4 comments about Top 10 Barcelona (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. I decided to check out the Top 10 guide for Barcelona given the excellent experience I had in London with a similar guide on a past trip to the UK. I noticed the same compelling points with this guide as I'd noticed with the London guide -- a concise list of things to do in city, a list of various neighborhoods, list of best cafes/bars and sample itineraries for spending an entire day in each neighborhood, the top 10 things to look for at each attraction, and the best feature: the compact size of the guide.
   
   But I was looking for more than just the above -- I was traveling to a city where people don't talk in English after all. What I really liked about the guide was the main map that showed all the important street in an uncluttered fashion, and the mini-maps that were included in the assorted Top 10 lists, making it a breeze to locate the attraction or cafe/bar. I also loved the list of the Top 10 drinks you'll find only in Barcelona like the "Orxata", the "Granissat" and of course, the "Sangria" that is refereshingly different from what you might have had anywhere else. There are similar lists for food items (definitely try the "Pallela"), shops, etc. These are the things that make you blend in with the locals with confidence.
   
   I also loved the section on Streetsmarts -- when you're in a country where English is not the first language, you sometimes need a helping hand with even the simplest of things -- like what is the best deal on the Barcelona Metro? Should I buy single tickets or a "T-10" for 10 tickets? How do I make a local phone call? What should I avoid? (Answer: touristy scams at La Rambla). The Top 10 guide's Streetsmart section covers many of these "small" things on your mind and also include a few pages with popular Spanish/Catalan phrases with translation in English, eliminating the need to carry a phrase book, if any.
   
   With this guide, I was able to see Barcelona according to my schedule and tastes. I took in all the touristy attractions and spent time exploring specific neighborhoods like El Raval, Eixample and interesting detours. Not a day went by when I wasn't glad for having this guide by my side -- and at under 10 bucks a pop, I'm quickly acquiring a collection.



2. It was the perfect guide for my independent trip to Barcelona. It is the most user friendly city guide I used (I've also used Rick Steves and Rough Guide). The guide first identifies the top 10 sites and then what I loved is that it marks them on a map with numbers making it really easy to spot. The map in the guide was great and in color. It made my trip so enjoyable because I knew what I wanted to do and where to get there. Also, becasue it showed all the locations of the sites on a map I could easily plan which sites to see all in one area and thus make the most out of my days. It also gives history behind each site and also lists the top 10 things to see at each attraction!
   I loved this guide and wished they had one for more cities!
   
   The one complaint I have is that I really think Park Guell should be listed in the top 10. I almost missed the park (where the tradmark colored frog is and Gaudi's home) but a hostelmate told me about it. It is listed in the top ten for parks but just be aware that that park is a must see.



3. I spent 7 days in Barcelona in Nov 2006 and though I did some research before I arrived, took only this book with me. As an independent traveler (no tour groups) I used it very heavily during my stay - not only as my primary map and metromap, but as my only reference for locations, hours, and priorities in determining my daily itineraries. I also occasionally used it for restaurant, tapas bar and shopping recommendations. It never led me astray.
   
   It is very current - it even references that a few places will be closed for repair until month X to save you the effort of going there. And the way one large section of the guide is broken out by neighborhood makes it extremely easy to figure out the best way to spend your time in a given part of the city (it also suggests itineraries for each neighborhood if you don't want to plan them out yourself).
   
   It's also a great size - easy to toss in a daypack, purse, or even jacket pocket.
   
   I fully agree with the two previous reviews that the layout of the maps and color-coding of the sights makes it very easy to keep on track - even in a city as large as this one. And that Park Guell ought to be in the Top 10.
   
   My only suggestion for how it could improve would be to give even more "tips" than it sometimes does on the sides of pages. For instance, visit the National Art Museum of Catalunya in the latter afternoon on a Fri/Sat/Sun and stay for the Magic Fountain display at dusk. Visit La Pedrera near sunset (unless midsummer does not allow it) and go up on the roof as the sun sets and the lights come on. It's magical.)
   
   I've traveled pretty extensively and used a lot of different travel guides, others of which I can also recommend. But this is hands-down the very best I have ever used and I cannot recommend it highly enough if you are spending even one day in Barcelona.



4. This is the most helpful book I have seen on Barcelona. I believe it should be combined with a more indepth guidebook wo one can look up the most interesting locales in more depth. It is very hard to get perspective on sites to take in when there are so many fascinating places to visit. This helps with the highlighting and the winnowing. I got a total of five of these books and passed them out to all the other groups going with us.

