Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Reviews (1)

A book to keep
The best guide available for those who plan to spend a longer time in Rome. It can also be used as a reference source by art historians, architects, and archeologists. Well-structured, well-written. It's printed on high quality paper, which makes it a little too heavy to carry, but this is how such books should be published -- you wouldn't like to part with your Blue Guide at the end of your trip. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Italy    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Reviews (3)

question of book
is there any mention in this book regarding the region of cosenza in calabria, my mother's hometown? i would be most pleased if i could find anything about cosenza in this book or any other you may know of. in the very near future my husband and i will want to visit and it would be nice if i could get any information prior to our going there.thankyou for allowing me to ask this question. linda tremonti

question of book
is there any mention in this book regarding the region of cosenza in calabria, my mother's hometown? i would be most pleased if i could find anything about cosenza in this book or any other you may know of. in the very near future my husband and i will want to visit and it would be nice if i could get any information prior to our going there.thankyou for allowing me to ask this question. linda tremonti

Un libro assolutamente incomparabile
As an Italian who comes from Southern Italy I found the Blue Guide covering this area to be absolutely on target and extremely detailed.I have been so impressed by the Blue Guides, that it has become the firstitem I pack when ready for travel ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (4)

Very Specialized
The "Blue Guide" is not a guidebook in the "Eat at Dogan's, sleep at Mustafa's" sense, although a bit of that (dated) information is featured. Rather, it is an exhaustive compilation of data regarding the historical sites of Turkey, usually with accompanying maps. On our last trip, we carried it and the Lonely Planet guide, and found that the LP guide was, as you'd expect, more useful for travel logistics, but was surprisingly also about as good for site information. This is because the Blue Guide's descriptions are often taken verbatim from official tourist information that's generally provided free at the sites. As a result of our experience, I'd go with just the LP another time.
A good guide book
After spending a month of traveling through Turkey visiting archaeological sites, ruins and museums, I found this book to be helpful since there was little I knew of the specifics of the history of the sites to which I was visiting. And yet, some of the more specialist historians and classicists with whom I was traveling found many, many errors in the book.
Not for every traveler to Turkey....but
We returned in Feb 2003 after 3 months of independent travel in Turkey. We were there mostly to visit archeological sites and ruins, and we traveled with several other books. Nothing, however approached the exhaustive, invaluable and often overwhelming information that the Blue Guide provided us with. Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Middle East - Turkey    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Turkey   

Reviews (2)

Indispensible for the island
We used this guide at the exclusion of several other guides on Greece/Crete.We found it indispensible.Not only for the cities, beaches, towns, foods, and general area, but for a piece by piece exhibit guide for the Museum (they don't give you any informational handouts at the Museum in Iraklion), but for the MANY ruins, monasteries and historical sites throughout Crete.This was the single best guide we had for Crete.Highly recommended.

Blue Guide Crete, 7th ed.
This guide gives the information you need to know about traveling in Crete: history, current information, food and lodging. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Greece    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Crete    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Don't Leave for Jordan Without It
Jordan is a country that is known to most Westerners mainly for its front-line role in the Arab-Israeli conflict; for the spectacular Nabataean temples carved into cliff-faces at Petra; and as the scene of Lawrence of Arabia's adventures during the First World War.Now that it has a formal peace treaty with Israel, more westerners are making their way to Jordan.Those who do will find the Blue Guide to Jordan an invaluable companion.I also recommend it highly to armchair travelers who just want to learn more about this little-known but intriguing country.Read more

Subjects:  1. Middle East - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Middle East    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (4)

Blue Guide Tuscany
I was very pleased with this book but I ordered an used book about shopping in Italy at the same time which had pages missing.I returned that book (I believe it was through Warehouse - something) and am still waiting for my refund. I think in the future, I will buy only Amazon products and not order "used" things.

