I just ask the concierge of the hotel where I'm staying for local info, maps, etc. Their advice far exceeds any found in guidebooks.

There are so many cities with fine hotels near central railway station. For Sweet Willie to say he's never met a city where neighborhood around the station that's anything close to interesting, just shows that he's not been to places like: Zurich, Tokyo (or any large city in Japan), Prague, Kuala Lumpur, Stockholm, Hong Kong, New York City, and so many more.

This is indicative of the problems I find in purchasing guidebooks.