5 comments about Budapest (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. The Eyewitness Travel Guides are easy to use and essential for anyone who enjoys getting to know a place on foot. Cities are divided into Districts and then Street by Street. Maps and all essential information is included.



2. Perhaps it was our mistake of thinking "one" tour book would meet our needs, but this book didn't cut it for us. It was very difficult to get the 'full scoop' on any one attraction/event because each one was listed in several different places (cross-referenced) in the book and you had to read all the entries and try to piece together the information (like how much it might cost, when it might be open, how to get there), and often the information was conflicting. Despite being 'revised' in 2007, we found several errors in days and times the attractions were open, and getting to a location by tram or bus was a disaster b/c the book failed to tell you 'where' to get off to find the attraction. Also, no pricing info was included so you had no idea how much to plan for. Good luck finding some of the places just outside Budapest, as no info was given for these places of interest either. Budapest isn't exactly a city which thrives on or caters to tourists (English and German didn't get us very far), so a little more help from the tourbook would've been useful. The pictures were nice so that could recognize something once you finally found it, but we will not be lured in by glossy pictures for our next trip. We live in Europe and have been able to travel using other tour books; this will be our last DK experience.



3. Like all the Eyewitness Travel Guides this one is excellent.
   Filled with maps,glorious pictures,practical information,historical background, and great tips as to what-to-do and what-to see; it is a complete guide to the fascinating and beautiul cities of Buda and Pest. I would never travel to new cities without taking along one of these well researched and well written/edited guides.



4. Pretty good travel book, and is a good general guide to the city and surrounding areas. The gaps, however, could be a problem for someone who is not confident enough to piece it out with the locals with hand gestures and sometimes limited english. That said, it provides enough info about the big sites to give you a good walking tour of them.
   
   The restaurant suggestions were 100% on with the ones we tried. However, due to slightly unusual Hungarian street and business naming conventions, the addresses were sometimes a little off or confusing. Also, the dictionary in the back lacked some fairly obvious terms, and this is important in Budapest as many seemingly important signs aren't translated into English (or any other language, for that matter).
   
   All-in-all, a pretty good guide, and up to the typical DK experience.



5. As always DK travel guides are EXCELLENT complete, well written and easy to use, also make very interesting reading to get to know a city with out travelling or prior to getting there.

5 comments about Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure.

1. Just like the author S.McDonald, who gradually falls in love with India, this book initially made me feel very offended to read how she describes India but gradually I overcame those feelings and started enjoying the book. Once I went past first 25 pages I too started enjoying the insiders view and insights that this Australian writer could capture in this well-written witty book. A great read and very informative about current life in India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.



2. I, like the author, have been seduced by India.
   The self-deprecating charm with which she reveals her gradual awakening to the wonders of India, and her interactions with the people around her, are amusing and heartfelt.
   I loved this book, and I loved her.



3. Great book gives insight to the lifestyle and philosophies within the Indian culture. The book is about one woman's experience living in India. Well written, an easy page turner.



4. What else would you come to expect from a hippie who views India as a cesspool of drugs and other ways to get high?
   The sad part is, its morons like this author who use India as an emotional dumping ground and have the gall to complain about a culture that is rich. Ofcourse, we have our own challenges of corruption, greed, crime, by that arguement which country doesn't have? But to be stereotypical of this is not right, as it can have unintentional repurcussions.
   For example: I remember watching the movie 'Midnight Express' and thankfully i had some turkish friends who set right my understanding and the inherent flaws the movie had about life over there.
   
   This book comes of at best as a silly representation of what life is over in India. Yes, there were some chapters and situations that were amusing, but the simple part is, make an attempt at better research of understanding our culture.
   not surprised that this person is australian.
   
   Garbage: 2 stars.



5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Sarah has a quirky sense of humor that explores India in all its contrasts and contradictions. Like Sarah, I also have a background in psychology and I appreciated her interest in trying to understand why people are the way they are. For instance, through personal exploration she tries to discover why people are attracted to various religions and the role these practices and beliefs play in their lives.

5 comments about Scenic Driving Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 2nd (Scenic Driving Series).

