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Lonely Planet France (7th edition) (平装)
by Nicola Williams , Oliver Berry
| Category:
France, Travel |
| Market price: ¥ 268.00
MSL price:
¥ 248.00
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| Stock:
In Stock |
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MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
As romantic and exhilarating as Paris strikes you. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 6 items |
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E. Hanneman (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
If you're traveling to different regions and cities within France via train, bus, or plane, I'd definitely recommend this book. It offers very useful getting-to and getting-away options. For instance, if you want to travel between Normandy and Etretat, it requires a rather complex series of transfers using buses and possibly some trains - there is no direct train route (as I assumed before reading up on it in this book). This book alerts you to issues and offers alternative solutions. (Benefit: avoid unexpected, time-consuming problems and enjoy your trip more).
Lonely Planet Guides are not pretty, but they are useful when traveling around a country. I usually leave them back in the hotel room for consultation as needed. I've also carried photo copies of portions of them when I've been certain that's all I'd need. I would not be as likely to carry one if I was sure I was only going to stay in one city. They make it easy to take a sidetrip on the spur of the moment - especially when you're on a budget and traveling sans computer and Internet connection. (They also list cybercafes.) And, finally, I've found a few intriguing tidbits and advice not offered elsewhere.
If only staying in Paris, and it's your first visit, I recommend also carrying the AAA Spiral Paris Guide and the National Geographic Paris DestinationMap as they are pocket-sized. If you have more to spend, I'd also research using other books ahead of time and make hotel reservations based on other books, e.g., Michelin Green Guides, Fodor's Guides, etc. If you're on a budget and back-packing, make reservations using this guide. (Important to make reservations in Paris.)
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
I have used this guidebook on my first visit to France. It is a distinguished guide. This guidebook has better maps than any other guidebook I have used when travelling through Italy, Spain, and Holland. I explored several places listed in the book, and it helped make France an experience to remember. You won't need any other book for France if you get this one.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
Lonely Planet's "France: Travel Survival Kit" was essential to the success of our 21 day journey in France. My boyfriend and I did know where we were headed or what we wanted to do. Using this well organized, percise guide we found ourselves hikeing cliffs in Brittany and wondering backroads in Cote D'Azur.
We were new to the country and traveling by train. The first 160 pages of the guide were packed with all the many essentials of travel - trains, monetary system, telephone cards - the little things that make a huge difference. Who wants to spend the first few hours in France trying to figure out how the phones works?
We wanted to see France, not a heap of tourist attraction wizzing by us. Everywhere we went, this guide showed us the not so traveled places. Even in busy Paris, with help from our trusty guide, we visited flea markets and neighborhoods where tourists don't often venture. These were the places that gave us the real flavor of France.
I loved my trip to France. I can honestly say, due to this guide I was able to relax and enjoy the visit more. We relied upon it for finding accomidations and entertainment. It never failed us. We love you, Lonely Planet
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
It's very simple. You could be dropped into France with this book and the clothes on your back and you'd be completely fine. This is the one indispensable book for travel in France. I spent almost a month running around France with this book, and it's the best. It will get you closer to the stuff that is not mentioned in *any* guidebook than any other travel guide.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
First, I have to say that I bought a Lonely Planet France in 2002; it was in Francs, not Euros, even though Euros were the main currency and they were so annoying as to put the currency conversion on every page but not convert within the text. That forced me to buy the next edition, which was not really much different except prices were in Euros.
France is a fantastic country, with enough sites to see in several lifetimes. So I approach my assessment with an understanding that the book can't include anything - just a sample from each area.
Some people don't like the textual basis of the book, but I do. It is good to get an impression and judgment, though usually when it says "too touristy" to me that means most interesting, as I am, after all, a tourist. For example, Lonely Planet is critical of Mont Saint Michel, which is the nicest place I've ever been to in my life (I recommend staying during the night when it is much more peaceful).
I have found that the diagrams and picture-heavy guides such as eyewitness are less useful - why do i need a map of the louvre? You get one when you enter! I do wish Lonely Planet had more photos, however; and I think that it has too much text about stupid things such as net cafes, laundry, etc. that you can more easily find out about by asking someone at the tourist office. I think of all the things I want to know when I go to some nice provence village, the laundromat is not one of them.
I still use my Lonely Planets (one at work, one at home) to think about places to go because Lonely Planet France has More destinations and descriptions than any other guide (thanks to its wordiness). However when I actually travel I leave the Lonely Planets at home and bring my regional Guide Vert/ Green Guide, which is much better for its relevant locale.
I notably do not use the restaurant guide - I just look at the menus when im walking around (or just eat at McDonald's!); and as for the hotels, the guide is fine or use the internet or just show up and book yourself in.
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Greg Munger (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
I expect to use a book like this to help me plan a trip. It should be organized by region so I can decide among things that are close by. And I need the kind of information that goes beyond just listing the sites: is it crowded, charming, dangerous, special?
This book tries to answer these questions with a personal tone. As I read it I start to get a sense of the writers personalities and tastes, so that I can gauge my agreement with their opinions.
I wish the hotel and restaurant reviews shaded towards the high end a bit more. But I haven't found a series (I also have their guides to Europe and Mexico) that I can trust as well as this one.
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1 Total 1 pages 6 items |
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