This beats any stats, facts and picture heavy guidebook
585950
This beats any stats, facts and picture heavy guidebook as Carrot's running commentary of life on the trail makes the reader feel like they are actually there and allows the reader to judge whether this is something they would want to / can do themselves. This book has inspired me to take a corporate career sabbatical and travel all the way from South Africa to hike the PCT in 2017. Thank you Carrot.
4084777
Fedor's has been most diligent in updating its traditional line of guide books.  They've kept the famous and very useful rating system for attractions, hotels, and places to eat, but added more pictures, maps, diagrams, and a format that features bite-sized chunks of information and lots of website addresses.  This "Fodor's 2016 Guide to London" is a wonderful resource for London, still one of the great cities of the world, with hundreds of years of history on display in buildings, monuments, and museums, along with the most up-to-date culture, art, shopping and entertainment available anywhere in the world.

The guide opens with an introduction to London, then tours the various neighborhoods for their individuals attractions.  Later chapters address where to eat, where to stay, and where to find the shopping, art, and entertainment.  The concluding segments include tips on traveling around the great metropolis, including a diagram of "the tube" and  a pull-out map of the city.  This guide is pretty close to one stop shopping for planning.  Anyone willing to invest a little time can put together a great visit.  London is an expensive place and planning ahead will likely be rewarded in both time and money.  This reviewer especially appreciated reading the many options on offer for touristing; there really is something for everyone.  Highly recommended.
2828189
This DK guide makes for great armchair travel. It's far more comprehensive than many guides -- it includes history, famous New York City residents, and floor plans and cutaway illustrations of museums, parks and other venues. It's a largely visual book -- 1070 photos! 110 illustrations! -- but contains plenty of information to get you excited about your visit.

One unique feature is the audio walks app that you can download to your phone. With the purchase of the book, you get seven narrated walking tours, which are described at the back of the book. Personally, I wouldn't walk the streets of New York wearing earbuds and unaware of my surroundings. But maybe that's just me. The other downside to this book is that it is very heavy. The paper stock is glossy and the cover laminated with fold-in flaps. It makes for eye-catching photos, for sure, but to schlep around the city for an entire day? No.

Instead, I would use this as a planning guide. It has a section of suggested day trips and it breaks the city up into 15 areas and includes brief treatments of Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and other "farther afield" destinations. Most of the photography is eye candy, and some of it entirely unnecessary. (An interior of an art gallery, with people's backs to the camera? Photos of an ambulance, a firetruck and a police car?). But I do appreciate the many photos and suggestions of visits to historical buildings and sites. It can be hard to see history in the city; it's more hidden than in, say, Boston or Philadelphia.

In some sections, the lack of detail is unfortunate. In the fitness section, for example, I would have liked more information. You can't tell which facilities are open only to members and which offer day or short-term passes. Specifically, I would like to know where a person can swim laps. No one ever addresses that! I do appreciate the inclusion of website links throughout the book, where you can find more detailed information about your destination.

All in all, this is a great book for dreaming, but you need more detail for actual planning. If you want to spend time in Brooklyn, you might try the more comprehensive&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Fodor-s-Brooklyn/dp/1101878231/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Fodor's Brooklyn</a>.
553371
Fantastic guide book. I bought 4 books on the country and found this one to be the best. Spent a few weeks in Argentina and took this book with me. I found the information to be accurate and helpful. I also purchased this publisher for books on the UK and Scotland and have found that they all provide a well-rounded pile of valuable information. I travelled between Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Iguazu Falls. I will be taking this book when I visit again.
1182452
One of the best guide books I've ever used. Excellent maps, good suggestions on sights and restaurants, and was a great planning tool.  It was also organized extremely well so that it was a good companion on the go.  It helped me to save time, hit all the sights in a neighborhood and find a good place to eat if I got hungry or thirsty.  And it has good background information so that you actually understand the context for what you're seeing.  And it has some gems that make you realize that the author actually has gone to these places and experienced them.  When he says it's a must-see, it is a must-see.  For example, the book mentioned that there was a special "night illumination" at the Kodai-ji temple in the autumm.  I happened to go to the temple at the end of the day and quickly realized that it would be open late for that special viewing -- and so I stayed rather than leaving and experienced a magical evening.  And the author also mentions Obai-in, a temple that is open only in the autumn for a limited time, and said that you must see it if it is open.  I happened to be in the neighborhood, saw a sign saying it was open, and went in -- again having a magical experience I would have missed, but for the book.
4963767
I have well over 100 Genealogy Reference books. This is my most informative and the best Go To Guide I own. I have two copies; one for my desk and the other to travel with in my bag. It is so lightweight, I can carry it in my small purse or my slim build rolling Briggs & Riley computer bag. I regret not buying this sooner as it has been so informative.
2881670
This Lonely Planet guide is a text heavy book -- it's not loaded with many photos or maps (only some quick stuff in the beginning).  So if you're looking for a pictorial guide of California -- it's not your book. Nonetheless, I live in Northern California, and this is certainly quite a guidebook for the state; nearly 800 pages. The book is separated by area, and then lists all the major attractions, hotels, and restaurants in such area. It has general info sections on climate, transportation, history, etc. and then the following areas:

