Customer Reviews

Rick Steves' France 2006

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

 

 

We used this book on a recent trip to Normandy. The hotel ratings were very good & helped us determine if that was where we wanted to stay. He doesn't mention whether or not a particular placed is closed during the winter & we did find one of our hotels was closed, but the ones open were exactly as he described. The book was most helpful in our decisions as to what we wanted to see & do. I would recommend this for anyone making a trip to France. Be sure & get the latest edition, as things due change.

What I like about Rick Steves guides is that, unlike his competitors, they are filled with personal observations with clear recommendations of what to see and experience. The writing is more personal and not clinical as with the other guidebooks. My wife & I recently traveled to Europe (London, Paris & Rome) and Rick Steves books were the only guides we used or needed for the entire trip!
Four clear advantages:
1. Rick points out exactly what neighborhoods to stay in - this is huge, because the choice of location can make or break your stay especially when you are on a tight timeline. E.g. Rick suggests staying in the Rue Cler neighborhood in Paris - and it was the perfect location - easy access to the metro, most sights within walking distance, and just an all-round charming neighborhood!
2. Points of interest are grouped together - this really helped us put together our itineraries well before we got to Paris, and it worked like a charm.
3. Tour guides recommended - unlike other guide books Rick is not shy about recommending good tour guides. This is very important for people to get the most out of a visit to a foreign land. it's tough to read everything about a new place AND remember it at appropriate times. So a good tour guide can make a huge difference in helping you get the most of out of a visit. We used them in Europe and it made a HUGE difference. The guides recommended are top notch and we felt we got every penny's worth!
4. Getting around - superbly written instructions on using the Paris metro. We were instantly at home with the metro. Good suggestions like buying a 'carnet' of tickets made using the metro a pleasure. Also, every point of interest has a clear suggestion of how to get there - can it get any easier!

So why the 4 stars and not 5? I think Rick is a little off in his recommendations for hotels to stay in. For example, he recommends Hotel MOtte-Picquet in Paris - and we fell for it. It was horrible. Don't believe me? Just take a look at the TripAdvisor.com feedback and see for yourself!! Rick should focus a little more on comfort of travellers from the US (like us) than just providing a cheap place to stay - the savings are just not worth it.

Overall - a great buy and a book (and series) that I highly recommend.

If I could bring only two guides to France with me this year, one of them would certainly be Rick Steves' France 2006. the other would be a very good street map of Paris, where I'll be staying most of the time. Rick's reviews are excellent, giving specifics and details without going overboard on flowery, vague descriptions.

If you can buy only one guide book for France, you should choose this one. Rick's books are so practical for the tourist on his own (or not). He demystifies the metro, travel passes, and helps the traveler get the most out of usually limited time.