5 comments about Streetwise Berlin Map - Laminated City Street Map of Berlin, Germany - with integrated metro map including S-Ba and U-Bahn lines and stations.

1. The Streetwise Berlin map was convenient even though it does not cover the outer limits of Friedrichstein and basically does not cover outside of the S/U Bahn A/B zone. However, the area it covers is what a tourist generally needs. The best part of the map, in addition to it's size, was the S/U Bahn map which made it convenient and quick to figure out which train to take and the proper direction. It doesn't cover the street trams, but we could figure this out easily and did not find a map that covered that anyhow. We used this Streetwise map constantly. And, like I said, the Berliners I met, all said that the map was fantastisch. Small sized, it fits right into your bag or pocket and notes museums and other great sight in pink.



2. I got this map last year as a gift before I moved to Berlin for a short time. It was nice to have when we were in the Center of Berlin, but there are large parts of Berlin that are not on the map, so we also had another more extensive map of Berlin. Keep in mind that they also changed the subway system a bit in December 2004, so the map I have has the old map on it. There are subway maps on all the trains, so you can find your way around very easily.
   
   Its a useful and durable tourist map, but any good guidebook will have the same included.



3. I just received my Streetwise Berlin map. I'm sorry I bothered. It is a real disappointment. For one thing, it is very small - the map area when fully opened is only about 25" x 8" which means that for one thing, detail is lacking, for another only the central slice of the city is covered, and everything is so small as to make the map difficult to use.
   I would strongly suggest avoiding this map. Instead, seriously consider the city maps by Berndtson. I have used their maps in several European cities, they are a lot larger though still, when folded, as compact as the Streetwise one, they are easy to use, well-marked and detailed, and also laminated (the Streetwise map is laminated too, but that does not make up for its other probelms.)
   I have also used Hammond city maps in Europe and found them quite good too. At least their Prague map is excellent.
   Don't waste the momey on the cruddy Streetwise map when far superior products are out there for the same price.



4. It did not cover everywhere in Berlin I needed to be, both north and south. But its small size was convenient to fold and unfold without too much bother, and the lamination made that easy to do, as well as waterproof. The u-bahn/s-bahn system map was, likewise, not perfect but adequate: I had to squint to read it, but it was convenient to picture the whole system in one place, and to have the transport map in the same easy-fold easy-go map as Berlin itself.



5. Those who complain about the area covered are missing the point of Streetwise maps. They don't require the constant folding and unfolding of a more comprehensive map. If you expect to be primarily in the city center, a Streetwise map is perfect, and it's so easy to tuck into a pocket or bag. Any Berlin map does run the risk of becoming outdated, since the city has changed regularly since reunification, but the 2008 revised edition now being sold is reliable and seems up to date.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door 2008: The Travel Skills Handbook (Rick Steves).

1. I found this book very useful, it offered many practical time and money saving tips. The accommodation and transportation strategies were particularly good. However, as an Aussie I found this book very US centric! While some advice was EXTREMELY obvious, I appreciated the opinionated style of writing. Please note that a lot of information covered in this book is also located in Rick's website.



2. This is an excellent reference book. We used it in preparation for our trip to UK, along with Rick's Great Britain 2008 guide. We also referred to it while on the trip. Wish I had more time to read it more thoroughly before we left, but the packing tips and money-exchange information were especially helpful. Good practical book to add to one's library.



3. This book is a must for those travelling to Europe for the first time, or just needing a background review of the smart way to travel. It covers the basics from train and plane travel to how to book a hotel in Europe and what to expect. The second part of this book gives some suggestions of places to visit, but that is not where it shines (see Best of Europe book for that info) it is giving you the knowledge to feel comfortable and confident while traveling that this book makes it mark.



4. We have several of Rick Steve's books, but this one has practical and helpful information.



5. I bought this guide for my son's trip to Europe, And we found that it was helpfull.

5 comments about Portugal (Eyewitness Travel Guides).

1. I have just returned from a 10 day trip to Portugal during which this travel guide was a valuable companion. The layout of the book is easy to use and it is chocked full of extra information on wine regions, the making of port, cork and regional food. While I did not use the guide to select hotels, it was great for information at the various stops. Highly recommended!



2. This book looks impressive, but when I tried to get down to details of actually traveling in Portugal, they just weren't there.
   
