4 comments about Streetwise Paris Metro Map.

1. I bought one for each of the three of us going to France. They were small and laminated, and would fit inside our passport covers. Should have guessed that anything that small would be useless. If you are over 40, forget it. I don't wear glasses, but I could not read the print. The arondissments are not clear. They were useless for us, but they were stylishly cute, all the while.



2. This little laminated map, of the Metro and RER lines in and around Paris, is one of the most valuable and cheap investments you can make before you visit.The details on this map are very small. If you have any difficulty reading fine print, a portable magnifying glass may be in order. This map folds into thirds and easily fits in your pocket. Both the RER and Metro lines are displayed on the same side, making it easy to recognize where to connect with other lines. The free maps from the train stations separate the different lines, making it more cumbersome to plot your course. Spend the money, get this one - you'll use it.



3. This map was so helpful to us when we walked around Paris a couple weeks ago. You can get a metro map when you get to Paris, but I didn't see one that included the whole city in one map. The Lonely Planet Paris guide had a good map, too, but the mini map is easy to put in your pocket and reference as needed.



4. Super clean, conveniently-small. It is a great tool. (I did have to use my glasses to read it, but sometimes you are forced to give into old age...especially if you want to find your way through the Paris metro.

1 comments about Frommer's Florence, Tuscany & Umbria (Frommer's Complete).

1. While we found the guidebooks useful in some ways, the restaurant recommendations were extremely disappointing. We ate at two of the recommended restaurants (one recommended by the Frommer Tuscany guidebook, the other by the Frommer Rome guidebook) during a week long stay in Italy. They were the most average meals we had - certainly they were not worth the stars they were given by Frommer. The Rome guidebook also recommended a restaurant (Insalata Ricca) near Piazza Navona without mentioning it was part of a chain. We walked several blocks to this location with family who wanted a light meal before catching the train (we didn't eat there ourselves) and later discovered that there was another one right around the corner from our hotel. I do not plan on buying a Frommer's guidebook again, because I can't trust their recommendations. The facts and history are available in other guidebooks too.
   
   I should also mention that the guidebook claimed that parking in Siena was exorbitantly expensive. Perhaps that is true if one parks the car and stays in a hotel in the city for several days. We visited the city for about 8 hours and paid about $15 which didn't seem too bad.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Best of Budapest (Lonely Planet Best Of Series).

1. I travel extensively and, after long experience, I find the Lonely Planet guides the best, so I now buy them automatically and am never disappointed. Still, they do vary in quality. The Budapest guide, however, is among the best.
   
   I appreciate how well this guide is written. The introduction, which sets the tone for the book, is literate and is good writing, as writing. The history chapter, not too long, but also not too superficial for this type of book, gave me an insight into Hungary that I found invaluable in enjoying my five-day visit to Budapest. Although the edition is several years old (I think a new one is about to come out), it was amazingly up-to-date and accurate. I followed several of the walking tours in the guide, and they were all well thought out and enjoyable, with a great deal of relevant information about the sights I saw.
   
   In short, this is about as good as a general travel guide gets.



2. This slim volume contains pretty much all you need for a short trip to Budapest. There are plenty of maps, albeit very small. The highlights section is nice as well as the photographs and suggestions for walking tours. A great little carry along.



3. A great guide to the city for a first-timer. The walking tours were very useful in my exploration, and the recommendations were usually on point. The only problem was the restaurant recommendations, where many were full of tourists, all using the LP guide. But that's a minor problem for a useful, comprehensive guide to the city. I spent four days there and had a blast.



4. I hve always been a of Lonely planet, and this book is no exception. The size is easy to carry around and it is filled with great information. The only down side is that there is little information on public transportation and the maps are only okay. Over all, the good wins and I found this book to be very useful. While walking down the street one day we even ran into the musicians pictured on the cover!



5. Unless you are going to Budapest on a long weekend, save your money and buy Lonely Planet Hungary instead. Almost all of the information is in there with additional information on nearby areas. The metro system is under going a massive renovation so check with a local TI instead of the books to find out what lines are running.

