Terryo

I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
confused.

There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
pages, costs $14.
There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.

Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).

Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
Guide".
I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
guidebooks....

Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
Austria, which includes Prague.)

Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
Europe.....

Heather Morrison

Go for the Guides. The top 10 guides are much smaller and provide much less
comprehensive information. I collect both and use the Top10 in general for
specific areas.. like Milan and the Lakes...

You will be MUCH happier with the full fledged guide.

You can always check out the Dorling Kindersley website that produces the
guides. You may get a much better description there. www.dk.com


Enjoy!

Heather

"Terryo" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
    > confused.
    > There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
    > pages, costs $14.
    > There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
    > 2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.
    > Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).
    > Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
    > I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
    > wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
    > Guide".
    > I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
    > sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
    > guidebooks....
    > Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
    > sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
    > Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
    > the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
    > sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
    > Austria, which includes Prague.)
    > Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
    > comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
    > Europe.....

Mark Fagan

I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
floor plan to a museum when they give them out free? My favourites are the
Michelin Green Guides, when they're available. Other than that, I suggest
you go to a bookstore, take a stack of guide books on the place you're
interested and compare the same entry in each. Find the one which most
suits your needs.

"Terryo" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
    > confused.
    > There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
    > pages, costs $14.
    > There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
    > 2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.
    > Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).
    > Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
    > I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
    > wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
    > Guide".
    > I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
    > sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
    > guidebooks....
    > Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
    > sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
    > Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
    > the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
    > sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
    > Austria, which includes Prague.)
    > Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
    > comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
    > Europe.....

Go Fig

In article ,
"Mark Fagan" wrote:

    > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
    > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
    > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?

To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.

jay
Sat, Mar 29, 2003
mailto:[email protected]



My favourites are the
    > Michelin Green Guides, when they're available. Other than that, I suggest
    > you go to a bookstore, take a stack of guide books on the place you're
    > interested and compare the same entry in each. Find the one which most
    > suits your needs.
    >
    > "Terryo" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
    > > confused.
    > >
    > > There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
    > > pages, costs $14.
    > > There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
    > > 2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.
    > >
    > > Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).
    > >
    > > Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
    > > I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
    > > wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
    > > Guide".
    > > I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
    > > sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
    > > guidebooks....
    > >
    > > Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
    > > sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
    > > Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
    > > the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
    > > sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
    > > Austria, which includes Prague.)
    > >
    > > Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
    > > comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
    > > Europe.....
    >

--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Javaman

I love the Eyewitness Guides, but because they ARE heavy to tote around with
you, I tend to buy them when I get back home, kind of as a "souvenir". They
have beautiful photos and great details that you can delve into once you
have more time at home. For travelling, I tend to like Lonely Planet or
Let's Go because they are more compact/lighter and have fewer photos &
diagrams (hence, more useful data).
You can always do what I do with guidebooks:
1) Check some out of your public library. They don't have to be the most
current edition for you to evaluate the "style" of the book. Once you find
one that you really like and get into, buy the current edition at a
bookstore.
2) Find a book by the same publisher that covers a place that you know
extremely well (ideally, your home town) and read it. I think that if you
find the guide wildly inaccurate or out-of-date, it's a good probability
that their other editions are that way as well.

Have fun!!

"Terryo" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
    > confused.
    > There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
    > pages, costs $14.
    > There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
    > 2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.
    > Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).
    > Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
    > I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
    > wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
    > Guide".
    > I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
    > sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
    > guidebooks....
    > Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
    > sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
    > Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
    > the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
    > sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
    > Austria, which includes Prague.)
    > Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
    > comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
    > Europe.....

Barbara Vaughan

Javaman wrote:

    > 2) Find a book by the same publisher that covers a place that you know
    > extremely well (ideally, your home town) and read it. I think that if you
    > find the guide wildly inaccurate or out-of-date, it's a good probability
    > that their other editions are that way as well.

For some guidebook series, this strategy is of limited value, because
they may have a totally different editorial team for various regions of
the world.

Barbara

Mark Fagan

Possibly, but given the cost of the guides, I prefer to invest in only one.
I sure don't want to lug some of them around when I walk! Michelin has the
best guides for drivers by far and, I think, the most 'meat' for the
price/size/weight. If you can get a hold of the others from your local
library, then use them.

"Go Fig" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In article ,
    > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
    > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
    > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    > jay
    > Sat, Mar 29, 2003
    > mailto:[email protected]
    > My favourites are the
    > > Michelin Green Guides, when they're available. Other than that, I
suggest
    > > you go to a bookstore, take a stack of guide books on the place you're
    > > interested and compare the same entry in each. Find the one which most
    > > suits your needs.
    > >
    > > "Terryo" wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > > > I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
    > > > confused.
    > > >
    > > > There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
    > > > pages, costs $14.
    > > > There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
    > > > 2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.
    > > >
    > > > Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).
    > > >
    > > > Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
    > > > I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
    > > > wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
    > > > Guide".
    > > > I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
    > > > sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
    > > > guidebooks....
    > > >
    > > > Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
    > > > sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
    > > > Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
    > > > the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
    > > > sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
    > > > Austria, which includes Prague.)
    > > >
    > > > Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
    > > > comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
    > > > Europe.....
    > >
    > >
    > --
    > Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
    > Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Jenn

In article ,
Go Fig wrote:

    > In article ,
    > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    >
    > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
    > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
    > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    >
    > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    >

mosts European museums provide utterly useless free guide materials --
and some don't even semi-adequately label their displays. The
archeological museum in Naples and the Campidoglio museums in Rome are
two great examples. Without buying your own guidebook, you might have
no clue about what you are observing.