If You Really Want to See Tuscany...
If you really want to see Tuscany, this it: this book will take you to places you wouldn't find any other way, from charming villages that are way off the beaten track, down colorful streets and staircases to hidden piazzithat you would have walked right past, into courtyards, and out to ancientcountry churches with masterpieces on the altar. The Blue Guide to Tuscanyis 510 pages long, plus two indexes: the author, Alta Macadam, hasapparently combed every city, town and hamlet in Tuscany, traveled everyroad and lane, wangled her way into every locked church and described itstreasures, and surveyed every provincial museum. She includes practicallyeverything of any interest at all in the entire province of Tuscany,including the provenance of every work of art and the programs of thefrescoes and carvings in every church and abbey, and notes on the contentsof every museum. She gives extensive information on the architecture ofTuscany's buildings, including many floor plans, and good notes on localhistory. It is organized geographically, with town and city tours, and lotsof maps. I heard many guides giving their talks on our visit, and very fewof them had more to say about anything that Ms. Macadam or were moreinformative; many of the places she described exhaustively had neitherguides nor tourists besides ourselves, which in Tuscany is unusual. Great guidebook for exploring Tuscany
I just returned from a trip to Italy which included 4 days in Umbria and 8days in Tuscany.I found the Blue Guides for both regions outstanding. Not surprisingly, both are quite worn (the best sign of a usefulguidebook).Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (7)

Timeless
All right, the most recent edition of the Blue Guide added CBGB's, an East Village rock, punk club that has now gone out of business. A few other establishments in the various editions of this fantastic guide are undoubtedly also no longer with us.
Not a review but an informative note
Although Amazon lists only one author, the current edition of this book was actually revised and heavily rewritten by Stuart Miller and Sharon Seitz as a glance inside the book itself will reveal.
Simply Indispensable!
Carol von Pressentin Wright's "Blue Guide to New York" is probably the most comprehensive guidebook to the Big Apple available. Absolutely indispensable, it includes 41 detailed maps for all five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, along with several black and white photographs. As a New Yorker, I cannot think of anything that has not been included here. I frequently use the book myself, especially when I have out-of-town visitors. It is also excellent, for New Yorkers and visitors alike, to use on walking tours. I have the 2002 edition.
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Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    4. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Far East    2. Asia - Southeast    3. Guidebooks    4. Thailand    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Europe - Greece    3. Europe - Western    4. Reference - General    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (1)

Told us more than our local friends knew
On our recent trip to Cologne, we found this book was an invaluable companion.If you're not familiar with the Blue Guide series of travel books, they do not cover hotels and restaurants and evening entertainment,but they do cover details about history, architecture, museums, cathedrals,etc., and provide a plan of the major cities.Cities and towns areorganized by routes, so if you are driving from one city to the next theyare indispensable.Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Germany    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (1)

You're going to LOVE BRITAIN!
I've spent a year in England and have made >30 visits all together.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. General    3. Guidebooks    4. London (England)    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Asia - Southeast    3. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Indonesia    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (4)

takes the light and joy out of the Venice experience
Some travelers recommend the Blue Guide to Venice, especially for its walking itineraries. It doesn't have information on restaurants or hotels. It is an excellent reference, perhaps bring it with you and read up on each site before you leave your hotel room, but it is very very detailed and, in my opinion, dry reading. I like the Links book "Venice for Pleasure" better because there is much detail and history, but the tone is conversational; for me the Blue Guide is like reading an instruction manual.

Art, Architecture and History - it's all here!
The amazingly rich Blue Guides have been around for years and years - I recently bought a hardback Rome Blue Guide from 1964! - and they just keep getting better and better.If you're like me, and have a passion for art and history, they're the best guides available.No glossy photos, and dense with details, they're not the book for everyone - but because they concisely describe nearly every corner of the city, they ARE the guidebook for some of us. An excellent guide, but it only meets certain travel needs..
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Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (5)

Too Bad Rick Steves Doesn't go This Far South
Yes, as other reviewers write, Ellen Grady's book is full of rich and detailed history of the places you'll visit, but it lacks essential practical information.We used it only for Taormina (beautiful town, highly recommended) and Catania (Sicily's second largest city, which you could skip), so the book may be more helpful elsewhere on the island.As for these two destinations, the book lacked essential information (like the frequency and cost of various public transportation options between towns).Also, it had virtually no narrative description of restaurants, just a mere listing.If I wanted history, I would have bought a history book.I wanted practical information to get the best out of our short time on the island, this book didn't have it.