5 comments about Michelin Italy: Tourist and Motoring Atlas (Michelin Tourist and Motoring Atlas : Italy).

1. Map is has an easy to read scale and user friendly spiral book binding. Although I almost always have my GPS with me, this map is great to get an overview of routes, serve as a back-up when the GPS malfunctions, plan alternative routes and see what other interesting places are near-by.



2. This is our second purchase of the Michelin Italy Atlas as we used the first so much that pages were torn and missing. We find it to be one of our better map guides for traveling in Italy.



3. I haven't field tested this atlas yet, but I like it already. Its very light, so it won't be a burden in my carry-on. It has detailed maps of a lot of towns too.



4. Rick Stevens says the traditional road atlas needs be 1/300,000 or larger scale in order to be useful for guiding drivers on the road. This atlas has the right scale.
   
   I have a GPS navigator (Tomtom GO 720) which works very well in Europe, I almost thought the traditional atlas was no longer necessary. But after two instances occurred to me during my 2-week driving in Europe (June 2008), I am very glad I had brought this atlas with me as a backup to my GPS.
   
   In the first instance, a scenic mountain pass identified by the GPS was closed midway, I must rely on the atlas to reroute. In the second instance, the entire traffic on our side of motorway stopped completely due to a traffic accident ahead. I had to rely on the atlas, ignoring instructions from GPS, and driving through country roads to reach my destination.
   
   The paper and printing quality of the atlas is first class. It's a worthwhile investment. Take it with you even you have a GPS already!



5. I hoped that the Michelin Italy Atlas was a good paper (pages), but the pages are very fine (fine pages), not good to travel by car (pratical).
   
   Thank you.

3 comments about Fodor's Paris 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. Fodor's Paris 2008 has everything the average vacationer would need to experience France from the inside out.
   Here is a detailed index of what this book has to offer:
   
   -Clothing size, weight, distance, liquid volume, and temperature conversions inside the front cover
   -Detailed table of contents
   -"About This Book" page which tells you how to read and use the information in the book
   -General information about Paris such as cleanliness, diversity, and the general attitude of Parisians
   -Paris Planner which includes information on what to wear, when to go, and transportation
   -Detailed and easy to read maps of Paris and it's arrondissements
   -Detailed lists and descriptions of Paris's top attractions
   -Fun things to do in Paris with kids
   -Great Itineraries
   -Where to eat
   -Where to stay
   -A selection of gorgeous color photographs
   -Word of Mouth from Fodor's online forums
   -Detailed information about nightlife and the arts
   -Shopping
   -Free stuff to do in Paris
   -Books and movies of Paris
   -Vital vocabulary words
   -Information and advice on traveling such as travelers insurance, booking, rental cars, guided tours, emergencies abroad, electricity, money, taxes
   -A folded tear out map of Paris
   -Map of Paris's Metro system on the inside of the back cover
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone considering visiting Paris on vacation, anyone moving to Paris, or the average Joe who wants to learn more about the most romantic city in the world. It has everything you want to know about Paris.



2. I bought both Paris and London 2008 books for my upcoming trip to Europe, and I enjoy both. The guides are easy to read, tell you how to make the most of your time at various locations, tell you how to get to where you want to go and provide a variety of eating and shopping locations for all budgets.



3. I used this book on my first trip to Paris,and it was a valuable resource to pick how to spend our time. The maps were also very helpful in getting around the maze that is the Paris streets.

5 comments about Pudlo Paris 2007-2008: A Restaurant Guide (Pudlo Paris).

1. We just returned from Paris and I have to say that I wish EVERY major city had a Pudlo guide. I'm sure they're out there in some guise, but this one is simply perfect.
   
   I've used Zagat before and in the States have had pretty good results. However, in Europe, I've found that many Zagat reviewers don't quite get the European dining experience. You find scores of complaints about rude waiters, cramped tables and service taking too long. They don't do these fabulous restaurants justice because they base their experiences on wide-open American restaurants with waiters that speak their language who want to turn their tables as fast as possible. Many of the reviews in Zagat get downright annoying.
   
   The Pudlo Paris guide was fantastic. It didn't matter which arrondissement you were in, you were never more than a block from a perfect dining experince, whether it was in a noisy bistro or a white tablecloth temple of gastronomy.
   
   I'll never go back without it!



2. On our first try with Pudlo's for a week in Paris, we give it two thumbs up. Not every description was accurate - the "rugby restaurant" had nary a green shirt present during the World Championship games - but the cuisine/pricing info was reliable.



