Avant-Guide Paris

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189160306X
• ISBN13: 9781891603068
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Empire Pr
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

Inspiring, a gem

I have made numerous trips to Paris, armed with several guidebooks, including a Frommers, a Lonely Planet and an Eyewitness, and this is by far my favorite. It's fun to browse through and it makes it easy to find something you want to run out and see. It's a relief to find a guide that's not trying to be an exhaustive list of every possible restaurant, museum or hotel. It has just the right amount of practical info to get you where you want to be and ready for the reality of it when you get there. Until I used this guidebook I didn't realize that guidebooks are often jammed with too much (boring) information. The graphics and photos are terrific -none of those grainy 80's pictures of people eating croissants under the Eiffel tower.

Buy an extra copy, because everyone will be borrowing this.

Without a doubt, the best travel guide I've ever used. I've been to Paris many, many times, and this guide led me to places I'd never even heard of. Particular strengths are in the areas of Clubs/Bars & Nightlife, Live Music & offbeat museums (who knew there was a Musee de l'Erotisme?) This book is a great choice for the fun-loving urban traveler. I'd highly recommend purchasing this in conjunction with "Time Out Paris", which is exceptionally good for restaurant recommendations.Bon voyage!

Crème de la crème

I have an absolute infatuation with Paris. I travel there about once a year and now own over 40 travel guides on Paradise, err, I mean Paris. This book is my absolute favorite. Sure, the images and layout on the pages are totally hip, but more important so is the information. Anyone who's read a few travel books on Paris knows about FNAC music shop and Virgin Megastore, but through this book, I also learned about Boulinier, Crocodisc, Chez Sanchez, Monster Melodies, La Silence de la Rue, and Parallèles, which all specialize in a focused area of music. I discovered some incredible boutiques that I've never seen listed elsewhere. A few sights are mainstream (how can one visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe?) but what makes this book unique is the listing of sights, restaurants, and shops that are totally cool that I haven't seen elsewhere. And if you want up-to-the-minute changes to the text, one simply travels no farther than their website. The book also has a "bite" -- raw, honest opinions. One problem with my book, however. I have read it and carried it around so often that my copy is getting quite tattered. For anyone with a true sense of adventure or who wants to explore some unique French spots where you won't encounter dozens of other tourists, this is your book.

Not just hip, it delivers on the goods

I've read every kind of guidebook, from Let's Go in the 1980's to Lonely Planet in the 90's and this refreshing addition to the multitude is just the answer for the young (and not so young) adventurous traveller. The graphic design is fun and reveals a smart editor - hire a good graphic designer. The writing is witty and irreverant at times - perfect for those who seek a good experience without the hype. The maps are inadequate - but who travels with one guidebook these days anyway? That's what tourist maps are for.I particularily liked the photographs, certainly not your average "Gee, here we are in front of the Eifel Tower" standard fare. They capture everything you dream Paris would be: classy, cutting edge and just plain gorgeous. The writing gets to the point quickly with all the necessary facts, yet does allow for some subjectivity that I found refreshing both before our trip and during our stay.Buy this book if you're a repeat visitor to Paris and looking for another experience beyond the three day quickie when you have barely enough time to see the big league sites. The nightlife and eating sections are worth the price alone. Sure, we carried our Michelin Green Guide because we're architects and enjoy knowing the details, but for a cover to cover guidebook, this is the best yet.