2 comments about Pauline Frommer's Paris (Pauline Frommer Guides).

1. I can highly recommend this book for all visitors to Paris. I travel frequently and recently went to Paris with a friend who has never been to France before. We both found the book to be very useful and full of helpful hints. I especially appreciate the way the restaurant section is organized and I also enjoyed the author's personal opinions about her favorite (and/or least favorite) places and activities.



2. I was lucky enough to go to Paris three times, each time carrying Pauline Frommer's Paris book with me everywhere. Twice I went for less than two days and the third time for five days. The layout of the book is great. She has it broken down by the arrondissements (or districts). In each arrondissement there are recommended places to stay and eat. She is not shy about her recommendations and you get the feeling she actually knows the owners and employees at each establishment. Paris is a huge city and with this book I felt that I had some little connections to the people when I went to the recommended establishments. I went on two of the walks recommended in the walkabout section and each walk I stopped at the recommended cafes and they were wonderfully Parisian, not cafes catering to American tourists but thankfully still spoke English. There is a chapter on Paris' 10 iconic sites but also easy itineraries for one, two, three or 4 + days in Paris, which was very helpful to me since my time was limited. The best recommendation for me was to stop by Quai St.Bernard on a summer evening to watch people dance along the Seine doing the tango, something I would have walked right past if it was not for the book. All of the advice given was worth the $16.99, I have some wonderful memories of Paris and can't wait to go back. I would highly recommend purchasing this book if you are going to Paris. I felt I was given advice from a friend to all of the great spots to see while visiting her city.

2 comments about Touring In Wine Country: Burgundy (Touring in Wine Country).

1. This book covers all areas of bungundy in ways it seems only an expect could do - and sometimes understand. All possible areas of interest, known and little known, are listed. The many area/city regional maps are very clean and helpful. The only thing to possibly change is the blow by blow listing of what highway to take where, when to turn right/left, etc. That tends to make the book drag. Overall, definitly worth purchasing if you want to get started in Burgundy or need a driving guide of who does what and where they do it. (If you do use this as a driving guide, don't bother getting a Michelin guide unless you are going outside the appelation.) Makes you want to drink a glass for every word printed.



2. I am a professional in the field of wine and food consulting and a former staffer of Cuisine magazine, in New York. After reading through "Touring in Wine Country: Burgundy" by Hubrecht Duijker et al, I feel the book provides a broad understanding of Burgundy wines, but is lacking in several specific areas. For example, in its restaurant and winery suggestions it does not include the address, hours, or credit cards taken. Only the telephone numbers are listed. This would require that you carry around a European cell phone to call ahead to get directions and information, or that you have time to stop and find pay phones while traveling. The writers also assume that you are sufficiently fluent in French to communicate with prorietors to get all the information you need. This, in my opinion, is a serious flaw in the book. Moreover, the vineyard and restaurant recommendatons are written in very small type along the margins of the book - like mouse print. The maps are very general and would not suffice in and of themselves - to get you where you're going. Another book, Fodor's Rivages - Wines and Vineyards of Character and Charm in France, I feel, does a better job on the maps and recommendations-- all have addresses, hours, credit card information, etc. And each winery has a page description so you know beforehand if you want to visit and what the days/hours are. Each winery has a number that corresponds to a location on a map- which is fairly detailed, so you can easily find it.

No comments about Paris (Footprint - Pocket Guides).

No comments about Servia, the youngest member of the European family: Or, A residence in Belgrade, and travels in the highlands and woodlands of the interior, during the years 1843 and 1844.

No comments about Michelin Aquitaine, France (Michelin Maps).

3 comments about Paris Discovered: Explorations in the City of Light.

1. I am not much of a writer so I will keep this review brief. All I can add is that anyone looking for a deeper insight into the City of Light should really consider this book. It is full of interesting stories and walks that will fascinate anyone with a sense of adventure and an interest in the diverse history of this wonderful city.



2. This book is clearly intended for the niche traveler of the Francophile variety. While most of it's "discoveries" are not truly arcane, they are not generally of the sort you would find in the standard Paris travel guide. For one, such as myself, however, who has been to Paris many times over the years, it did open up totally new vistas, relative to the history of that amazing city. An underground 12th century river-gate located in the basement of a modern day postoffice is hardly something that a first time casual visitor to Paris would bother to go see, but for the historian of the nitty-gritty, it is an adventure well worth knowing about.



3. This book provides excellent history information on 49 locations under 17 headings with an overall locality plan and photos and sketches of points of interest when visiting Paris; it is clearly set out in separate sections and easy to read.

1 comments about Tea in the City: Paris (Tea in the City).

1. Bruce Richardson and Jane Pettigrew have crafted a slim, elegant volume full of enchanting tea experiences in Paris. From Mariage Freres to Le Palais des Thes, tea lovers will delight in this fabulous book that can easily fit in a small purse or bag.
   
   The photographs are lovely and depict the French "esprit" of tea. Tea in The City/Paris will make you want to visit this European paradise for tea, if only to taste the delights of the charming and palatial tea rooms dotted throughout the world's most lively and glamourous neighborhoods.
   
   While filled with every piece of information you could want on tea in Paris and remarkably well organized by neighborhoood, the book's tone is light, engaging, and great fun to read. If you don't yet have a flight booked to Paris, you will once you read just a few pages of this terrific guide.

3 comments about Castles from the Air (From the Air).

1. A gorgeous collection of European castles from the air, with just a bit of identification on each rather than a description.
   
   Long introduction on castles and history. Included several castle sites that were new to me.
   
   Beautifully photographed, occasionally from a non-traditional vantage. (Example: Segovia is normally shown looking up at the north side, here it's shown as an aerial view from the west side)
   
   No author is listed. I hope they'll do another volume with many more castles. The book makes one want so many more photos, especially of such splendors as Krak Des Chevaliers.



2. This is a stellar collection of aerial views of castles all over Europe and ranging as far East as Turkey. While showing no author or even photographer credits, the brief text and very short captions merely offer context for the main show--the wonderful oversize two-page spread color plates showing the great variety of castle layouts as well as some later fortifications, including some seacoast defense sites. Arranged in rough geographical order, this is a veritable aerial voyage offering views you simply can't get on your own lacking a private plane or helicopter. I've seen many of these places--but never from these angles. It is great to see a castle book that does not rely on the usual photos, let alone the usual places. There are a host of sites shown here that are new to me and make me want to head off on yet another castle trek. In all, well worth the money---a sheer delight.



3. If,like me,you already have scores of scholarly books on castles, and are looking for a stunning visual reference crammed with oversized, beautiful aerial photos of castles from all over the world, look no further. This is it.

1 comments about Buying a Roperty in France (How to).

1. As author, obviously I'm biased. But, after two editions and many reprints, I now honestly believe that the book is better than ever. This has much to do with feeback from the public, both to myself and the publisher. The intention is constantly to improve and update the material and so all observations are welcome.

No comments about Umbria (Philip's Travel Guide).