Customer Reviews

New York (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From Lonely Planet to the Rough Guides, location-specific guidebooks generally seem so transient since a purchase generally depends upon an upcoming trip and soon afterward ends up in a storage box collecting dust or on craigslist for sale. There is no incentive to return to the book once the trip has ended. However, while on vacation having breakfast just last weekend in the Chelsea neighborhood, a complete stranger asked to borrow my copy of this guidebook because he wanted to give his dining companions an instant visual cue to some of the top sites to visit in New York. Rarely have I seen a book so constantly used and displayed in public without hesitation as I have with this one. I happen to be a long-time fan of the series of Dorling Kindersley's Eyewitness Travel Guides as I find them unique in the travel resource field.

The Eyewitness Travel Guides are terrific both as a backpack resource and as a keepsake afterward. I have about ten of their books on my shelf, and the New York City guide is a particularly strong entry in the series since there is such a robust amount of information to cover. Thanks to its pleasing graphics and intuitive organization by neighborhood, this is one guidebook I use often even though I am quite familiar with Manhattan. Of particular use are the detailed pictorials showing animated aerial shots of neighborhoods and cut-away floor plans of heavily visited buildings like the Empire State Building and the newly renovated Museum of Modern Art. It also helps make geographic sense of neighborhoods that allow you to navigate easily through them by pointing out recommended sights.

The first part of the book presents a brief history of the city that is both interesting and useful, as events are cross-referenced to sights you would want to see there. There is a well-presented survival guide toward the end of the book that highlights important travel information as well as recommendations on where to stay, shop and eat. Moreover, there is a comprehensive street finder for Manhattan, which helps you navigate without the inconvenience of fold-out maps plus the all-important subway map. All this information is contained within a user-friendly, laminated paperback format that slips easily into backpacks and holds up well against inclement weather. By no means is this the end-all guidebook for New York City, but it does provide a solid foundation as you scoop up your copies of the New Yorker and Time Out to see what is current and worth seeing.

I've just returned from my fourth trip to NYC since owning this book, and I can't imagine how I managed without it in the past. The map section in the back of the book is very helpful for navigating Manhattan with its 22 clear maps charting the whole island, and the rest of the book is full of smaller, more specific maps. The "Getting around New York" section is also very helpful, sharing such tips as the "formula" for pinpointing avenue addresses in Manhattan and the phone number to call if you find your car has been towed (I thankfully haven't needed that one yet).

If you are planning to spend much of your time in boroughs other than Manhattan, you might want to try to find a book with a broader scope, but for Manhattan travel, this one is a great choice.

I usually love the Eyewitness books, and this one lives up to their good reputation.

Our family of four went to NYC for spring break and purchased the DK book beforehand to help plan our time wisely. Although we didn't leave Manhattan, the book covers all of the city very well. Maps are excellent, pictures are done in exquisite DK style. A must have for travelers. We also have the Paris one from a few years ago - made travel and sightseeing there much easier as well. Also a more compact size than some, making it easier to pack.

I used the 2005 edition for a New York trip in May 2005 and it was SOOOO helpful. We went everywhere with this book and it really broke down the significance and history of what we were looking at. Take it on the subway and by taxi and see New York on your own. I even learned the subway system with the book after two days of riding. I wish we had more time on the trip! I highly recommend this book!


<update 12/2008>

Just went back to New York this December 2008. Used the book again. Awesome! The walking tours are the best. Went to Brooklyn Heights and Harlem. Can't wait to go back to New York again!

My family recently took a trip to New York. We had never been before, so I decided to buy this book to help us work our way around Manhattan and see the sights. I can say with 100% that this book was AMAZING! It's pictures and descriptions are right on, and the maps make it completely easy to find all of the points of interest. The subway maps helped to figure out the subway, and the dining list gave plenty of good restaurants to choose from! I love this book, and if I ever take another trip to a big city I will be sure to check and see if there is one of these books for it! Thank you!!

The NYC Eyewitness Travel Guide is easy to use. I wanted a book that wasn't too bulky but provided the essential info. & pictures of nyc and I found that this was the perfect book for me. It provides tons of pictures and highlights & history on each site. It also contains detailed maps and suggestions on where to stay and eat and the city's entertainment choices (plays, sports games, surrounding areas). I toted the book with me during my week stay in NYC and found myself constantly referencing it. I would recommend this book to anyone traveling to NYC.

This is the second book I have for cities and the eyewitness series is simply the best you will find in travel books on a particular city. Great pics, history, maps and things to do.

Don't waste time on other books, get these for your travels.

This, along with Fodor's See It!, was the best NYC travel book I found. Plenty of glossy color photos, good information, and accuate maps. A bit big to carry around, but terrific for that fun trip-planning stage.

This guide lists information about NYC divided into areas of the city. There are great walking tours to use. Eyewitness makes the best guides for travelers.

One star off is because this book is a little bit thick for travel, some of contents can be removed to make a pefect travel guide.