Paradise on Earth: SICILY seen by Ellen Grady
And wonderfully described and brought forward in an uncanny, friendly and witty manner. Nothing is left to question, only see, explore and enjoy for yourself! Wonderful Hotel, B&B, Restaurant, Beach listing!! Siteseeing tour needs no other guide book!!

Earthly paradise
This new edition of the classic Blue Guide Sicily is packed with information, not only about cities and places to see, how to get there and so on, but also lots of hotels, B&Bs, farm accommodation, and the best places to eat! (Which doesn't mean the most expensive). Sicily is so different compared with any other place in the world that it can seem intimidating at first; everybody seems to shout instead of talk, traffic whizzes around, yet Ellen Grady takes you by the hand and helps you relax and enjoy, appreciating all the wonderful things about Sicily that make this island unique, a true earthly paradise. I love Sicily thanks to her, and I just can't wait for her next book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Sicily    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Great Britain - General    2. Europe - Gt. Britain/England    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel - General    6. Italy    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (9)

"The Blue Bible for Albania"
I lived and worked for 18 months in Tirana and traveled throughout the country from Kukes to Korca to Saranda to Shengjin and I always, always carried my Blue Guide. It was indispensable for my personal exploration of the country and allowed me to act as "tour guide" for visitors. I used the Albania-only edition until this edition came out and immediately upgraded.Any book can tell you how to get to a country or which hotels are available, but they quickly become obsolete.By focusing more on the history, culture, and environment, Pettifer avoids that trap.Albania changes every day and any attempt to recommend which hotel is good, which is safe, which is cheapest will be oudated before the ink is dry.This book tells you more about why things are the way they are.It also covers more areas off the beaten path. Yes, I own the Bradt guide too, but prefer the more detailed, denser content of the Blue Guide.

buy Blue Guide for history rather than travel
I found this book in the bookstores in Albania in both English and Albnanian versions. As is typical of the Blue Guide publications, it is geared more toward a historical rather than travel context.
Ivory Tower travel guide!
This reminds me of one of those coffee table books people used to buy because they felt they ought. Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Eastern    2. Europe - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Europe    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Europe - Greece    2. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Travel / Europe / Greece   

Reviews (3)

Condescending, little useful info, and woefully out of date.
The only things that were useful to me in this book were the maps, and even they were out of date.To read this book (written long ago in 1998), you'd think that Bulgaria was a.) boring, b.) dangerous, and c.) miserable.Bulgaria, as I discovered on a trip this summer, is none of the above:it is beautiful, warm, fascinating and an incredible amount of fun.Blue Guide should really go out of its way to update this guide to reflect Bulgaria as it truly is now: much more forward thinking, much more westernized, and very tourist friendly, with a ton of fascinating and (still) affordable things to do and to see.Spend your money on a better, recent guide.

Excellent Cultural and Historical Guide
The Blue Guide is a first-class travel guide to Bulgaria.The Blue Guide series does not focus on hotel and restaurant infromation but rather provides detailed information on history, architecture, culture, and geography.That is what the Blue Guide does, and it does it better than anyone else.I recommend the guide be used in concert with another guide such as one of the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide series for hotel and restaruant information.

A lot of history not very much practical information
This guide is rather lacking in a many areas. Most notable information on hostels and campgrounds and such. However, it contains a lot of historical background on churches and other areas of intrest in Bulgaria. Unforunately this information dominates most of the guide.If you are looking for a travel guide I recommend Bulgaria a Rough Guide it contains much more pertinent information for the world traveler. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bulgaria    2. Europe - Eastern    3. Guidebooks    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign