The Rough Guide to Paris
The Rough Guide to Paris
Tags: Guide, Paris, Rough
This entry was posted
on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 11:52 am and is filed under General.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
December 31st, 2009 at 11:54 am
Although the information in this book is quite detailed and accurate finding things while in Paris was a pain. The book is organised in districts rather than by topic. There is no main list of things to see such as museums etc. This means if you are looking for inspiration or hidden gems it means slogging your way through several sections before finding anything interesting (if at all!). It was quite useful in deciding which area of Paris to try and find a hotel but then so would a map!
Rating: 2 / 5
December 31st, 2009 at 2:23 pm
This is a very good guide. I used one when I went to Paris in the mid-90s, and another when I went over the Xmas vacation. I’ll coninue to use it as it gives a lot of up to date info on where to go, what’s open, what’s closed, etc.
However, I have one gripe that prevents me from giving it 4 or 5 stars. A left-wing political bias runs right through the book. Perhaps the writers imagine that all independent travelers are lefties….sorry mates, that’s just not true! All the political history given in the book comes with a lefty spin. E.g, the atrocities committed by the Communards are glossed over, while those committed against them are played up. Likewise, the role of the Left in the wartime resistance is highlighted, but not the shameful collaboration of the French Communists with the Germans between the fall of France and the attack on the Soviet Union.
‘Vive’ the Rough Guide! ‘A bas’ the political bias!!
Rating: 3 / 5
December 31st, 2009 at 4:39 pm
This guide reaches lots of places the others don’t – like the 14th & 20th arrondissements, free of mega monuments but fascinating in their own ways. It also covers all the regular sites with wit and pith, and has rich context section with history, language, and further reading. The maps and restaurant tips are also excellent, and the listings include places like pool halls and Turkish baths that no one else covers. A real find.
Rating: 5 / 5