5 comments about Andalucia (Regional Guide).

1. If you're traveling to Andalucia, Spain this is the book to take along. I reviewed Eyewitness Travel Guide (both Spain and Andalucia), Fodor, Frommer, Cordovon, and others. Lonely Planet has outstanding city maps and lots of them. It has built in "tabs" of the provinces, e..g. Cadiz, Sevilla, city guide maps with numbered legends on food, lodging and sights. The book is jam packed with useful information, things to buy, walking tours, practical information. The Lonely Planet guide has one two page color map, and some scattered color pictures, augmented with frequent and helpful black and white artwork. This book was recommended by a Spanish website.

   Comparison to other guide books: The Eyewitness guides had much more color. Some had color photos, some not at all. Cordovon had bigger type, but much less information, and poorer artwork. Both Fodor and Frommer have full size maps with their main book on Spain. If you want an additional map, go with Michelin 446 available at Amazon.com or the more detailed EuroAtlas Spain Portugal by American Map--about 300 pages, including some cities. The Lonely Planet book, comes with a colored map and many supplements. A separate map is an option, not a necessity.




2. Lonely Planet Andalucia is clearly inferior to Rough Guide Andalucia and below the standards I have come to expect from Lonely Planet. I found repeatedly that the author(s) appear morei interested in cutesy writing style than in incisive fieldwork and allowed their infatuation with their glib comments to gloss over their lack of good travel writing and description. The guides to eating are almost useless. For those who think otherwise, check the section Where to Eat in Seville. For those who make the mistake of buying the book, I suggest you don't even bother with the reviews of eating places.
   I decided to leave my Lonely Planet Andalucia in Seville and brought my Rough Guide home with me.
   The series editors need to clamp down on the writing style of the individual volumes and force them to write for the traveler,not for themselves.



3. I'm supposed to spend more than 6months in Andalucia, so I needed more than 'Lonely planet Spain'. The book is great.
   The reason I gave 4 stars because it took a little bit longer than I expected, but it wasn't bad for oversea delivery.



4. I used this book to plan my trip to Andalucia in March 2006. It helped me to budget for the trip, and to plan my iteniary effectively. I went to resturants mentioned in the book in Marbella, Malaga, Granada and Seville and they offered the service I expected. The maps were very helpful and informative.
   
   I highly recommend.



5. Lonely Planet delivers on Southern Spain...a good guide for all ages,and most travelers (unless you're stinking rich or package tour fodder) I bought it in advance of trip for a bit of armchair preparation. This edition is not heavy ...it's a 488 page volume, weighing 10oz, packed with usual background, history, maps, and suggestions for accommodation, where to eat and drink, shopping, nightlife etc. Excellent buy.

5 comments about Iceland: Land of the Sagas.