1. This book is OK for the main roads in Yellowstone and the Tetons. I had hoped for more of the "off the main track" roads. You can get most of the info here from free brochures and park literature. But it is well written and fairly complete. If you just want to travel the Grand Loop with all the other tourists, it will guide you. If you want to find a little wilderness, you need to find another guide to driving the back roads (or just get the hiking books and save the gas!)



2. This second edition adds two new drives, and updated information from the 1999 edition.
   
   Most surprising, for a guidebook, is the intimacy of tone, and enthusiasm for the parks and the beauty of the surrounding areas.
   
   This book contains substantial, and well researched information on the historical, geological and natural features of the parks, and the tone is that of a close and intimate friend, sitting in your passenger seat, pointing out the window and exclaiming, "Hey! Look at that!"
   
   Far from the staid and removed tone of many guidebooks, this book is truly an "Insiders' Guide," and makes me want to check out the other books in the series.



3. This book was right on the money with all the things to see while driving through the parks. In combination with this book Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Outdoor Family Guides) and the Trails Illustrated maps of both parks:
   Trails Illustrated Yellowstone Map Old Faithful
   Trails Illustrated Mammoth Hotsprings Yellowstone National Park NW
   Trails Illustrated Tower Canyon Yellowstone National Park NE
   Trails Illustrated Yellowstone Lake Yellowstone National Park SE
   National Geographic Trails Illustrated Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA: Topo Map (Trails Illustrated - Topo Maps USA)
   (which can also be purchased at http://www.ngmapstore.com), we had a very easy time getting around the park and where things were located. It made planning a whiz!



4. We used this book every day we were in Yellowstone. It was such a help in planning each day, knowing where to stop, what to expect in terms of how long hikes were, finding restaurants and shops, etc. I would read the information about each place aloud to the kids, which helped pass the time between stops. One word of caution, though. We are not the type of family that does a lot of hiking, camping, climbing, etc. We did find that some of her descriptions of the difficulty of the hikes and trails were a bit underestimated. Between the heat and the altitude, this is important to keep in mind! Other than that, I think this is a must have!



5. I used this guide extensively on a 3-day drive through both parks. It's packed with information and is well written and organized. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Korea - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!).

1. For being so small, this little book is the best book on Korean culture I have read. It contains so much, so quickly that I read it twice in just one week. It provides an insight not just as a traveler, but as someone who interacts with Koreans. It provides bits of knowledge, trivia, and tips that is well worth the modest cover price. There are several "crash course" books like this, and take it from someone who owns them all practically, this one is the by far the best!



2. This is a very informative book outling the customs and etiquette of Korea. A nice short and to the point book for those who are traveling and want to know the basics.

3 comments about Maps: Finding Our Place in the World.

1. Great product. arrived as advertised. What an amazing way to enrich one's mind with this book!



2. This publication is a companion book to the exhibit which recently closed at the Chicago Field Museum. It stands on its own as a thought provoking look at many different types of maps and the history of maps. I enjoyed the way the information was presented in this book and found a whole new appreciation for maps and the people who have created them. Many of the maps are works of art.



3. This book is a catalog for an extraordinary exhibition of over 130 maps at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago and at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore (in collaboration with The Newberry Library).
   
   Some of my favorites include:
   
   Photographic road maps produced for the first automobilists. Page by page the photographs show country lanes, farmhouses and churches with arrows indicating the correct route.
   
   The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad of 1906, which shows routes of competing railroads in thin, spindly lines or not at all.
   
   Harry Beck's great 1933 map of the London Underground, which shows none of London's geography except for the Thames.
   
   The 1566 map by Giovanni Paolo Cimerlini showing religious divisions in the shape of a heart joined at the North Pole in the center of the map. ("The heart is such a common icon of love. It is a hopeful sign that there is possibility of universal harmony. The map came at a time when reformation is tearing apart the Christian world and there's conflict with Islam. There were advanced thinkers who were thinking we can all get along. This map is saying, 'Hey, we're all in this together.' It's an expression of hope.")
   
   Others include a 3,500-year-old clay tablet detailing walls, gates and palaces in the town of Nippur in what is now Iraq; three colored drawings by Leonardo da Vinci showing the typography of Europe; the map Charles Lindbergh carried with him on his history-making flight from New York to Paris annotated in his own handwriting; drawings by J.R.R. Tolkien of his fictional Middle-earth; and a deerskin map drawn by members of an American Indian tribe, where circles connected by lines indicate political ties among communities.
   
