jbass

2FatFeet-I totally agree-that's why I would never BUY a guide book; it's already out of date. I'm not a travel company so I'm not going to do their research for them. I'm sure it is a laborious challenge but aren't they the ones who decided to be in the business and publish these books and collect $$ for them. Not trying to argue here since I don't know the answer; I just don't rely on anything printed in a "guide book".

LoveItaly

Hi Katie, will do..but what email address do I use. Thanks!

Katie_H

[email protected]
either/or
[email protected]

CAPH52

Even Metromix.com, which is supposed to be the source for restaurants and bars in Chicago, is frequently outdated. As I've mentioned here before, as of a few months ago, there was a restaurant listed in our area that not only had gone out of business, but the one that followed it into the building had too!

Let's face it, restaurants come and go at an alarming rate. If you're going out of your way to try one, you should always call ahead to make sure it's still there.

suze

There's nothing wrong with guidebooks for certain things... I'm pretty sure the Eiffel Tower is the same place it was a decade ago!

TwoFatFeet

haha, suze, yep. I use guidebooks for general information about a place. For that, they are useful. If you're looking for actual dish recommendations at a restaurant, then there are better sources. I usually read the restaurant sections with a grain of salt.

cigalechanta

I sent an email to the editors that on the forum, they list the restaurant La Chassagnette with Rabanel as chef. He's long gone. He opened his own place almost two years ago in Arles.
L'Atelier!

wliwl

Dear Fodors Editors: If you want to hire me to check out restaurants, I'm available.

carol2791

As a Brit who has travelled many miles in your large country armed with only a hire car and Foder's, I still think it is the best.

I always travel with a mobile phone and contact the places first to check the details.

I have also used them in South Africa and Australia but the American editions are the best.

starrs

I call 30 to 40 restaurants each year in my city for a fundraiser and I agree with the comment that restaurants go out of business at an alarming rate. Quality can change significantly in just a year as well. Anytime you rely on print resource material you are going to encounter problems with out of date contact information. I think the changes the editors have made to this website helps us access "real-time" information.

I know without a doubt that the spreadsheet I updated a few months ago will have signficant changes in a few more months. It's just the way the biz works.

suze

I was only partly kidding!! It would never occur to me to use a guidebook for restaurant recommendations. As, by their nature, they are at least 2 years out-of-date from research to publication.

For the major landmarks and historic sights of a city, yes. For hotels maybe, but less so. For restaurants, never.

CAPH52

For the second day in a row, I'm putting myself in a postion to sound snarky towards you, Suze! Hope it won't come across that way.

As I said before, I think you should always check with a restaurant before going (or at least have a second choice in the area). But, having said that, we have gotten very good restaurants recs from guide books over the years. On family road trips, we almost always rely on guide books as a starting point (unless I've been able to get some good info here). And we've been lucky enough to find some real gems that way.

TwoFatFeet

I wouldn't say "restaurants never", but with the knowledge that what is in the book might be inaccurate. I've been to some excellent places that I would never have found sans guide book.

starrs

I guess for me, I would not discount the guidebook because of changes at a restaurant.

suze

I'm only talking about myself. *I* never use guidebooks for restaurants, I'm not trying to dictate what anyone else chooses to do.

LoveItaly

Hi Katie, I can't find the map but haven't had much time to look. As soon as I find the page I will email per your suggestion.

CAPH52

I knew that's what you meant, Suze. I just wanted to be sure that stating a different point of view wouldn't look like my comments were directed at you. And I probably screwed the whole thing up with my comment about not wanting to be snarky. My intentions were good. But then you know what they say about the road to hell!

suze

CAPH52~ As long as you promise me not to use a guidebook, then come here and complain that the menu has changed... is all i ask -lol!

Lots of Seattle restaurants change their menus by season, monthly, or even weekly... so it would be impossible to find accurate and current information menu in a guidebook. Just nature of the beast (so to speak).

CAPH52

It's a deal, Suze!

LoveItaly

Suze, restaurants change so much in SF it is hard to keep track of any of them on a month to month basis. Top chefs come and go. Restaurant owners either change the whole format or close up. I hesitate to comment on any restaurant unless I have been to it within the last few weeks which doesn't happen that much since I am to far from SF to just go there for dinner or whatever. I have found a fairly good source about uptodate info on SF restaurants is via http://www.sfgate.com/ which is the SF Chronicles website..the food and dining section can be clicked on over on the left hand side of their website.