Travel Book Question
 

Is Rick Steve's "Paris 2004" worth buying? I have been to Paris three times already, but I want a tour book that will provide me with infomation on sites/restaurants/etc. that I haven't been to or known about yet.

I have read the "Paris 100" list on here and I plan on using a lot of it too.

Thanks.

It's worth seeing if you can get it from the library. I doubt there's much in it that you haven't heard of unless your previous trips to Paris involved very little site-seeing. I also don't think his restaurant suggestions are necessarily anything spectacular. But I think most guidebooks are worth a read if you can get them for free at the library. :)

Save your money. There are some good things in Rick's Paris guidebook but there's so many aspects of Paris that he leaves out. I second Jenifer's opinion of getting it from the library.

Do some more searches here on Paris and you'll find a wealth of information. There are any number of guidebooks that offer more comprehensive information than Rick does. Among those books are: Blue Guide, Michelin Green Guide, Fodors, Fromers, Let's Go for budget travel, Eyewitness (wonderful color photos), and Access.

Save your money. Sounds like you are not in his target audience. Try the new Fodor's Paris 2004 book.

I'd go to the bookstore and look at as many Paris guidebooks as I could stand to include both Fodors, Frommers, etc., etc., and then decide. Rick Steves, like the writers in the "larger" guidebooks, includes a selected number of venues, restaurants, etc., etc....but Steves' selected number is far smaller than other guidebooks because he's already made a certain number of "is it worth it?" decisions FOR you..just like those folks here who contributed to the "Paris 100" list which was hardly objective.

I don't like Rick Steves' books at all but they are definitely not to pick up unusual tips or things others don't know about. I don't think he gives very thorough information, but I also really dislike the visual appearance and organization and his maps look like they were drawn by a five-year old.

If you've been there three times, I'd suggest a good idea (and one that is focused on restaurants and sites rather than the main guidebook stuff) is to buy a Paris Access guidebook. that would be a good addition to a regular guidebook for someone who doesn't need the basics.

Hi
Yes to the above advice.
You might also want to consider the Michelin Green guide if you like info on art and architecture.
There is also a book called Pariswalks which has detailed walking routes.
Neither of these is good for restaurants. For that, I suggest the Zagat guide to Paris restaurants, or Patricia Wells's book, or the Michelin Red guide.

I use the Blue Guide, Michelin Green Guide, & Fodors.

Here are some museums you might like:

Jacquemart - Andre
Carnavalet
Cluny
Marmottan
Rodin Museum
Musée Cognacq-Jay
Nissim de Camondo Museum
Musée National Eugène Delacroix
Museum of Romantic Life
Musée de Montmartre
Costume and Fashion Museum
Musee Grevin
Musee de la Monnaie
Musee Maillol (sculptor)
The Leclerc Memorial and Jean Moulin Museum (resistance)
Victor Hugo Musuem
Zadkine Museum (sculptor)
Musee Guimet (Asian art)
Musee de la Chasse
Edith Piaf Museum

If you've covered all the things described in detail in the Paris Eyewitness guide, I'd be very surprised. I think it would probably add a wealth of information and add places to visit.

I really liked the walking tours in Rick Steves Paris book. The hotel recommendations are disappointing. It's good for the sites, o.k. for restaurants. Checking it out of the library and copying the relevant parts would be the best suggestion.

I have R.S. Paris 2004, but I bought it because I am taking my parents to Paris this year, their first time, my third and I like his style of travel. But I am also taking two Time Out books. Paris Time Out and Paris Walking Time Out. (see www.timeout.com where you can get a preview of the books and see their monthly "what's up" list) I have used them before for New York, Madrid, Prague and Tokyo and think they are a great combination of detail, hipness and variety. The regular books have all the standard how to go, where to stay, eat, see, shop. The walking tour books have over 20 different chapters, each a different walk by a different author with a different theme (like Hemingway's Paris or modern architecture) with details after each walk about the related sites, eats, shops. Bonne chance!

If you decide to go w/the Paris Zagat ($12 at bn.com) you might consider subscribing online for full access to Zagat: $15 for a 365-day subscription or $2.50 for a 30-Day Subscription.

Also, I'd recommend the Cadogan Paris guide for in-depth walking tours.