Tripbuilder: Paris

Rating:
Summary: This was the only quick-reference guide I needed
Review: I'm truly hooked on the Tripbuilder books for travel. The color-coded and numbered keys to areas of interest, the map of the city, and the guide to the metro, as well as various tips on things to see and do all contribute to an amazing experience. Paris doesn't need to be "sold" as a tourist destination, but this book contributes so much to giving the visitor a better appreciation of what the city offers (as if that's possible!).

The historical annotations provided the much-needed perspective on the significance of everything we were seeing.

I especially liked the occasional bursts of humor that had me guffawing, and that added to the whole experience. Thanks for including the tip on going to the rooftop of the Samarataine for a panoramic view of Paris. We did just that, and enjoyed ourselves so much we stayed for two hours --- and all it cost was a glass of wine and capuccino.

Rating:
Summary: Out of date - misleading information (2001 version)
Review: While this travel guide is quite valueable for some content, it is sufficiently out of date as to be questionable for many items. My wife and I just returned from Paris. We used this guide successfully for some items, but the version we have --- 2001 --- has misleading information about musuem times. We actually got kicked out of our tour of the Louvre (and did not get to see the Mona Lisa) because the tour book said that the Louvre was open late on Mondays and Wednesays - NOT TRUE anymore.

If you use this book, verify the information BEFORE you make your plans (sort of makes the book worthless in this sense as a trip builder).