pkjyu

Planning our honeymoon and I am thinking of purchasing this book along with cheap sleeps in Italy. Are these books accurate and reliable in info. We are looking forward to have plenty of romantic dinners and would not like to sacrifice quality and taste for price. Thanks for your help!!

Julie

Being a travel book junkie, I have the cheap sleeps/eats books in my repertoire and have always found them to be right on the money (I believe they're going to change their name to "Great Sleeps/Eats" shortly). The web site is: www.cheapeatsleeps.com. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

xxxxx

I agree. You should get the book it really will help you in your planning of your trip.

the turnip

No, no, no and no. I was very disappointed in this book. It lead us to one or two good restaurants but nothing exceptional. Much of the information was already out of date (despite the fact it was the most current book available and only a few months old) and other information was just plain wrong.<BR><BR>There's nothing quite as much as fun as searching for an hour to find one of her suggestions only to get there and see a CLOSED sign on the window. Let's see, the book says they're open and Wednesdays but the permanent sign in the window says closed Wednesday's. Hmmmmm. Or go somewhere famous for their tasty and affordable pizza's to be told we don't make pizza here. Ok...<BR><BR>If I had the found the book for free at the library it wouldn't be worth it. Our best success was asking here on this forum, asking at our hotel and other locals for where to go. You'll love Italy but leave Susan and her book at home.<BR><BR>Cheers, the turnip

Gina

I completely agree with Turnip. We were very disappointed which to us was suprising because we used Cheap Eats in paris and all places recommended were great. In Rome and Florence the restaurants were not what the author described at all. They also weren't any cheap. Prices were much, much higher and one place which suppose to have a charming atmosphere was more like pizza place (Pizza Hut style) with prices too high. I still would recommend "Cheap eats in Paris."

Gerry

Trouble with all restaurant books is that they get dated so fast. Sometimes they are already out of date by the time they are published. How long ago did they go there? (This happens to restaurant guide books even in your home town.) Also "a great undiscovered gem" recommended, say, in the Rick Steves' or other popular guide may turn into an instant tourist trap due to its new-found popularity.<BR>So what can I do? Check the rccs on this board, ask your hotel for ideas, look around...If I see a place that appears to have a lot of local customers. Hmm. interesting! If the place is empty or full of what look like tourists. Hmm. I don't think so!<BR>Use sort of the same restaurant finding <BR>methods that you would use at home.<BR><BR>Gerry

Julie

Guess I should have given a disclaimer before advising you on "Cheap Eats". But Gerry put it best, as with all travel books information changes constantly and it's probably best to always call or check out a recommendation before treating the info as gospel. I have found this to be true with just about all travel books and not only "Cheap Eats". You'll just have to decide for yourself which books work best for you after some trial and error - but that's part of the adventure of travelling, isn't it?

elaine

I have used the Cheap Eats books in Paris and in Italy, and I highly recommend them. I have to add that I don't rely on guidebooks of any kind (not even dear Fodor's)for 100%-guaranteed information on when restaurants or anything else for that matter are open, if the scheduling for a special place is of importance to me. Not only are even the best books published up to a year after they are written, but individual restaurant and hotel owners, and even gov't-run facilities like museums seem to make whatever scheduling changes they make whenever they like.<BR><BR>One of the reasons I believe that the series is changing its name to "Great.." rather than "Cheap..." is that<BR>people's ideas of "cheap" vary quite a bit. If budgeting is tight, one person's cheap may not be cheap enough, and if you are worried about quality as well, the word "cheap" can sometimes be<BR>a turnoff.<BR>I've found Gustafson's recommendations on restaurants and hotels to offer good value relative to the amount charged, even when they are not all that cheap.<BR>I think in any guidebook, the more you read the details, they more familiar you become with the author's particular quirks or prejudices or even failings--some authors you will have a good "fit" with, and others you will not. For example, Rick Steve's restaurant and hotel suggestions are rarely a good fit for me personally.<BR>Gustafson's more often are, but I avoid places that she calls "quirky" or "funky" or "eclectic" if that's not what I want. If the only positive thing that she can say about a place is that it's "cheap", that's not usually what I want either. Read her descriptions, they're usually quite detailed and very helpful, any errors in days-open aside.<BR>I think trip research is a lot of cross-referencing. Get all the recommendations you can get from this Fodor's message board, Fodor's rants and raves comments elsewhere on this website,etc and start compiling "compare and contrast lists" with what you find in any of the guidebooks you use. Where you see mixed reviews, perhaps think twice.<BR>Where you see consistent praise, seems like a sure thing.

s.fowler

Good advice Elaine! I think one factor may be that the different books are written by different people? I know the Paris one works for me, but the London one is useless.