No comments about The Travel Journal of Antonio De Beatis Through Germany, Switzerland, the Low Countries, France and Italy, 1517-18 (Second).

No comments about iSpeak Europe Phrasebook (Ispeak Audio Phrasebook).

2 comments about Insight Pocket Guide Loire Valley (Insight Pocket Guides Loire Valley).

1. Looking for a very good, overall description of the Loire? This is it. From climate to history, food, folklore, detailed backgrounds on unusual places. Just about every place of any interest will be mentioned. Not just another surface guide to the usual attractions. Well worth the price.



2. I happen to be a big fan of the Insight guides, my main criticism being that they aren't updated often enough. This Loire guide is the "pocket" version, so it's not comprehensive, but what's there is choice. There are brief descripions and history of the principal sights and chateaux, with very handy suggested itineraries and driving routes. There is very little restaurant and hotel information, but those two items don't happen to be Insight's strong suit even in the larger version. What I like about these guides, either full-size or pocket, is that the prose is clear and user-friendly, there are nice tidbits of history, and the general approach is respectful but not dry. Good information on cities like Tours and Orleans. I wouldn't buy this as my only Loire guide, but it is a useful addition--if Insight makes a full-size Loire guide, go for that one.

No comments about AA Essential Spiral Disneyland Resort Paris (AA Essential Spiral Guides).

4 comments about Louvre: Portrait of a Museum (Abradale Books).

1. Whether you've been to the Louvre and want to protect and enhance your memories or you just want to see the most beautiful works of art ever collected this is the perfect book! It gives you history, background info and of course amazing pictures! You're next purchase will be plane tickets to Paris!!



2. A true masterpiece. A fresh look at one of the world's most extraordinary museums. I received this book as a gift, and I have truly enjoyed it.



3. This is a great book. It covers all the art departments of the Louvre and does it in a very concise manner. But it has a peculiar presentation format - too many sidebars and info boxes etc mixed-up with the main text, small pics breaking-up the main text too often, and many times it is not easy to match the sidebar to the pic intuitively.



4. I bought this book for my son before I visited the Louvre because he was majoring in art. A few years later, I went to Paris and visited the Louvre. It was great to look through the book after having been there! It's still his book, but it was so wonderful to have it around after experiencing the incredible galleries in person! If you're going to the Louvre, my suggestion would be to really go through this book FIRST... then go to the Louvre! There's so much there it's overwhelming. I wish I'd planned out my visit there after going through the book.

2 comments about Fodor's Paris 2007 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. For starters, this book gives the wrong Metro to take from Orlly airport into the city. The information person at the Metro ticket counter kept repeating "Take Metro __"(I've now forgotten which) And I kept saying, but this book says to take the other Metro. She just shook her head in knowing disgust. The book is hard to follow and the index offers little help in a rush. Unless you're willing to study and learn it before leaving home, I can't encourage you to take along this book and expect it to be more than an exasperating weight to lug around the beautiful city of Paris. And by the way, Parisians are generally helpful especially if you throw in a few Mercis and Pardons.



2. Good book, very good information. It had been helpful when I was in Paris.

1 comments about Time Out Turin (Time Out Guides).

1. My husband and I nearly wore out this book during our two-week trip to Torino for the 2006 Winter Olympics. The writing and photos are hipper and more sophistocated than the typical travel book. And it's all contained in a thin, well-organized package that practically fits in your pocket. It offers concise suggestions for hip clubs, out-of-the-way restaurants and bars and other attractions that made us feel like virtual-locals.

1 comments about Michelin 2007 Charming Places France: 1000 Charming Hotels and Guesthouses (Charming Places to Stay in France).

1. I'm planning a trip with my husband to France this July and this guide was SO helpful! If you want to find places with lots of character and that are affordable, this is the right guide for you. Here you won't find hotel chains, which is something I always avoid, but lots of small lovely b&bs and hotels. The places we'll be staying at all came from this guide and there was no way I would have thought of them if I didn't have the guide. I made further research over the internet on the b&bs I chose and they all had very good reviews at [...], also a great source of information on places to stay.
   I plan to review this review when I come back from the trip, writing if the b&bs were all that I expected them to be - but I pretty much trust the Michelin inspectors.

2 comments about Paris: City of Light and Fascination.

1. A Francophile's delight, this book takes the reader on a journey through time to showcase this intensely romantic and vibrant City. A bit more focus on architecture and less on the Parisian people than I personally would like to see, but still a lushly presented view of Paris.



2. Six and a half pounds of Paris! This is mainly a book of photographs of Paris. Yes there is some text sprinkled throughout the pages, but I did not even bother with that. :) It contains mostly color photographs. Many are simply beautiful. They span many decades of the history of Paris from the origins of the city to the present day.
   
   It is a great book to gaze at and daydream. :)

No comments about Paris (Michelin Green Guides).