I have quite a few guides, and though I love looking at the ones with beautiful, color pictures, the most useful to me is -- as others have said -- the Michelin Green Guide. It's well organized, has great maps, and lots of useful information. I love that, in addition to Metro information, it also gives bus information for each area.

Sandy

Last time I posed the question, I was recommended to buy Lonely Planet guides. I am about to purchase them for Paris and Barcelona. I really trust people advice on this forum. It will be my first time to both places. SHould I continue to buy the Lonely Planet Consensed guide or should I buy the Rick Steve ones?

Thanks

Were I limited to one guide, Michelin Green Guide would be the choice for any location for which they are available.

I do like Earl Steinbecker's Daytrip series for the walking tours in the cities and the daytrips out of the cities.

I used the web to plan the logistics like hotels

I read "Romantic Paris" (a pseudo guidebook/journal that gears me up for the trip)

Eyewitness Top 10 to carry around while in Paris (it's compact, light, and easy to navigate...the maps are good, too)

Time Out is great, I also like DK's Top 10 - it's very easy to carry around.

Barrie Kerper's series on the Collected Traveler is a great read, no matter which locale - I have them all, but for Athens. This is to read before and after, and if you are like I used to be (and take ten books with you) you can pack it along. Now I try to limit it to 2 or 3.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...s&n=507846