4 comments about Waterproof Venice Map by Rough Guide Maps (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

1. I went to Venice for the first time in May 2007 and found this map indispensable. It was better than many other maps I had researched and better than maps that I saw for sale in Venice! Would definitely recommend to anyone going to Venice, particularly if it is your first visit to this beautiful yet very easy to get lost in city.



2. Used the Rough Guide maps for Venice, Florence, and Rome and found them to be top notch. They have far more detail and accuracy than the maps handed out by hotels and local TI offices. The paper is coated so that it withstands serious abuse, fold, refold, stuff it in your pocket in a wad, it always comes out with all the print intact. The coating adds negligible bulk, more than worth it for the durability.



3. I have lived in Venice for four years. My sister still lives there so I go every year. I still have some trouble finding restautant locations. I have used many maps of Venice, most of which I purchased there. Well, this was the best map I have ever seen. No one should go to Venice without it. There is absolutely no other map on which things are so clearly marked. Judy Potter, Esquire



4. I used this map to navigate Venice for 5 days and I would have been lost without it (literally). It was better than any other map I looked at and any of the maps for sale in Venice. Even my friend living in Venice commented on how good a map it was. The map also includes info on the water bus route and opening days and times for churches, museums, etc., basically eliminating the need to carry a guide book around all day. It is durable and waterproof, but it feels like paper and you can still write on it.
   
   I'm glad I didn't buy a map for Florence, because I got by just fine on a free map from a hotel. But a map was essential for Venice and this one was perfect.

5 comments about The Beer Drinker's Guide to Munich.

1. I went to Munich for Oktoberfest this year -- got there on a Thursday night and left the following Wednesday. Monday was spent at Oktoberfest. That meant Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday we needed to find beer gardens! This book was the perfect guide -- you can find them by S or U-Bahn stop, even! The 2-for-one certificates were a special bonus. I logged all the beers I drank on the inside cover -- 35 beers in 5 days. Nine of those were the masse size. Burp. Highly recommended.



2. This book more than pays for itself with the coupons for free beer in the back! Great book too. Has directions to a lot of amazing beirgartens!



3. I know Larry Hawthorne as a comptetitive ballplayer who hits a lot better than your average pitcher. Knowing him this way, and being a writer myself, I recommend his book because I know he is honest, a clean player, and would not steer you wrong. Not a good enough reason to buy the book?
   I could say, as the old joke goes about politicians, that he has never done a mean, rotten thing that he hasn't been sorry for, but I haven't known Larry long enough to know if he has ever done a mean, rotten thing. I know he is generous with baseball tips and has the best cooler on the sidelines. If you met him on the street he would greet you with a smile. In fact, if I asked him, he would autograph your book for you. That's how nice a guy he is. What more do you want from a book about beer in Munich? Check the excerpt and other reviews and see for yourself. If he is reading this right now, he is slapping his head with his hand and saying, "The next time Steve comes up to bat I'm pitching him a slow fat one right across the plate so he can hit it out of the park for the first time in his life!" That's how nice a guy he is.
   I met him in the high deserts of south california, out where Jesus lost his boots, where right field is littered with gopher holes, where the 'Swingin' Steves' try to give him fits by getting line drives, and I'm glad I got the chance to get to know him. He made my first year as a softball player a lot more enjoyable, which was real special to me because I hadn't played since high school and needed all the help I could get. If you are still reading this then you are a serious beer drinker and if you are planning on going anywhere near Munich you need Larry by your side. From the other reviews you can see he is a great guide and knows his stuff (and his hops, he's always talking about the hops) so I will tell you the one flaw I found in Larry. He swings at everything. But he has a respectable batting average so I'm not going to knock what works for him. I'm a little shorter than him so maybe that makes me want to wait for the best pitch because I dont have the strength he does to drive the ball into the gaps. Well, I was kidding about Larry giving me a big fat pitch for this rambling review, in fact he might just hunker down and feed me low inside pitches because he can and he wants his team to win as much as I do. Like I said, a great competitor and if I still drank beer (diabetes) and had an urge to visit my great-great-grandparents homeland (apparently one of us was a king in Denmark around 1000 ad) I would still buy the cheapest version of this book I could find (that's just me, I'm cheap) but I would read it cover to cover because I trust this guy to give me the real deal. Hoist one for Larry, beer and book fans, and just for your information I wrote this cold sober. Honest. Why would I lie? And if any reporters for the National Enquirer or da Globe, etc. want the real inside dope on Larry I would be willing to supply even more colorful anecdotes to prove it.



4. This book is suprisingly good and gives extended information about various interesting locales in Munich. The beer locales are a kick. One could spend the whole trip visiting these occasionally quite interesting and cozy dispensers of comustibles and brews.



