I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Access guides. Organized by neighborhood, the listings are identified by numbers on a map for that neighborhood. While there are no full-color photos, I find them to be excellent for my needs

Since everyone is recommending other travel guides, I'm a new convert to the Rough Guides. It generally targets a similar audience as Lonely Planet, but also includes upmarket recommendations as well. The Rough Guides also have some extremely well-produced city mini-guides which are a very small, cute sized paperback.

Frommer's is probably just a touch more upmarket than Lonely Planet and Rough Guides; but to me, it is a very tedious guide, boring to read. Fodor's is much more upscale than these, for those whose idea of travel is a spa, visiting some postcard spots, and going to Wolfgang Puck's restaurant.

Eyewitness has beautiful color guides, but I find them thoroughly lacking. They cover some major sites in detail; but there is little editorial discretion elsewhere, making it difficult to make decisions as to where to go.

I like Frommers, but I suggest spending time in a book store and figure out which one YOU like.

Thanks to all who replied. This is what makes a site like this so valuable. I think based on what I read here I will probably buy the Frommers guides, and will also browse through the Rick Steve's as a possible add-on.

A few suggested browsing through the guides in a book store. I had done that - but you don't really know how good a guide is until you are in the location and use it.

Thanks again for the help. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions.

I have looked at or used many of the books mentioned. But for ten years or so I haven't left home without a Frommer's guide.

I find them to be reliable and also sensitive to a variety of budgets. One of my favorite features is the "best of" guide. And the suggested itineraries (depending on how many days you have) are a wonderful way to plan a first visit to a large city.

Fodors seems more detailed to me

As a bookseller (actually a mapseller but I do sell the travel guides too.) I am reminded of a survey done by the late Fieldings Guide ranking Travel Guides.

#1 was Michelin Red Guides and Green Guides but you have to watch for the "French" Bias. That is, they tend to evaluate attractions in the Green Guides by what the French like. Museums, Cathedrals, and Monuments. Not that those are bad things but there are others.

#2 Lonely Planet. Well Documented in this thread.

#3. Moon Handbooks. Very well done for the areas that they do. Unfortunately the UK seems to be one of their weakest areas.

#4. Fodors. Again covered in this thread.

#5. Let's Go. Harvard University's series of Student Guide Books. May be too "Backpacker" for most upscale or Travelers beyond their mid 20's.

#6. Frommer's. Somewhat Stuffy but useful.

#7. Rick Steves. Good guides and Good Guy.

#8. Fieldings. Gone but not forgotten.


This rating was done before DK started promoting their Travel Guides. And Rough Guides was the same. (BTW Rough Guides and the associated Time Out Series are actually produced in the UK and are very good for the areas that they do cover. But Rough Guides may give a "British" Bias like Michelin does with French. And last but not least, In My Learned Opinion, the absolute finest Travel Guides for the areas they cover are the Blue Guides. These will provide absolutely everything there is to know about an area. (The Mexico Blue Guide will give you descriptions of the Differing Rooms in the National Museum by identifying everything on the Walls!!!) I am not sure that they produce a London or UK Guide. They do have a spectacular one for S. America as well as Mexico, South Africa, and Greece.

Not yet mentioned, are my two favorites:

Access and Hachette.

Both are limited to a few cities only, but both come with detailed maps with recommended places marked on the map.

Both have a lot of "un-tourist" restaurant recommendations.

I've lived in Italy (as a student) and have travelled extensively throughout Europe since then. I've tried all the guides (well, more or less). Here's my formula for success:

Frommer's - for hotels and restaurants
Rough Guide - for sites and sights, excellent commentary
Rick Steve's - museums/points of interest and restaurants

If I could only take one book with me I'd pick RG or RS. As it stands, I usually just keep the Frommer's in the room and tote around the others. My tastes have exceeded those covered in RG/RS for hotels and restaurants but they are usually great values and safe.

If you ever have the chance to go to see Rick Steves speak, do so. He's a hoot. Can really open up your eyes to places that aren't so clearly signposted. He's really nerdy but endearingly so.

The great thing about the Rough Guides is their comprehensiveness. If you wander off the train during a layover, they'll have something covered in that obscure town that is of interest. I often find myself wandering around (somewhat aimlessly) and bump into something that looks interesting. Nine times out of ten, Rough Guide has a nice blurb about what it is, and why it's there. Plus, its information to weight ratio is great - much better than that of Eyewitness/DK guides.

[This message has been edited by BingoSF (edited 12-27-2001).]