JennaZ

I don't like the Eyewitness guides for practical or historical information, but I do think the abundance of photos can be useful for identification purposes. It can be useful to know exactly what a specific building looks like, not only so you can find it when you see it, but for later reference. When you see a lot of things on a trip, it's so easy for things to blend together. That why it's good to have a visual resource like this. I may not carry the book around with me during the day, but I like having it in the hotel room, and it's the one I look at the most after the trip.

However, I usually like to travel with several different guidebooks, used for different purposes. The Green Michelin books, for example, may not be as visually appealing as some, but they seem to offer more historical detail than most guides.

docdan

Travelnut - "Access" books - could you be more specific? I am attracted to the neighborhood format. Are these availabel at most bookstores or should I try a website?

chatham

I just bought See It and agree with Artlover's assessment of the two books. Both Eywitness and See It would be good books for reading at home. For the trip I'd still take Fodor's Gold Guide, gives you good info and it is light weight.

Doubletee

I love DK, but I don't ever actually take them with me. I am absolutely enamored of their wonderful neighborhood maps where one can see exactly what an area looks like from the air, block by block. The DK Prague was especially valuable when I was back home labeling photos: I could match each spire with the right church/observation tower/gate name.

I haven't had occasion to use the See It guides yet, but judging from some of the excerpts available for viewing on Amazon, I'd say it's a smart little volume. But as for maps, I don't think there's a way to top DK's expert renderings.

I use DK for maps (and photos when wanting to get a good view of a building before leaving for a destination); Lonely Planet for their restaurant recommendations (they're vegetarian-friendly), maps, and walking tours; Frommer's for hotels, some restaurants, and general country info; Rick Steves for any number of things (and typically it's an RS guide I will pack if I pack any guides at all -- particularly his phrasebooks, which are indispensible); Rough Guide and Let's Go for their restaurant recommendations and maps.

donco

I'm a huge DK fan and have been buying their guides for 10 years. During the year before our trip, the DK book is in our "reading room" and pages of interest get tagged.
Closer to trip time, Fodor's is checked out of the library especially for "If you have 3 days..." etc. If we have missed Fodor's faves, we re-read and decide. Check out RS, Michelin also if they are in library.
The DK's we own are arranged by neighborhood in cities and show openings/closing. I plan our walks thusly.
If something differs, I write DK after our trip. Things change-no guide book could keep up for publication. That's why Fodor's is great for more immediate info.
We do lug the books along-meet many folks as we study the maps (they are not as detailed as big maps, but give one general idea for directions).

NYerr

Prefer the orgainization of the Eyewitness guides. Use both Fodor and Frommer's. Don't like to carry much, so (sorry publishers) I rip out the sections for each place from those books. They are too big. The Eyewitness books remain intact. And there is always a small language book with me too.

tod

I love the Eyewitness Guide because it has the information, street map,metro map, etc. all in one book(colour makes a difference). I do have a problem from now on as I will be taking all three of Thirza Vallois "Around & About Paris" with me on the next trip - her detail about each arrondissement is the best I've ever come across! Her "walks" are so detailed you wouldn't miss out on a thing.