Which Guidebook -- Fodors or Frommers?
 

I am starting to plan a trip to Italy in June/July 2004 and trying to decide whether to use Fodors or Frommers as a general-purpose guidebook. I would appreciate any insights into the relative advantages and disadvantages of each. Thanks for your help.

Well...... Fodors of course!!!!!!!!
JoeG

Neither is so expensive that you have to choose. if you like them both. Check them out from the library first, peruse, and you'll know which one suits you better. It's all a matter of what style you like. Then buy one and mark it up with notes, underline it, etc. etc. When you're ready for your trip, rip out the pertinent pages and stuff in your luggage for handy reference while sightseeing.

Hey Stuart,
I have done a lot of touring over the last five years, both Fodors and Frommers are good, I prefer the Fodors. They are both kind of a "rich person's" guide book, meaning they lack a good amount of information for those on more of a budget. I have found that Lonely Planet/Moon travel are fairly detailed on things to do and have mucho information on the inside scoop. But, a trip is a trip and despite all the planning a guide book is good for ideas, but if you spend to much time reading you may not see all you came to. However if you are not on any budget, congratulations buy the Frommers and Fodors and have fun.

Neither. I prefer Cadogan, Michelin (green) and various other guides instaed of those two.

Some aspects of each are available for viewing on line through the respective websites. You might also try looking at those first. Otherwise, you can always page through them at the bookstore before you make a decision. Both are somewhat similar in outlook and in the "clientele" they tend to "cater" to. Lonely Planet and the Rough Guides are excellent alternatives but when you compare all four you'll see that the styles are somewhat different.
Many folks probably buy ALL four for comparison purposes..and we haven't even talked about Rick Steves's stuff...which i also find useful..but the one drawback to Steves IMO is that he decides FOR you what he feels is "the best" and gives short shrift, if anything at all, to the rest.

"They are both kind of a "rich person's" guide book"

I doubt anyone "rich" could make this statement and mean it. I find both books cater to the vast majority of people who can afford to buy a plane ticket and travel but both publishers often miss the mark in trying to satisfy anyone with truly discerning taste and style. That book isn't available yet.

I've been reading both since I started traveling but they're not without much limitation. I think Fodors has better art direction but I find a more clever writing style in Frommers. I'm a firm believer in cross referencing as much as possible.

Neither one is for rich people who probably wouldn't be perusing guidebooks to plan their trips. They both have a wide variety of accommodation and restaurant listings, for example, from 2* to 4*. I think they could only be viewed for rich people in comparison to Let's Go or something like that.

They have about the same purpose, so you just have to go to a bookstore and skim through them. You probably will get an impression which suits you. Look up something you are particularly interested in (limited) and see how they handle it). Look to see if they have a feature you especially want (like walking tours, etc).

I actually prefer Frommers when I've compared both because I think they do have a better writing style and more down-to-earth info and broader coverage, in general. Also, Fodors has real cheap quasi-newspaper print pages now and I just won't buy that, they are too hard to read.

For what to see and possible regional driving itineraries (1 day, two days, one week, etc.), the Michelin Green Guide can't be beat.

"Neither one is for rich people who probably wouldn't be perusing guidebooks to plan their trips."

Now this quote belongs in the thread on "travel myths." The truth is many New Yorkers in the nation's top tax bracket (I think it's safe to call them rich) refer to both when planning a trip, although they'll deny it until their second glass of wine. These same people read this board for research but they won't register and "talk." You should hear their reasons. I know all this because I've been doing my own survey for over a year.

Many wealthy people are inexperienced at travel and they're very protective about revealing where they do their research. Status exists in research, too, you know. And most wealthy people won't rely on travel agents used for business. I find this subject fascinating and I don't have time to say anything more.

Neither !
Get Eyewitness[Dorling Kindersley]for at home research and Michelin Green to carry with you.

Looking at my bookshelves, I can see 35 guide books, 3 of which are Fodors (and none Frommers)

I find Fodors helpful in background information; but their restaurant and hotel recommendations are nearly always out of my league financially.

I find Frommers's more accessible than Fodor's. It has much better hotel and restaurant descriptions. However, the best "guidebook" of all is word of mouth from people who've been to a place and have no commercial reason to recommend it--or not. That's why this forum, except for the occasional troll and obvious advertiser, usually works.

Good luck with your plans!

Well if I had to choose between those two I'd have to say Frommers (for the guidebook, obviously Fodors is the best forum). But as you can see from the answers above, you really need to look at several. Go to Barnes and Noble and sit with some coffee and several books for a few hours till you find the one best suited to you. Also check out used book stores, they frequently have many travel guides for about a third the retail price (prices may be somewhat out of date, but everything else is fine). Finially, all the major guide books have web sites and you can download a ton of info and cut and paste to make your own guidebook. I don't think I've taken an actual store-bought guidebook in several years, I make my own - specifically for where I am going.

Well a big problem would be if you perused both at a bookstore. Peruse means to read closely, not to skim (although it's becoming common usage). Peruse at home, after you've bought the book.

FYI, I prefer Frommers...they are better at telling you how to get from A to B in clear specific steps.

Hi there - I have used all the leading Travel Guides; Fodors is great and contains good information and useful itineries - if you are American that goes double...as a Kiwi (which I am), other titles such as The Rough Guide are better because they are versioned for the region you travel from not just the country you are travelling to.

I use both Frommers and Italy for Dummys I have found that there tends to be quite a bit of overlap in all of the books however.Just go to a bookstore and look through them all and see which style you are most comfortable with. I also found Eyewitness to be very good. I would suggest that you buy at least two because you will find different things in each even with the overlap.

I read both, but prefer Frommer's a little bit more. Rick Steves gives a lot of very practical information, and his books are light to carry around. the Michelin Green guide is great for describing sites, but not much on practicality. Buy all, and have lots of fun reading before the trip. That's half the fun!

I usually buy one guide book, and take others out from the library, making notes from the library books in the one I've bought. I also add what I learn on the net and from friends.

Since I tend to obsess about travel planning, I often type everything about a particular location onto one or two pages, and just carry those pages when we're in that town.

These days, I never use Frommer's, and the only Fodor's guide I use is the Rivage Series "Hotels and Country Inns of Character and Charm."
I use the Michelin Green Guide for routes and sites, the Michelin Red Guide for hotels and restaurants, the Cadogan series for wherever they publish guides for, Alistair Sawday for B&BS, and the Guide de Routard for hotels and restaurants in France.All supplemented by copious material from tourist offices througout Europe.