Customer Reviews

Fodor's Barcelona to Bilbao, 2nd Edition: The Guide for All Budgets, Where to Stay, Eat, and Explore On and Off the Beaten Path (Fodor's Gold Guides)

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This book is great for anyone who wants to focus their trip in Barcelona but still take some side trips outside of the city. The book made it easy for us to decide what we wanted to see, and then to find our way around the city. Directions and tips on how to get places were much appreciated, esp in some of those areas with tiny twisted streets. The history and background information was informative (esp since we don't speak Spanish) and surprisingly fun to read. We weren't sure where to go out of the city, so we just followed the guide. It leads you from Barcelona to Bilbao along the Costa Brava, which is gorgeous. There's just enough information about the seaside villages along the way to help you decide where to stop, eat and stay. We let the book really shape our trip- and it turned out to be a great one!

Although this book seems to provide an adequate overview of the areas it covers, the pricing system does not include budget travelers. I was appalled to see that it listed only expensive hotels for one of my destinations and not one of the less expensive peniones. Fortunately, I found enough information on websites to locate some REAL BUDGET accomodations. I am not referring to camping or staying in someone's home. No. I mean centrally located places to stay with full baths, TV, AC, etc. for a half (or less) of Fodor's cheapest hotel option. Fodor's seems to cater to a wealthier traveler, and that is fine. Just don't tell me it is a "guide for all budgets." I'll never buy one of these books again.