France 2012 Guidebook
Best ways to improve this book:
keep up to date on current condition of hotels you are recommending
Jeff Evans in Springfield, IL USA 01/13/2012
Use greater detail and accuracy when describing the locations of things. Example: in the section on Chateauneuf in Burgundy, the parking lot is said to be at the top of the hill, just past the main part of the village. When we are a new visitor to this location, we don't know when we have passed the main part of the village. In fact, there is a small parking lot at the church which feels like it could be past the main part of the town. However, that is not the main visitor parking. We needed to go a bit farther along to find the rock-walled parking lot. In general, we found the 2011 book to be lacking in precise detail compared to past years we have used.
KAL in Issaquah, WA USA 10/15/2011
Make it clear to drivers that you pay AFTERWARDs when driving on French tollways.
Marilyn Hawkins in Ashland, OR USA 10/12/2011
I would have liked to have specific restaurant recommendations near the major museums. I got out of Musee D-Orsay and was starving! I ended up walking to the Rue Cler district and found a recommended cafe, and that was fine---but it would be helpful to have area-specific recommendations. Or did I miss this?
Kate in Sonoma, CA USA 09/16/2011
This is a very long overdue thank you. I booked a last minute ( 2 weeks prior) trip to France for my husband's 60th birthday. We bravely set out to France with little planning, no knowledge of the language and only your guidebook in hand. It was a lifesaver!! We were able to get from the airport by train and subway to our hotel in Paris ,around the city, to Versailles and Chartes with ease. (We live in a small state and never have to use a rail system so this was quite a feat in a foreign language.) We met many Americans there who looked quite confused with what to see and how to get about.I happily showed them your book and advised them to purchase it. (I did see it for sale in the bookstores we entered) Thank you so much for helping to make our spontaneous trip so enjoyable and successful. Sincerely, Barbara
Barbara Q in Warwick, RI USA 09/02/2011
I bought the Kindle version and found it a bit complicated to navigate back and forth from section to another easily.
Caroline Sabin in Houston, Tx USA 08/23/2011
None- all the hotel and restaurant picks were spot on
A Forster in Miami, FL USA 08/21/2011
We do virtually all our planning of European travels utilizing your maps and books. They are the best and most satisfying to us. Suggestion - make them available to Kindle users. The Kindle is lighter, more compact, and can also contain your podcasts.
Lyle Culver in Vancouver, WA USA 08/08/2011
Keep up the good work!
Maureen in Grayslake, il USA 07/18/2011
Add km number markings to look for before turns in directions for Normandy beaches.
Steve C. in Marysville, WA USA 07/16/2011
Include more little day- or overnight-trips, such as Sedan, north of Reims, which I mentioned in another post. Half the fun of traveling is discovering hidden gems like that.
Roy in Auburn, AL USA 07/15/2011
In rental car tips, be sure to advise tourists to ask the clerk about refueling policy. If you're taking the RER to Versailles from Gare Austerlitz, the RER platform is one floor lower than where the metro lets you off. When returning a rental car to CDG, a good place to gas up is at the pit stop gas stations on the peripherique. You don't exit the highway, just pull over into the service lane. Here's a laugh. If you bring your own GPS, be sure to uncheck "shortest distance" in your preferences.
Gary P in Ramona, CA USA 06/20/2011
Add more about Brittany, and central France (Auvergne region, the city of Bourges, etc.) Cover the north more in depth (Amiens, Lille, Arras, etc.)
Michael Boerm in Waco, TX USA 06/11/2011
I've been using your guidebooks since 1996(Italy).My only reget was not having them for my first 2 trips to Europe.I could have saved alot of time and money. I've been to Italy(2),France(3) Netherlands(3),England(2)and Belgium with your books.I've also turned many friends onto the "Rick Steves Way"of travel.Again,Thanks for making it all so much easier,Brad.
Brad in Santa Rosa, Ca USA 06/10/2011
Make a stronger statement discouraging people from driving into central Rouen in a car - parking and traffic are a nightmare, and the city's sights aren't worth the hassle.