3. This book was full of good information on TONS of restaurants, but was hard to use because of its organization - by district. Obviously, this is probably the best way to organize this kind of book, but when traveling I would rather say I'm on Rue Cler, where can I find a good restaurant? Not I'm in the 7th arr. and I have 20 different places in 20 different parts of the arr. which to hunt down? We ended up 'donating' the book to the apartment we rented because we found it rather useless. Also, all of the restaurants in the book were expensive, so the book wasn't good for a couple on a budget.



4. In previous visits to Paris we'd relied on recommendations from friends reviews found on travel websites, and luck. Then you're in Paris and find that the recommended restaurants are far from where you are... or that our friends' taste is rather pedestrian. This time we took the Pudlo guide with us. As a result we ate heavenly - yet as inexpensively as it's possible while the $ is low and the Euro high. The guide is conveniently divided by city areas (arrondissments) so wherever you find yourself at lunch or dinner time, you can just pick a nearby restaurant that's recommended. Restaurants are also marked by price range and decor, and there are a handful of "Pudlo's favorites" -- every one of those was fantastic food. We'll never go to Paris again without the most recent Pudlo in hand.



5. Have to say that this book was one of the most used books on our last trip. We liked how it was written and the reviews seemed to be right on. Fine dining is paramount to us in our travels and this really helped find the spots to try. Highly recommend it.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Europe Map (Rick Steves).

1. My son and I went to 5 countries in Europe and wanted a full map of Europe. This map is reinforced paper without being bulky, so it travels well. Easy to read and has larger city maps included. A great addition to the city-specific travel guides.



2. The map was a bargin for the price, but if you want a full map of Europe, go elsewhere. This map does not include eastern Europe and Bosinia, Albania, Macedonia, Greece (which is the main problem becasue Greece is a popular tourist destination) and more.



3. I got this thinking it would get me started on planning my trip to Europe. I had a list of things I wanted to see. When I got the map I was so happy to see that all the tourist attractions were ALREADY MARKED on the map! They were clearly labeled and easy to locate and read. Great product...well worth the money!



4. This map is OK, not what I was really looking for. This map is best utilized as a general European map to help you plan for your trip. In terms of having enough detail to be incredibly useful, you would be better off with a map that was more country or region specific. It is just a little to general to be of any substantial benefit while travelling.



5. Although I haven't traveled with it yet, this map is very lightweight, moisture resistant and folds nicely to tuck away in my backpack. Looking forward to putting it to the test in Italy & Switzerland.

5 comments about Streetwise Prague Map - Laminated Center City Street Map of Prague, Czech Republic - Folding pocket size travel map with integrated metro map featuring ... - trams, streetcar routes (Streetwise).

1. This map is convienient (like the others in the series) because you can fold it in half and stick it in your pocket without it getting all ripped up. However, I ended up referring to other maps as well to verify where I was going. The Prague map is particularly inconvenient in that it divides the Stare Mesto (the central area where most tourists spend their time) in half, such that I frequently had to turn it over as I traced my path.



2. Worked out perfectly for our recent trip to Prague. We used it every day.



3. There are maps with even more detail, but this map is an essential. Lightweight, laminated (waterproof), pocket-sized, and with almost all the detail that most visitors need. Fully-opened, it is still small, unobtrusive, and easy to use. A handy gazeteer lists many streets and monuments, with map grid locations. There are some very tiny streets/alleys that are hard to make out, but that is true for almost any
   pocket-sized folding map. I buy a Streetwise for any city destination.



4. In typical Streetwise fashion, this is an excellent map that is key to exploring the city of Prague which has many confusing streets with confusing names.
   
   This is a map not a guide and while it does point out places of interest it is obviously meant as a map first and foremost. None of the free maps I found came close to be as legible and understandable. The fact that it is a trifold lamninated map makes it very easy to keep in your jacket and use.
   
   A definite must have for Prague in my opinion.



5. The map is convenient to use, and the lamination keeps it from getting destroyed from use. But it is relatively expensive considering you can get the same map in your tourist guide or for free from any one of a number of places once you get to Prague.

5 comments about Greece (Country Guide).

1. I love Lonely Planet books, but I wish there was a little more for each destination regarding hotels and restaurants.



2. i used to only use Lonely Planet for my travels and loved it. this guide was very dissappointing. the athens info was ok, but with the islands we ended up going to it had very little info on them. even on santorini we saw tons of stuff there that was not in the book, and there were no tips on how to get resonably priced villas, which we did on our own anyways. the places we ended up staying were not in the book. the only thing we ended up using it for was fact-checking.
   i would recommend 770 greek islands, the other book we had with much more info on everything.



