Customer Reviews

Top 10 Chicago (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was a wonderful introduction to Chicago and definitely
made my trip more enjoyable. I have used many of the top 10/eyewitness travel guides throughout the years, and really feel that Top 10 Chicago was one of the best. It captured the best the city has to offer, and was perfect for someone who had less than a week in the city. With the help of my Top 10 guide I made it to 8 of the 10 top sites. One of the best features of this book is its size - it's compact, chock-full of information, and easily fits into any bag/purse. The book also included a very helpful subway/street map and, because the book is so thin, I didn't feel like I was being conspicuous when I referred to the guide in public. DK continues its tradition of
including top-notch photography, and there was also a lot of
background information about each of the Top 10 sites. My
book was a copyright 2004 and all of the information (prices, free museum days, discounts) was still the same ; I would definitely recommend this book for your upcoming Chicago trip but, like with any guidebook, make sure it's the most recent version you can find so dates, times, etc. are still useful. Highly recommended!

What do you need when you are in a big city for the first time and just for 4 days? You need a simple guide, one that you can take with you while you're exploring the area. Using the top 10 system you can find all the highlights in a few seconds. As I need some structure in my exploration too, I used this guide in combination with Frommer's Chicago day by day. It made my visit to Chicago to a success. There will certainly be a next time.

It's occurred to me that even though I've lived in Chicago for a good number of years, I still don't know the city *that* well. I picked this book up on a whim since I've had good experiences with DK travel books in the past and it floored me because of the amount of things I haven't been to and history I felt like I should have known. It's a combination of both me sucking at Chicago history and this being a really good book.

Most travel books suck, but the DK Top Ten books are essentially the most distilled books you can get for a city and make a good book you keep in a pocket or in a bag while exploring.

If you are going to Chicago, for a short or long stay, I think this book pays for itself. Maps, Guides, and suggestions were very good. Its small and when I was not carrying the book just brought along the map which comes out.

Great shopping suggestions. Serious qualiy items at bargan prices to be found. Some of the best food for resonable prices as well. If you do not know Chicago - bring this along with you. I was justs there for 3 days and it helped my decision making several times - and never a regret.

This is a great pocket guide for tourists, business visitors, and even residents. The authors provide top ten lists on first-class and budget hotels, museums, restuarants, attractions, night life, shopping, etc. You'll learn about many of our most interesting neighborhoods, blues clubs, sporting events, etc. Readers get a host of useful ideas for short and longer visits, and for enjoying the Windy City with lavish spending or on a strict budget. The guide has useful maps and information on getting around by public transit/CTA (busses & Subway/El's), getting to and from airports, venues, etc. As the book suggests, don't rent a car unless you're visiting suburbia. Also, Chicago's weather can change quickly, generally ranging from warm and humid (Summer) to mild (Spring, Fall) to frigid (Winter). Like most travel guides, this one focuses on downtown and safer north side areas plus hyde park - and hints at but doesn't identify those areas best avoided (usually south and west side ghetto areas). When in doubt ask around or take a taxi. Many locals say no visit is complete without deep-dish pizza, a Gyros and fries, or a lakefront stroll on warm, sunny, non-windy days when the lake is a gorgeous deep blue.

Thin and compact (8 X 4 inches), this guide fits neatly into most pockets and purses. It's a worthy choice for a fun visit.

Color throughout. Easy to use and keep track of what we saw to reference back to in the future. Great street maps. Has all the famous pizza parlors!! Perfect little guide! Always get theirs and Fodor's.

I had traveled to Chicago before but I bought this book for my travel partner who had never been in the area. There were great suggestions for places to eat and what to see. It includes websites and phone numbers for all of the place suggestions and it also gives you hours of operation. The absolute best part about this book is the included map. It gives you an easy to read map of the city and a transit map that is super helpful on the go. I would definitely recommend this product if you're spending a few days in Chicago and you need suggestions.

I am not a big fan of the Eyewitness guides, but this Top 10 Chicago was the most useful, complete and precise travel guide I have used in a long time (I use a lot of them). It is all you need for a 3-5 day trip. It is a good reference for longer visits (coupled with other travel guides).

So, if you are someone going to Chicago as a first-time visitor, get it.

If you are the author or publisher, the only content suggestion would be to provide locations based on intersections (so that one can locate it by looking at the map - without having to go online), not only by street address. I wish the folding layout of the pullout map was simpler.

Great source of valuable information. Helped me to prioritize what must be seen before I leave. Also, helped give me an idea as to the cost of admission and meals.

I was not so impressed by the content of this guidebook. All information is very high-level, there is no in-depth information on anything. I would have preferred to have less of the Top-10-lists, but rather some that also give some more information on the various sights. The maps are okayish, but not outstanding. Lots of other guidebooks provide much better maps with detailed directions to the sights - not here, you cannot necessarily rely on the maps in this book.
The good thing is the size of the book - good to take with you wherever you go, easily fits into your pocket. And if you're willing to do quite some additional research online and get a better map from the visitor center, then this guidebook is okay.