5. The book is a 'must have' for those beer lovers visiting Munich.
   
   I would like the author to include in the next edition, a map of Munich with suggestions on where to drink in the city center. The map could be used as a travel guide to Munich, and listing the beer gardens on the map would make them easier to find (especially if it starts to rain and one must seek shelter).
   
   The guide is accurate and fun to read, but the walking distances are slightly optimistic, especially if you have short legs!

5 comments about Dublin (City Guide).

1. This sweet, compact guide measures only 7" x 3", but packs a wallop in the info department! Went to Dublin last year, and out of 8 city guides I looked at, this was the ONLY one who had info on Bram Stoker (Dracula's author); his house in an historic landmark, and the author also leads you to his beautiful birth residence!



2. I bought this guide and the Rick Steves book to plan my trip to Dublin. Both were very helpful, but I left Rick's book at home because Lonely Planet has GLBT info in it and has better maps. I used the maps a lot, both to find my way and also to get back on track when I got lost. A lot of the prices for things quoted in the book had gone up, but that's to be expected. I highly recommend both Dublin and this guidebook.



3. My wife and I just got back from Ireland and had a great time, in part because of this book. The guesthouse we stayed in, several of the restaurants we visited, and more than a couple of the sites we saw were drawn from its pages. I'm happy to report that its guidance was uniformly spot on. We tend to enjoy simply being in a place, doing things in a low key way and deciding what to do next as we take our time wandering around. This guide was perfect for that, easy to whip out of a bag over lunch or on a street corner, though I suspect that it would be useful for those who prefer to set down itineraries, too.
   
   For what it's worth, this has been our experience with other Lonely Planet guides as well (including those for Ireland and Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks).



4. As the other reviewers have said, this is a great guidebook. I used it to plan a three-day visit recently. The hotel I chose was exactly as described, and a good choice. Unlike some guidebooks, it has great maps. There are six detailed colored maps in the back of the book, a map of the Dublin Area Regional Transit trains, and numerous smaller maps inside (e.g., maps of walking tours, of Trinity College, of cathedrals). The book is chock-full of interesting and useful info on all the sights of Dublin. In addition, if you want to do day trips out of Dublin, don't assume you need a different all-Ireland guide - there is a section on "excursions" you can do in a day, and instructions on how to get there (public transport, car, organized tour). I will say that one of the tours I took wasn't quite how it was described, but I should probably take that up with the tour company. A few tips: a) for a breathtaking coastal walk, go to Howth. Malahide, another coastal town, wasn't worth the time for me. b) Glendalough is a beautiful park with two big lakes, and to me was worth more time than the organized tour I chose allotted for it.



5. I really found the book useful, but I wish it had a method to highlight "must see" things better. I was in Dublin for a very short trip and had difficulty combing through the book to figure out what I should prioritize for my limited time. In retrospect, I wish I had purchased the Ireland guide, rather than Dublin, so it would have been easier for me to pick out the key things to see. On second thought, I might not have had the great, detailed maps if I had done that, so maybe I went the right route!
   
   I've had great experiences with Lonely Planet guides in general, though I also love Let's Go. They don't have as many out there, but I buy the Let's Go version if it's available - better info for people on a budget, and lots of great "off the beaten path" suggestions.

No comments about Fodor's Greek Islands, 1st Edition: With the Best of Athens (Fodor's Gold Guides).

No comments about Frommer's Iceland (Frommer's Complete).

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

1. This book is very readable with extensive coverage of all areas of France. It is typical of Frommers ... excellent, comprehensive, good for both budget and luxury travelers.



2. I have always dreamed of going to France and I plan to next Fall or Spring. My only issue with Frommer's is the bulk and weight. Not something to carry around while you are walking all over Paris. I will be doing research and maping out where I want to go. I travel very light-no check in so I will take the map, numerous notes in a small pad and leave the guide back home. Otherwise, it is a very good guide and I recommend it.



3. I used this book to help plan our accomodations for our trip. It was more reliable than Tripadvisor or other websites with reviews that are quite conflicting. I was able to find a great deal in Paris thanks to a recomendation in the book.



4. The restaurant and hotel selections were 100% on target. However, Fodors has more interesting detail and is more user friendly.



5. Not a bad travel book, fairly complete, decent detail on many of the cities within the country, but the book does lack pictures, has a few in the front of the book. That would have made the book more complete and enjoyable. As the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

1 comments about The Lady in the Palazzo: An Umbrian Love Story.

1. Some people may enjoy this book. But I found the author self-indulgent
   and sentimental. I should add that I am an Italophile and have spent a couple of years in Italy--both for work and pleasure.
   
   I cold not recommend this to anyone.

5 comments about A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France.