   The maps are such high level they are worthless for actual navigation. There is no information on where to find the train stations, bus stations. The information about hotels and restaurants are laughable. In Oporto, the book says you can take river trips upstream, but gives no information about where they originate or where to find the boats.
   
   I suppose this book might be useful if you just like to look at pictures, and your travels are all organized by a tour bus operator.
   
   The old standby, Lonely Planet, is a much better choice.



3. With history, culture, regions outlined in this book, this is the way I want to see a new country



4. With too many pictures and graphics, and too little text, this guide wasn't much of a help when I visited the Algarve. For the Porto region it was better, although some more text would have been nice.



5. This travel book was great when traveling throughout Portugal. Had lots of information on what to do and see. The pictures are great.

5 comments about Osterie & Locande d'Italia: A Guide to Traditional Places to Eat and Stay in Italy.

1. An essential handbook for anyone with dreams of eating their way around Italy. The descriptions evoke strong images of romantic nooks with sumptuous offerings - all supporting the Slow Food philosophies of local quality ingredients prepared by passionate gastronomes. Included are accommodation options covering 3-star hotels to intimate farm stays. I won't travel to Italy without it.



2. I almost hate to recommend this book since the Italian language editions have been sort of our secret for many years. Now anyone can find these wonderful places to enjoy authentic regional foods and wines in the REAL Italy! We've been to many, many of these places over the years and the descriptions of them are spot-on so I'm confident that the places we have yet to enjoy will be equally as good. Be patient though, just because the book is in English does NOT mean the folks at these wonderful eateries speak the language. The glossary helps a lot in this regard.



3. We brought this book prior to an '07 three week trip to Northern Italy. It is based on the 'Slow Food' movement now going on in Italy. We purchased a number of other books to supplement this one. This book is excellent for people who want to "go" the way the Italian do, i.e., good food (a must for them)at a reasonable cost and small hotels/B & B types without all the hype. We are now using it again for a late '08 trip back to Northern Italy. As a side point - there are also Slow Food shops in Italy where you can purchase quick meals or food items to take away - all of the highest quality and fair price. Remember this "Slow Food" movement was started by Italians for their own people - the main idea was for top quality food and reasonable accomodation at a fair price and they have achieved it. Remember to look for the "Golden Snail"



4. This book was an invaluable resource. Perfect for those who cherish great meals and good wine. We toured Italy from Lake Como to Verona, Venice to Florence and Bologna. In each city we made a point to eat at a site mentioned in this book. Every meal was unbelievable !!! We would love to see more Slow Food guides for other cities around the world.



5. This is an excellent and informative book. I was however quite surprised that Checchino, which I believe has 1 Michelin star and is possibly the best known restaurant in Rome, doesn't rate a mention, especially as it certainly fits the Slow Food motives.

5 comments about One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France (101 Towns).

1. This item was exactly what I needed: birthday present coffee table book for discerning New Orleans doctor. It arrived promptly & was well packaged, too.



2. It's nice if you want a VERY short overview of towns in France. If I had leafed through it in a bookstore, I probably would not have purchased it.



3. This amazing book leads you through beautiful France with a gentle hand. It opens doors not otherwise available unless you have unlimited time to research across a wide range of texts. Each step into each Department ensures another ( and different ) breath catching sight into ancient and contemporary France. Even though it is a heavy ( weightwise) text it is essential
   to take it with you. The index in back of the book it a treasure trove of information that otherwise would not be available to you. I rate this book as one of my special treasures and will be taking it with me for the 2 months I intend spending in the south of France in September and October. Don't buy another book until you have put this treasure in your library even if just for pure pleasure of meandering through beautiful France.



4. I shall be basing a few tours on this finely produced book but it gives only a tantalising introduction: the illustrations seem to emhasise the cathedrals - take Laon, for instance, it is an extraordinary fortress on a rock with fascinating labyrinths. I expect to find far more delights in the places we visit than the few that are hinted at. Great coffee table conversation piece.



5. Great price for this book--and it's very beautiful. My wife loves it, and I saved approximately 40%. Fantastic buy!

3 comments about Spartacus International Gay Guide 2008.

1. Spartacus saves time! Forget searching through endless website for information on the local gay scene. Who knows if the website even exists anymore or when it was updated the last time. Spartacus is ideal for planning your holiday. It is up-to-date (even though the gay scene changes all the time) and at least I am sure that the advertisers are still around when I visit their city. We don't have a better gay guide - Spartacus remains the number one for gay international travel.