John Russell in Charlottesville, VA USA 06/02/2011
The Paris museum pass was great, but we certainly did not "waltz right in" the Orsay on a Tuesday afternoon. Even with the pass, the wait in line was 20 minutes. Also, be aware that the Orsay has put all its Manets, plus other Manets gathered elsewhere, into a separate exhibition that costs an additional 2 euro -- and another 15 minutes of waiting in line. At present, the museum pass itself does not allow you to see any Manets.
Mark Adams in Gig Harbor, WA USA 05/06/2011
These comments are regarding "France 2010" We are not going to France in 2011 so we do not have that guidebook. 1. We believe the LOGIS-DE-FRANCE chain should be mentioned in the "Modern Hotel Chains" in the "Introduction" section of the guidebook. They have a wonderful website. We traveled the countryside & small towns of France by car in October & found their Directory invaluable for villages not mentioned in Rick's guidebook. We were traveling offseason & we did not want to be tied to a schedule so we had not made any advance reservarions. It was very comforting to know that if we drove into a reasonably sized town we were sure to see a bright yellow Logis-de-France lantern sign. We consider them the "Best Westerns" of France. Every one we stayed at was clean, run by friendly people, reasonably priced, & their restaurants were very good. Ask for their directory at the first one you stay at. 2. I would like see better directions for independent car travelers. Would it be economically feasible to publish a guide for car travelers & one for train/bus travelers ? 3. We were disappointed that Lourdes was not mentioned in France 2010. We agree with Rick's opinion expressed in older guidebooks that it is too commercial, but, it is a very special place. 4. We agree with the07-11-2010 posting regarding skipping the the WW II museum at Caen. It was a waste of time & money. 5. To Mr. Mangin of Red Deer ; Please tell us the Brand & model # of the GPS you used. 6. Rick's guidebooks are the Best ; We would not go to Europe without one in hand. We have used four so far. When we are older & don't want to drive we will take one or more of his tours.
Leslie & Bill Nix in Palatine, IL USA 05/01/2011
It's a fantastic guide, the only thing I might suggest would be beefing up the D-Day beach sections a little bit with more direction for people hoping to tour on their own.
Kristina in Wilton, NY USA 04/10/2011
Excellent info, but hard to carry both France and Paris guides. Bulky. Could you devise a way to carry only what you need...discreetly... perhaps pull-out sections, laminated?
Gail in Concord, NH USA 02/15/2011
Hard to suggest ways to improve your books. So many other travel guide books have way too much information, which only makes me feel that I'm skimming an encyclopedia. Your books, on the other hand, have sifted through all the available info and arrived with a PLAN! I love your text, the fact that you sort through many details and give suggestions. You make travel much easier and are always my go-to travel guide.
Cheryl Rollin in Seattle , WA USA 01/14/2011
France is about history. Get an editor who has some education. Or read.
Yger in Portland, OR USA 12/13/2010
We have the Rick Steves guide book for France. We do not see any information about visiting the French island of Corsica. Is that information somewhere on your web site, or in another book? Please help, we value Rick’s information, it really helps us plan a trip. Steve Poling
[Editor's Note: Sorry, but there are no plans to cover Corsica in our guidebooks.]
Steve in Poling, WA USA 11/08/2010
Please include a section on the Hautes Pyrenees in your next France edition. There are many wonderful sights to see in that region, like the Cirque du Gavarnie and the Pic du Midi di Bigorre.
Holly Kennedy in Barre, MA USA 10/21/2010
Hire a more discerning restaurant reviewer-- someone who is really passionate and knowledgable about food!
Stuart Kirsh in Foresthill , CA USA 10/20/2010
Please add more on the Loire Valley (or maybe do a snapshot book on it)...I'm planning a trip there and would love to have your insights, but there isn't much in this.