North Coast & Redwoods
Northern Mountains
Napa & Sonoma Wine Country
Gold Country
Lake Tahoe
San Francisco
Marin County & the Bay Area
Yosemite & The Sierra Nevada
Sacramento & Central Valley
Central Coast
Santa Barbara County
Palm Springs & The Deserts
Disneyland & Orange County
Los Angeles
San Diego & Around

There's plenty of detail about the state and national parks and other low-cost attractions (typically the hallmark of Lonely Planet guides.) The listings are definitely updated (I found a hotel with an updated name in San Jos that's not supposed to take place for a few more months). What I did find, however, is there's not a lot of focus on the big cities (SF is mere 35 pages) -- but far more on the outlying areas. If you're just going to be spending some time in these places and not getting out much, it's not the book for you.

However, as a resident of California visiting those outside cities for quick weekend driving trips, the book is very useful, when you just want a little detail of what's in other places. You'll be prepared for the climate anytime of the year with the handy graphs, be able to get around in city centers with the small maps, and dream of the southern California beaches, just to name a few. Keep in mind the limitations I've mentioned about the content of the book, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the treasures inside the book and in California. No summary book can be perfect, but you have a reasonable guidebook here.
4287809
This is there largest (longest) LP guide that we have.  It is packed with very excellent information that will make your trip to India more organized, efficient, and enjoyable.  At the front of the book is a month-to-month highlights guide.  This is accompanied by critical need-to-know topics (visas, money, budget, exchange rates, rules, etc.) and suggested treks/trips based on the amount of time you will be in India.  The book then goes into extensive detail of the sites, things to see, etc. of each of these treks, cities, and regions.  This includes culture, things to see, train schedules, transportation, hotels, shopping, restaurants, sites, travel agency contact info, and more.  No question that a trip to this gorgeous country will be much more enjoyable if you use this great guide to do your planning.  Highly recommended.  You may even want to consider having the paper copy for planning, and the Kindle version for when you are walking around and touring.
2027659
I live in and run a website about NYC and author my own Printable NYC Guide with detailed maps, however I often review other NYC travel guides to see the recommendations they make to vacationers. While I do prefer the Fodor's Top 25, this Fodor's New York City guide (hard copy) is laid out extremely well with single pages of attractions, experiences, food, photo spots and shopping on the first page of each section. Then it goes into more detail within the section. Personally, I think there was the right amount of background, history and facts about New York. As a local, I was definitely in sync with this book-their dining choices, sights, etc.  A little background on my travel style - I generally like lighter tourist guides. I like to be told the must-sees, what to do, where to go, where to eat and how to get there. Preferably all together in an easy-to-follow format and without having to carry a huge book around all day on vacation.
2390941
I take one major trip a year, picking a city in Europe and attacking it with the determination and skill of a resourceful general.  Or so I like to think...in reality, I'm just a savvy user of Eyewitness guides.  After London in 2011, Rome in 2012, and now Paris in 2013, I'm absolutely convinced that there is no better guidebook on the market...*provided you are the type of traveler Eyewitness is catering to*.  Let me explain a bit more about that below.

Do you want a set of planned itineraries?  Star ratings for various attractions?  A list of overrated museums and underrated monuments?  If so, go elsewhere.  That's not what Eyewitness Paris really wants to do.  It does not prescribe, nor do they lead.  Other than a "Four Great Days in Paris" section in the beginning and some hotel and restaurant recommendations thrown (somewhat desultorily) in the back of the book, that's not their game.  Eyewitness neither ranks nor rates attractions. If that's what you need - and there are some times when it's absolutely what I need - opt for Rick Steves or Frommer's.

So now let's focus on what this guide does, and does so well.  For starters, it is absolutely your best friend when it comes to getting around Paris.  Where Frommer's has a couple of crude maps scattered throughout, Rick Steves has some of his quirky hand drawn ones, and Fodor's has nothing remotely approaching logic, Eyewitness Paris makes getting around the city a simple affair.  Not only is there a full size fold out map in the back, but they break down the city into a series of sub maps and provide an unbelievably comprehensive, easy-to-use alphabetical index.  Want to know where the Arc D'Triumph is?  A quick scan of the index reveals it's on Map Page 4, Section D3.  I cannot stress enough how great this is.  Coupled with the fact that they list the appropriate Metro stop for every single attraction,  you will *never* be lost with this guide tucked under your arm.

The other great thing about Eyewitness Paris, other than how well it gets you around the city, is how much information it has about various sites.  For starters, almost every attraction is accompanied by a picture.  This isn't just aesthetically pleasing - it's incredibly useful for knowing where you are and if you're looking at the right thing.  Trust this from the man who took the picture of the wrong darn house in Bangor, Maine, while following Moon's fruitless directions to Stephen King's house.  Furthermore, the information on the sites makes you feel like you're learning about what you're seeing.  They give interesting detail on virtually everything, and make you feel like you're getting the most out of your time in Paris.  You won't just see the Eiffel Tower, you'll learn about the engineer who who built it, the art snob who ate there so he wouldn't have to look at it, and the poor fool who jumped off it thinking his cape would act as a parachute.
1911902
This guidebook's title is right on: it's not for tourists. It's for those of us who are moving to Boston and need good maps, information on T-stops and bus lines (very helpful, as no other guidebook I've seen shows bus lines), restaurants, bars, etc.  We don't need information on fancy hotels and the Freedom Trail- for that, a different guidebook might do.  But this is the one worth buying and keeping tucked in your purse or bag when you're out and about in the city.
50468
There is written an ultimate guide book which is consisted the information of photographic memory. This outstanding guide book will not waste your time but provide you significant information and make you able to completely understand with its pros and cons.
2513290
This is a superb guide. I bought it for my 81yo father because his Peterson guide book had come apart after oh, 15 years of wear and tear.  That book was nowhere near as good a book for a plain old ordinary birder.  The pictures are photos, not drawings. The info on the birds is right along side of the pictures.  Lastly, we were able to ID a bird at Dad's feeder, a California Towhee.  Probably the single most drab bird in the avian world. Cute tho' in its own chubby way.
4145339
I am a New Zealander, I rarely go on a road trip without this book or it's companion for the North Island.  It not only provides details about the well known New Zealand sites (Milford Sound, Queenstown, etc), but also takes you to the lesser known gems.  Unlike most travel books, this book focuses on things to see and how to get there rather than where to go for lodging and food.  The authors recommendations are useful, because unlike other travel books he provides lots first hand details - not just a paragraph or two of uninteresting twaddle.  He backs it all up with links to youtube videos and photos.  The book may not have the "polish" of other travel guides, but don't let that put you off.  The details that this author provides is far more genuine (and helpful) than the Lonely Planet or Go Guides rehash of 5 year old information.
51436
I borrowed a copy of this guidebook to take on my first solo trip to Vienna. It quickly became my bible.  It has several excellent maps; what makes them outstanding is that they show more than the usual places of interest, public transit stops and the like.  The "Street-by-Street" maps actually show you how the buildings are positioned on a given block, how big they are, and even what they look like.  Great for those who navigate by landmarks.
 This book also gives a representative sampling of accomodations and restaurants.  Other books are more comprehensive, but this one won't steer you wrong.  The pension I stayed at was as described, except that it was actually slightly less expensive than I expected.
 The dining section is outstanding!  It not only includes a section describing the more common dishes and varieties of coffee, but gives photographs of the dishes

 This is one guidebook whose Survival section deserves the name.  It includes detailed instructions on everything from using the transit system to using payphones and automatic teller machines, with color photos to help you recognize them.  It has photos of the various uniforms for police, firefighters, and other emergency personnel, the coins and banknotes,  signs for the various modes of public transit...  You could go to Vienna knowing no German but  have little or no trouble getting around if you have this book.

 I only have two very minor quibbles.  The subway map was slightly inaccurate; however, I purchased a postcard of the subway system and tucked it into the back cover (with the subway map) and all was well.  The language section is pretty minimal; if you aren't already familiar with German, you would still want a phrasebook.

 I've used most of the guidebook series (Fodor's, Let's Go, et al.) over several trips; this is the single best guidebook I have ever used, bar none. Not only are the contents incredibly comprehensive and logically organized, but it's a fairly convenient size and the binding ensures it will be good for many trips to come.
4834622
For me, the Frommer books provide a near perfect balance for what I'm looking for in guide books.  I want useful, factual information that's well-organized.  They give me that.  I also like something that's easy to read...something I might thumb through even if I wasn't planning a trip right then and there.  I get that too.

There are other guide books that go into, perhaps, slighlty deeper detail...but I've found them to be too dry.  Other books may provide more anecdotal, almost short-story like text...but the factual details are skimpy.  Frommer also provides some nice color photos without really costing the buyer any more.

For Europe, my favorite books are still by Rick Steves, because he takes the reader a bit more by the hand when it comes to DIY stuff.  How to get from Point A to Point B...exactly.  His self-guided tours are great for saving some money & time.  But overall, covering the globe, I like Frommer best.

This particular book on Northern Italy has proven very helpful to my wife and I as we prepare for our next European vacation, which includes a two-day stop in Venice.  Frommer's provides critical Venice info, but the book also includes a nice map.  Most guidebooks include pull-out maps...IMO Frommer's has the best.  They are more detailed than some of the quickie maps you get in tourist locations or hotels...but they aren't cluttered with stuff you might find in truely detailed maps.

There is no PERFECT guidebook.  But  for the guidebooks that ARE available, time and time again, I have turned to Frommer's and they've always steered me right.
4447842
Fodor's has a long history of producing excellent guide books and this is no exception. The pictures are vivid and exciting, the maps and other facts included in the book are unerringly accurate, all-all - this book typifies the high quality commonly associated with the Fodor's name. I highly recommend the purchase of this book, along with recommending the entire Fodor's line-up.