Eyewitness Travel Guide to France (Paperback)

~ Paul Hines (Editor), Claire Tellier (Contributor), Eric Gibory (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, engrossing, and just plain fun-to-read guidebook than the Eyewitness Travel Guide: France. Spilling over with all sorts of useful information for the traveler, you'll find three-dimensional drawings, floor plans, and detailed neighborhood maps, as well as timelines, charts, even Metro stations. Broken into four sections--"Introducing France," "Region by Region" (covering Paris quite impressively, as well as the Loire Valley, Provence, Brittany, and Normandy), "Traveler's Needs," and "Survival Guide"--the guide paints a complete picture of the country. Readers will especially appreciate the hundreds of color photos of everything from ski towns in the Alps to the beaches of St. Tropez to vineyards of the Rhone Valley. You'll also find street-by-street illustrated city walks (Paris's Champs-Élysées and St. Germain-des-Pres are two good ones), not to mention the best brasseries, bistros, and boulangeries. --Jill Fergus

Review

...You feel, looking at them, as if you could close the book and step into the street. -- Contra Costa Times

...considered to be the world's best travel resource to over 30 destinations around the world, make it easier to plan a splendid vacation. -- North American Press Syndication

Both novice and experienced travelers will be captivated. -- US News & World Report

Each book is a visual as well as informational feast about a particular place. -- The New York Times

Encyclopedic in scope, it's meant to be used before, during, and after your stay. -- Travel & Leisure

The Best Guidebooks Ever -- SKY MAGAZINE

The best travel guides ever. -- Sky Magazine -Delta In flight Magazine

The most graphically exciting and visually pleasing series on the market. -- Chicago Tribune

Want to know where to get a great espresso on your way to the Uffizi? Or how much to tip a hotel maid in New York City? Try these travel guides, each an intricate trove of 3-D aerial views, landmark floor plans, color photos and essential eating, shopping and entertainment info. With titles covering Paris, Prague, and London, these pocket-sized guides are like a Michelangelo fresco: deliriously rich in detail. -- People Magazine

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Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: DK Travel (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564586464
• ISBN-13: 978-1564586469
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #827,260 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

83 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars La belle France, May 21, 2000

By	saliero (NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This book is certainly comprehensive, and was a fine companion through many parts of France, some not receiving very much coverage in some other guidebooks. The glossy paper and high quality colour reproductions are the usual Eyewitness standard.

I have used a variety of guidebooks in France - let's Go, The Rough Guide, Baedeker's, michelin, and this combines the best of them all.

To contrast one place, two books: Chartres. The Baedeker's includes a photo of the cathedral, and a smallish diagram showing the main structures internally and descriptions of the Royal Doorway and stained glass. There is some brief locational and historical material about the city of Chartres and mentions the well-regarded Museum of Fine Arts. Eyewitness, by contrast, gives the address, phone no and opening times of the museum (might or might not be helpful, depending on accuracy!) as well as its main attractions, as well as some brief info about Chartres. Then follow two double pages on the cathedral - one containing a 3-D type photo with cut-away, discussing all the important features (with some pictured), and a double-page spread on the stained glasses, including a colour diagram and key to all the windows. Eyewitness wins hands down. It is the same story with the general Michelin Guide to France, which also tends to be quite dry. Nevertheless, the regional Michelin guides are good if you are going to spend a lengthy time in one region. The cutaways, diagrams and maps in Eyewitness make it really special.

Eyewitness also includes great information about aspects of French culture and history, listings on where to stay and eat. If you want budget accommodation, it's a good idea to carry a Let's Go , Rough Guide or Lonely Planet type guide as well. The Practical information section is really a treat in Eyewitness guides, and this one does not disappoint : pictures of money, a pic of a standard French electrical plug even, how to operate one of the automatic, self-cleaning toilets (don't allow children under 10 to use them alone!), using phone card telephone, or a coin-operated one, and really useful for the driving tourist, typical road signs etc.

It' easy to rave about Eyewitness, with good cause. I cannot imagine anyone being disappointed with it (as long as you aren't using it as a prime source for accommodation, unless you have money to spare).

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the essential guide book to Paris-Eyewitness Travel Guide, February 11, 2000

By	cheri m. wheeler (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

I do not speak French and this was my first trip to Paris. My girlfriend and I are both over 40 and were going to spend 10 glorious days in Paris. Eyewitness was the most important item we brought with us. We were able to easily locate every place we wanted to visit and the most simple way to get there. The subway guide was absolutely the best. We were able to ride the subway all over Paris without the least problem and view all the attractions listed in the guide along the way. The guide gave us tips, like buying one pass for all museums, which we would not have known otherwise. I was amazed at how many other tourist had the same guide. It was more or less the bible for most tourists. I would highly recommend this guide to anyone planning a trip to Paris.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Go Home Without It!, August 25, 2000

By	Guy Delarosa (Redwood City, CA) - See all my reviews

I have just returned from our 3 week family (& Hector) vacation in France and I loved the book!! It is very insightful and easy to follow. The pictures will lure you to the wonderful locations in France. Buy the book you will never regret it!! After your trip the book and the pictures will bring back all the great memories of your trip. I had some other books as well with me, however this book was the best.

Au revoir