted to grunts and curses, smokes and... well, other stuff. Needless to say, Rick Steves likes to joke.

2. He knows the cool and lesser-known sights

Though it's worth seeing the big sights, finding some of the less popular but equally cool places to go usually ends up paying off. Steves breaks down literally everything there is to see in a city or region and lets you know about places that won't be swarming with people with selfie sticks.

3. He's honest about the popular sights

You can usually tell when he thinks a tourist attraction is overrated, and you can especially tell which ones are his favorites. Plus, for the more crowded places, Steves offers a suggestion on where to stand that lets you enjoy the sight to its best potential.

4. His restaurant reviews are thorough

He breaks down price point, the type of food, and why he thought it was worth mentioning. It's a step better than Yelp because Steves knows his food, and the TripAdvisor reviews usually back him up. (And yes, I understand how many tourist buzzwords I just used in that last sentence.)

5. He still appreciates the cheesy stuff

Though he's a professional travel guide, Steves doesn't see himself as above some of the cheesy traditions in different cities. When he's in Rome, he always goes back to the Trevi Fountain to toss in a coin, and little touches like that shows fellow travelers that sometimes being an epitome of a tourist is the best way to get the most out of one's time abroad.