Customer Reviews

Jerusalem & the Holy Land (Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a wonderul way to get acquainted with the Holy Land. Even after 25 trips I learned a number of things and picked up some tips for my next trip over.What makes this book so stunning is the incredible photos, diagrams and artists conception. You see it! You are there. There is as well all kinds of practical information on services In Israel as well as information on Jordan. For anyone going, thinking about going, or just going on a mental tour this is the book.

This book is a rare treat. I've had the Dorling Kindersley guide for San Francisco for quite some time now, and have always found it colorful and helpful. But I am not a frequent traveler, so it never occurred to me that a travel guide might be useful for other things than trip planning. As usual, it takes a friend to give you something you would never have bought for yourself. Now that I have this little guide to the Holy Land I don't understand how I ever did without it.

These guides are beautifully made for their size, and will outlast most of the disasters that plague the serendipitous. Illustrations, maps, and diagrams are many and all easy to read, even for one with eyes as bad as mine. Sections on history intersperse deep dives into the land, its sights and points of interest. While some of the history is oversimplified, the descriptive information is clear as a bell. It is impossible to turn more than a few pages without coming up with a list of must sees and things to do.

The largest part of the book covers Jerusalem thoroughly (136 pages). Smaller sections then introduce the Holy Land overall, the Coast and Galilee, the Dead Sea and the Negev, Western Jordan, and the Red Sea and Sinai. Whew! Quite a lot! There are also good references on hotels, restaurants, shops, and entertainment. It finishes up with a handy survival guide. All in a moderate size that is perfect for a backpack or tote bag. My only complaint it that the publisher did not provide any blank pages for notes.

So what does a non-traveler such as I want with such a volume. The truth is that it is a marvelously handy reference for anyone who has an interest in biblical history, archeology, or religion. Its maps, pictures and very complete index make it useful for getting enough quick information to bring ones reading or research to life. It would be just as useful for a modern history or politics buff. What is nice, is that it isn't a weighty, encyclopedic tome, but instead is lightweight enough to carry along with one's research materials. This is the perfect present, not only for the traveler, but the scholar or dreamer as well.

If you want to see the world, these eyewitness books are almost as good as traveling. This book has over 800 full-color photographs taken especially for this guide. They show you Jerusalem and the Holy Land at its best.

You will find detailed and accurate street finder maps which give you instant access to each district. The unique cutaways and floor plans are fascinating and help you explore public buildings so you don't have to purchase other guides. The "survival" guide shows you how to use local currency, public transportation and telephones.

The cafes, hotels and restaurants listed are in all price ranges. On the front and back covers, there is a flip out flap which gives information on the color coded pages and symbols used in the book. This is quite handy.

I could not help thinking that this book would be invaluable for those interested in the politics of the regions discussed. Too often we just see a snippet of news and a flash of video and we have no idea where the action is taking place. This book explains the Muslim Quarter, the Jewish Quarter, the Christian Quarter and the Armenian Quarter. You will know where the Dome of the Rock is and were the Western Wall is located.

The guide begins with a introduction on how to use the guide and then gives an introduction to Jerusalem and The Holy Land. If you want to know the history of the region, that is also included. You will find information on Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Religious holidays are fully explained and this makes this book invaluable for writers as well.

You can visually take a walk called the Via Dolorosa, which is said to be the path Jesus took from where he was tried to Calvary. Countless pilgrims walk the route.

If you are heading to the Holy Land, there is also a section of what to buy. I would personally look for the beautiful Armenian Ceramics and the Bedouin fabrics. I already order the Dead sea products from a company called ONZE and I see that this book also explains the vast range of creams, soaps and salts available. It is the best skincare line I have ever personally used and is good for use in dry climates.

This book has it all and is visually stunning. Now I truly do want to visit the Holy Land. This is the best guide I have ever seen.

~The Rebecca Review

I got this guide because I love DK books, but I was disappointed by several things: the map of Jerusalem is incomplete, there are numerous typos and grammatical errors throughout the book, there is outdated material in the book, there are several biased opinions about the cultures, and it does not acknowledge some precautions travellers should take in venturing into certain neighborhoods that could be dangerous.

In preparation for, or in review of a trip to Israel, this guidebook is a must have. Outstanding pictures and concise, yet acuurate information abounds. One of the best Holy Land guidebooks on the market.

I found this book very, very useful. I used exclusively for a recent trip and it provided the general information I like. It is compact and extensive, with lots of great pictures. If a reader wants detail, then they need a different resource.

I bought this book for my dad for Christmas because he was planning on going to Israel for a week. He's a "planner" type, and had already made himself a complete itinerary. After reading it, he changed his whole itinerary! He just got back from his trip, and said that this book had been extremely helpful. One bit of advise, he said that to go to some of the places, you either need to go with a tour group, or hire a personal guide for the day. He opted for the second option and was able to see more than most people can accomplish in a week.

My husband and I were in Jerusalem in May 2006. I took DK's Jerusalem and the Holy Land guidebook, which includes tons of beautiful color photos and maps. My husband took the more academic Oxford archaeological guide, The Holy Land. At most points of interest we'd draw out our respective books and consult them, comparing what each one had to say. After a day or so I began to get the distinct impression that my darling assumed his book would be much superior to mine, which is obviously aimed at the average tourist. As the days went by, though, he had to concede that the DK guide was as good, or perhaps better, than the Oxford book. The maps are excellent. Also, for a book that contains so many illustrations, it still packed in a ton of helpful detail and is beautifully written. The information on history and culture is also excellent. All this, and yet it is very compact and durable, so is ideal for toting around.

Having a good guidebook is essential in Jerusalem. Despite the fact that the place, especially the Old City, is teeming with tourists, there isn't a lot of good information for visitors in the form of maps or signs. The maps or brochures that were available at historic sites were put together by the institutions/religious orders operating them and were frequently incredibly amateurish given the historical importance of the sites.

My only regret about this book is that I know DK is bringing out a new edition in 2007 and I wish it had come out in time for my visit!

My only complaint is that the two main maps in the center of the book (one of Jerusalem and one close-up of the Old City) are hard to find, so it's a good idea to flag them with a post-it note before you leave home. In addition, the main map shows only part of modern Jerusalem, so if you need to travel beyond the center of town you may need to buy a full city map, but I don't think that's as big a deal as one of the other reviewers suggests.

Another issue is that the book contains only cursory information on hotels, restaurants and transportation. More practical advice would have been helpful. These observations aside, don't think twice about buying this book if you are visiting the region.

It's a nicely documented book, with lots of pictures and pertinent information. Everything is presented in a condensed form that permits to get an overview of most of what's there to visit.

But, if you're going on pilgrimage, it may not be what you need, whatever your faith is. You'll probably want to get something to complement that book, before you get there preferably!

For Christians, "How to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus and the Prophets: A Scripture Reference Guide for Biblical Sites in Israel and Jordan" could be a good choice...

But still, you can't go wrong with that book!

I just got back from the trip to the Holy Land (Egypt, Jordan, and Israel). This book is the best book you can ever had, especially with color graphics and pictures to show you the structure of various important sites and buildings. You can find other guided books when you are in the Holy Land; however, I still think this is the best book to carry with you.