Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Mediterranean Europe (Multi Country Guide)

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I have always been a fan of Lonely Planet, but I am very disappointed with this guide. It contains very little information about sights and attractions - about 3/4 of each entry is devoted to telling you where to sleep and eat. I can find lodging and eateries on my own, thanks. I would like to know what sights and attractions are not to be missed if you happen to be near them? Which ones are worth going out of your way for?Which ones are kid pleasers (I will be travelling with my 2 children)? The little bit of information this guide does give about sights and attractions is not helpful in answering these questions. There is far less information about travelling with children than in any other guide book I have read. There is far more information about drinking - I like to sample the local beer, wine, and liquor as much as anyone else, but reading this book, you'd think it was written for people whose top travel priority is getting inebriated at every location. One thing I do like, that sets Lonely Planet guides apart, is there is more than the average amount of background information about the history and culture.

I agree with Nancy's review - I just bought this book as an aid to determine my next destination, among options such as Italy, Malta, Greece, and Turkey. I am very disappointed, as I'm finding the book virtually useless for that purpose. I thought it would give me a good overview of what each destination has to offer by way of sights, and it is only barely contributing anything of value; I have had to abandon it and return to Google. All the info on accommodation I can find easily on TripAdvisor, and while the info on restaurants may be useful once you're actually in your destination of choice, who wants to lug around a big book on 14 countries just for a few restaurant tips? A book covering such a large, fascinating region should focus on helping to plan your destinations, not the specific logistics of sleeping & eating; the latter are better obtained from a smaller book specific to a given destination.

It's too big to serve as a practical sleeping/eating guide, and it's too skimpy on the good stuff to be used as a planning tool.