   Each of the maps is well described, and the individual map descriptions are enhanced by the introductions to each of the seven chapters. They include: "Finding Our Way", James R. Akerman, "Mapping the World", Denis Cosgrove; "Mapping Parts of the World", Matthew H. Edney; "Mapping American History", Susan Schulten; "Visualizing Nature and Society", Michael Friendly and Gilles Palsky; "Mapping Imaginary Worlds", Ricardo Padrón; and "Consuming Maps", Diane Dillon. There is also a list of references, a comprehensive bibliography and an excellent index.
   
   The exhibit at the Walters Art Museum runs from March 16 to June 8, 2008. Both the Field and the Walters have very informative websites devoted to the exhibition, with many of the maps illustrated online. (Both institutes usually keep their exhibits online for several years after the exhibit closes.)
   
   Excellent as the online exhibits are, however, holding the book and studying the maps is much more rewarding.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei.

1. Only gave a very brief overview,not enough information for someone who has not travelled to that part of the world.



2. This book is great. It has accurate information and makes trip planning a breeze. I have traveled all over Asia, and I use lonely planet books to plan all my trips.



3. I spent the better part of the afternoon reading this book as I'm planning on a trip to Singapore and Malaysia this week. The Lonely Planet can usually (although not always) be counted on to provide for solid information on travel destinations and this one does just that. It's pretty well written and everything is nicely laid out. I particularly enjoyed the historical overview at the beginning and the section on the national psyche. Malaysia and Singapore (I didn't read about Brunei) sound like thoroughly enjoyable and interesting places. I especially appreciated the description of KL as being something of a nightmare for pedestrians. That's the type of honesty that travelers need, and it's also what helped make the Lonely Planet famous in the first place.



4. Purchased this book to get basic information about the Island of Langkawi. Provided great restaurant list and information about getting around the island. Highly recommend this book if traveling to Malaysia.



5. I am impressed to have received a new copy of this lonely planet so quickly and exactly in the condition i expected.

5 comments about Australia (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. Two fine new travel guides use the popular 'Eyewitness' approach DK fostered in its children's books to provide adult travelers with clear, eye-catching and fun guides. AUSTRALIA packs in the color photos, maps and illustrations and not only covers the usual places to go and stay, but adds tips on local foods, cutaways and floor plans of all major sights, town listings of sights and beaches, timelines of festivals and special events, and more.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. The DK Eyewitness Travel book for Australia is a decent travel guide, which includes a lot of pictures to help the traveler see what the attraction is while doing their planning. This 2006 revised edition runs over 600 pages, and includes an introductory section as well as 8 sections on the various areas of Australia, including one for Sydney by itself. It also has a section for Travelers' needs, which include accommodations, restaurants, and shopping information, and a section titled "Survival Guide" which contains a lot of useful information for travelers.
   
   While the pictures are quite striking, they do seem to come at a price of more information about each of the attractions as well as the general areas. For my trip, I found the section on Tasmania to be rather sparse. The section on Melbourne was significantly better, but even there it would have been nice to have more information. I also question the practice of grouping all the hotels and restaurants together in a single section for the entire country. It seems as if the traveler would be better served if information of that sort was included in each of the sections rather than all together. They do organize the items by region within those sections, but in a hurry one might not notice if they stray outside of their area.
   
   This is a useful reference, but I think it works best as a supplemental reference along with other material. If one needs a single reference, you should look elsewhere.



3. I love the DK eyewitness travel series because of the fine detail in describing geographic regions of the world while also including useful information about accommodation based on your budget, how to get around etc. The books have valuable information about each country ranging from culture and history to government and natural beauty.
   
   The Australia book was very useful on my holiday over to Queensland and New South Wales. I had never been to Australia and so it was nice to have a guide that provided not only visual appeal with its pictures of the landscape and coloured maps but also had info detailing places to stay and see. I highly recommend this book and any other DK books offered for your next trip because unlike other travel books they not only offer an insight to the history and culture of the region but also offer info on the sights you may want to see. The thing I love the most is unlike other travel guides DK isnt just in black and white (thin pages) which are sometimes difficult to read and not as appealing to the eyes. DK books make you want to engage and get you excited to travel.
   
