Paris Guidebook
Dec 6th, 2002 | 08:32 AM
#1
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Paris Guidebook
Long time reader-first time poster--giving wife a trip to Paris for Christmas. <BR>Plane tickets bought for May--would like to slip a guidebook in present--any recommendations? <BR>Eyewitness books are colorful and comprehensive yet a tad heavy??<BR>Thanks in advance,<BR>af
Dec 6th, 2002 | 08:42 AM
#2
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The Fodor's guide to Paris is excellent.<BR>I love Eyewitness as a souvenir book, but I don't like the way they are organized, (poor index, etc) and I think they are way too heavy to carry. But guidebooks are personal things.<BR>If you want more detail on art, history, and architecture (but no "practical" info to speak of) buy the Michelin Green guide.<BR>I also love, and always take with me along with the Fodors book, the Paris Map Guide. It is a think book, about 5" X 8" with an alpha street listing and comprehensive maps, one area on each page. It also has some basic sightseeing recommendations, as well as a bus and metro guide. If you do your research in advance (even in the hotel room) you can easily get by with only carrying the Paris Map Guide on your daily travels. Amazon has it I believe.
Dec 6th, 2002 | 08:59 AM
#6
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I concur that Eyewitness is a useful guide for planning and would make the best present since it has great pictures. But why not make it two guides and add the Access guide which is arranged by areas, will help your wife get her bearings and will be a great guide to actually take along.
Dec 6th, 2002 | 09:19 AM
#7
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I will add another vote for Eyewitness Travel Guides. I keep mine on hand at all times even when reading Fodors travel talk! Lots of pictures, maps and good descriptions. Some guide books I have seen do not have many photos. I really enjoy the photos.
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Dec 6th, 2002 | 12:08 PM
#8
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I like Insight Guides. They have great photos and they are larger than the photos in Eyewitness Guides. They are also heavy, so maybe not the one to take with you, but perfect for reading before you go -- lots of info on history, culture,land, people, etc.
Dec 6th, 2002 | 04:43 PM
#10
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I agree that Eyewitness would probably make the best gift and would be the most fun for planning. However, it is heavy and I don't even think their Paris book is that good on many details (odd terminology of areas, bad maps, some erroneous details in sections I've noted, such as the info on metro/RER passes is wrong, not very good for hotels and restaurants), so I would prefer another for actually taking with one. But, if this is a Christmas gift and you are actually going very shortly, you might not want to get another guidebook. If the trip isn't for a while after Christmas, you may want another for the real take-with-you guidebook. I'm not familiar with Fodors, but Frommers usually does a good job with city guides (although they have too many book options now), and I do like the Access also but it may not be appropriate for a first-timer. I like Cadogan's guidebooks, also, and the Michelin for the actual site details (but it's not that good as a main one, either). Timeout is good for places to go and I like their opinions and writing, but I don't think it has a good Paris history section like a good guidebook wil (but I'm not sure on that).<BR><BR>I took an Insight to Poland with me and they had some good content and knowledge, but it was rather difficult to use so I couldn't recommend it myself (eg, there was no section on attractions or museums that listed them all with descriptions for easy planning, they were sprinkled throughout the section on a geographic area--at least in the Krakow one).
Dec 6th, 2002 | 04:58 PM
#11
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Access Paris is good because it shows what is near what - all color coded as to museum, hotel, restauant, etc. However, it could be more complete. To really find your way around, the blue covered Michelin Plan of Paris is indepensible. But it's cheaper to buy in France.
Dec 6th, 2002 | 05:07 PM
#12
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I am a "compulsive" buyer of guidebooks, so have many of Paris (and France in general). I agree that the Eyewitness books are colorful and interesting, but too heavy to take. For plain practical information, I really like Rick Steve's Paris book. It's light to carry and "to the point", and is the one I ended up taking to Paris, along with some "walks" books. For a first time visitor, his book is a great guide to the major museums. I don't use his hotels, however, as I prefer slightly more upscale places. And I agree with Elaine - "The Paris Mapguide" by Michael Middleditch is essential - give her that little book for sure! That's the one I wouldn't go to Paris without.
Dec 6th, 2002 | 06:10 PM
#14
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<BR>Alan,<BR><BR>The best book for Paris, hands down, is the Michelin Green Guide. It's about 3/8" thick by 4-3/4" wide and 10" high and fits in the breast pocket of your jacket. You might also add the Michelin map #10 "Plan de Paris" which is about the same size but thinner. It opens out to over a square yard and shows every rue and boulevard, including the 80 meters of r.d. Trois Portes near Place Maubert where I lived.<BR><BR>For a detailed discussion of guidebooks and other publications for travel in Europe see my page at<BR>www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap10/guide.htm. On that page my analysis of guidebooks is focused on Haarlem, Netherlands because I have more experience there than anywhere else in Europe. But I have clocked over half a year in Paris and can say that nothing else comes even close to Michelin Green for a guide to THE city. More info and recommendations for other books are on my page at<BR>www.enjoy-europe.com/cds/france.htm. <BR><BR>BTW, late May and early June is the best time to be in Paris. <BR><BR>John Bermont<BR>
Dec 6th, 2002 | 06:57 PM
#16
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I vote for Rick Steve's Paris guidebook as it's fun reading and small to carry and has some Paris walks. Also, give her the "Streetwise Paris" map. For the month I spent in Paris it was invaluable. The other guide book I liked was Access Paris.
Dec 7th, 2002 | 10:53 AM
#18
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got back from Paris yesterday and would recommend that the best light travel aid to include would be the Laminated National Geographic map of Paris--large type and accurate street naming. Then after Christmas she can ferret through all the guide books at the library to figure out what she wants to see. The small maps in the guidebooks get a little confusing in the planning stage.