1. Well, I must admit a slight "prejudice" regarding this book. I bought it because I've already read all the other books by Jon Krakauer (and loved every one a bunch!). But, this book is quite different from any other that Krakauer has been involved in. Right on the front cover it says "Photographs by Jon Krakauer Text by David Roberts" so I guess I shouldn't really have been all that surprised by the "difference." In fact, I have no choice but to believe that virtually everything that Jon Krakauer lays his hands on turns to gold somehow (this book is no different in this regard), since he absolutely has to be a severely super-experienced pro explorer, mountain climber, skier, paddler, writer and now, photographer, as well, judging from all he's written. If anything, he "under" emphasizes the feelings and emotions, at least, for those of us who've had at least a small taste of the miseries, dangers and pitfalls-- weather can play a big role-- that befall nearly every person who does these things. At some point, if your heart is in it at all, you'll get the crap scared out of you big time, unless you are completely out of your mind, either due to drugs, insanity or whatever. Krakauer is amazing at writing about all of this and more, but you'll find none of that in this book, at least none written by Krakauer. Nonetheless, as I said, Krakauer does anything and everything to perfection and with class, and in this book the text by David Roberts is nothing to boo-hoo at all. He is the equal of Krakauer in his own writing style and he tells great stories which are parts of the endless "sagas" that go on for centuries there, part of ordinary everyday life and culture for an Icelander, but a strange curiosity for foreigners from afar. Krakauer deferred to Roberts here most likely for a couple reasons; because he thought Roberts knew more and could write easier and with better results regarding Iceland, and he probably wanted to focus on developing yet another great natural talent of his own, photography, especially in such a surreal and amazingly different place that most peoples of the world aren't very familiar with. I'm guessing here, but the end results are superb. I know there are the little issues of content and various criticisms about whether they covered Iceland in a "balanced" and "informative" way, or whether the photos really represent the "true Iceland" that you'd see and experience should you take a "normal" vacation there (if there is such a thing). But those types of travel info books can be gotten by buying the title "Iceland" from any number of companies like Frommers or Fodors to many lesser known and more colorfully illustrated travel books that may or may not have as current of info as these well-known ones. I'm sure this is NOT the genre that Roberts and Krakauer had in mind when doing this book. Their book should be in that genre, too, but is very much more than that and I can definitely recommend it for anyone interested in Iceland, whether you have been there, are going there soon or maybe never will go there, but just want to know about the place. This title must be on your Iceland (or Jon Krakauer or David Roberts) list, whether short or long!



2. I recently visited Iceland for a a couple days enroute from Europe to the US and found myself enchanted by the country and its people. Returning home, I immediately wanted to purchase a book that would give me a better understanding of the culture, the land, and the history. This book has it all, and has filled me with interesting facts and stories, not to mention the beautiful visuals the photographs give. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in or loves Iceland.



3. Awesome photographs and well written, you will want to visit this wonderful landscape.



4. This is an absolutely gorgeous book...the photographs inspire one to call Icelandic Air and make a reservation asap! Iceland, a placenot to be missed!



5. A beautiful book combining stunning photography with an in-depth historical, literary, and cultural examination of Iceland. This book manages to be heavy on both text and photographs.
   Recommended for those interested in Iceland, but it is not a travel guide-type book.

5 comments about The Authentic Bistros of Paris.

1. This book does not go beyond a superficial description of the interiors of the bistros. The writers completely ignore the food and there is not one description of a dish one may expect at any of these establishments.
   
   It is of no value to anyone requiring guidance to select an authentic Parisian bistro.



2. On my way to Paris.... can't wait to visit these Bistros.
   Great descriptions. Good photos.
   More later.



3. If you're Paris-bound and looking for an easy pocket tote to take along - and have heard about the famous bistros of Paris - don't miss Authentic Bistros of Paris: there may be one on every block but this book separates wheat from chafe. It first appeared in France and now is accessible to U.S. audiences, selecting over fifty bistros which stand apart due to regional foods, wines, and atmospheres. Sure, you can visit French bistros without it - but why spend your trip on less than the best? AUTHENTIC BISTROS helps you define and find them.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. This is a GREAT book for the money. Lots of full color pictures so you really get a feel for each place, organized by arrondissement so you can find a bistro no matter what neighborhood you happen to be in, good write-ups, and small enough to take in your purse. And apart from the prices, the information about the places will probably be pretty timeless.



5. Another book about Paris bistros and cafés I read a few years ago claimed that you should be able to choose a café to make your own (and don't we all want to feel at home in a Paris café?) solely on the basis of what he had written in those pages. He didn't quite pull it off, I thought. I'd be a lot more comfortable settling into an "authentic bistro" in the City of Lights based on this book by Thomazeau and Ageorges. Their photos and descriptions of four-dozen or so bistros are wonderfully evocative.
   
   Which isn't to say they're perfect, however, as other reviewers here have attested. For one thing, the descriptions, tempting as they are, are still pretty superficial and the photos, while gorgeous, never show the bistros at the French equivalent of rush hour. While the copy does mention the nearest Metro station, there are no maps to place them in a larger context for readers not already familiar with Paris' arrondissements.
   