   Only downside to the series is that they can be a bit more expensive than other books though amazon has good prices compared to other stores. Also they havent got books for many other countries/regions of the world, so Ive had to use other brands, I recommend Fodors Exploring series, theyre also colourful and affordable.



4. I live in Australia and wanted a nice guide, and have always been drawn to the DK travel books with their lush photos, beautifully illustrated maps, building cut aways etc. In addition, this book was the 2006 version, latest update and later than many of its competitors.
   
   As another reviewer has noted, all these photos and illustrations come at a price, which is lack of detail. In addition, I am not sure how rigorous the update process is. For example, the 2006 version does not cover the most significant new building in Brisbane, the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), which cries out for inclusion in such a guide. This building was completed in 2006 and under construction for some years before.
   
   Probably best as a supplementary guide or photo history of your travel.



5. Eyewithess Travel Guides give the most complete overview of any travel book or other travel product - good organization; great pictures, maps and other graphics; interesting & concise text and descriptions about history, national foods and beverages, etc.; good suggestions for lodging and eating. They are excellet resource and reference books, but they are concise enough to give a relatively complete overview but short enough to quickly convey information, especially if you do not have a lot of free time.
   
   I believe that carefully reading about a desination is important for planning any trip. The Eyewithess Travel Guides are the best way to obtain that overview and prioritize where you want to go. Australia is a large country and this book covers alot of territory. The Australia guide is enormous help to us with our planning.

3 comments about Montreal & Quebec City (City Guide).

1. I'm impressed by the amount of detail, all the stories and know-hows have matched to what a well traveled friend says of Montreal.
   Highlights dinning, lodging, and sites for each section of the city.



2. This guide proved to be very helpful, informative and insightful for my recent 9 day trip. Nicely organized and up to date material.



3. This guide was invaluable during my recent trip to Montreal- the maps were great- having the reviewed places marked on the maps made life a lot easier. I just wish it were bigger.

3 comments about Streetwise Jerusalem Map - Laminated Center City Street Map of Jerusalem, Israel - Folding pocket size travel map (Streetwise (Streetwise Maps)).

1. I tried to use this map on two occasions, but did not find useful as much, much too busy and complex.



2. I used this map in Israel in 2003 and LOVED it -- and was in fact the envy of my class. I left it with a friend only on condition that she return it to me immediately upon returning to the states, and even then it was tough to leave behind. Anyway, since the other reviewer didn't like it, it seemed important to add a voice from the other side. It's laminated and foldy, like FastMaps, and while it includes even tiny streets, it's not at all hard to read. There is also an index of cultural sites, hotels, gardens, points of interest, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim sites, and other stuff. And while it will not actually pick you up and bring you to Duffy's jewelry store or to the fabulous shwarma place in the old city, you will feel like it did. I'm packing it when I go again in a week! (summer 2007)



3. I never go to Israel without two of these. I am a map-o-phile and personally have many maps of Israel and Jerusalem. Some are in English and some are in Hebrew. This is the ONE map of Jerusalem that I highly reccomend to those who visit Israel with us. It's laminated, accordion-fold and easy to read.
   
   As for the negative review, I understand the statement about the complexity, however there is no way to have less content with an accordion fold. I would suggest a larger scale map for planning at home and the hotel, and use the StreetWise map for walking.

2 comments about Not for Tourists 2008 Guide to Seattle (Not for Tourists Guidebook).

1. Amazing breakdowns of the neighborhoods - color maps, lists and locations of businesses and more. Nice glossy pages and more info than a short-term visitor could ever use - we bought it as a relocation guide and it has paid of in dividends for us! It helped us decide on which neighborhood to live in, helped us find businesses and services, and showed us fun places to eat and hang out. Use it for visiting but remember that it is also a fantastic book full of info to help you move to Seattle!



2. I gave the book, 'Not for Tourists' as a gift and it was received with much interest and delight. The book is very informative, covering various districts in and around Seattle. The information is very detailed and acurate, with good readable maps, great information about the many areas that it covers and a fun book to browse through. I've lived in Seattle for many years and it was great fun reading through this delightful book. I will be purchasing 'Not for Tourists' for my self.