I read from the library (and bought) several guides before my first trip to Paris, and did lots of research about what I wanted to see, etc. For practicability and being light enough to carry (as Beatchick said) I think Rick Steves Paris Guide is great. That is the one I used the most for my first trip. He gives concise information which is extremely useful, and has good tours of the most popular museums. I use the Michelin Green Guides for everywhere else in France, but they are heavy to carry around. They have great descriptive information of the sites, etc., but no really practical information for the first timer.

I have used Fodor's for about three decades and am fine with it along with the Born to Shop book...also Treasures and Pleasures...Impact Guides...writes great books. Happy Travels!

I'm a guidebook junkie, and love to buy several different ones for an area. My favorite overall series is the DK Eyewitness books, but I also love the Spiral Guide published by AAA. It does a great job of explaining the overview of Paris attractions, and is light and easy to carry on a daily basis. It is available from AAA and also some bookstores.

I found an Eyewitness Paris Travel Guide that included a pocket-sized French phrase book. It was so handy to keep in my pocket and I referred to it often. Not necessarily while trying to speak, but to look up words I'd heard or read.

Try to carry a small translation book, just in case.

Have fun! Paris is tres facinating!

I wore my Michelin Green Guide right out in the 6 months i was there - it's great.

For my month's stay in Paris I used Rick Steves' Paris (walks, museum quicky guides, restaurants), Access Paris (breaks down all arrondissements), Steinbickers Paris Daytrips (used the walk in Montmartre & Rouen) However, I, too, am a guidebook junkie so had several others since I was staying so long. I highly recommend the Streetwise Map which I used exclusively except needed the Michelin map which I ventured outside the central Paris area.

It's also helpful to have a little "menu" book so you know what you're ordering. I can't remember the name of the one I used but you can do a search here on Fodors.

If you'd like you can check out travlang.com for common words/food/phrases and print them out and even test yourself. It's fun as you can hear the pronunciations.

My poor Fodor's Gold Guide, I refer to it so often that not only is it curling on the corner but the 2 layers of thin plastic that covers it is peeling off also. I can only say it's "well-loved and well-used!" ;) I am hell on books (too bad I can't be hell on wheels).

Shoot, if I took all the guidebooks I loved to Paris I would have to put them all in a separate suitcase - LOL! So I'll take a couple and photocopies bits and pieces from the rest. That in itself will make me a book. :)

Another vote for Rick Steves' books. I believe Paris 2005 is out all ready. I am also a fan of the Frommer's guidebook, preferring the format and tone over other guidebooks. Many of my friends like the Lonely Planet series. My dad buys up on the DK series as he enjoys the many visuals. I am absolutely daft over this website for up-to-date information from other travelers like myself. Can't go wrong with a Streetwise map of Paris either. Have a wonderful trip!

I love the "Dummy" books. They are so basic and have great tips. I also love the Born to Shop books.

I also heartily endored the "Paris Mapguide" by Middleditch. It is essential for finding your way around. The last time I went I attached a copy of Paris taxi stand locations because it is usually not possible to hail a cab, you have to go to a stand - www.taxi-paris.net

I just bought the Paris Mapguide by Middleditch for our trip next year and I really like it. It looks like it is easy to read yet comprehensive. And it is a book not a big map the size of poster that can impractical and a big pain to fold. I also like my Rick Steve's book because it is very concise. Unfortunately I don't have first hand knowledge because our trip is next May.

It looks like Fodors zapped my post on this thread a few hours ago. Why? I dumped on Rick Steves' "guide," I guess.

I also recommended the Michelin Green Guide Paris, Michelin map 16 of Paris, and the DK Eyewitness Guide to Paris.

I've read many and my favorite is "The Unofficial Guide to Paris" by David Applebaum. Davis also has an excellent website www.paris-anglo.com. He's an American expat with great info.

I'm a fan of the Cadogan guides too, Melissa19, I think especially for pre-trip reading. Also, DK publishing does a great job on whatever they touch, so an Eyewitness guide is a good, take-with-you reference.

Hopscotch, I don't know what you wrote, but I took a close look at the Rick Steves Paris guide when I was in the U.S. last month (they're very difficult to find here in Europe). I was not impressed. For all its size, it concentrates on just a few areas of Paris. It really gives you nothing about areas that are off the beaten path--even first timers might want to explore nontouristy areas. There is more to Paris than the Latin Quarter, Marais and rue Cler, but the RS guide give surprisingly little info. And its restaurant recommendations were in some cases laughable--the Cafe du Marche on the rue Cler patronized primarily by the French? Please. I've eaten there twice and it was wall to wall Americans. There's absolutely *nothing* wrong with that, but why give readers such a misleading description? RS seems to be resting on his laurels.
I still like the Time Out guide best. More comprehensive than RS but easy to read.
No one guide ticks all the boxes, but if I were to take only one, I'd pick Time Out.

I just want to add that I think Rick Steves Paris is very good for the museums, passes, transportation and walking tours. However, I thought his food recs were abysmal. Even though I never agree with his food or hotel recs, I do find his practical info on Paris to be excellent.

For a first timer I think Rick Steves (will agree however that I avoid his restaurant and hotel suggestions). or Time Out are the best. Paint an easy picture of how to get around and a good impression of things to do. Also check on Jacks' website. Dont' remember the address but search for Jack & paris and it should come up. Breaks down the entire city.

For return visits Access or Michelin are far superior though.

A nice feature of the Paris Mapguide is that it shows bus routes. Along with this I carry the pocket-sized edition of Le Bus, which details all of the lines.

I find the lousy restaurant recs in RS Paris guides a MAJOR flaw (and the hotel recs a lesser offense but still significant). Given that enjoying good French food in a nice atmosphere should be an important part of someone's first (or 500th) Paris experience, why should RS be allowed to get away with such poor restaurant choices?

I suspect RS may be a victim of his own success. As soon as he lists a restaurant as being filled with natives, a thousand of his followers will descend upon the restaurant and drive the natives out. I'm not sure as a hotelier I would like a recommendation in one of his books. I understand that if he recommends you, you agree to give a discount to the hordes of budget travelers who show up carrying his book, and that could overburden your staff and at the same time cut into your profits.

I did find his guide informative, but at the same time it was clearly aimed at a specific type of tourist, and I don't feel I fit into that mold. Perhaps I need a geriatric guidebook that shows where all the public facilities and benches are.