2 comments about The Rough Guide to Slovenia - Edition 2.

1. As a seasoned traveller, having an accurate and useful travel guide is an essential part of my kit. Recently I have grown tired of mainstream and established guides leaning more towards database listings of where to go and what to do. I want insight. I want to know about a place, its history, culture and the author's personal views. I want to feel inspired to visit a place by the writing. So it's refreshing to see that the Rough Guides still manage to maintain an acceptable balance between information and insight.
   
   The Rough Guide to Slovenia is now in its second edition and there have been many improvements. The most obvious is the new glossy cover; a full page photo with a translucent band across help to make the book much more aesthetically appealing to the eye, which is a vast improvement from the bland cover of the previous edition.
   
   The colour intro contains a useful quick reference guide to the country's highlights, and scattered throughout the book you'll also find two new colour inserts that help to give more emphasis on the two things the country is most famous for: caves and outdoor activities.
   
   More importantly though, is the content. The author manages to maintain an easygoing style which almost makes you feel like he is actually talking to you. Whilst striving to provide accurate information he is also not afraid to give blatantly honest reviews of places and accommodation. His description of a place in Bled where I have personally stayed is right on the button:
   
   "This popular lakeside place has a convivial atmosphere despite the rooms being dated and cramped."
   
   It's for this kind of honesty that people buy a travel guide. If we just wanted a simple list of places to stay and go we would ask at the tourist office, or read the brochures. But independent travellers who want to plan their own itinerary want to know what the place is really like, so they can make an informed decision as to where to go and stay.
   
   While boxed sections highlight special events or places of interest, the bulk of the information is neatly woven into sectioned paragraphs each written with a clarity and authority that is indicative of the author's thorough research and in-depth knowledge of the country. The second edition also contains more detailed maps than the previous edition and its map of the Triglav National Park is the best I've seen yet.
   
   Extremely well written and packed with accurate and useful information, the Rough Guide to Slovenia is an essential aid to anyone planning a trip to this beautiful and diverse little country.
   
   Reviewed by Ian Middleton: Travel Writer and photographer, and author of Mysterious World: Ireland.



2. I haven't traveled yet, but it helped me to prepare my route.
   The data seems to be very accurate.
   I doubled check the internet and got same information.
   
   Good summary and nice photos also

1 comments about Michelin Portugal Madere/Portugal & Madeira (Michelin).

1. We spent the last two weeks traveling by car in Portugal from Lisbon to the top and northeast corner of the country; over 2500 km.

   This map was vastly better than the smaller maps we had. It worked particularly well in giving us a clearer picture of what the routes would be like. We discovered no errors.

   It also contains an index of cities and villages.

   Not 5 stars for the following reasons: many small villages not on the map. (To an extent this is unavoidable given that there are so many small villages.) Also, there's no cross milage chart.

   Even more valuable would have been a chart of estimated driving times between major cities. It was all too easy to get stuck behind (very) slow moving trucks in the hilly areas. The 'N' roads, which look like major highways on the map, usually have just one lane in each direction. In addition, they can be endlessly twisty, leaving little opportunity to pass.

No comments about Time Out London Eating and Drinking 2009 (Time Out London Eating and Drinking).

No comments about Greece and the Greek Islands (Small Panorama).

1 comments about Hot Sun, Cool Shadow: Savoring the Food, History, and Mystery of the Languedoc.

1. Essential reading for anyone planning a trip to the Languedoc. Part guidebook, part history, part culinary journey, part cookbook, it's also the story of a couple who actually did what many of us dream of doing: finding a second home somewhere warmer, sunnier and more relaxed, with, in this case, better food.
   Angie Murrills is a vivid writer with a keen eye, a warm heart and an insatiable appetite for food and food history. Each chapter ties a food - cassoulet, confit, anchovies, cheese - with a Languedoc town or region, illustrated with small, charming ink drawings by Peter Matthews.
   I dare you to read this and not start planning a lazy trip boat trip down the Midi Canal, or a trip to the Camargue, to see a bloodless bull fight in Stes. Maries de la Mer.

1 comments about Brittany (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. The premise of this travel book is that they focus on providing a lot of visual content for people who are more visual learners. But if I was relying on this for my only source of information about Brittany, I would be quite frustrated, as it is very difficult to find anything in this book (versus my Lonely Planet book). A nice book to purchase as a supplement, but don't rely on it as your primary destination guide.

2 comments about Moon Italy (Moon Handbooks).

1. Informative, practical and fun to read.
   I particularly like the cultural insights his book provided through the films and books selection.



2. Moon Italy is a necessary companion for the serious traveler in Italy. Alexei Cohen provides fresh and first-hand descriptions of familiar landmarks like looking over his shoulder and adds interesting and useful background information about history, politics, and local customs. His style is easy to read. A thorough index makes it easy to sort through voluminous details to find specific information. Moon Italy is a complete textbook for travelers looking for current and up-to-date information.

4 comments about Literary Paris: A Guide.

1. I picked up the book expecting the typical drivel so often encountered in this genre. Happily mistaken and captivated I was to discover the level of research and insight invested into this gem. Written with unbridled enthusiasm and discerning charm, Literary Paris is a must read. Bravo, Ms. Powell, bravo!



2. There are plenty of guide books to Paris, whatever your preference. Powell's attempt to provide a view of Paris through the lives of writers who have lived there is an inspired idea, as so many of these people have helped to shape Paris in our imaginations. It is delightful to think of walking through the streets of the city and thinking about the writers who have lived there. While the Cafe de Flore is happy to acknowledge that Sartre and de Beauvoir hung out there, it's more fun to think that one can find where Arthur Rimbaud invaded the life of Paul Verlaine, or where Janet Flanner liked to hang out to hold court. Beautifully designed and illustrated, I know I'll be using it on my next trip to Paris to enliven neighborhoods I thought I already knew.



3. I received this as a gift and loved it. I will review it again before my next trip to Paris (AFTER the US/Euro exchange rate moves in the US dollar direction,) and may take it with me. You can read a few pages at a time and this is great because I like to read a bit before bedtime. Since the entries are short you can finish one or two at a time. I got the feeling it would be great to travel to Paris with the author.



4. Wonderful book for bringing an additional literary and historical depth to the world's most beautiful city. The perfect book to carry along as you stroll from cafe to cafe.

No comments about AA 2008 Big Road Atlas France (Aa Atlases).

No comments about Michelin Green Guide Wine Regions of France.