2. This is an annual purchase for me. I agree with the previous reviewer--forget the rest of the guides or jumping around on multiple websites. Spartacus is truly the only international guide you will need. It will bump out underwear or shoes or anything else to get into my suitcase for a trip. Sure, Damron guides are good for USA travel and if you never plan on leaving the US border get that guide. For all the other globe trotting guys like me, this is the one you'll want.



3. USELESS ! ! ! I never got it and you people just blew me off,, not to make a pun. I gave the seller a P O box address and they gave the package to U P S who, according to their records left the package on "the porch ". Whatever that means? The post office claim they never saw it, or they would have left it in my box. What good is anything, if it is never delivered? I sent email to Amazon and made a call. No response to either! Don't expect me back at Amazon.com..... and since you have to have a rating to get out of this stupid thing I put one star. If you had black or negative stars, I would fill the page. it's stupid!

1 comments about Fodor's Germany 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Wherever I go I use Fodors guides. I just got back from Europe and Fodors found unique places, great restaurants and comfortable hotels all at reasonable (for Europe) prices. Follow the orange or black stars, you can't go wrong.

5 comments about Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past.

1. I wanted to learn more about Spain and the format of this book seemed ideal but the writer has a dull style that makes it hard to get through the book. It's repetitive; he uses the most hackneyed phrases and it sounds like a "What I did last summer" composition from a pretentious high schooler. It's neither a detailed history nor a good journalistic read.



2. Nice follow up after reading the classic Iberia by James Michener. Brings the reader up to date on life in modern Spain which is still haunted by ghosts of its civil war and the battle between tradition and modernism. La Transicion, or Spain's transition to democracy is something that is occuring both historically, politically, and personally as Spain enters a more globalized, connected world. Tremlett describes this "transicion" from all perspectives, but it is his personal perspective, as an ex-pat Brit raising his family in Spain, which I found particularly enjoyable. His descriptions of day to day life juxtaposed into chapters dealing with deeper historical and political events, such as the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, the legacy of Franco, the Basque separatist movement, the pride of Catalans, and the 2004 Islamic bombings, makes this book very readable and pertitent to truly understanding not only the country but its people, and their remarkable history.



3. As a regular visitor to Spain who unfortunately hasn't had much luck mastering the language, I've scoured bookstores and websites in order to learn everything I can about the the history and culture of this amazing country. Many of the books available are not very comprehensive, or dry to the point of being boring. Most books in English you buy in Spain (translations) are almost unreadable, and clearly not edited by native English speakers. Ghosts of Spain has got a ton of information...and insight, and it's very readable. I highly recommend it for anyone with casual interest, or for "Span-o-files" like myself.



4. Tremlett incorporates personal anecdotes and experiences into each delightfully informative chapter to the extent that the writing is never dull or dry. As a Spanish-American trying to get in touch with his roots, this book, essential for those who have fallen for Spain, made me even prouder to call Spain my fatherland.



5. cool-minded views of a passionate lover of Spain, with lots of insight and a committed approach. Very interesting and useful to have an understanding of my country

5 comments about Frommer's London 2008 (Frommer's Complete).

1. I was really hoping to use the map included in this book during my stay in London. Unfortunately, the area I was staying (near the Marble Arch) was not included in the map, and therefore, was not as useful as I had hoped.



2. We went to London in January 2007. We bought a few London travel-guide-type books but THIS book was the one we kept turning to during our trip. It was easy to use and comprehensive. The maps of the different parts of the city were an excellent tool. We had never been to London before and with this book we felt a little more like we knew what we were doing! I highly recommend this book!



3. There is an intimidating array of travel guide options when one is planning a trip, especially if you're going to as common a destination as London! I checked out everything available (and up-to-date, because these guides do change annually, in many cases!) from my library. I was drawn to Frommer's 2008 for several reasons:
   
   1. Readability. The information was conveyed in such a way that I didn't at all feel intimidated by how many choices I had. There is a good balance in the amount and kind of information given in the reviews of attractions, pubs, hotels, etc., and I was able to quickly figure out whether I wanted to add a site on my itinerary or not.
   
