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Non Rick Steves Guidebook Assessment

There are a lot of guidebooks other than Rick's. What are some of your experiences using different guidebooks, positive and negative?

I want to add my comments! 

Rough and Blue Guides
I discovered the Rough Guides last year in Crete, excellent for coverage of archaeological sites.

I would also look at the Blue Guides; they cover most European countries. Their Egypt Guide is superb with excellent information on sites large and small and with maps, plans etc. The Egypt Guide is out of print but you can pick up copies in secondhand shops and through Abe Books online.
Lesley Nicholls
Sidney, BC  Canada   01/20/2010

Switzerland/ Britain Guides
To REALLY get off the beaten path, I would recommend "Walking Switzerland" and "Switzerland's Mountain Inns" by Lieberman. Some of the Inns can be reached by Postbus, and you can do fantastic day walks, with no other Americans around!

I would also recommend Lonely Planet's "Walking in Britain". I stayed at a wonderful Tea House B&B in Buckden and walked part of the Dales Way.
Jean
Evergreen, CO  USA   11/06/2009

Paris: Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris
The Traveling Professor's Guide to Paris: It's a real "insider's guide" guide to Paris who has actually visited every site, restaurant, and hotel written in the book. There are tips on Paris in there that I have never seen in any other Paris guide book.

For more info see: http://www.travelingprofessor.com
Jeannie
Great Barrington, MA  USA   09/11/2009

Don't forget your Knopf Mapguide!
We've found the Knopf Mapguides to various cities very helpful even in confusing Venice. They don't cover the entire city, but (so far) they've covered the parts of the cities we were wanting to see. Back, or cargo pocket sized, light and portable.
Brian
Portland, OR  USA   09/05/2009

Eyewitness Travel Guides
Eyewitness Travel Guides are wonderful - full of beautiful color pictures...........museum guides, open/close times and great maps. The books are heavy to carry so do your homework (at home or in the hotel room or on the plane trip over) - cut or tear out just what you will need, carry the pages with you and defenestrate after you see the sights each day.
Martha
Portland, OR  USA   08/06/2009

The Insight Guides
Before I visit an unfamiliar country (or even an unfamiliar American city) I try to find the Insight Guide for it. These books are short on practical information, but they are packed with cultural information, including essays on food, music, history, politics, folklore, etc. and narrative descriptions of each region. All the material is illustrated with fantastic photographs that whet your appetite for your trip.

I've given Insight Guides to friends who were going to be living or traveling overseas. Some friends who went to live in France for a year told me that the Insight Guide to France was extremely valuable in helping them understand their temporary home.
Karen Sandness
Minneapolis, MN  USA   07/31/2009

Lonely Planet
I always rely on Rick's books as my base source but like to also use Lonely Planet for the more extensive restaurant reviews and variety of walks in their city books; I've used them for Moscow, St. Petersburg, Paris, and Vienna. I also like the DK guides for their beautiful illustrations, but they are a bit heavy to carry around. Just recently I used Frommer's Guide to Northern Italy which has more places for detailed exploration than Rick covers but really missed how Rick integrates the site information with the self-guided tours.
Helen wiant <email>
Cupertino, CA  USA   07/08/2009

Let's Go Guides
While I always take along Rick Steves' guides to Europe, I often add the Let's Go guide if available for a particular country. They are filled with useful tips and geared toward the lowest budget travellers. I usually prefer B&B or small guesthouse accommodations, but the occasional hostel allows for some great chances to meet interesting people of all ages, and often have low budget dining facilities. Britain and Scotland are excellent examples. Do check them out, and happy travels! -- Terry M
Terry Mindham <email>
Palmyra, VA  USA   06/22/2009

Dublin / Ireland explained in humor
There's a funny local online site for all things Irish called Hidden Dublin http://www.hidden-dublin.com It's cleverely written and updated by a Dubliner and has many money saving tips.
Brian Whelan <email>
Dublin, Ireland   06/06/2009

Lonely Planet guides are great for booking hotels and restaurants if you are on a budget. They also have the best info for people traveling by train.

I typically also like Eyewitness Travel guides for site seeing. The pictures and historical detail have enhanced many experiences!
Nicole
Pittsburgh, PA  USA   05/24/2009

a great web resource for many cities
www.timeout.com is a HUGE resource for planning my trips (along with Rick steves, of course!)They have reviews of everything, including many of Rick's recommended evening spots and restaurants. Most reviews include a website, so one can check out photos, menus musical lineups.
Bekah
Toronto, ON  USA   05/10/2009

Italian Travel Tips
I have been checking out Navigate Italy, a travel blog which give awesome bits and pieces of information! Also I think the guy is working on getting views posted.

Positive: Excellent information Negative: Only a few posting a month.

Check it out its good stuff

http://navigateitaly.blogspot.com/
Portland, OR  USA   04/19/2009

Rough guides are great
Rough guides fit next to etbd books in my backpack. English travel style, hotels, museum sites, and general attitude (cost, fun stuff) on travel is mine too. After trying others, next would be lonely planet, especially regarding hotels accuracy.
larry kramer
eugene, oregon  USA   01/24/2009

American Zoo Travel Guidebook
If you like zoos, try the following: America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans & Families (Intrepid Traveler).
Allen Nyhuis <email>
Indianapolis, IN  USA   01/20/2009

My LEAST Favorite Guide Book
My least favorite guide books are the Lonely Planet series. As a gay man I find very little information on gay/lesbian life. Even the New York city and San Francisco books have only short entries on gay/lesbian attractions and places of interest.
Andy Perry
Louisville, KY  USA   01/12/2009

The day by day guides from frommer's are good. They are small-sized, inexpensive, and include a full sized map at the back as well as color photos and detailed maps. A good supplement to one of the rick steves books because they improve on the things steves' books lack (color, accurate maps)
USA   01/10/2009