Jenny in Dallas, TX USA 10/03/2010
You do a great job, we never leave home without you. More on the Netherlands
Chris Mayes in Carson City, NV USA 09/19/2010
Ought to be some way to warn travelers re size of room star systen is not sufficient. We stayed in two Paris recommended hotels and one was fine and the other a disaster.
Dan Mulcahy in Washington, DC USA 09/10/2010
Why is there so little mention of France's west coast? As a fan of Jacques Tati I thought it would be fun to stop off at St. Marc sur Mer, where he filmed "Mr. Hulot's Holiday". The hotel featured in the film is still there (although it has been updated) but the entire region around Nantes seems to have been overlooked in your guidebook. Are there any plans to include information on this area?
Andy Salt in Delta , BC Canada 09/05/2010
i love to use Rick Steves for trip planning ,,hard to say what would improve it..maybe make the pages easier to tear out ( i took sections with me)
Mary Greene in St. Simons Island, GA USA 08/13/2010
Tell people who have a car to avoid Annecy. It was over crowded, a traffic mess and if the beach exists, we couldn't find it through the traffic snarl. Maybe being more emphatic about the difference between where to go with a car and where to go by train would be helpful. For instance we were really pleased with the self-guided tour Rick gives from Beaune through Bligny-sur-Ouche to Chateuneuf-en-Auxois, to Semur-en-Auxois and the Abbey of Fontenay. It was superb!
Ann Gillen in Yountville, CA USA 07/14/2010
Don't describe the WWII museum at Caen as brilliant. It does have a good overview of causes and impact of WWII, but your description way oversold it. In hindsight, we would have skipped it.
Linda Cochrane in Salem, OR USA 07/11/2010
Keep doing it! Dad didn't want to look like a tourist any more than he had to, so he made a fake cover for your book. He would consult it in a cafe, or on a street corner, and just look like he's reading a novel.
Candy Marang in Norton, Oh USA 07/02/2010
Forget maps. If renting a car, the best $150 ever spent would be to buy a GPS with a Europe map at home and bring it with you. We have done many road trips in Europe struggling with maps and getting lost. This trip was bliss. The GPS never failed. It took us easily through the tiny roads of Normandy to the D Day sites and the many Chateaux of Loire.
James Mangin in Red Deer, AB Canada 07/02/2010
Maybe tell us what we are missing and why. We used both the Michelin book and Steve's book. We LOVE Steve!!!
Marilyn in Cypress, TX USA 06/27/2010
Add an electronic version of the book so I may select my destination then more quickly search for accommodations, restaurants and activities by budget, time, rating, etc.
[Editor's Note: We have ebook versions of all the Rick Steves books for the Kindle, and many are available on the Nook as well. You can also download ebook apps for your smartphone or tablet computer and read Rick's books that way.]
Ginger Bigbie in Gainesville, FL USA 06/26/2010
hmmm- I thought the Paris guide book was excellent. Keep emphasizing how easy it is to get around Paris via bus, metro, etc. Especially by just WALKING Reassure single travelers that they can feel totally comfortable in cafes and anywhere else. Parisians have excellent manners - I was glad you emphasized using greetings, trying to speak French phrases, etc.
Judith Beck in Perkasie, PA USA 05/29/2010
Burgundy was one of our favorite stops but we found the chapter in France 2010 generally confusing and in need of simplification. Here are our suggestions: 1. Break up the "Outside of Beaune" (pg 784) wine tasting section into North and South of Beaune and combine it with the "Sights in the Beaune Region" (pg 796) and "Between Beaune and Paris" (pg. 801). 2. The self-guided biking tour could be done by car or bike (page 796) so either remove that designation, or make it clear that it applies to both or why it wouldn't apply to a driver. 3. It would be helpful to include times between destinations for the towns north and south of Burgundy and combine the two maps (France 2010- pages 773 and 797). I found myself flipping between them and it was very confusing.
