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Rating:  Summary: Outstanding guide to two of my favorite cities. Review: I have been to Charleston and Savannah several times, so I picked up this book to see if Mike Sigalas "got it right." He certainly did. This book not only tells you the things you ought to see, but also tells you things that you ought to know to really appreciate these two extraordinary places. For example, his extensive history sections help explain why these two cities are not simple clones of each other. His small articles do not shy away from controversial topics. When writing about the very few remaining slave houses, for example, he explains how these humble structures were not torn down to obliterate any visible remembrance of the bad old days of slavery, but fell the same fate as almost every other working class house from that time. The book has good maps and directions, and--best of all--in my estimation, it does not sound like it was written by the local Chamber of Commerce. Sigalas's humor comes through without feeling a need to show off. This book is best read before you go to Charleston and/or Savannah. It will make your visit(s) so much better.
Rating:  Summary: Don't bother Review: I hoped to kill two birds with one stone with this book as I plan to visit both Savannah and Charleston. I have only made it to Savannah so far, but found this book very sparse on information. There was only a very small section on Savannah which contained one lone page of restaurant listings. There was also only a small piece on Bonaventure Cemetary (two paragraphs), and the book did not include any maps or directions to get you to the cemetary and it is quite off the beaten track! I would recommend saving your money for real guidebook.
Rating:  Summary: Excellently written book! Review: I really enjoyed the details and humor in this Moon book. It's really well written and has great maps! I took it with me on a recent trip to Charleston and found it to be an excellent resource. Mike Sigalas really captures the feel of the region and has great recommendations.
Rating:  Summary: A well-written guide Review: I used this book on my first trip to Savannah, and it was great. The author has a lot of personality, and he vividly describes the people, places, and atmosphere of this most unique place. We tried out a number of the recommendations in the book, and they were all good. A highly recommended guidebook to a fantastic city.
Rating:  Summary: Disappointing Guidebook; Many errors. Review: I was very disappointed using this book on my first trip to Charleston and Savannah. The maps contained numerous errors. The index was incomplete, omitting many attractions contained in the book. It was frustrating trying to find information. The hotel and restaurant listings were skimpy, and omitted helpful information. It took me 30 minutes to locate one restaurant because the map was wrong, and then when I arrived, I discovered that the restaurant was only open on the weekends. The main strengths of this book are the historical background and anecdotes (some of which were more fiction than fact, according to the docents I met at the museums and plantations.) I have been a fan of the Moon Handbook series. Their books on Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and Yellowstone Nat'l Park are excellent. This one, however, was bad. Luckily, I brought a second guidebook along, Fodors. While I usually don't like Fodors, this one was good, and was more helpful than the Moon Handbook. Save your money and buy the Fodors.
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