Customer Rating: 
Summary: Beautifully-photographed and ample history but not much of a guide.
Comment: I love DK guides for their sumptuous photos and the attention they pay to the stories behind national monuments and histories of the destination. For a concise read of the above, DK is the best.
However, DK isn't much of a guide to places. I bought this book expecting to use it for a trip around France but that didn't materialize and I only got to use the Paris section. My review is going to be based on the way I used that part of the book. Besides the usual tourist attractions and monuments, DK doesn't really do a good job of immersing travellers in the culture. Most of the accomodation and restaurant recommendations are on the expensive side and are in touristy areas. I must say that I planned for the accomodation and eating parts of the trip better by browsing around blogs online.
Like I already mentioned, this DK book is absolutely beautiful and is perfect for tourists who can afford to live the high life. It is also a nice read of the history of the place, the stories behind the national monuments and such. However, this book isn't suitable for travellers who want to be immersed in the culture of the place (even if it's only for a week) or who are on a budget (like me!).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Gives an overview of France
Comment: I've purchased this book expecting an overall look to France in order to point out some areas that would be most interesting for me. This book follows the usual quality of the series, which I consider best from what is on the market, but i got a little dissapointed, because a huge part of this book is dedicated to Paris (I would have bought "Paris" if I wanted a detailed guide). Other territories of France are reviewed very briefly, and having in mind my knowledge about some of them, only some, and not always the best landmarks are pointed out. What is more, only some sightseeing points of nature are mentioned, so if you expect some picturesque mountain routes in southern France to be marked you will get dissapointed. So all in all it is a very nice guide of major French towns and chateaus, worth having to discover the most impressive urban sites. However, if you plan to travel in some specific region, it is better to search for more detailed guides ('Provence and cote da zur' and 'Dordogne and Southwest France' from the same series are really fantastic).
Customer Rating:
Summary: Very Helpful
Comment: Just returned from a two week visit to Europe, mainly in France. This book was much more user friendly than the typical Michelin guide and I highly recommend it. Places are easy to find. Lots of information makes it easier for you to get an impresssion of a particular place, what to see, what to do, and will it will feel like being there. Highly organized and user friendly.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Planning Guides I have used
Comment: We have traveled to France the past 3 years and are in the process of planning the 4th at this writing. As always (since discovering these guides)I started with this guide to determine which part of France we will visit and the potential route. I also own the guides to Paris, Loire Valley and Provence. The Green Guides offer much more detail but are infuriatingly arranged in alphabetical order. Eyewitness guides are arranged by area and include some theme tours (wine,cheese,troglodyte, etc)This and the beautiful pictures make planning a joy. I just wish they published an area guide for Southwest France, where we are headed in 2003!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Travel Guide, Beautiful Coffee Table Book!
Comment: .
Summary:
Every Dorling Kindersley Guide has been a great and interesting book... and delightful to have and use, even if you are not traveling to that location, but are only interested in learning more!The Guides are well organized in a logical and easy to follow manner. They are beautifully illustrated, well developed with accurate information (it is unusual for hotel and restaurant information to be that accurate), have enough history to help the reader understand the people and cultural background, and have a lot of useful travel information and useable maps in the appendixes.
But, the really great attraction to this book is several fold; it is:
............Very complete
............Easy to read
............Beautifully and artistically completed
............Good shopping, safety and other tips
............Gorgeous photographs too numerous to list.
Summary Negative:
The country books are too general to really satisfy all your needs in any given location. So, if your entire trip is spent in Champagne, or Brittany, for example, you will also want to get the specific guide for that city (but, the Paris Section is fairly good)
Guide Specifics:
The guides are organized as follows:
How to use this guide
Introduction to France
............Intro. to France
............Portrait of France
............France Through the Year
............History of France
Paris and Ile de France, Area by Area
............Intro. Paris and Ile de France
............River View of Paris
............Ile de La Cite, Marais, Beaubourg
............Tuileries and Opera
............Champs-Elysees, Invalides
............The Left Bank
............Farther Afield
............Shops and Markets
............Entertainment in Paris
............Paris Street Finder
............Ile de France
France by Region
............Northeast France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............Western France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............Central France and the Alps
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............Southwest France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
............South France
........................Specific Cities / Towns
Travelers Needs
............Hotels
............Restaurants
Survival Information
............Practical Info.
........................Police, safety, buses, trains, etc.
............Travel Info.
........................Maps, tours, currency, etc.
............General Index
............Phrase Book
Discussion:
The book begins with "A Portrait of France", including a complete map, a review of France, it's history, and France thought the Year - including events, etc., and France's History (very interesting).
The Paris section is very good supports this book for those on a general tour of France (see Negatives below). But, one should get the alternative "Eyewitness Guide to Paris" if you wish better information on that city.
Region with an "At a glance" overview, then has subsections of Cities / Towns, then specific locations, churches, historical monuments, bridges, galleries, etc.
Architectural reviews include various views, and cutaways; given greater understanding and better perspective. They are all attractive, if not works of art - honestly.
The travelers' Info. offers good and valid info. on prices, currencies, customs, important words, etc. I used the reviews on resorts, hotel's restaurants and nightclubs, etc. and found they were useful and accurate, and helpful with my touring and site decisions
The books are so well thought out that it has multiple maps, with various lookup tables, and the book's flaps are designed to be used as bookmarks for map pages.
Negative:
The country-wide guides are by definition more general than the specific city guides. So, if you are going to Brittany, get a specific "Brittany" guide for better local specifics. If you decide to get the "France" guide for your 3, or 4 city tour of France, understand that this guide may be a little to general for all your local travel needs.
Conclusion:
As the President, CEO of an International Meeting Planning Corporation we have many resources and techniques to learn about places we have meetings / groups at as well as the cities and sights. But, as a traveler, this book really is top notch and I would recommend it to anyone going on a personal trip, or wanting to learn about a city, or location.