Rebecca in Washington, DC, USA 05/22/2010
A little more guidance about what to do on arrival in the Connections section. I actually got more information from the Unofficial Guide to Paris than I got from your book. Also the I-phone app that gives you all your metro and bus connections is awesome. Also regarding cell phones: we call forwarded all our calls on the Automatic Call Forward setting and just sent each other text messages for .50 a text. AT&T was going to charge us $5.95 a person and $1 a minute for calls, so with the four of us, we could send 48 texts for the same price. We just wanted to be able to find each other in an emergency and this worked great for our family. Using Automatic Call Forwarding meant that way we could keep our phones turned on but not be charged $1 each time someone called us from home. Note that this is different than standard call forwarding; with standard you get charged a dollar a call even if you don't answer the call.
Joy Lambert in Vero Beach, FL USA 05/21/2010
When possible, add GPS coordinates. These are extremely helpful.
Jay Fluehr in Omaha, NE USA 05/07/2010
Add Cassis and Aix en Provence to the book. Both towns are worth seeing on any trip to the south of France.
[Editor's Note: Both of these destinations are covered in our guidebook "Rick Steves' Provence and the French Riviera."]
Jen Lee in San Francisco, CA USA 05/06/2010
Your guidebooks are excellant. However, I find that I have more room in my netbook (160 GB) than in my luggage. Do you have any plans to offer a version that I can download?
Carl Mott in Clearwater, FL USA 04/21/2010
The section on Communicating in France (probably applies to all Europe) is weak in this respect: SIM cards are available, but using it requires an ability to understand rapid-fire computer voice French. Even the most fluent in our group was at a loss to understand the instructions; we eventually had to have a clerk in the store where we bought additional minutes program the minutes into the phone for us (sent the cutest lady to sweet talk him into doing us the favor). The same applies to public phones, when using a phone card, unlike ATMs which give a choice of language (or in the U.S. where many messages begin "For English press 1..." in Europe you get the local language, period. Good luck!
Robert Murray in Chicago, IL USA 04/16/2010
For the Chamonix area, include some information about renting apartments/flats. There are many for rent in the area, and they can be quite economical. We saved hundreds by cooking for ourselves for a week.
Pavel in Norfolk, VA USA 04/09/2010
During Feb 2010 we traveled, the hotels recommended in cities like Sarlat and Arles were closed. This should've been mentioned in the book.
Genhone in Toronto, ON Canada 03/07/2010
The TGV from Paris Charles de Gaulle Strasbourg is inexplicably slower than other TGVs. It was a 3 hour trip. Paris to Avignon, although greater a distance, is only 2 hours.
Ed & Rita Reed in Port Aransas, TX USA 01/19/2010
I'm in the middle of the trip. Next stop is at one of your recommended lodgings in Carcasonne, so I will come back and fill out more then if that's OK. I wanted to give this much feedback while it was fresh in my mind.
Marilyn in Eddy, Oh USA 12/29/2009
I'd focus a bit more on budget eating. With the weak dollar, dining is very expensive for Americans in Paris these days. The best deals are probably at lunch if you can find a restaurant with a great 3-course menu for about 14 euros (+ wine or other beverage). But unless you want to spend a fortune on dining, you're probably going to limit yourself to one sit down meal a day. You need other options -- such as eating in a market like Rue Cler. With this problem in mind, I would also recommend "Flunch," a French cafeteria chain. I ate at their Les Halles location and it's by no means excellent, but it's very cheap. Probably an essential stop for every backpacker or family with children (generous portioned meals for about 6 euros and good children's menu for about half this). For breakfast, I recommend finding a good boulongurie and getting a bagette (price fixed at less than a euro), and buying some soft French cheese to spread on it. An astonishingly tasty breakfast for virtually no cost.
Dave in Philadelphia, PA USA 12/01/2009
My husband suffered a stroke several years ago and climbing stairs is difficult. Buses were a better alternative to the metro (unless the metro had elevators). You always reference the metro stops for the sights; a definite improvement for us (and others I would imagine) would be the bus lines that run near the sights. A map showing sights, bus lines and metro stops would be beneficial.
