Avant-Guide Paris: Insiders' Guide to Progressive Culture

Avant-Guide books live at the intersection of travel and style. This hip travel series presents the best aspects of the guidebook genre - namely, being thorough and trustworthy - and then adds dynamic... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1891603191
• ISBN13: 9781891603198
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Empire Press Media
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.8" x 4.8" x 0.8"

Customer Reviews

A welcome alternative to the standards

As one reviewer mentions, this guide fits nicely into the big empty, underserved middle of guidebooks that cater neither to broke backpackers or the wealthy. It leans toward the lower end with its inclusion of hostels in the accommodations section, but overall it's a nice alternative to the extremes. I suppose Rick Steve and Frommer cover the midrange budget too, but this one does so with much more originality--its choices are usually a bit less bland or stuffy than those guides. The guide is particularly welcome in its choices of many interesting cafes, bars and restaurants I did not find in any other guidebooks, including great casual and non-budget breaking neighborhood places for food, and small, atmospheric, authentic cafes frequented by ordinary locals, rather than the usual Paris choice of moneyed professional locals or tourists. The guides to sights and neighborhoods are, on the other hand, disappointing, for the most part repeating standard guidebook recommendations or, worse, stating the obvious (we recommend you see the Eiffel tower!). But the goods more than outweigh the bads. (With the exception of the astonishingly obnoxious cover--nothing can make up for that atrocity.)

Avant Guide is numero uno

There are unfortunately only two main kinds of travel books written in the English language today. You have the scruffy, nasty travel book that expects you to hitch hike, stay in hostels and wear a back pack. Think, "Lonely Planet" or "Let's Go." Then there are the ones that contain many color photos and only lists five star anything in five star cities; I suspect such things are written for wealthy retirees, or people who wish they were. Both kinds of travel book are pretty much useless to me. I want travel books which tell me interesting things to do, and don't assume I'm going to live like a jerk on my trip abroad. I want a damn Vacation Book. Avant Guide writes the kinds of travel books I want. I've read all the ones they've published (unfortunately, too few). The Paris one is excellent. The descriptions are colorful, informative and useful, as are the maps. They do not assume I am a millionaire with a Yacht, or a wannabe Hobo who enjoys living like a dirtbag. Instead, they write for the rest of us: young professionals who might visit a city for a week or two. The franchise is small enough they are able to maintain the quality. Hopefully they stay that way.

Le meilleur guide !

This was the best guide that I've ever used for truly gaining a native's perspective of a city. (An almost impossible task in a tourist's timeframe!) I found Avant's information easy to get at, funny to read, and amazingly accurate for finding the hot spots, and also some hidden beauties I would have overlooked. The only major negative was the book's weight. Heavy paper stock and lots of photos definitely made you aware it's with you. After a few successful outings, I had friends from Paris asking to keep my book when I went home!!!

Unusually Fun and Kicky Style

I must say that when a friend gave me this Paris guide as a Christmas present last year I thought "oh great, another guide book." Once I started reading it, and after the first time I put the book down, I found myself obsessing about my trip to Paris. This guide is written in an unusually fun and kicky style - which is a big difference from other travel books. Wandering around Paris I found the information about each of the restaurants and bars was spot on. And better yet, I didn't feel so much like a tourist. This guidebook was the most useful I have ever come across! So I just wanted to let everyone know - superb guidebook. I'm certainly going to grab the Avant-Guide London for my next trip there. Maybe it will even change my opinion of that town!

THE Guide to Have With You in Paris - Tourist or Local!

I just got back from my first trip ever to Paris and sadly, had to leave my copy with a friend who lives there. In short, this guide was so good, so comprehensive, honest, easy to read and understand that she wanted it for herself. (And my copy wasn't even the current one!) I bought four other guide books "just in case" and found them useless compared to this one. I can't wait to buy other Avant-Guides for future trips.