1. A PIG IN PROVENCE: GOOD FOOD AND SIMPLE PLEASURES IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE tells of a habitual France vacationer who decides to buy a small farmhouse deep in the backcountry. Thirty years later she tells the story of her life in Provence: a story that revolves around seasonal change, culinary specialties, and fun stories of the foodways and culture of the region. Any fan of Provence or French culinary traditions will find this gentle story revealing and appealing, and libraries catering to Francophiles will also find it a popular lend.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. This is a fantastic story about one woman's introduction to and exploration of life in Provence. The book takes you on a culinary journey through the region, with beautiful introductions to specialties of the area. Each chapter features a different major Provence food: truffles, goat cheese, garlic, etc and ends with a recipe that has been featured in the narrative. For those who want understand the relationship between the land, the food, and the people of Provence, this book is highly recommended.



3. This is not only an immensely enjoyable memoir of provencal living which is so easy to read, it has a useful overview of subjects such as mushroom collecting with practical receipes at the end of each chapter. I have ALOT of books about americans living in France and this is one of my favorites to date.



4. Rather evocative but wish it were fulleer and longer. The recipes could have been rather more original



5. Great little book about Rural France and a difference culture - you get a feeling thru the writer as to how things have maybe changed but hopefully stayed the same - it's a good fast read

4 comments about Moleskine City Notebook Paris (Moleskine City Pocket Book).

1. Was given this book as a gift for my trip to Paris. It was THE book I kept on me at all times. An indispensible tool for the travler who likes to travel light. The maps, broken down in areas, were great for walking the often complex Paris streets. Blank sheets to jot down addresses of that special restarurant or patisserie. Smaller note sheets to tear out after using them, say, for metro directions. A small pocket for ticket stubs. A truly useful tool for getting around. Going to Rome later this year and will get the Rome version. Another bonus, you can give your book to friends after you use it so they can benefit from your notes and book info. It does not have destination information, so you'll have to use another book for that, like Eyewitness Travel (good also). So get out there!



2. The city book series by Moleskine is very compact and useful. It is small enough to fit in my purse and has a wonderful city maps section that is very useful. I love these city books. I want them to add more cities!



3. if you've already been to Paris and you just want to re-live your experiences and jot down your thoughts that's your option. The quality of the street finder is very good. In my case i used the 6 or 7 guides i had at hand and took note in the book of adresses and phone numbers and brought just this guide to Paris



4. Excellent in all respects. I'm so happy Moleskine is back! I can now leave my Petit Plan de Paris at home, except for the more extensive stays. I love having my maps and travel notes all in one place.

5 comments about Michelin the Green Guide Paris (Michelin Green Guides).

1. "Les Guides Mich" as the French refer to this series, is a series of tour books for different regions of France. Some are available only in French; the most popular are in English.
   A trip to Paris DEMANDS this guide -- far superior to Rick Steve's series.
   Walking tours, wonderful maps, and enough information for even the persons who have often visited Paris. I also suggest, for the photography, National Geographic's "PARIS"
   
   The Michelin RED guides are for lodging and restaurants, by the way.



2. Michelin the Green Guide Paris (Michelin Green Guides)
   The main issue is the way the guide is constructed: neighborhoods by alphabetical order... I was walking from one area to another and had to try to find out which page to go. each area has a good detailed map but the maps are not linked and when moving one won't know where the map continues.
   Also, there are very few hotels/restaurants listed and minor attractions, like small museums, are hardly reported.
   I would not buy again



3. A splendid pocket book to take with you as you walk or ride through Paris, notes on most buildings, good restaurants and handy cafes to stop by as you travel and a thorough historic background to this lovely City.



4. I have used the Michelin green guides for years and am now in the travel business, specifically doing business in France. I find this current edition a bit lacking, though it is generally a good guide. Unfortunately, there seems to be a "dumbing-down" of the guides in English (are we Americans not sophisticated travelers?); the same guide written is French is much more complete and detailed; I would opt for it if you read French...if not, for a more detailed cultural guide try Blue Guide Paris



5. Recommended by my French professor, I leaned heavily upon the expertise of the Michelin Green Guide during my first trip to Paris. The guide proved its worth over and over again. Despite the abundance of tourist guides for Europe and the vast expanse known as the Internet, this particular guide deserves a special place in your travel bag because:
   
   It is thorough. Every detail you wanted to know - and some you could not imagine - can be found in this Guide. Architecture? History? The nearest bus stop? It's all there. Unlike most tourist books, the Green Guide covers ALL OF PARIS. You will find every big and little neighborhood arranged in alphabetical order.
   
   It provides decent walking tours, and not just for touristy neighborhoods, either. These are essential for the renegade explorer who craves something other than a cookie-cutter experience abroad.
   
   Maps maps maps! Maps of the gardens of Versailles, map of the Métro, maps of the cemeteries... The floor plans of museums (Le Grand Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, etc.) help as well.
   
   One of my favorite parts of the book is the front flap. It contains a list of unusual métro stations - a list that becomes enormously valuable when the weather doesn't allow traditional sight-seeing. If for no other reason, choose this guide for the flap: it starts out strong, and only illuminates your mind from there.