No comments about Golden Book of All of Paris.

3 comments about Zagat 2005/06 Paris Restaurants (Zagatsurvey : Paris Restaurants).

1. Note that Amazon is selling the FRENCH edition. Not too useful if you, like myself, speak only fluent English. I misktakenly ordered it, returned it and Amazon wanted to let me pay the return postage.



2. I have found that the French edition is ahead of the translated edition, thus giving you a more up to date review. The guidebook is reliable, which is what one wants in a guide to restaurants and it certainly helps to be as close to current as possible. A dictionary and a phrasebook are helpful but not necessary, really. The numerical ratings are accurate. I find thqat this book sends you to places which local people like -- generally a good idea.



3. I'm going to Paris. As a kosher vegetarian eating will be a bit difficult. So I thought a Zagat's guide would come in really handy. Right before packing it I decided to do a flip-through (I have the English edition btw). In short, tomorrow I will be running to return it (and do an exchange for a TIME OUT Paris Food Guide) to the bookstore before catching my flight...
   
   SUMMARY
   
   The guide has the following sections of importance:
   
   Top Ratings:
   (broken up as:) FOOD (Cuisines, Features, Arrondissements), DECOR (Outdoors, Romance, Rooms, Views), SERVICE and BEST BUYS.
   
   
   Then the RESTAURANT DIRECTORY
   
   Then, INDEXES by Cuisines and Locations.
   
   Next, there is a list of special features (about 70 pages) that include; Child-Friendly, Jacket required, Romantic Places, Singles Scene, Celebrity Chefs, Teen Appeal, Trendy, Tasting Menu, etc.
   
   And last, a wine chart.
   
   The whole review is 268 pages (from foreleaf to index).
   
   PROS:
   
   It's by ZAGAT. It's known, it's considered pretty good. Organization is great and listings are clear. It's also updated, so generally the restaurants included will usually be open (with addresses/phone numbers included).
   
   CONS:
   
   Apparently, if you are not a "steak and potatoes" kind of eater - why bother with this "steak and potatoes" guide? There is a cuisines section, however lets take a quick look at the two cuisines i'mi interested in: Kosher and Vegetarian (since i am also kosher i will only go to restaurants that are strictly vegetarian, i'm not interested, neither are most vegetarians with restaurants that will provide a plate of vegetables or the like. Or, having the off chance that their salad is spread peppered with anchovies, or their vegetable soup made with chicken stock. When we see vegetarian restaurant's that refers to VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS). Apparently Zagat is unclear on this concept. Under Vegetarian, ZAGAT lists Maceo Restaurant, a meat restaurant that happens to have a side menu for veggies. It IS NOT a veggie restaurant. The second listing, could be veggie, hard to tell, since the website it refers you to is completely wrong (it refers you to a design firm). As for the kosher restaurants, it lists ONLY two. Meanwhile, a "Kosher in France" website lists 147 Kosher restaurants in Paris (just for the record, there are about 20 strictly veggie restaurants in Paris as well).
   
   So back to the bookstore I go. I reserved this book at Borders through the Amazon site and just bought it at the store without looking. I did however leaf through a Time Out Paris Food guide, that while a little more pricey ($2-5 depending on where you go) definitely lists more cuisines than this. I got more information from a perfunctory google search than i have in the ten minutes i've spent with this ZAGAT's guide.

2 comments about Adventure Guide to Jamaica (Adventure Guide to Jamaica) (Adventure Guide to Jamaica).

1. "[The authors] are known for their attention to details." Chicago Daily Herald



2. This travel guide walks with the adventurous traveler to the heart of Jamaica, to the miles of sand beaches, to the rugged Blue Mountains, to the country villages that provide a peek at the real Jamaica. The authors focus on the adventures this island has to offer: scuba diving along coral reefs, biking mountain trails, deep sea fishing, parasailing, windsurfing, horseback riding, and other adventures that range from mild to wild.

   Special sections include a look at Jamaica's Meet the People program, home visits, local nightspots, festivals, and more.

No comments about Fazal Sheikh: Ladli.

1 comments about Remembering Paris.

1. The primary reason to purchase this book is the wonderful illustrations. While the narrative is evocative, it is a bit dark for me. None the less, having read this book I would love to visit Paris again to discover the city which Tillinac has so vividly described.

No comments about Paris: The City and Its Photographers.

No comments about When in Paris: The Ultimate Study-Abroad Guide.

No comments about Paris: A Souvenir Postcard Book.

No comments about Fodor's Exploring Paris, 6th Edition (Exploring Guides).

5 comments about Lonely Planet Paris Condensed.

1. Paris: Condensed has (almost) EVERYTHING I've always wanted and looked for in a guidebook: fits in my pocket; wonderful, well laid out graphic design; useful, concise information on sites both large and small; excellent fold-out maps that stay attached to the book (and aren't embarassing to have to open up out in public); great listings of shops, restaurants and lodging. The only thing they missed out on was an index of street names for the maps (I still give it 5 stars, though).

   In short, you get everything you'd possibly need (except the aforementioned street index) when out and about in a very slick, user-friendly package. I eagerly await expansion of this series!




2. I am a fan of Lonely Planet and used the Paris Condensed guide for my last trip. The good thing: it realy fits in your pocket and the street maps are ok. We picked a hotel from the recommended list and liked it. On the other side: It is so condensed that it just gives you a very rough overview of the major attractions. For someone who has never heard of Paris and just goes there for one day, it is good. However if you want to sit down in a cafe and find out just a little bit about the history of a monument or which parts of a museum are containing what, then this book is not for you. Next time I'll go back, I will get the normal version of the Lonely Planet City Guide.



3. This is the perfect guidebook. Yes, it is small and doesn't have all the info in on history or details of places, but that's what makes it so great. Fits in the back pocket and very easy to read when you're on the Metro or walking the streets. It might be a good idea to have a more detailed guidebook for history lessons on the great places in Paris, but for basic info and directions - this is the book for you...



4. My review is of the 1st edition. It was my "bible" when I was in Paris. Also bought the one for Rome. The maps are worth the price alone. Going to Paris this fall and will buy the new edition. Small, convenient, durable - a must have for your trip if you are at all adventurous.



5. We borrowed this guide from a friend and let me tell you, I'm glad we did! It was perfect for what we needed for our first short trip to Paris. It had very nice descriptions and pictures of places to see and things to do. The metro maps were very helpful and the book was easy to read, and easy to carry around everywhere we went. It really helped us to plan our trip and decide what we wanted to see during our stay.