Food & Lodging Books - Page 6

Lonely Planet Best Of Tokyo (Lonely Planet Encounter Series)

Wendy Yanagihara

List Price: $14.99 By: Lonely Planet Publications Amazon Marketplace: 13 new & used starting at $0.09

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Subjects -> Travel -> Asia -> Japan -> Tokyo
Subjects -> Travel -> Asia -> Japan -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Asia -> Japan -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Nice maps, but not much else. 2 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This is a super-condensed version of the Tokyo chapter from Lonely Planet Japan with some extra info added by author Wendy Yanagihara.

I honestly cannot find any reason to recommend this book beyond its small size and fold-out color maps, although if you are going to Tokyo for a short business trip it might help. Although I like Lonely Planet's guides, this one is rather inadequate in that it spends too much time discussing Japanese culture and history and wastes too much space on big pictures instead of cramming that space with more useful information such as phone numbers, websites, and travel information (which is confined to a very small space in the back of the book). Culture and history are important things in Japan, but the amount of space given to them in this book defeats the purpose of this guide.

In other words, buy the most recent issue of the Lonely Planet Japan Guide if you're planning a trip to or employment in Japan. If you really love Tokyo above all else you can substitute the Lonely Planet Tokyo guide. Either one has plenty of information about everyone's favorite megalopolis. As for the maps, you can do without them simply by asking your hotel or the average large information desk (especially at Narita Airport) for maps of the Tokyo Metro and JR lines.

Author Yanagihara, while of Japanese ancestry, has a gee-whiz-wow attitude about everything. At times she seems to have less experience in Tokyo than the average English-language school employee. She certainly means well, but the result is a less than stellar guide - however, I get the impression her editors may be most at fault. Perhaps most unfortunate is the guide's invitation for inexperienced visitors to Japan to get lost - that is, to visit places like Kamakura, Nikko, and Fuji without providing any maps of the areas or decent advice on how to get there. There are other errors such as listing the Tokyo Monorail as the only way to access Haneda Airport, but Keikyu and Keisei Railways provide faster service to a more convenient station (Shinagawa). This should not be the case in a guide like this.

If you want a easy-to-carry guide to Tokyo, this will do. For any info beyond that, look for Lonely Planet Japan and Lonely Planet Tokyo.

Update (October 2007): I paged through the guide again recently and came upon this quote describing the Edo-Tokyo Museum:

"...this wonderful museum illustrates Tokyo's rise from the humble riverside origins of Edo (the Eastern capital) to today's fast forward futuristic metropolis."

It's bad enough that Yanagihara and (worse) her editors don't seem to know that Tokyo, not Edo, means "Eastern Capital." The fact that the main Lonely Planet Japan guide correctly describes the name means that someone at LP isn't doing the proofreading they should be, especially as Yanagihara is a contributor to the main guide. An oversight this bad ruins the credbility of "Best of Tokyo" and is a disappointing exception to LP's otherwise high quality.

Editorial Review:

Complemented by fold-out maps anf full-color photographs, these handy pocket-sized travel guides include the best of city landmarks and must-see sights, restaurants, accommodations, and entertainment options for the traveler with limited time.

French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew

Peter Mayle

Amazon Price: $11.16 List Price: $13.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Vintage Amazon Marketplace: 94 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Gastronomy -> General
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Gastronomy -> General AAS
Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Regional & International -> European -> French

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Cozy Read about France 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

"It was a pleasure just to be alive." ~ Peter Mayle, on his experience in France

Peter Mayle's "French Lessons" is an engaging book about French cuisine. He takes the reader off the beaten path to vicariously experience new discoveries. Along the way we find cooking advice (what type of pan to use when making an omelette), health spas, festivals, beaches, marathons and cheese eating competitions.

In one adventure Peter Mayle takes the reader to a Catholic mass which celebrates the expensive black truffle (they are auctioned off before lunch). His vivid prose enlivens the imagination. Through his writing we experience all the nuances he is enjoying.

As someone who makes her own croissants I am always eager to read about French cuisine. This is a warm cozy read, the type of book you curl up with in the winter or read in the summer in the shade.

If you love Peter's books I know you will adore: The "A Year in Provence" Movie.

~The Rebecca Review
Once I spent a weekend in Paris

Editorial Review:

Peter Mayle, francophile phenomenon and author of A Year in Provence, brings another delightful (and delicious) account of the good life, this time exploring the gustatory pleasures to be found throughout France.

The French celebrate food and drink more than any other people, and Mayle shows us just how contagious their enthusiasm can be. We visit the Foire aux Escargots. We attend a truly French marathon, where the beverage of choice is Chteau Lafite-Rothschild rather than Gatorade. We search out the most pungent cheese in France, and eavesdrop on a heated debate on the perfect way to prepare an omelet. We even attend a Catholic mass in the village of Richerenches, a sacred event at which thanks are given for the aromatic, mysterious, and breathtakingly expensive black truffle. With Mayle as our inimitably charming guide, we come away with a satisfied smile (if a little hungry) and the compelling desire to book a flight to France at once.

