Book: Paris: DK Eyewitness Travel
Genre: Travel guidebook
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley
Publication date: 2012
Pages: 447

Source: Purchased

Summary: Starting with an introduction that includes sample 4-day itineraries and a quick history of the city, roaming through every region of Paris, and ending with all the practical stuff like where to eat and how to get around, the DK Eyewitness Travel Paris guidebook is a complete vacation in the palm of your hand. The photographs, maps, and detailed labeled drawings of major sites, make this book a visual treat.

Thoughts: I don’t always read travel guides from cover to cover, but I read this one, starting months in advance of my trip so that I could be sure I was planning our itinerary to best suit our needs. The maps with suggested walking routes prepared me for ambling about Paris with a bit more purpose. The photos helped keep me oriented to the nearest landmarks. Museum diagrams with starred exhibits helped me find the things I most wanted to see. The information in the back was reassuring and practical — this was where I learned about the Paris Pass that saved us time and money.

Appeal: I love the DK Eyewitness Travel books for armchair travel and frequently end up taking the book on the actual trip because, by then, I’m so familiar with it. Other travel guides are lighter weight and cover special interests like saving time and money, but these are the ones I turn to when I want to get the feel of a place before I go — or, sometimes, instead of going.

Challenges: This is my eighth book for the Books on France challenge. Check out the link list there — we’re building up a nice collection of French-themed book reviews.

What are your favorite travel guides?