1 comments about The Rough Guide to Crete 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. At first I thought this book has too much detail and I will never use it, but now I find that is the first book I go to. I lived in Iraklion 40 years ago and I am planning my first return next April. Crete has changed a great deal, and this book is helping me to find the 'old Crete' that I remember. Rough Guide may not be helpful if you have 2 or 3 days in Crete, but I am planning an exended stay and this book has the information I want to plan my return visit.

1 comments about The Most Beautiful Villages of Normandy (The Most Beautiful Villages Series).

1. Excellant book. Excellant purchase. Good delivery. No complaints.

4 comments about Russia: Beyond Utopia.

1. What a delightful collection of photos from modern Russia. What particularly lured me into buying this book was first, a fascination for Russia, for life in its newly changed government, and because this book shows two sides of the country, both the decadent imperialist past and the new, modern Russia. What stikes me most in these photos is the incongruency in the every day elements of life, the mix of building materials that were no doubt selected for their functional rather than selected for any artistic merit, and how it all blends together to create a certain 'look' to the country.
   
   Some photos that caught my eye include a derailed line of boxcars shot at the port of Okha, a side-car motorcycle posing in front of a boxy two-story apartment building near the sea of Okhotsk, and a well manicured dining area at the Ukrania Sanitorium, color coordinated in white, light blue and red, illuminated both by natural light and a lit chandelier. Most of the photos are populated with people, some showing both the residents and their environs, and other photos focusing more on the land and structures of the country itself.
   
   The range of the 120 plates leaves me with such a visually mixed reaction to the country, from its vastness, to its natural beauty, with a touch of gloom.
   
   I am very pleased that I bought this book.



2. I was disappointed when I looked through this book. I am not sure what I was expecting. I might have kept the book if I had understood more of the pictures. I have been to Russia 3 times and I guess I saw more things that I would have included in this book. Russia is far from a utopia and to not picture the every day tourist scenes is perfectly fine, but I guess I would have wanted more explanations. The picture quality however was very good.



3. This is one of the rare books that gave me pure pleasure. Andrew Moore's pictures of Russia are not to be just looked at but contemplated. Returning to them one discovers each time something more about their beauty and the story they tell. Andrew Moore makes us see things our eyes would never have seen if we had visited those same places. The editor is also to be congratulated for the great quality of the book.



4. I have to say that this is one of my favorite photography books. The photos are beautiful, and I think that the broodiness of Russia is certainly captured in this book. An interesting read for the coffee table, I have had several friends comment on how wonderful this book is.

1 comments about AA 2008 Big Road Atlas Europe (AA Atlases).

1. Excellent road atlas for road travel in Europe. The book is large and somewhat heavy but in the car the size makes for fast and easy reading. It has quality paper, but most importantly, it is spiral bound. I'll use it for the next 5-7 years before replacing it with a newer edition. JP/Texas

5 comments about Loire Valley (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. This is a great book for people who like lots of pictures and maps. It not only provides you with tips on travel (phonec calls,money ect) but it gives you insight into the different sections of the Loire. Each major attraction has one or more pages dedicated to it. The book really gives you a feel for what you will be seeing. It is one of the best guide books i have ever bought. I liked it so much i bought the one for Paris.



2. I rode my bike in the Loire Valley. This book helped me in planning the route (along with Michelin Green Book). Wonderful, alluring pictures! Wonderful color code/guide system. Interesting information on the differences on the variety of castles/chateaux and churches & abbeys. Detailed yet concise history. Provides different themed tours for walking or driving. Nice pictursque maps of old towns with interests. It helped me decide which villages to stop for the night. I highly recommend this book! I also have Eyewitness Travel Guide of Paris, London, and Amsterdam. I plan to buy more books on Greece and Italy for my next trip!



3. This book is almost great. Almost. It tries to give you the best of all worlds-- in depth tours; some local knowledge (restaurants and such); and pictures. As one might expect, the scope becomes to broad to do any of it well. I was disppointed with the tours it gave; it seems like it missed much-- so much so that I bought the Michelin Green guide while there. One of my main gripes is the size of the book-- its too big to fit in any type of pocket. It does however have a slick rain-resistant cover, and the cover folds to become a useful bookmark.



