Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Florence Condensed (Lonely Planet Florence Encounter)

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

 

 

This book was a little too condensed for me. The most useful thing was a trip itinerary of what to see if you are there for 1, 2, or 3 days. The descriptions of the top sites were very limited to a couple of paragraphs with a tiny picture. You will have to have a guided tour or buy a guide book of each site you visit, because there is little info in this book. The language section was ok and the restaurant section was pretty good. The hotel section was a little sparse but you should probably book on-line before you get there. I would suggest saving yourself the money and space by copying the itinerary suggestions on a post-it and look elsewhere for info.

We're a 20 something couple who loves to travel backpack style on a budget. We don't stay in hostels, but we definitely don't spend a lot on hotels since really, you're only sleeping there. Venere . com is an amazing site for booking hotels and getting great feedback from past customers before you book. It's like the amazon.com of hotels.

We've used these slim lonely planet books for cities all over Spain, Italy and Portugal. They are amazing. I first got them on a trip to Italy, since we were visiting a few cities I hadn't been before. They were such an integral part of why we enjoyed ourselves so much, so I absolutely had to get them for our next trip to Spain and Portugal.

The books are very compact and fit in my tiny day bag(which just about houses my small camera, chapstick and a few other odds and ends). It was really all we needed when we ventured out every day. It has GREAT maps, about 5 different maps per book. And they're not gigantic, so thankfully you will not be the 'obvious tourist' which is something that I get very concerned about. I don't want to be the stereotypical American blocking off a sidewalk while staring at a map that's 2x5. Each map concentrates on a different section of the city, so you can see specific streets and points of interest.

This guide for Florence was so useful, it even sent us to a small museum(Museo dell'opera del duomo) we wouldn't have found otherwise, but it has a stunning treasure by Michelangelo - an unfinished pieta he had intended for his own tomb. Having seen the famous Pieta at the Vatican, it made it all the more interesting because I didn't know another existed. It turned out to be our favorite museum in Florence.


I usually read thru these books page by page to decide my daily itinerary before we leave for our trip. I cross reference them with other guides and websites, to make sure I won't be skipping anything crucial. I made notes on the pages and highlight parts of the maps so that I can easily find things I am going to.

An indispensable aspect of these books is not only does it at least give you an idea of pricing, if not the exact amount, but it tells student/senior pricing as well as hours and even hours for different seasons if the point of interests breaks down that way. We always knew when something was open or closed so there was never wasted time walking to something and finding it closed or just about to be closed. When you're in a city for a short amount of time, that is VERY important!!

There is also a wide variety of color pictures, which I really like. It gives me a better idea of if i want to visit that museum or fountain or building.

This book can get you into a completely unknown city and help you get from an airport to where ever you're going. It tells you all the transportation choices and what is best for getting where. It has highlights for places you absolutely should not miss, sights and activities, walking tours(how often can you take yourself on a walking tour of an unknown city?!), day trips, shopping including food and flea markets, restaurants,hotels, places to visit for kids.

Lastly, my favorite section which is the 'directory', it's a how-to for the specific city your book is based on: on arrival and departure(which I mentioned before)info on tipping, your embassy, getting around: telling you about metro cards and buses and trains, basics on language and emergencies. Even tips for women or gay and lesbian travelers.

I would recommend this book whole heartedly and look forward to my next vacation so I can buy more. And afterwards, it's totally something sentimental to keep because it has all the notes on where we went and what we liked and didn't like. It really brings us back to the excitement of visiting a new, unknown place.

I wanted a quick guide book with a map and the key details and this book fits the ticket perfectly. I'm only planning a quick trip for one day so this was all the guide book that I needed.

As a condensed book, it works. The map is very detailed to the tiniest street. The restaurant section is great. Of course, the hotel and sight descriptions are sparse, but the intended purpose of the book serves well as a pocket guide. Convenient, you can stick it in your back pocket as you walk about. For more detailed descriptions, get local tour guides or read before running about.