can't decide on rome travel book?
Jun 23rd, 2005, 04:38 PM
#21
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In my travel prep, I rate the guidebooks as follows:
1. Rick Steves-which go with me.
2. Rough Guide-gives the most detailed
information, great for planning.
3. DK Guides-great photos, too heavy to pack.
All the others have their strong points, and I refer to them for specific information.
Guidebooks can get expensive, but are usually available on eBay for a fraction of their cost, and current year editions are plentiful there.
1. Rick Steves-which go with me.
2. Rough Guide-gives the most detailed
information, great for planning.
3. DK Guides-great photos, too heavy to pack.
All the others have their strong points, and I refer to them for specific information.
Guidebooks can get expensive, but are usually available on eBay for a fraction of their cost, and current year editions are plentiful there.
Jun 23rd, 2005, 05:23 PM
#23
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Hi,
A topic after my own heart! I'm addicted to travel books the way I'm addicted to cookbooks (but that's another story altogether).
I have to say the DK / Eyewitness are my favorites. (although I've been known to spend hours in Borders pouring over everything)!
But, I don't take the books with me most of the time...too bulky. I go to Kinko's and make copies / cut & paste information I think I'll need and keep it in a file folder smushed into the front flap of my luggage. OK, I'll admit it -- I'm anal..I've been known to go so far as print out each section on color coordinated paper - like Yellow for Venice, etc., and then I rotate them as the trip progesses.
Regards,
Melodie
A topic after my own heart! I'm addicted to travel books the way I'm addicted to cookbooks (but that's another story altogether).
I have to say the DK / Eyewitness are my favorites. (although I've been known to spend hours in Borders pouring over everything)!
But, I don't take the books with me most of the time...too bulky. I go to Kinko's and make copies / cut & paste information I think I'll need and keep it in a file folder smushed into the front flap of my luggage. OK, I'll admit it -- I'm anal..I've been known to go so far as print out each section on color coordinated paper - like Yellow for Venice, etc., and then I rotate them as the trip progesses.
Regards,
Melodie
Jun 23rd, 2005, 05:48 PM
#24
People frequently mention that the Let's Go books are youth oriented but I like them very much for the descriptions of sights, the historical background, and the general information about a city or country. They are actually among my favorites, and I am far from college aged. It is true that they contain much information on budget food and lodging, and I don't use them for those suggestions as much.
Jun 26th, 2005, 11:13 PM
#25
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I pretty much agree with Elaine. I also buy alot of guide books before each of my trips as the cost is small in comparison to the overall cost of the trip.
Everyone travels differently with different budgets and different needs and interests and every guide book has it pros and cons so there is no one great guidebook for any destination. If you can tell us more about yourself it may help us help you in a more efficient manner.
I myself would use the DK guide to get ideas as to what I would want to see in Rome but would not take it as it is too heavy. I would use Rick Steve's for practical information about how to tour the city.
Tend to rely on Frommers, and Sandra Gustafson for places to stay. Eating recs from Gambero Rosso, Zagats and Sandra G. Carry around the Lonely Planet condensed guide to Rome for maps and other info.
Everyone travels differently with different budgets and different needs and interests and every guide book has it pros and cons so there is no one great guidebook for any destination. If you can tell us more about yourself it may help us help you in a more efficient manner.
I myself would use the DK guide to get ideas as to what I would want to see in Rome but would not take it as it is too heavy. I would use Rick Steve's for practical information about how to tour the city.
Tend to rely on Frommers, and Sandra Gustafson for places to stay. Eating recs from Gambero Rosso, Zagats and Sandra G. Carry around the Lonely Planet condensed guide to Rome for maps and other info.
Jun 27th, 2005, 04:59 AM
#26
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Definitely get several. If price is an issue, check out the library before investing. Or, ebay, amazon, alibris, etc for second hand books.
kjosker gave excellent advice. Some books are great help for planning, but too heavy to travel with you. I carried the Steves book for lightweight logistical info, tore out pages (painful, but necessary) from Fodors, etc., for cities and sites we were interested in, and left the gorgeous DK/Eyewitness book at home. Ditched all this stuff before returning home, to lighten the weight on the plane & avoid additional fees.
kjosker gave excellent advice. Some books are great help for planning, but too heavy to travel with you. I carried the Steves book for lightweight logistical info, tore out pages (painful, but necessary) from Fodors, etc., for cities and sites we were interested in, and left the gorgeous DK/Eyewitness book at home. Ditched all this stuff before returning home, to lighten the weight on the plane & avoid additional fees.
