The Rough Guide to Croatia 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) [Paperback]

Jonathan Bousfield (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rough Guide Travel Guides | Publication Date: July 2, 2007

The Rough Guide to Croatia is your ultimate handbook to one of Europe''s most beautiful countries. From the medieval city of Dubrovnik and the unspoilt island of Vis to the rural hinterland of Zagreb, this guide captures all of Croatia’s highlights in a full colour introduction. The top hotels, bars and restaurants are all uncovered in the detailed listings section with the new ‘Author’s Pick’ feature highlighting the very best options. There are plenty of practical tips on a host of outdoor activities from hiking the hills to scuba diving in the Adriatic. The guide also looks at Croatia’s history, folk music and literature and comes complete with maps and plans for every area.

The Rough Guide to Croatia is like having a local friend plan your trip!

Editorial Reviews

Review

Authoritive, practical, and refreshingly direct, Rough Guides can't be beat Chicago Tribune --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Jonathan Bousfield is co-author of Rough Guides to Austria, Bulgaria, Poland and the Baltic States.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 4 edition (July 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843537834
• ISBN-13: 978-1843537830
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,120,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #71 in Books > Travel > Europe > Bosnia, Croatia & Herzegovina

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best guide out there; author has a great "voice"; accurate, dependable., July 3, 2008

By 

Maria Piazza "Maria" (Manhattan) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Croatia 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

This is the most comprehensive guide in terms of giving you an overall picture of Croatia, including history, culture, and useful language translations. The information is not misleading as other guidebooks have proven to be. For example, some guidebooks tout Croatia's Istrian coast as an undiscovered paradise, but I can't imagine where that information is coming from, unless it is really old. The western coast has been slathered in concrete and is the epitome of mass tourism. One of the author's most telling statements is that your experience in Croatia depends so much upon when you go. If you go in July or August, you'll probably hate any city, no matter how beautiful because the Istrian coast is a mecca of the bussed-in mass tourists.

Thankfully, this guide prepares you for that and helps you to steer clear of the bad/overtouristed places...mostly. I believe the author to be a bit biased by his interest in art and museums...and some places that he describes as so quaint and lovely, I was left scratching my head about. Porec for example. But for other places, he is dead on....the little piece on Umag might not jump out at you as overly negative but read between the lines...his warnings are subtle. Umag was a horror, a run-down, mass-tourism nightmare and has absolutely nothing to offer other than one desparate street of lungy, grabby restaurant owners and a pathetic rock beach that is under construction. Of course, he can't come right out and say that, but if you really listen to what he writes, you'll see it. I left Umag after one day (and I'm so glad that I did!)

He's also right on about places like Rovinj, which was the loveliest place I have seen in a long, long time, in Croatia or anywhere. He is extremely accurate in recommending restaurants and attractions ... the reviews and recommendations were excellent. Many times you can't trust what guidebooks say ... they are either misleading or just leave out the bad stuff. This is not one of those books. You can depend upon the information. The maps of the towns are accurate, easy to follow.

The author is also a good writer, so the book is interesting to read as well, and I even found myself laughing. He's fair and honest and knowledgeable.

I depended on this book quite a bit in Croatia and was glad to have it. I think you will be too.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well done, July 6, 2008

By 

AD "AD" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to Croatia 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

I used this book for a week in Croatia, visiting Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Split, and Brac. It was right on for timetables, maps, etc. This is the most important part for me, as I need a guidebook to be accurate in telling me when/how to take a train/bus from one place to another. Also, I liked seeing a few photos before I went, which helped determine what I wanted to see. Everything was written clearly, and organized well. The book is also a good compact size, easy to carry and not too heavy. I especially appreciated the history on cities and sites, as there is much to know about these old towns.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, October 22, 2009

By 

P. Leung "goot4ugood4me" (CA, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rough Guide to Croatia 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)

This book provides a lots of sights to see and background history. I think it does a much better job than the Lonely Planet book. That said, I wish it was better at letting readers know what is an absolute must see, since I'm sure that most visitors are on a specific time frame.