Marianne Kurtz in Union, KY USA 11/11/2009
Make sure that American understand that the French are simply marvelous people; if you make the least attempt to be cordial and try to speak French, they will bend over backwards to be helpful. Even in Paris, which is without doubt the most wonderful city on earth! This after one visit. Seriously, I could spend the rest of my life in Paris!
Mike in Rainone, Tx USA 10/29/2009
Check out the Mulberry B&B and Restaurant. Just 3 blocks from center of Arromanche, simple, clean B&B next to the Cathedral, superb restaurant run by the husband/wife owners, and full every evening. www.lemulberry.fr, email: courrier@lemulberry.fr
Jim & Arlene Knutson in Bloomington, MN USA 10/26/2009
Add La Roche d'Esteil to your next book!
Diana Campbell in Allentown, PA USA 10/26/2009
I was very disappointed to find that Marseilles was totally ignored in your guidebook. We spent 7 days in Marseilles and the book was useless for that time. We had to rely on info obtained from the T/I office. Why was an up & coming city the size of Marseilles excluded? We found the harbor area to be beautiful, the restaurants very good (although expensive) and the accommodations fine.
[Editor's Note: Rick covers Marseilles extensively in his Provence and the French Riviera guidebook.]
Bonnie Weinberger in Buffalo, NY USA 10/25/2009
Have more out of the way places mentioned as you did with Etretat which are a great detour, or less touristy place, but I do realize that once it's in your books, the crowds will arrive.
Debra in Delta, BC Canada 10/20/2009
Your book was fantastic. We are indebted to you for helping to make our trip outstanding
John Vogt in Ft. Collins, CO USA 10/19/2009
Not exactly an improvement to the book, but would LOVE more ipod tours available on itunes...enjoyed the history and the humor!
[Editor's Note: There will be more free iPod tours for London and Rome released in early 2010.]
Sherri Campbell in Katy, Tx USA 10/18/2009
A warning that most of the hotels where we stayed did not have top sheet and blanket, but rather -- similar to Germany and Austria -- simply a heavy comforter. The comforter may be great in the winter, but in warm weather it was very uncomfortable.
Ron in DeWitt, MI USA 10/14/2009
We loved the book and relied on every part of it as we drove our rental car from Narbonne, through the Dordogne to Paris and had three days in Paris.
Martha in Calgary, Canada 10/03/2009
Arles was such a disappointment I would recommend looking into another town that would make a good base for the Provence region. Also, Carcassonne is not worth an overnight stay--travelling through it on your way to the Dordogne or south to Collioure is OK, but perhaps not worth your time. It really is a castle full of souvenier shops and restaurants and nothing more. More interesting from afar than actually going there. Thank you so much for all the recommendations in the book as we could not have done our 3 week tour of France on our own without it.
Vickie Sprowls in Lake Nebagamon, WI USA 09/22/2009
Rick's book became my mother's bible throughout France. We went everywhere with it. I'm surprised he didn't have more on Lourdes as its a major pilgrim site for Catholics.
Mimi Simon in Edmonton, AB Canada 09/18/2009
We use the Paris book and it was great!!! Perfect detailed description about how to get around and see things at good prices. Wonderful neighborhood (Rue Cler)for our stay.
Jim Colgan in Bixby, OK USA 08/15/2009
Please add Catherine D'Antuono, "Tour Designer in Provence," under private guides of The Luberon. Her tour of the area was really first rate; she designed a tour that included many villages, plus lunch at a goat cheese farm. Prior to my trip, I had discussed with her over email places I had wanted to see and she added a few more. As mentioned above, she majored in history and art history and is very knowledgeable about the area. Here is her contact information: email: tour.designmer@provence-travel.com phone: 33 (0)6 17 94 69 61 web: www.provence-travel.com
Susan in Toluca Lake, CA USA 07/12/2009
I've had seven guidebooks published over the years and I know that it's impossible to include everything. However, you've missed one of the most spectacular parts of the country.