Jun 27th, 2005, 05:18 AM
#27
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When my husband and I went in 2003, we checked out several from the library, including Fodor's, Lonely Planet, and Let's Go books, but we bought all the Rick Steves books and took those with us.
Rick's walking tours -- especially of the Vatican were priceless. I found some of the information in other books to be out of date or just plain wrong, whereas Rick Steves updates his information every year, and provides a good middle-of-the-road travel book for the non-student living out of a backpack for the summer or non-5-star hotel type travelers, offering a range of information depending on what you want to spend, but keeping budget in mind. Perfect for us.
You can also find his videos at a lot of libraries. We borrow those and others in advance and have taken notes about additional sights to see. He also has a 3-part travel skills video that is outstanding.
Happy travels,
Jules
Rick's walking tours -- especially of the Vatican were priceless. I found some of the information in other books to be out of date or just plain wrong, whereas Rick Steves updates his information every year, and provides a good middle-of-the-road travel book for the non-student living out of a backpack for the summer or non-5-star hotel type travelers, offering a range of information depending on what you want to spend, but keeping budget in mind. Perfect for us.
You can also find his videos at a lot of libraries. We borrow those and others in advance and have taken notes about additional sights to see. He also has a 3-part travel skills video that is outstanding.
Happy travels,
Jules
Jun 27th, 2005, 06:01 AM
#28
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I really like the Lonely Planet guides - good maps and smallish. I use them in combination with the Eyewitness Guides.
I found an excellent guide on Rome called Moon Metro. It divides the city into areas, and includes fold-out maps in great detail. I found restaurants listed there that were not mentioned in some of the other books. It is small enough to tuck into a newspaper, and durable. Certainly not an all-inclusive book, but a good supplement to take along.
www.moon.com
They have a range of cities available. I really love my Moon book!
I found an excellent guide on Rome called Moon Metro. It divides the city into areas, and includes fold-out maps in great detail. I found restaurants listed there that were not mentioned in some of the other books. It is small enough to tuck into a newspaper, and durable. Certainly not an all-inclusive book, but a good supplement to take along.
www.moon.com
They have a range of cities available. I really love my Moon book!
Jun 29th, 2005, 09:48 AM
#29
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The first guide I buy when starting to plan a new trip is an Insight Guide. About one-third of the book is historical and cultural background information and there are many gorgeous, full-page photos to whet your appetite and help you decide what you want to see. I also like Cadogan and Blue Guides for their detailed information (like the art and architecture mentioned above). Blue Guides have great room-by-room museum tours. The Blue Guide to Rome includes about 10 or 12 pages on Pompeii--much more detail than most guides (which is important to me, but of course wouldn't be for everyone). Finally, I like Rick Steves for his practical suggestions -- the least crowded times to visit certain sights, what entrance to use for the shortest lines,locations of clean public restrooms, etc.
But before I start buying a lot of books, I check my local public libraries. I have found that they buy the new editions of most guidebooks. BUT--the new editions are usually checked out. So if you don't see the new editions on the shelves, don't just assume the library doesn't have them. Check their catalog (you can usually do this on your computer at home) and ask to be added to the waiting list for the books you want (I can do this on my home computer too).
Once I have new editions of library books checked out, I take them to work and photocopy (2-sided) the pages I want so that I can take those pages with me on my trip(discarding them as I go along, to lighten my load). About a month before my trip I go back to the bookstore to buy any guides I really want that I haven't been able to find at the libraries.
But before I start buying a lot of books, I check my local public libraries. I have found that they buy the new editions of most guidebooks. BUT--the new editions are usually checked out. So if you don't see the new editions on the shelves, don't just assume the library doesn't have them. Check their catalog (you can usually do this on your computer at home) and ask to be added to the waiting list for the books you want (I can do this on my home computer too).
Once I have new editions of library books checked out, I take them to work and photocopy (2-sided) the pages I want so that I can take those pages with me on my trip(discarding them as I go along, to lighten my load). About a month before my trip I go back to the bookstore to buy any guides I really want that I haven't been able to find at the libraries.
