Frommer's Books - Page 2

Frommer's Thailand (Frommer's Complete)

Charlotte Shalgosky

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Subjects -> Travel -> Asia -> Thailand -> General
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go--they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us!

Frommer's holds the key to worry-free travel in this exotic land, with valuable cultural insights, the latest trip-planning advice, detailed maps, and smart tips on language, local customs, and getting around. You'll find honest, in-depth reviews of luxury beach resorts, high-tech business hotels, intimate inns, and simple guest houses and bungalows, all based on recent personal inspections.

We'll show you spectacular beaches, waterfalls, floating markets, majestic temples, ancient ruins, national parks, palaces, and traditional villages. We'll lead you to amazing restaurants, and even take you elephant trekking in the Northern Hills. You'll also rely on us to guide you through the confusing, bustling, but intriguing city of Bangkok (our author, who lived there while writing this guide, knows it intimately, and discovered all sorts of hidden surprises). With Frommer's in hand, you'll experience all the wonder of Thailand!

Frommer's San Diego 2007 (Frommer's Complete)

Mark Hiss

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Very good if you are visiting San Diego for the first time 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Very good tips for my first trip to San Diego, has a lot of specific information about what you can do, even for a short period or a more time frame. The recomendations are from a person that lived in San Diego, so I think that gives a more realistici opinion. It includes a map that is easy to use and very helpfull.

Excellent guide for Newbies to SD! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

My friend and I decided to take a trip together, and had never been to San Diego at all before. This book greatly helped with all of our plans, including lodging and food. Our bed and breakfast was an excellent place at a great price and the book helped immensely with our event choices. It recommended great places and without it, our trip definitely would not have been the same. I used the book with every aspect of our trip. I highly recommend it a lot for those not familiar with the area!

Editorial Review:

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.
* Complete coverage of San Diego's top sites, plus side trips to Temecula's wineries, Disneyland,(r) and Tijuana.
* Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
* Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
* Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com

Frommer's South Africa (Frommer's Complete)

Pippa de Bruyn

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Subjects -> Travel -> Africa -> South Africa -> General
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Subjects -> Travel -> Africa -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Meticulously researched and beautifully written by a South African native, Frommer's South Africa, 5th Edition, should be the discerning reader's only guide to a memorable trip to southern Africa. The book includes coverage of the lion-rich reserves of Botswana and the wonders of Victoria Falls. It offers complete information on safaris, from what to wear to the top game lodges to  tips from professional trackers. But there's so much more:

• An exploration of Cape Town, one of the world's most beautiful cities, surrounded by mountains and sea, and the nearby picturesque Winelands country;
• Whale-watching and eating seafood on the Western Cape;
• Walking through carpets of flowers in Namaqualand plains after the first spring rains;
• Rafting or surfing the churning waters of the Zambezi River.

Frommer's South Africa, 5th Edition, gives you all that and much more, from the best places to stay and eat to expert advice on getting there, getting around, and having the trip of a lifetime!

Frommer's Vietnam: Including Angkor Wat (Frommer's Complete)

Sherisse Pham

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Well Done 4 out of 5 stars.
17 of 28 people found this review helpful.

I used this book while in Vietnam in August 2006. It was very helpful in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Cannot comment on it's usefulness in other cities.

Editorial Review:

Frommer’s Vietnam 2e is an amazingly detailed guide that takes the reader through the country with practical information, late-breaking bargains, cultural insights, user-friendly maps, etiquette tips, a language glossary, advice for business travelers, and practical advice on planning the trip and getting around. This guide explores everything from the thriving expat nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City (once called Saigon) to a journey by boat into the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and riverside pagodas. Unlike any of our leading competitors––including Lonely Planet and Rough Guide––Frommer’s Vietnam features excursions to Cambodia, including comprehensive coverage of Phnom Penh, Siem Riep, and the popular temples of Angkor Wat.

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

Eric Peterson

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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

Frommer's Alaska 2008 (Frommer's Complete)

Charles P. Wohlforth

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Frommer's Alaska 2008 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Frommer's Alaska 2008 proved to be as complete a vacation guide as we'd expected from previous worldwide books purchased under this name previously.

An Alaskan Perspective 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

As someone who lives in Alaska, operates a popular Alaska travel website (Alaska.org), and helps people plan custom Alaska vacations, I can confidently say this is the most useful general guidebook to our state. It's more comprehensive, more readable, and more detailed than other Alaska guidebooks.