3. This seems to be a very thorough and complete guidebook to all of Greece and the Greek Islands, all in one volume. Kudos to Lonely Planet for not dividing the country into two volumes, requiring you to buy two books at twice the price, and then lug two books around to cover your trip. The only downside is the lack of photographic illustration, except for two small insert sections of color photos, which almost look like stock shots from the tourist office. More illustrations located near the subjects being described would be a definite help.



4. My husband and I have been to Greece 3 times using our 4th edition LP Greece. The maps are excellent; we've gotten exactly where we need to go. We read about the different islands, appear at the port w/our luggage, and take whatever boat is going next to a particular group, i.e. Cyclades, and read about the various other stops on the way. The book is not designed to be a travel agent by doing all the work for you. It is a guidebook, and some specific info should be found elsewhere (such as the internet) in trip planning. We use the internet sites listed in LP, esp. the hotel sites, so we have an idea of the author's grading scale. We found plenty of great suggestions regarding places to stay and eat, and if other reviewers felt that info was lacking, the LP would have to be 6 inches thick! While some towns have a 100 places to stay, it is not necessary to list every place in LP. We use the LP reviews as a guideline; we compare the author's opinion by what we actually found. After all, one person's dungeon is another's castle (& vice versa). The hints, tips,& warnings (esp. about taxis!) were a great help. We're buying the newest editon for our 4th trip as our poor old book is so worn and unreadable.



5. I read this from cover to cover but used a competitors guide while in Greece instead because I thought it might be better based on my past experiences using both brands. Also, LP guides tend to be a bit more roughing it in recommendations (I am too old for that) but, that was not an issue.
   I kind of wish I had brought this one or the National Geographic Greece guide which would have been fine and a bit thiner.

5 comments about Spain (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. I went to Spain with this book and found it to be extremely helpful. With places to stay (even ratings), places to eat, money info, weather info, health info, emergency info, you name it.. it's in this book. Highly recommended.



2. I own four Eyewitness Travel Guides (France, Germany, Greece and Spain) and they are always useful for my trips. Additionally, I use them as guides even when I am not travelling anywhere, just to get knowledege about places I will not visit. Sometimes I think that some information as ticket pricing is necessary and not provided by this guide, but it is a minor issue when we see the complete usefulness of it.



3. great product...but a bit heavy to tote around Spain! Read it before you go.



4. Very Practical, though its bits of information..if you are planning in to visit a particular city, you should buy the book of that particular city. This book its like a run-through of Spain. But it has the most important guides and tips (Survival Guide). A really good value. It has really great pictures and drawings, great maps, a phrase book with translations and how to pronounce it. It has the maps of the metros in Barcelona and Madrid. It has a street finder, which is also very practical. Its a great book for "on your own trips", for it has the opening hours and its schedules.



5. Not only does this beautiful book have all the information one could need about getting around Spain, it is a joy to look at, with detailed maps, step-by-step articles, illustrated in color, on, for example "How sherry is made", "Moorish Architecture", "Flamenco, the soul of Andalusia", and many, many more. There are stunning full-page photographs and the quality of the paper and binding is excellent, yet it is not bulky or expensive. It has large colored photos of the Spanish currency,and information on Spanish ATM's, public phones, airports,etc and how to use them. The index is comprehensive. Even if you don't go to Spain this book is well worth studying!!

5 comments about Great Britain (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. I recently spent 8.5 weeks in Great Britain, and I bought this book to help me plan out my trip... places I wanted to visit, particular sights I wanted to see, etc. It was perfect! The pages are filled with pictures and valuable information, making it very appealing to read - unlike many other tour books that are simply filled with text. This book also includes maps of many cities and city centres, which I found extremely helpful in the places I visited. A great guide all around!



2. Great to look at, read, fantasize over. (Um...) No, these are a terrific concept in travel writing, and I love the entire series. Through this I was able to see sites other books just described, and I chose some places to visit in Britain strictly because after this book's angle of coverage I found them more enthralling than I'd thought I would, and so re-arranged my itinerary. And that's what the Eyewitness books are all about!



3. I purchased this guide for a Christmas guest who dreams of a trip to the British Isles. He spent most of his time with us pouring over the pictures and information, lost in travel dreams. It was a perfect gift.