Zagat Chicago Restaurants 2008/09 (Zagatsurvey: Chicago Restaurants)

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Zagat Survey Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $7.25

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Subjects -> Cooking, Food & Wine -> Professional Cooking -> Professional
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Dining
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> Midwest

Editorial Review:

Chicago Restaurants covers over 1100 restaurants in and around Chicago plus Milwaukee. This handy guide contains Zagat Surveys trusted ratings and reviews for area restaurants based on the opinions of diners like you. The trademark reviews and corresponding ratings for Food Décor Service and Cost are organized alphabetically in a user friendly format. Use the indexes arranged by cuisine neighborhood and special features like In Places Winning Wine Lists or Romantic Places to find the perfect restaurant for any occasion. Also includes stick on bookmarks.

Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Park Guides)

Eric Peterson

Amazon Price: $10.39 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Frommer's Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $6.88

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Parks & Campgrounds
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Subjects -> Travel -> Guidebook Series -> Frommer's

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Not What I Expected 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful.

This book was not what I expected - I would not recommend it at all. It stayed in the car packed away. I also bought Scenic Driving Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, 2nd (Scenic Driving Series) and Outdoor Family Guide to Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Outdoor Family Guides) which were excellent.

Editorial Review:

Frommer's Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks is packed with all the facts, tips and descriptions you need to have perfect park vacation, in a pocket size guide:

• The most memorable park experiences, from Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs, to Snake River raft trips.
• Great places to stay in and near the parks, ranging from historic lodges to family-friendly motels—plus a complete campground guide for each park.
• A fully illustrated nature guide to help you spot and identify bald eagles, bison, wildflowers, and more.
• The best hikes, from ranger-led interpretive walks to challenging backcountry overnights.
• What to see and do outside of the parks: rodeos, chuckwagon feeds, IMAX nature films, an elk preserve, Jackson Hole’s bars and boutiques, and more.
• Detailed, accurate park and trail maps

Lonely Planet Great Britain

David Else, Oliver Berry, George Dunford

List Price: $29.99 By: Lonely Planet Publications Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $0.99

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> Great Britain -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> Great Britain -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Hotels & Inns

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The best of the Great Britain travel books that I have read! 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

In planning a trip to Great Britain, I have purchased three travel books: Lonely Planet, Eyewitness and Frommer's. I would rank them in that order as far as helpfulness in planning our trip. Here are my reasons: I have found Lonely Planet's sections on "where to sleep" and "where to eat" are much more extensive, informative and include a wider variety in price ranges than the other two books. Also, they have more information on some of the smaller towns, that are off the beaten track. I enjoyed the wonderful photographs, maps and illustrations in the Eyewitness Guide to Great Britain and if you can afford two books, it is a great way to prepare for what you will see. However, since I only have room for one travel book in my small suitcase, I plan to take the Lonely Planet book with me on our upcoming trip.

Editorial Review:

Surf-pounded cliffs and crystal-clear lochs, confident metropolises and ancient towns, dramatic wildernesses and remote island getaways - with so much on offer, which Britain will you choose? Explore every side of this diverse land with our inspiring new guide.

• PLAN YOUR ROUTE - full-color highlights, compelling itineraries and 200 easy-to-use maps lead you from the Orkneys to the Isles of Scilly

• IMMERSE YOURSELF - unravel the past and make sense of the present with our in-depth coverage of Britain's rich history and culture

• SLEEP SWEETLY - discerning accommodation reviews guide you to isolated bothies, snug B&Bs and glamorous boutique hotels

• MAKE YOUR ESCAPE - activities info takes you far from the madding crowds, whether on foot or by bicycle, wearing crampons or a wetsuit

• GET STUCK IN - comprehensive eating and entertainment listings help you track down the best local food and the hottest clubs

Complete Idiot's Guide to Running a Bed and Breakfast

Susannah Craig, Park Davis

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Alpha Amazon Marketplace: 63 new & used starting at $6.19

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Hospitality, Travel & Tourism
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Service
Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Management & Leadership -> Management

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The Complete Idiots Guide to Running a Bed & Breakfast 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Lots of good ideas that will save us time and money.

Totally Hits 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 38 people found this review helpful.

This book totally hits it down. From the perspective of someone who loves to look at B&Bs but doesn't often follow the latest trends of demographics and whatnot in an industry laden with stealth, mystery, and cloak & dagger tactics I found out that it is much more of a business to unravel and spend time juxtaposing with other work rather than just a casual fling of an investment like what would result if one were, for instance, to open a stock account and buy a specific amount of random (or highly recommended) equities. The author is very well known in his subject matters and thus procreats an authenticity of vernacular style of someone who would run a typical B&B but who would author books and articles on the side kinda like Robin Masters from that excellent television programme Magnum PI - how he would just like let that dude stay in his house all the time and dog out his Ferrari but wouldn't barely even charge him very much because all in all they were the best of friends AND because Higgins, despite all of his worldliness just was not up to par in keeping up with a crafty and backstabbing individual like Thomas Magnum.