   2. Organization. There is a lot of easy, helpful information about traveling to London (including packing for your trip) in the beginning of the guide. This is followed by "top ten" lists for various attractions (pubs, sites, etc.), and then a really handy series of itineraries for "Seeing London" in "a day," "two days," or "three." The city is divided into various neighborhoods, and so it is very easy to find places to stay, restaurants, and attractions no matter where you find yourself. I found this feature especially useful when organizing my itinerary.
   
   3. Usefulness. Reviews are honest and upfront about things you really want to know - from the bathroom sizes in boutique hotels, to whether you want to go for a restaurant's signature steak-and-kidney pie. Each region has a list of hotels and restaurants that cater to a range of budgets, from very expensive to options for the budget traveler. Frommer's also includes an excellent symbol system, including one for "over-rated attractions" and an "insider's alert" for unique finds that you might not see in other guides. There is also a handy map of the London Underground lines, and a tourist-friendly city map tucked in the back of the guide.
   
   I looked at a few different guides to try and supplement my travel plans, but honestly, the only book I'll be bringing will be the Frommer's 2008 guide. Lonely Planet London would be useful as a supplement for those interested in more cultural information, or a perspective for the alternative lifestyle (gay and lesbian, vegetarian). My only complaint is that while there are low-cost hotels listed, cheaper options like hostels are not covered, so students and shoestring budget travelers may need to resort to the internet for help in that regard. Ultimately, I was very pleased with this guide both for its helpfulness in preparing for my trip, and its suitability as a pocket guide when I'm in London.



4. This is an excellent resource for anyone planning to visit London. It made our trip enjoyable, saved us money, and equipped us with information that helped us navigate London easily. It contains information on everything from "must see" attractions, to tips on exchanging money. My husband and I were able to prioritize our schedules and take advantage of special deal unknown to travelers. The topics are nicely organized with clear and accurate information. We will not travel again without a Frommer's guide.
   
   The only two tips we picked-up that were not in the guide were:
   
   1. Shop at Tesco for your food - This is were all the locals shop so you will not pay tourist prices. Our hotel was selling us a 1/2 liter bottle of water for $12 US dollars. We went to Tesco and paid .60 cents for 2 liters.
   
   2. Look into dot2dot - Hotel transportation can be expensive. A cab ride can cost $100-150 US dollars. The guide tells you about the underground, which comes out to about $15.00, but if you take dot2dot and share a ride you can get a round trip ticket for $66.00. This is great if you have heavy luggage and do not want to drag it around on the underground.
   
   I hope this helps. Enjoy!



5. I bought this book, along with several others, for a trip I took to London with my husband and 13 year old daughter. We already had a hotel so we didn't use that section, but we found it to be a great reference book for almost anything we needed quick information on. Museums, places to visit, train and subway information, the proper amount to tip, it was all in there. Definitely worth the investment.

5 comments about Frommer's Best Day Trips from London: 25 Great Escapes by Train, Bus or Car (Frommer's Best Day Trips from London).

1. I visit England frequently. I have an earlier edition of this book which I find to be very useful, even now. The new version leaves out a lot of the good places that were in the old book and it lacks credibility. I have a hard time taking any of it seriously when it tells me that an English pint is 16 ounces. Anyone who is serious about English beer knows that an English pint is 20 ounces.



2. If you're wanting to plan a trip outside the city, this guide helps orient you to all the options. While I didn't use the suggestions on Hotels (too short a list)...it did help me decide where I wanted to go. If you've already decided on a destination, this book won't be that helpful.



3. We loved this book! Instead of getting guided tours we made a list of places that looked interesting - all of which were in this book - and used trains and subways. We ended up with two half days to fill and used this book to plan some spur of the moment travel as well. It has maps, train schedules, places to see at the different sites, suggestions on where to eat and how much everything cost, and a nice variety of places to visit. It was also small enough to carry easily. It included train schedules, bus information, and directions for driving. The best investment we made for our trip.



4. Not the most interesting or comprehensive text. When cross referenced with other England travel texts this one lacks a great deal.



5. I just got back from England last night and took three of the day trips described in this book: Winchester, Dover and Hampton Court. Obviously these guides are somewhat subjective, so I didn't always agree with the authors' opinions on certain things, but the factual information on how to get from London to the destinations was spot on. Their suggestions on obtaining a Brit Rail pass and/or a Great British Heritage Pass saved me loads of money and time. I would also recommend England for Dummies, which is also by Frommer's. It gave some great general info about England and London not in this text.