No comments about Seeing Europe with Famous Authors: Volume III - France & The Netherlands-Part One.

5 comments about The Rough Guides' Venice Directions - Edition 2 (Rough Guide Directions).

1. Over the past few weeks I think I have read all the guide books on Venice there are on the market (a very crowded market), and this one leads the pack.

   It is not for the person looking for pretty pictures, that is true. But it is the most comprehensive, most insightful, and ultimately most helpful.

   The Time Out Guide is also very good, especially its listings section, some interesting background, terrific colour maps (complete with street index), and nice pics and Lonely Planet looks more than adequate, but it is Rough Guide I am most impressed with.

   That is because of the depth of information on many places. There are really clear black & white maps of the layouts of things like the Basilica and Doge's Palace, and sestiere maps. I decided this is the guide I want to read at night or in a quiet corner when actually visiting places.




2. Yes, Rough Guide is comprehensive, it lists minor details and it is very strong on practicalities.

   However, leaf through hundreds and hundreds of its pages and you may be excused for thinking you are reading a telephone directory. The book laboriously lists everything that there is to be listed, but it does that in a dull tone that lacks focus, inspiration and personal touch. I have seen tax planning guides that were more thrilling to read.

   The information is all there, but you don't want to go through it. There is nothing to focus attention and nothing to thrill you - just a steady stream of facts and information. Sometimes, it seems they were trying put in as much as possible and to go for the highest possible number of pages. Thick book equals good book at Rough Guide publishing, but this approach does not serve all destinations equally well: what is OK for Africa is not necessarily true for most sophisticated and refined cities in Europe.

   Maybe if I was about to settle in Venice for a few months, I would get a Rough Guide to keep myself on top of all practical info, but for a briefer trip you need more inspiration and more color. Travel writing is not the same thing as directory compilation, and this sheer sparkle of writing talent is something that is so distinctly missing.

   Buying a Rough Guide or a Lonely Planet guide is very much an ideological decision: many readers do it because they feel that they subscribe to the same ideas about the world that form editorial policy of these two publishing houses.

   However, if one is able to quite simply look for best guidebook which would make a trip enjoyable, Rough Guide Venice would hardly be one of them.




3. Just got back from a trip to Venice, and between us and our travelling companions we must have had 6 different books. This Rough Guide ended up being the book I carried with me when touring historical sites, as it had the most detailed descriptions and the best background information. The section at the end on Venice's history was fascinating. But the book is definitely getting dated -- many prices are still listed in Lire, and many of the hours of the various sights around town were incorrect. We also found the restaurant reviews a bit off from reality. Rick Steves' book was a much better reference for these things, particularly on restaurants which were all wonderful.



4. I really don't care for Lonely Planet's Italy Guide so I purchased this guide. The maps are good and the floor plans of important buildings are very helpful.



5. I've used this on two visits. And twice it's done it's job well. While I can't vouch for the accommodation section - we'd pre-booked - the info on the sights is thorough, though at times a little over the top. For example, the way the author drools over the view from the connecting bridge between Murano and Burano... if I'd written the book, that `view' wouldn't even have deserved a mention. I prefer guides that tell it as it is - if something's truly outstanding, then I want to know; if it's merely something to see if you're passing, then I want to know I can skip it without being plagued by the thought I might have missed something spectacular. Some things, like Scoule Grande de Rocco (excuse the spelling, but I don't have the book to hand) was virtually deserted - maybe everyone was using this book because it didn't do any justice in describing the masterpieces on display here. As proof of that, we didn't visit this place on our first visit, only on the last day of our second, when we were running out of things to see. Well, guess where will be high on the list to return to next trip. That said, this is a decent guide, but like so many others, it just has certain failings.

No comments about The Scent of Wisteria.

No comments about Michelin Milan Miniguide (City Miniguide).

No comments about Milan Berlitz Pocket Guide.

No comments about Italy Country Map by Hema.

No comments about Eros in Venice.

No comments about The Pan Principle.

3 comments about Rome in Detail: A Guide for the Expert Traveler.

1. Overall, this book delivers what it promises: descriptions of "hidden gems," walking tours, and restaurants that go beyond those of the standard Rome travel guide recommendations (the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, etc.) to provide the visitor with a richer and subtler experience of the city.

   The book divides the city into nine different neighborhoods, and provides artistic, hotel, and culinary highlights for each. The book's greatest value is in the walking tours, which expose the visitor to out-of-the-way churches or relatively unexplored neighborhoods. I greatly enjoyed visiting sights that I would never have seen had it not been for this book - the Santa Prassede and San Saba churches, and the Testaccio neighborhood, to name a few. The walking tours, such as the Quirinale and Via del Corso routes, are well-organized, and the writing is informative and well-written.

   All of the contributors to the guide have lived in Rome for a while, and their "insider's" knowledge clearly comes across. I showed this book to a friend who lives in Italy, and, impressed with the authors' familiarity of lesser-known locations and insights, he gave the book a strong endorsement.

   That said, there are several minor flaws. Although the maps show locations of various sights very clearly, they are not easy to use to navigate this very chaotic city. The maps are split up into the nine different neighborhoods, and one must flip back and forth through different pages to find one's way to a new area, which can be cumbersome and maddening. The maps also do not clearly indicate precise subway locations. These flaws may be avoided if one supplements the book with a separate tourist map.

   Secondly, the restaurant list could have provided a more diverse selection of choices in the lower price range. The book's recommendations tend to focus more on expensive, high-end (and occasionally overpriced) restaurants. I would have appreciated a more extensive listing of inexpensive trattorie that provide traditional fare for good value. The Slow Food guide (only available in Italian) provides far better choices for this sort of meal. Clearly, the book seems geared more towards travellers with means (i.e. the expensive hotel and restaurant choices, "best golf courses" recommendations, etc.).

   Finally, opening hours information is occasionally inaccurate or just plain out of date - a common problem with guidebooks, but troublesome if one tries to plan an extensive itinerary beforehand.

   In general, however, the strengths of this guidebook outweigh its minor weaknesses. No travel guide is perfect, but Rome in Detail provides especially valuable insights into this extraordinary city.




2. Simply put, using this guidebook is one of the most frustrating experiences any traveller can have. The problem is not the information, but, rather, accessing it in a useful, efficient manner. Unless you enjoy looking in several different places in a book for information about sights and their locations within areas of the city, you will find many other guidebooks more useful.



3. I had absolutely no problem navigating this guide. Listings are grouped by neighborhood and I was able to plot my itinerary very easily with a streetwise map. Very nice info on history and contents of different villas and churches with local color for added atmosphere. I found the practical information on hours and admission fees to be up to date. I ended up not using too many of the restaurant recommendations but was happy to have cafe and shopping tips.
   My only complaint would be that the maps are not terribly accurate- consider them illustrations only.
   This book may be a little scholarly/dry for some but I think they are a great resouce and I am happy to have them in my collection. I bought both Rome in Detail and Florence in Detail at Barnes and Noble for about $25 each. This price here on Amazon is a LOT less. Definitely worth the price.

No comments about Medieval Tuscany and Umbria (Architectural Guides for Travelers).