4. Whenever I'm getting ready to take a trip, I check to see if there is an Eyewitness Guide for my destination. My husband and I spent one week of a two-week 25th anniversary trip in the Loire Valley and this book was our guide. I love that everything is divided into regions and that you get so many pictures so that you know what you're really going to go see. My main complaint with a lot of other guides is that you have to rely on a short written description and often when you get there, it's nothing like you expected.
   
   There are numerous maps with the sites marked. They also include restaurants and hotels rated by price and region. There's a history of the region in the front of the book.
   
   All of their guides follow the same basic format, so if you travel a lot, there's no surprises between the books.
   
   My star ratings:
   
   One star - couldn't finish the book
   Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
   Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
   Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
   Five start - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.



5. I have purchased a number of DK Eyewitness guide books over the years, and this has been another disappointment in a long line. First, the books are heavy to carry (and pages can't be easily torn out). Second, the indexes are unreliable; some popular topics and landmarks are there; other equally-popular ones are not. Third, the pictures are pretty, but small, and the text description too little even on famous chateaux. Not much history, not much description, not much indication of why we should visit the place. The driving and walking routes plotted are no better than many others that are available, including on line, and much worse than some. The hotel and restaurant information is minimal, and tucked away in the back in a separate small section.
   If you want basic touring information, go with Frommers. If you want more detail on history, art, and architecture, go with the Insight Guide which I loved (though they ought to be updated more often)--that makes a great on-site guide. If you want the ultimate in history, architecture, and detail, buy Michelin Green.

1 comments about Top 10 Brussels (EYEWITNESS TOP 10 TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. These guides are excellent, very visual. Nevertheless not good for a budget traveller or backpacker since it shows fine and expensive restaurants and attractions mostly. It would be better a guide for only Brussels.

1 comments about The Rough Guide to the Lake District 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. I used this book extensively both in preparing for a week spent in the Lake District. It proved to be very detailed and accurate, as well as very up-to-date as regards prices / website addresses, etc. I have been to the area several times in the past, and this guide really brought back all the memories and had me chomping at the bit to return. While there, I used it constantly, and not once did it provide any inaccurate information. A good guide book is essential for any trip - and this is one of the best I have ever used.

2 comments about Frommer's Northern Italy's Best-Loved Driving Tours (Best Loved Driving Tours).

1. This Driving Tours book is a great resource, but only used as a companion to the Frommer's Northern Italy book. Shouldn't take the two books together to get the whole scoop, but it does if you are an independent traveler. This book shows the relative relationship each small town has to another - helpful if you like to explore on your own. Other benefit is that it shows a number of "off the beaten path" small towns and attractions not referenced in the general Northern Italy book. Still prefer Frommer's to any other resource - every day of the week!



2. The book seems nice enough, and I am sure it is a wonderful travel companion, but does unfortunately not cover the north east area / Dolomites area (South Tyrol) of Italy - that's where we are planning to go - so I opted to return it.

No comments about Living and Working in Ireland, 2nd Edition: A Survival Handbook (Living & Working in Ireland).

3 comments about Fast Talk Slovene (Lonely Planet).

1. This little guide has been very useful in this wonderful country. Slovenian people understood me very well.



2. We visited Slovenia for five days recently and this book was useful for sharing common curtosies (i.e., please, thank you, hello) and deciphering menu items. It's very small and was easy to take along in a pocket or purse. Many people in the larger towns and cities speak English and most signs, menus, etc are translated in English but it was nice to be able to learn a few phrases in Slovene to show our appreciation to the people we met.



3. Although it speaks sadly of my language skills, I found that I really didn't need much more that the Slovenian in the main Lonely Planet guide to Slovenia. Most Slovenians speak English and almost half of the songs I heard on the radio and at concerts there were in English. While I a firm believer in trying to learn the language and culture of the places that one visits and lives, for short trips, you probably do not need this book.