Going to Paris at end of October and would like to buy a guidebook. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best one to get (most current %26amp; accurate)? Thanks!
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If you are stayin in the 7th arr get rick Steves. otherwise get Frommers Paris 2005. I just got mine and it is really good.
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Not all PARIS guides suit all travelers---perhaps that%26#39;s why there are hundreds of %26#39;em. While most will provide you with basic information, some will resonate with your own travel preferences, priorities, special needs and budget more than others You best bet will be to block out and hour or so and take yourself down to your local Border%26#39;s Books or Barnes %26amp; Noble%26#39;s and scan through some of the ones in their TRAVEL stacks. Skim through several until you find one or two which resonate with you.
Among the better and more popular (among a great many others) are:
MICHELIN Green Guide--PARIS (check the back cover for date)
BAEDECKER%26#39;S--PARIS
D.K. Eyewitness--PARIS
ACCESS--PARIS (my personal favorite for information %26amp; organization)
INSIDER%26#39;S GUIDE--PARIS
LET%26#39;S GO PARIS
ROUGH GUIDE--PARIS
RICK STEVE--PARIS
I%26#39;ve never been a big fan of either the FODOR%26#39;S or FROMMER%26#39;S guides but check them out also. They may suit. You might also check out some of the special interest guidebooks dedicated to specific topics--- restaurants, shopping, history, etc. depending on your personal preferences and priorities.
In addition to the regular TRAVEL stacks, be sure to also check the Bargain Book Bins for last year%26#39;s editions, which are being remaindered/cleared---often for a couple of dollars. Even though the editions have been up-dated, a great deal of the information remains the same and these clearance guide books make inexpensive %26#39;filler%26#39; material. Bear in mind that what you%26#39;re looking for in addition to good information is organization and ease-of-use which resonates with your preferences. Some guides will resonate better with those on 4-star budgets and other will resonate with those on 1 or 2-star budgets.
The internet provides a great deal of on-line information. Try poking around within some of these for starters (most have English language versions):
http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/
http://www.paris.fr/
http://www.pidf.com/
http://www.paris.org/
http://www.museums-of-paris.com/
http://www.ratp.com/ (Transportation Info)
http://www.adp.fr/ (Airport Info)
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For a first timer, Rick Steves is great - he picks out the top areas and gives sensible advice on all major sites. hotels, food etc. I would add Time Out Guide to Paris for a more detailed view. I would get both
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All of the above suggestions are good. I really like the DK Eyewitness guides though.
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Hi - I usually buy several different guidebooks before I visit any new place. KDK is right, there are so many out there, especially for Paris, that it is a bit overwhelming! You really do need to find one that best suits your travel style and budget. Personally, I like to read a variety of books before I go, then take only one with me......just as a reference. I do not like to carry bulky books around with me, so I read all the bigger ones and leave them at home. I tend to start at the library to see what I can get my hands on for FREE, then supplement with others.....I usually check prices on Amazon before purchasing anything in the stores.
The ones I travel with most in any new city, are Fodor%26#39;s %26quot;25 Best%26quot; books. They are small, compact and can fit in a small purse or coat pocket and come with a pull-out map. These are only available for larger cities (London, Paris, Rome, etc.) and only list the most popular sites........so if you are looking for %26quot;non-touristy%26quot;, this isn%26#39;t the book for you. It gives a brief overview of each site and all the essentials (open/close times, address, map coordinates, etc.). They do have a dining and accomodation section, but its very limited. Like I said, this is the one I take as a reference AFTER I have read all the other books.
May I also suggest that you pick up a Streetwise Paris map to take with you in addition to any book you bring. These things are GREAT......compact and can fit in your bag and are laminated so they hold up to wear and tear. I got mine from Amazon for maybe $8 (approx 4GBP).
In any case, have fun reading up on your upcoming holiday.......the anticipation and planning is half the fun!
Cheers!
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While some information doesn%26#39;t date, please check when questions have been originally posted. This person%26#39;s trip took place in 2004!
Even if Nicolette had a great trip, she clearly didn%26#39;t feel like telling us about it.
Mez.
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Regardless of when the post was made, some people will still benefit by reading it. I have seen several questions about this same topic since this post was made, so I guess people still continue to have questions about it. Maybe by answering this post and sending it to the top, we will have helped someone who was wondering the same questions.
I constantly see replies on this board to research the old posts for info.........and it is the best recommendation anyone can give, and I myself have gained tremendously by reading info from years past.
While I wish the poster had left more feedback from her trip, it is not a requirement on these boards for anyone to do so, nor does it mean others will not benefit by reading her post, however old. I will happily assume she had a great trip and got the info she needed from TA to do so.
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Flourgal, if you go back and read my post, you%26#39;ll see I agree with you - that was the point of my %26#39;some info doesn%26#39;t date%26#39; comment.
When I answered, I was thinking more about the effort you put into a response. I just thought it a shame you spent your valuable time giving some specific info to this person who has since long gone.
Mez
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Mez - my apologies for sounding rude. While I didn%26#39;t see the date of the original post, I would have given the same information regardless of whether it was new or old. Even if I knew Nicolette wasn%26#39;t ever going to see it, I still would%26#39;ve responded with the same information, but I just would%26#39;ve have addressed her personally.
You%26#39;re right, some info never dates..........sometimes I look at older threads and wish it was%26#39;t 100 pages back on the boards, %26#39;cuz there is some really good advice to be found!
Anyhoo, back to planning the next trip...............
Cheers,
Michele
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Dear All
I realise that this post is long since dead but have just come across it having reinstated my trip advisor account. I certainly never meant to be rude. For some reason I never received notification of the replies so was under the impression I had never received any. I also changed my email account in 2006 so had no chance of receiving notifications. In addition at the time I had a 1 year old daughter and a 3 year old son so wasn%26#39;t the most %26#39;with it%26#39; at the time.
In the end I plumped for lonely plant Paris and a dk eye witness (for the pictures). We had a lovely time.
Apologies again for appearing to be rude.
Nicolette
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