Laurence Parent in Wimberley, TX USA 07/12/2009
PLEASE do not recommend backpacks anymore--All of Europe is using rolling luggage. Having backpacks made us look like U.S. hicks and was uncomfortable. Having rolling luggage we would have fit in more.
Linda Beilstein in Corvallis, OR USA 06/22/2009
Fantastic guidebook, best I've ever used. Your recommendations, especially for hotels and restaurants, were always on the mark. Thanks!
Steven Hauser in Atlanta, GA USA 06/13/2009
Removable map with metro, main tourist areas and recommended walk routes
Mary Ruiz in Bradenton, Fl USA 06/11/2009
I wish you'd do Scotland alone-perhaps there's not enough to see and expand out of Europe
[Editor's Note: Look for a new series of shorter guidebooks called Rick Steves' Spotlight--plans are to have Scotland as one of the first offerings.]
Jody Distad in Denver, CO USA 06/07/2009
I would also suggest the Forest of Gresigne. Although the roads are dirt there is a Roman opidium and a dolmen.
George Lauscher in Pocono Summit, PA USA 06/06/2009
Offer recos for both internet cafes (with computers provided) and WiFi ready spots (besides McDonalds and Starbucks which I tried to avoid). If you did this in the 09 book, my apologies and Good Thinkin'!
Jessica in Kansas City, MO USA 05/24/2009
please tell readers to pack windbreaker for le mistral (strong winds) esp around Avignon
Krista in Atlanta, Ga USA 05/09/2009
List best free washrooms in city! It would be nice to know which places can be easily snuck into... I know it's silly, but would be truly useful to everyone, especially those who get nervous about that sort of thing.
Rebekah in Toronto, ON Canada 05/05/2009
No improvement needed - the book was a godsend to have on the trip. We saw people all over France carrying your book; just as we did.
Sue Cromwell in Chester Springs, PA USA 05/04/2009
Could you add GPS coordinates to the sites in the guidebooks? It would save a lot of time for those traveling by car and using a gps.
John Brooks in Paris, France 05/03/2009
We have been traveling "with you" on 4 trips (London, Italy, Germany, France ) and have always had a wonderful experience and seen things we wouldn't have with out the books. Keep on doing what you're doing, which encourages more people to do the same.
Meg in Chicago, IL USA 04/27/2009
This is a great book. I'd add that driving to Mont St. Michael and back runs roughly $50 in tolls. I don't remember seeing that in the book.
Robert C in Norman, OK USA 04/27/2009
I don't understand why Marseille isn't included in the France 2009 book. Am I missing something here? I just looked at the book in the store and couldn't find any mention of Marseille. Please advise.
[Editor's Note: Rick has a section on Marseille including a walking tour in his book "Provence & the French Riviera."]
Joseph in San Francisco, CA USA 04/11/2009
It is pretty darn good as all RS guidebooks are. Of course, I would like more on Burgundy, but that is a selfish thing.
Amy in Houston, TX USA 03/04/2009
There isn't much about Brittany anywhere in the guidebook! How could Rick forget this beautiful Celtic area ridden with a culture completely unique from anything else in France, including one of the largest ancient standing-stone displays in the world, Carnac? The beautiful forest said to be the "real" forest of magician and mystic Merlin? I think you should definitely add a section about Brittany. La Bretagne, c'est vraiment magnifique!
Amanda Bauer in Crittenden, KY USA 03/01/2009
We just went through the 2009 France Guidebook purchased a few weeks ago. It did not seem as complete and helpful as the 2007 version. Not sure what's missing as we gave our older books to friends planning a trip to France so we can't compare. The Index is not very helpful. Most disappointed to find NOTHING on Saumur on the Loire River, or La Rochelle. Did we miss something? If these places are in the 2009 Book, please let me know the pages.
Zoe Maurer in Southampton, NJ USA 01/01/2009