I think this is mostly because Charles lives in Alaska and updates the book each year. Most travel publishers update their books every couple years and use writers who live in New York or somewhere else. As a result, this book offers details and specifics you learn only by actually doing what you write about--and these are the very details you need to plan your Alaska trip. For example, when writing about halibut fishing in Homer, he mentions the possibility of seasickness. When writing about other activities, he tells you what to bring and wear. Prices and schedules are exact.

Alaska is a complex and unfamiliar destination. Most people don't know where to start when planning a trip. Unfortunately, that's why so many people take a cruise when they might have enjoyed a land tour more--if they only knew how to plan it. That's where the "Planning A Trip" section comes in. It discusses the various travel styles and trip types possible in Alaska and why you would choose one over another.

It contains the kind of insight and authority that come from really knowing a destination. Charles writes, for example, "Studies by Alaska tourism experts have found that many people choose escorted packages to avoid risks that don't really exist." Or, "It's also possible for an independent traveler to obtain some of the predictability a package tour provides. You can reserve accommodations and activities and control your expenses by using a good travel agent experienced in Alaska travel." This is the type of authoritative, insider advice you need to plan a successful Alaska vacation.

This book seems to improve each year--I think because the author maintains a website for reader questions and incorporates the answers into subsequent editions. For example, the book has a section on Suggested Itineraries for trips of different lengths, for family trips, for winter trips, etc.. Itineraries are hugely helpful, because even if you know where you want to go and what you want to see in Alaska, it's sometimes really hard to figure out how long to spend in each place and how best to get from one to the next in a state with limited transportation infrastructure.

In response to reader questions about inaccurate Mapquest information, Charles added a driving times table which sets the record straight on how long it takes to travel the various rural Alaska highways, how fast you can drive, where the best views are, and where you can get gas. Another really useful section is Charles' "Best of Alaska" list. Alaska is so vast, with so many travel options, that this section helps you cut to the chase if know your primary interests.

Two other things separate this book from others. First, it's written from the perspective of someone who seeks out unique and different Alaska travel experiences. Charles writes, "The mistake some people make is to focus only on the largest and most famous destinations." Accordingly, he gives quick coverage to the big attractions you can learn about online or anywhere else and instead gives more coverage to unusual, off-the-beaten finds. Examples include describing a hike near Seward to an old military fort where you can explore underground with flashlights, or explaining how to hook up with a local guide on in Barrow to go polar bear viewing on a Humvee. You won't get these ideas from other guidebooks--and they'll probably end up being your most memorable Alaska travel experiences.

The other thing that differentiates this book is how readable it is. Unlike most travel writers, Charles is a serious author with other non-fiction, non-travel titles to his name. His literary writing style is interesting and fun to read.

I don't really have any criticisms of the book. In fact, if the truth be told, it was Charles' authoritative, honest approach that inspired me when I wrote my own Alaska.org travel planning website. Even today, we keep a copy in our Anchorage travel agency call center for our agents to refer to when helping visitors plan trips to remote parts of the state the agent may not have personally visited.

Editorial Review:

Since 2001, Alaska has had an increase in visitors every year, with 1.56 million in 2006. Cruise ship passengers increased an estimated 4% in 2006.

Frommer's Napa & Sonoma Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day)

Avital Binshtock

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

These attractively priced, four-color guides offer dozens of neighborhood and thematic tours, complete with hundreds of photos and bulleted maps that lead the way from sight to sight. Day by Days are the only guides that help travelers organize their time to get the most out of a trip.

• Full-color package at an affordable price

• Star ratings for all hotels, restaurants, and attractions

• Foldout front covers with maps and quick-reference information

• Tear-resistant map in a handy, reclosable plastic wallet

• Handy pocket-sized trim

At last, a travel guide that tells you how to see the best of everything—in the smartest, most time-efficient way.

• The best of Napa & Sonoma in one, two, or three days
• Thematic tours for every interest, schedule, and taste
• Tips on wine-tasting, including best wineries for aspiring oenophiles
• Walking tours of the region's best-loved towns
• Outdoor itineraries to fit in active pursuits between wine-tasting, such as exploring the region by bike, in a kayak, and along hiking trails
• Hundreds of evocative color photos
• Bulleted maps that show you how to go from place to place
• Hotels, restaurants, & shopping, for all budgets
• A tear-resistant foldout map—enclosed in a handy plastic wallet you can also use for tickets and souvenirs

Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call 2008 (Frommer's Cruises)

Jerry Brown, Fran Wenograd Golden

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Read this if you are booking an Alaskan cruise! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is the best, most informative book on this subject I have found, by far. It is a must if you are considering booking an Alaskan cruise. It rates all the ships and companies, large and small and gives great information on all the ports that are visited by these ships. Certainly a great resource to help you book the type of adventure that fits your style!

