Rick Steves' France 2004 (Paperback)

~ (Author), Steve Smith (Author) "Paris offers sweeping boulevards, sleepy parks, world-class art galleries, chatty crepe stands, Napoleon's body, sleek shopping malls, the Eiffel Tower, and people-watching from outdoor cafes..." (more)
Key Phrases: rooms into three categories, hotel rating system, regional sights, World War, Les Baux, Middle Ages (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Home to magnificent art museums, romance, breathtaking scenery and some of the world's most revered food, France is one of Europe's most visited countries. View the numerous masterpieces in the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay; admire the ancient Abbey of Mont St. Michel in Normandy; schuss down the slopes in the French Alps, and more. With Rick Steves' France 2004, travelers can delve into French culture, make friends with the locals, and experience everything France has to offer — economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, Rick Steves' France 2004 includes color maps, opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights; friendly places to eat and sleep; suggested day plans; walking tours and trip itineraries; clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot; and Rick's newest "back door" discoveries. America's number one authority on travel to Europe, Rick's time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

About the Author

Rick Steves is on a mission: to help make European travel accessible and meaningful . --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing (November 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566916690
• ISBN-13: 978-1566916691
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,279,979 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Won't be taking this book with me, January 5, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rick Steves' France 2003 (Paperback)

The descriptions in this books are very good and he makes many good recommendations for sites, hotels, and restaurants. However, I think this book left out a lot of wonderful destinations (such as Fontainebleau, Aix-en-Provence, Dijon, etc.) and lacks the detailed maps that can be found in other French guidebooks. What he does put in this book is very good, but he could have added a lot more to it. I was less pleased with this guidebook than I have been with some of Rick Steves' other books.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Carbon-Copy of the 2002 book for more $$$, June 6, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Rick Steves' France 2003 (Paperback)

I was surprised how little new content there was. I returned the book and took mine from last year (2002) and still discovered all new things in its suggestions. Don't waste the money on the latest when it's not the greatest. 2003 and 2002 are created equal. Whoever decided to put out a new book each year so we'd get rid of the old and get the new one is CRAZY! I understand updates every few years, but there was not enough difference to spend $... on.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb for first-time travellers...., January 18, 2003

By	Mr. D. S. Stadler (London, UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Rick Steves' France 2003 (Paperback)

I haven't seen the 2003 edition (my latest is 2001) but I would be shocked if Steves has cut Dijon out of the book, as it was in previous editions. This is a great starting point for a trip to France, but it's predecessor was a book about the best 2-22 days in France and I think it shows.

A marked problem with the Steves guides is that his guided tours businesses tend to fill up his top-rated hotels in many cities so that guidebook customers cannot get in. I encountered this myself in Bacharach in the Rhineland and in Venice. Frustrating.

That said, he is an excellent writer and the Rick Steves guides, unlike the Lonely Planet and Rough Guide series, do tend to discriminate between the top-flight and the ordinary. Unfortunately the Steves guides also miss things that way. I've never been able to understand why Rothenburg is in the German guide instead of any number of other German cities such as Bamberg or Schwabisch Hall for example, which possess similar ambiance without the touristic hordes. Nor do I necessarily agree with his choices in the Dordogne.

I use the Steves Guides as a starting point, then branch out and do my own research.