Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Fez Encounter

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

 

 

Ok, the pros:

1) Book is consistent with other "Best of" by lonely planet. It's small and compact. This is a huge plus because I hate lugging around a large heavy book. It fits easily in a purse and even in a pocket of cargo shorts, etc.

2) It includes a fold out map which you can separate from book.

3) The book is relatively up to date. It was re-printed in early 2008 but fortunately Fez is the type of city that does not change that much and much of the information in the book is still timely.

4) It's a good high level synopsis for what to hit in the city (i.e., tanneries, mosques, museums, etc)

Now the cons:

1) Doesn't have a lot of detail on recommendations for sites, etc. But then again, it's a small compact book and won't have all the history and description of a larger book.

2) Navigating the medina is complicated and the book simply doesn't help that much with that. For example, it would have been nice if the map had what types of shops were in certain areas of the medina(e.g., brass works, leather, etc). Though the medina is almost impossible to navigate, even with a map!

3) Its structured as a list of top 10s (e.g., restaurants, sights, riads, etc.) and not so much as a guide with suggestions of itineraries.

Overall, I'd say its a good high level primer on Fez and certainly better than the Fez sections of a general Morocco guide. Also, there are several Marrakech city only guide books but this was the only one I was able to find that was only on Fez (again I hate lugging around a big Morocco book). If you've only got a few days in the city, this will help keep you busy.

This is a nice little guide.

It is small, which makes it convenient to take it with you. The provided maps are in colour which makes them easy to read and of course every restaurant, shop or sight that is worthwhile is mentioned.

So why the low rating?

The guide leaves the reader almost completely to its own when it comes to accommodation, give only a poor description of what is available with a handful of options. In general the book is not very helpful when it comes to an estimation of the costs. Moreover it only has a incomplete lists of day excursions, and those that are included have only been given meagre details of the sights or proper information how to get there. A map of Meknes is certainly not to much to ask.

This is all cool if you have chosen your accommodation beforehand (on the internet) and have a car (and a guide) for your day excursions. If not, you will need the LP of Morocco to give you the additional information, taking away the need of this guide.

As i told the seller, the book was great, but it was supposed to have a removable map which was missing. I understand that this is a used edition, but then it should be stated that the map is missing. It's a travel book, which makes the map essential. Had I known I would not have purchased it.