Editorial Review:

Experience the best a place has to offer on the cruise that's right for you. Frommer's. Your trip begins with us.

• Exact prices, including brochure rates, with tips on how to find deep discounts, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
• Extensive descriptions of all the major ships sailing in Alaska, with information on everything from cabins and ship facilities to shore excursions and recreational activities.
• Comprehensive ship ratings that grade the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children's programs, public areas, cleanliness, and overall enjoyment) from "poor" to "outstanding."
• Complete coverage of the Inside Passage and Gulf of Alaska, with off-the-beaten-path experiences and new takes on top attractions.
• Bonus wildlife guide in the appendix highlights the animals you're most likely to see-from whales to bald eagles to bears.

Frommer's Portable Savannah

Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince

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

Very helpful 4 out of 5 stars.
11 of 13 people found this review helpful.

This book gives a nice review of Savannah, from history, to where to stay, what do do, where to eat. It's very compact and will be easy for us to carry along on our trip next week to Savannah.

Savannah guide book 4 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Recently did a girls trip - the guide was very helpful. We planned lots of our trip prior to our arrival - restaurant suggestions were particularly helpful.

Nice overview.... 4 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I just returned from Savannah, and took this guide along. It fits very nicely into a back pocket or purse. It provided a great overview of the area with maps and good descriptions of many of the restaurants (including dividing them into price ranges).

The author couldn't have been more spot-on in describing one River St. bar (hint: they specialize in frozen drinks), and the description made my wife and I laugh out loud.

We followed one of the mapped out walking tours described in the book and it made for a wonderful Saturday afternoon. Given its portability, it can't cover every restaurant, bar or shop, but if you cross-reference what the author recommends against others' opinions- SouthernLiving.com, connectsavannah.com (Savannah's alternative news weekly), and TripAdvisor.com, you'll find many of the same restaurants listed, with similar descriptions.

Purchase the book in advance of making your lodging reservations, as there are a number of bed and breakfasts listed, as well as many hotels.

Yes, there are many references to the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," but given how much it's helped tourism in the area and how many people want to see the places described in that book, the author is just giving the people what they want. I enjoyed the references: I wanted a guide that covered those locations, but not one that focused solely on "The Book" (as it's known to many locals), and this guide provided a nice compromise.

The only drawback I found is that it doesn't list as many restaurants as I'd have liked, but again, given the space limitations, it couldn't. As you walk the streets, you'll stumble across some great little places on your own, and that's half the fun of "exploring" the town.

I consider the guide to be money well spent.

Editorial Review:

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer. And avoid tourist traps. Frommer s Portable Guides help you make the right travel choices. They're easy to carry and carry an unbeatable price. Put the Best of Savannah in Your Pocket.

• Outspoken opinions on top attractions—what's worth your time and what's not.
• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget.
• The best hotels and restaurants in every price range, with candid reviews.
• With daytrips to Hilton Head and Beaufort, S.C.

Frommer's Europe by Rail (Frommer's Complete)

Amy Eckert, Beth Reiber, George McDonald, Hana Mastrini, Olivia Edward, Jocelyn Auerbach, Tania Kollias, Ryan James, Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince, Naomi P. Kraus

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

Not a useful guidebook 1 out of 5 stars.
79 of 81 people found this review helpful.

Not a safe bet, this European rail guide offers a strange mix of up-to-date and completely out-of-date information. It also tries to do too much, providing page after page of hotel, restaurant and museum listings by city but only a page of two of specific rail tips by country. The guide pushes Eurailpasses, as is to be expected from a publication endorsed by Rail Europe, the main stateside pass vendor.

Points to watch out for...

The guide is too optimistic about reservations and supplements. As the various continental railways move toward inevitable privatization, more and more premium services are being introduced. Most of the trips that tourists are likely to take will require reservations and supplements, in addition to Eurailpasses.

The guide doesn't give point-to-point tickets a fair shake, listing full prices and only the most basic discounts. For example, SNCF's "Prem's" specials (advance purchase online tickets to French and international destinations) aren't mentioned. For many tourists, these specials would make point-to-point tickets cheaper than Eurailpasses.

The guide lists only expensive, tourist-class hotels. I didn't see a single listing below 100 Euros in Paris, for example. There are many excellent, if humble, hotels throughout Europe. Use the Web to get current hotel information.

My favorite example of out-of-date information in the guide has to do with the regional express train ("RER") from Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle aiport to Paris. The guide lists both first and second-class ticket prices, even though the first-class designation disappeared years ago.

Editorial Review:

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do.
Enjoy the best it has to offer.
*

Extensive information on reservations, scenic train routes, and discount railpasses.
*

Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
*

Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
*

Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com