   All of which reminds us this is a book originally written in French, for the French. It's a great thing it was translated into English and I'm sure will make an American's trip to Paris even brighter and more memorable. For those of us stuck at home, its teasing overview leaves us wanting more (more descriptions, more recipes, more photos, more maps...) -- for which we'll need to turn to some other book.

No comments about The Rough Guide to Switzerland 3 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1 comments about Portuguese: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. Lonely planet never fails to provide the best travel books. This tiny book provides a wealth of useful information. What I like about this book is that it focuses specifically on communicating in Portugal, rather than Brazil. It is well organized into several handy cagetories such as directions, shopping, lodging, etc. The front contains standard info such as numbers, days of the week, and survival phrases, while the back contains a mini-dictionary.
   
   The best part about this book is the fact that it not only gives the Portuguese phrase with its English equivalent, it also provides a spelled-out phonetic pronunciation. Out of all the study material I have, these simple phonetic spell-outs have been the greatest help in my pronunciation, and I now have nearly perfected my portuguese accent.
   I've seen similar Portuguese pocket books, and they just don't compare to this one.

3 comments about Caucasus: A Journey to the Land between Christianity and Islam.

1. I've always felt much safer following novelists into non-fiction than say biographers, or historians into the realms of fiction. Griffin, who has written a couple of historical novels, is on familiar, though foreign ground. His fictional stories seem to examine cruelty and hope and his first work of non-fiction is no exception. It's a mixture of many genres, all neatly rolled into a short, decisive book. The Caucasus is one of those places, much like the Balkans, which used to confuse me to the point where I'd rather turn the page. But Griffin keeps everything simple and clear, following myths, history and politics along the lines of an expanding Christian nation (Russia) and a defensive Islamic nation (what came to be called Chechnya, Dagestan and Azerbaijan). This book is obviously more topical than the author thought when starting it four years ago. My only complaint is in the inclusion of the author's own travels. At first, it didn't feel as if they merited belonging, but once you catch the writer's drift, that everything is really very close to how it was two hundred years ago, his aims become more and more apparent. Caucasus is blessedly easy to read, and that's no mean feat.



2. Historical facts blend with a travelogue narrative recounting Nicholas Griffin's personal journey through the region in his vividly written Caucasus, an informed and informative examination of the clash of cultures and ancient to modern conflicts inherent in this strife torn area. From headlines about the Chechen insurgency, to the terrain and everyday life of the Caucasus peoples, Nicholas Griffin's Caucasus is not to be missed.



3. Nick Griffin had taken a trip to the Caucasus to make a film about this region and turned it into an historical treatise. He does a great job of intertwining recent history with the history of the areas he is travelling through. More importantly he spends a lot of time trying to educate the reader into the culture, society and thought processes of the people who live there.
   
   What we see in the overall picture is that the Russians who have tried to control this area since the middle of the 19th century have never learned to deal with these people with anything but force which has never worked. Though the Russians controlled the area they never controlled the people. The Chechens have turned out to be the most resourceful, and have been fighting off and on against their occupiers for over 150 years.
   
   For anyone who wants to get a overall view as to what is the cause of troubles in this region, this book is invaluable. I look forward to reading his follow book.

2 comments about Frommer's Barcelona Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day).

1. This was a great guide - if I was to do it again for the first trip to barcelona I would recommend this book. For your second trip there invest in one a little larger so it can go into more detail on everything you see, but that's all. This book is great.



2. This book is absolutely fantastic! It's small and concise while still being detailed enough for a short trip to Barcelona. It offers several suggestons for how to spend 1, 2 or 3 days. The guide walk is perfect for our upcoming cruise. I hesitated to buy a book like this for just one city, but it really does provide SO much more information than a general Spain book would. However, it does so without being too big (or too small) and includes a great fold-out map.
   
   I highly recommend any book in this series. The guided Modernista walk will easily fill our day and provides structure to our wandering in Barcelona. It also features a guided walk of Las Ramblas and tons of other helpful information. Nice color without being too much fluff.