4. This book is great if you're interested in touring Great Britain. It leaves nothing out that you could possibly have a question about & there are web sights for everything! Our son & daughter-in-law gave us this book for Christmas 2006 so we could familiarize oueselves with the history of the country & then decide what sights we wanted to visit. The book was invaluable to us as we toured London, & its outlaying cities, villages & countryside. It book was our constant companion. Now, other family members are planning their trip to Great Britain using the Great Britain book that we gave them as a gift! The book is also loaded with beautiful pictures & very useful maps!



5. DK's "Eyewitness Travel Guide Great Britain" is another in a terrific series of regularly-revised, comprehensive travel books. This guide is a colorful, well-arranged, and fascinating source of just the kind of detailed infromation needed to plan to a good vacation or business trip to Great Britain.
   
   "Great Britain" opens up with maps and a short history lesson, then proceeds to cover the country by region, beginning with London, the UK's great city and most frequently visited location. The guide then works its way around England, Wales, and Scotland before closing out with some practical general information on arriving in and traveling around Britain, along with suggestions for places to stay and eat.
   
   Each regional section offers a survey of the geography and suggested routes for touring. The short descriptions of the principal tourist attractions, whether castles, historic homes, museums, parks, cathedrals, or outside recreation sites, are accompanied by photographs, area or street maps, and in some cases, detailed cutaway diagrams of prominent buildings. The descriptions typically include useful details on hours of operation and telephone numbers. A visitor armed with this guide and perhaps a motoring atlas would be very adequately equipped to travel around Britain, and have no excuse for being bored.
   
   Great Britain offers an astonishing array of historic sites and beautiful landscapes. Those looking for world-class shopping and culture can surely find it in London. Those seeking outdoor recreation will find it in the Highlands of Scotland, the Peaks and Lakes Districts in England, and in mountainous Wales. Most of the country can be reached by public transportation, for those uneasy about driving on the left on Britain's extensive motorways.
   
   This guide is very highly recommended to travelors planning a trip to the British Isles. Great Britain itself is also highly recommended as a fascinating destination.

5 comments about Rick Steves' Istanbul (Rick Steves).

1. This has all the things that make Rick Steves' guides great. The clear maps, the insider tips, the historical back-story. The Authors are Rick's guides who live there, and know their city forward and back. This gives you the indispensible knowledge to make a visit to Istanbul safe and rewarding.



2. This useful guidebook is compact in size, concise in descriptions, and colorful in discoveries. Husband-and-wife authors Lale and Tankut Aran love Istanbul with such passion, enthusiastically guiding readers through the back doors, back streets, and back stories of their beloved city. They single out Turks you can track down for a chat; don't miss their picks of several Grand Bazaar shopkeepers who happily share their stories and, of course, their wares.
   
   I especially like the self-guided walking tours; museum must-sees; and money-saving transportation tips. Although I've been to Turkey six times, this little guidebook helped me rediscover Istanbul with fresh eyes and a renewed sense of appreciation for this complex, appealing country.



3. Rick Steves's guide to Istanbul had all the details that I needed. Everybody in my group was surprised about all the information that I was able to give them based on what I read in the book.



4. This Istanbul follows Rick Steve's usual formula of focusing on the main sights, providing practical information, good walking tours and useful travel tips. I have used Rick Steves guidebooks for over 7 years livng and vacationing in Europe. My only disappointment with this book was with the eating recommendations. The restaurant descriptions were not as honest as they could have been - especially for the Sultanahmet touristy area. If I am going to eat in a tourist trap I prefer to be forwarned. At one recommended $$$ fish restaurant, the Balikci Sabahattin our group of 3 adults and 3 children was subjected to snobby service and were outright scammed into ordering multiple servings of first course dishes (dishes were the same size but contained different numbers of portions) - NOT the treatment I expect from a Rick Steve's recommendation. Buy this guide for the sightseeing and the Lonely Planet Turkey guide for complementary information and restaurant recommendations.



5. I've bought the Rick Steves phrase books (which are the best, by the way) but this was my first of his guide books and, I have to say, I'm hooked. I absolutely love his list of the top sights. Not only does he rank order them from the must-see to the could-probably-miss, but he includes a very brief description of the site, the days and hours it's open (great for planning!), and the page number you can go to for more in-depth information. I put a post-it note on this page and was constantly referring back to it. There's really great information on each site you visit and my friends started out our first day in Istanbul making fun of me for always referring back to the book for the fun facts he includes. By the end of the first day there they were coming up to me asking what Rick Steves had to say about where we were at :) I love that he includes lots of budget and mid-range options. Europe isn't cheap and Rick Steves helped me stay within my budget. After using this book, I've now purchased Rick Steves Rome, Paris, and London books as well. I know they're going to be worth every penny!