Editorial Review:

This book holds all the secrets to opening and running a successful inn. It gives you guidelines for choosing a profitable location and describes a day in the life of the average inn owner. You can find information about how to write up a business plan, what to include on you Web site, what "house rules" you need to set up to keep your guests and your investment safe, and how to use your own personal touch to make your inn unique.

Rick Steves' Eastern Europe

Rick Steves, Cameron Hewitt

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Avalon Travel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $9.98

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Dining

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to visit Etruscan caves in Central Italy's hill towns, shop for cheeses in Avignon's open-air market, or catch an accordion performance on Amsterdam's city streets? With Rick Steves’ Best of Europe, travelers can experience the best of everything Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland have to offer—economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, this guide includes, opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans, walking tours and trip itineraries, and clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot. America’s #1 authority on travel to Europe, Rick’s time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

The National Parks of America

Michael Brett

Amazon Price: $26.37 List Price: $39.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Barron's Educational Series Amazon Marketplace: 27 new & used starting at $19.95

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Photography -> Travel -> United States -> General
Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Parks & Campgrounds

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

For all 'National Parks' Lovers and others... 5 out of 5 stars.
22 of 65 people found this review helpful.

Great Photos with good description of each National Park of America - what do you need more ?

I'm from Portugal and I like USA, except the politicians... both the portuguese and american ones !

Breathtaking photography! 5 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I had this gem under the Christmas tree for my husband. It is such a beautiful book that we keep looking at it together, remembering the beautiful National Parks that we have been to and the ones we plan on visiting in the future. All the photograghs are beautifully shot, and the information provided is enjoyable to read. The best National Park book I have ever seen!

Editorial Review:

For tourists, family campers, and serious lovers of the outdoors, here is a big, beautiful, color-illustrated book that describes more than 50 national parks, sites, and seashores that stretch from Cape Hatteras on the Atlantic coast to the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Yosemite in California, Haleakala in Hawaii, and Glacier Bay in Alaska. More than 400 breathtaking photographs capture the beauty and atmosphere of each site, and 54 color maps show each park's location and major features. Visitor information panels give important details on access points, accommodations, and recreational activities such as hiking, rafting, birdwatching, and fishing. Here is a wonderful volume that will inspire plans for trips and evoke marvelous memories of past experiences in America's great outdoors.

Moon Living Abroad in Costa Rica

Erin Van Rheenen

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Avalon Travel Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $11.52

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Dining
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Guidebooks
Subjects -> Travel -> Latin America -> Central America -> Costa Rica

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 35 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Erin Van Rheenen, the expert on relocating to Costa Rica, has made the move herself and provides insight and first-hand advice to navigating the language and culture of this beautiful country. Van Rheenen outlines all the information needed in a smart, organized, and straightforward manner, making planning the move abroad manageable. Moon Living Abroad Costa Rica makes the moving and transition process easy for businesspeople, students, teachers, retirees, and professionals. Moon Living Abroad Costa Rica is packed with essential information and must-have details on getting established abroad, including how to obtain visas, ways to arrange finances, tips on gaining employment, advice on choosing schools, and where to find health care. This relocation guide also includes practical advice on how to rent or buy a home for a variety of needs and budgets, whether it’s a condo in the San José suburb of Escazú, a wooden house in coastal Tortuguero, or a mountain retreat with a view of Arenal Volcano. All Moon Living Abroad Guides include color photos, black-and-white photographs, black-and-white illustrations, and maps.

Time Out Chicago Eating and Drinking 2009: The Essential Guide to the City's Best Restaurants and Bars (Time Out Guides)

Amazon Price: $9.59 List Price: $11.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Time Out Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $8.80

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Food & Lodging -> Dining
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> Regions -> Midwest
Subjects -> Travel -> United States -> States -> Illinois -> Chicago

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great restaurant guide 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I just got this as an update to the 2007 version and it's wonderful. Bigger in all dimensions than its predecessor and the reviews are written conversationally. The book is organized by cuisine rather than alphabetically by name or by neighborhood, so it is easy to find a restaurant that has what you are looking for. Index in back both alphabetically and by neighborhood, so you can find a restaurant with a certain kind of cuisine in a specific neighborhood. This is great resource for checking out new restaurants and finding out what they have to say about your favorites. Highly recommended!

Editorial Review:

Written by knowledgeable locals, this illustrated guide covers the best Chicago has to offer for the hungry visitor or resident. Containing a whopping 1,000 restaurant reviews by candid critics, the book covers everything from hidden-gem breakfast spots to stylish pubs. The extensive index is searchable by alphabet, cuisine, genre, neighborhood, and specific criteria ranging from outdoor seating to rooms with a view. Fun sidebars explore such topics as making reservations and solo dining, while clear maps of downtown Chicago, the surrounding area, and the Chicago transit system make reaching each destination a snap.