4 comments about Fodor's Moscow and St. Petersburg, 6th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. This Fodor's 6th edition is substantially better than the 5th-- chock full of up to date practical info, and the metro maps have both Russian and an English version for pronunciation, which is so helpful to those who are not fluent in Russian. Even the quality of the pages themselves has been upgraded--the pages are white instead of gray. If you want lots of photos, get another guide book, but if you want truly useful info, and the one book you will carry around with you with answers to just about everything--this is it. This book was invaluable to us on our week-long trip to these cities.



2. As the founder of a company devoted to enriching cultural and business travel to Russia, we are always looking for a good, general guidebook for clients. "Fodor's Moscow and St. Petersburg" has good neighborhood guides to the two main cities of Russia. The entertainment, bar, restaurant and hotel suggestions are comprehensive (as far as quantity and general pricing range, although the pricing and quality levels cited are not always accurate).
   
   One annoyance is that there are no Cyrillic displays of a sight's name (just transliterations into Latin script), which means that you are likely to miss a sign right in front of you for, for instance, the Toy Museum. It is particularly annoying to see the (inaccurate) reference to David Lean filming part of "Dr. Zhivago" in the Hotel Metropole-the closest the cast and crew came to Russia was Finland.
   
   Note, however, that we always tell clients and other visitors to Russia that you should get the most current guidebook, as attractions, hotels, restaurants and transportation options do often change--AND THEN VERIFY THE INFORMATION! All in all, we recommend "Fodor's Moscow and St. Petersburg" as a good additional guidebook to bring if you are staying more than a few days, or if you want to bring just one book for your journey of Discovering Russia's two greatest cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg.
   
   Marc David Miller, Discovering Russia, New York



3. As a frequent traveller who has always depended on Frommers, I purchased for the first time a Fodors guide to Russia (alas, Frommers will not publish one for a few months). I am sorry to say that I find this book to be confusing in finding activities to see in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Keep in mind that I am both a Reading teacher and an English teacher, so that if I had difficulty sorting out where to go and how to find the sight, it must really be weak. Also, some sights were overlooked. In short, wait for the Frommers addition to be published.



4. Let me preface this by saying that I was born in Moscow and am a native speaker.
   
   First the positives: This is a book on Moscow and St. Petersburg. So it mentions many of the major sights.
   
   Now, the negatives. Basically this is a dismal book. Do not expect any of the maps to be helpful. They are not very detailed, and, amazingly, the metro stations are not marked on them. (If you've been to Moscow you know why this is outrageous.) The map of the Metro, one of the most important pieces of information in the book, is hidden away somewhere, unmarked and unindexed. Once you do find it, you realize it's printed over 2 pages, so much of the downtown stations/transfers are swallowed up by the binding, and are thus unreadable. Don't rely on the maps for accuracy either; a restaurant marked on a street (with the correct address) may actually be on the other side of town. In addition, there are 2 restaurants in St. Petersburg that are listed as near the same Metro station. They are about 2 miles apart. But really, this is understandable -- the names of the actual stations sound somewhat similar. All those crazy Russian names sound alike, don't they?
   
   If you want to do something such as go to a street market, take a boat ride, etc., the book will provide you with the location, price, or working hours, but seldom all three. Maybe this is why the authors of the book are constantly suggesting that you just buy a guided tour. But if I wanted to go on a package tour why did I buy this 350-page self-guided tour book?
   
   If you go to Moscow to check out the newly flourishing culinary scene, you may be surprised to find that one of Fodor's top choices for dining is, you guessed it, TGI Friday's.
   
   And, generally, the organization was poor and the details sketchy. Fortunately, I speak Russian, and could have strangers on the street give me directions. For free.

No comments about The Trans-Siberian Railway: Railways from Moscow to the Pacific Ocean.

No comments about Cool Restaurants: Moscow (Cool Restaurants).

No comments about Frommer's Moscow Day by Day (Frommers Day By Day).

1 comments about Through the Yellowstone Park on Horseback (Idaho Yesterdays (Moscow, Idaho).).

1. George W. Wingate was a man in full for his time. With his Civil War compatriot Col. William C. Church, Wingate published the first manual on rifle marksmanship in 1870. The following year the pair established the National Rifle Association.

   In 1885, Wingate's concern for the health of his 17-year old daughter and his sense of adventure led him, his wife and their eldest daughter, May, to plan a horseback trip through Yellowstone National Park. Doctors believed the trip would improve May's health. It did.

   The Wingates rode 460 miles in just 26 days, returning to New York City bedazzled by the park and in fine spirits.

   Wingate's book, Through the Yellowstone Park on Horseback, provides a faithful and fascinating account of early tourist travel. The University of Idaho Press provides a service by republishing the book and reminding us of Yellowstone's marvelous history.

   Wingate was also a faithful observer. He provided fine sketches of Western culture, from an Army fort past its prime, to profiles of those he hired to guide his family through the park. Hunters and anglers will enjoy his accounts of adventures during the journey.

   The book offers a valuable perspective for those who have visited the park. It also may spur readers who love historical books to visit Yellowstone.

No comments about Günther Förg: Moscow.

No comments about The Rough Guide to Moscow 5 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

5 comments about Moscow, St. Petersburg & The Golden Ring (Odyssey Illustrated Guide).

1. I did originally choose this book because of the great reviews, and because it was one of the most recent publications. It is a fine tome to read for those who are planning a trip. Long term planning, I mean -- read it six months before you go, because that's how long it takes to read and digest all the information. Or even better -- read it and don't bother to go. This book has so many photographs that you barely need to see the stuff for yourself. It weighs about six kilos, so don't plan on taking it anywhere with you.
   
   Otherwise -- a good review of history and valuable detail. It was worth poring through before I moved to Moscow, but a smaller, handier travel guide would be a better reference while traipsing through the city's well-kept secrets.



2. I seem to be alone with this 1-star rating when previous voters have all awarded fives, all of which were voted "helpful" by all previous readers. While it's not the worst guidebook I've read, it is however often flawed.
   
   I know that keeping a guidebook up to date is a challenge - especially in a place like Moscow - but Ms. Nordbye still could have done a much better job. My edition is 2003, so there are few excuses for her description of the Central Lenin Museum - complete with opening hours etc. The museum was closed right after the coup of 1993. It opened up again for the first time in early 2005 as a venue for an art show, but no longer functions as a Lenin showcase.
   
   Yes, there are some interesting historical details in the book - but there are plenty of questionable claims too - example - Russian soldiers in WWII used their daily 100ml vodka rations to make Molotov cocktails to throw at the enemy. [???]
   
   Well, it might have happened a few of times - but anyone who knows anything about Russian drinking habits, or the unsuitability of ethyl alcohol to make an effective molotov cocktail - is likely to start being sceptical about the rest of Ms Nordbye's colourful historical titbits.



3. One of the most fascinating travel books I have ever read. Ms. Nordbye takes us to every corner of Moscow and St. Petersburg, from the early history of the Tsars to modern-day politics, to the Moscow Circus to hotels, Russian bathouses, restaurants, and dos and don'ts of being a tourist. I loved this book!



4. My experiences with Nordbye's book were uniformly positive, and I found the book both useful and informative. It's a useful addition to anyone's collection of travel books, especially if you're contemplating a trip to Russia. Lots and lots of data, and friends who've used the book have come back and thanked me for giving it to them.
   
   I'm not using a pseudonym or alias to write this.



5. This book is a mixed bag.
   
   The color photos are amazing and the historical stuff great.
   
   As a travel guide though it has little on the basics (food, hotel, etc), and pretty crummy maps.
   
   Also there are NUMEROUS mistakes in the spelling of Russian things. Clearly whoever DID edit it, didn't bother to check the Russian stuff AT ALL. Like page 61 and obmen valyutOO, and page 65 suggesting women look for bathrooms labeled 'Sch'. The Russian for women is ZHENschina not SCHENschina.
   
   The author writes for Russian Life magazine, these sorts of errors are pathetic.

1 comments about Discovering the Moscow Countryside: An Illustrated Guide to Russia's Heartland.

1. As the founder of Discovering Russia, a company devoted to enriching cultural and business travel to Russia, we are always looking for good travel books to recommend for our clients. "Discovering the Moscow Countryside : An Illustrated Guide to Russia's Heartland" by Kathleen Berton Murrell is such a volume for those who wish to discover the fascinating yet little-explored region surrounding Moscow, a land of princely families and wealthy merchants and dedicated believers.
   
   Murrell, the author of the wonderful "Moscow Art Nouveau," presents two weeks' worth of touring.
   
   There are some items missing from this book, such as an index, and unfortunately none of the place names in the book are in Cyrillic. In a way, that omission is not too much of an issue for the tourist, as it would be almost impossible for a visitor to Russia to travel to this region without the aid of a guide, or at least a knowledgeable driver (which is what we recommend to our clients visiting the area).
   
   "Discovering the Moscow Countryside : An Illustrated Guide to Russia's Heartland" is a wonderful guide for discovering Russia beyond Moscow.
   
   Marc David Miller, Discovering Russia, New York

No comments about Travel Moscow, Russia - Illustrated Guide, Phrasebook and Maps. FREE general information chapter, basic phrasebook, and a map in the trial version..