and simple floor plans don't provide much that is useful in touring a
museum

Barbara Vaughan

Jenn wrote:
    >
    > In article ,
    > Go Fig wrote:
    >
    > > In article ,
    > > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    > >
    > > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
    > > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
    > > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    > >
    > > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    > >
    >
    > mosts European museums provide utterly useless free guide materials --
    > and some don't even semi-adequately label their displays. The
    > archeological museum in Naples and the Campidoglio museums in Rome are
    > two great examples. Without buying your own guidebook, you might have
    > no clue about what you are observing.
    >
    > and simple floor plans don't provide much that is useful in touring a
    > museum

In my experience, the Eyewitness guides are too cursory to be of much
use in a museum. I prefer to buy a guide at the museum, if there is a
decent one available. The Michelin green guides usually have fairly good
museum guides, if not.

Barbara

Go Fig

In article ,
Barbara Vaughan wrote:

    > Jenn wrote:
    > >
    > > In article ,
    > > Go Fig wrote:
    > >
    > > > In article ,
    > > > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
    > > > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
    > > > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    > > >
    > > > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    > > >
    > >
    > > mosts European museums provide utterly useless free guide materials --
    > > and some don't even semi-adequately label their displays. The
    > > archeological museum in Naples and the Campidoglio museums in Rome are
    > > two great examples. Without buying your own guidebook, you might have
    > > no clue about what you are observing.
    > >
    > > and simple floor plans don't provide much that is useful in touring a
    > > museum
    >
    > In my experience, the Eyewitness guides are too cursory to be of much
    > use in a museum. I prefer to buy a guide at the museum, if there is a
    > decent one available. The Michelin green guides usually have fairly good
    > museum guides, if not.


I would recommend looking at http://www.amazon.com/

They have actual pictures of many pages for each guide, it is anything
but cursory for the average tourist.

jay
Sun, Mar 30, 2003
mailto:[email protected]


    >
    > Barbara

--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Gg

"Go Fig" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In article ,
    > Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    > > Jenn wrote:
    > > >
    > > > In article ,
    > > > Go Fig wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > In article ,
    > > > > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with
thick
    > > > > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you
need a
    > > > > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    > > > >
    > > > > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > > mosts European museums provide utterly useless free guide materials --
    > > > and some don't even semi-adequately label their displays. The
    > > > archeological museum in Naples and the Campidoglio museums in Rome are
    > > > two great examples. Without buying your own guidebook, you might have
    > > > no clue about what you are observing.
    > > >
    > > > and simple floor plans don't provide much that is useful in touring a
    > > > museum
    > >
    > > In my experience, the Eyewitness guides are too cursory to be of much
    > > use in a museum. I prefer to buy a guide at the museum, if there is a
    > > decent one available. The Michelin green guides usually have fairly good
    > > museum guides, if not.

    > > Barbara
    > I would recommend looking at http://www.amazon.com/
    > They have actual pictures of many pages for each guide, it is anything
    > but cursory for the average tourist.
    > jay
    > Sun, Mar 30, 2003
    > mailto:[email protected]

Just out of curiosity I checked my Eyewitness Guide to France and my
Michelin Green Guide for Paris for their sections on the Louvre.

The Michelin has 38 pages of very detailed information including 4 pages of
floor plans locating the various sections of the museum and most famous
works contained in them followed by 20 pages of detailed descriptions of the
contents of the various departments and galleries.

The Eyewitness has 4 pages total: 2 pages on the history and structure of
the building, then 2 pages summarizing the best-known works. Perhaps the
Eyewitness for Paris has more detail, but it would have to be much more to
compare with the Michelin Green Guide.

The Eyewitness guide weighs 2-1/4 lbs./1.02 kg.
The Michelin weighs 14 oz./.39 kg.

I love looking at the Eyewitness Guides both before and after the trip, but
think they're much too heavy to carry around with me during the trip.

GG

Go Fig

In article ,
"GG" wrote:

    > "Go Fig" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > In article ,
    > > Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    > >
    > > > Jenn wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > In article ,
    > > > > Go Fig wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > > In article ,
    > > > > > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    > > > > >
    > > > > > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with
    > thick
    > > > > > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you
    > need a
    > > > > > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    > > > > >
    > > > > > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    > > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > mosts European museums provide utterly useless free guide materials --
    > > > > and some don't even semi-adequately label their displays. The
    > > > > archeological museum in Naples and the Campidoglio museums in Rome are
    > > > > two great examples. Without buying your own guidebook, you might have
    > > > > no clue about what you are observing.
    > > > >
    > > > > and simple floor plans don't provide much that is useful in touring a
    > > > > museum
    > > >
    > > > In my experience, the Eyewitness guides are too cursory to be of much
    > > > use in a museum. I prefer to buy a guide at the museum, if there is a
    > > > decent one available. The Michelin green guides usually have fairly good
    > > > museum guides, if not.
    >
    > > > Barbara
    > >
    > >
    > > I would recommend looking at http://www.amazon.com/
    > >
    > > They have actual pictures of many pages for each guide, it is anything
    > > but cursory for the average tourist.
    > >
    > > jay
    > > Sun, Mar 30, 2003
    > > mailto:[email protected]
    > >
    >
    > Just out of curiosity I checked my Eyewitness Guide to France and my
    > Michelin Green Guide for Paris for their sections on the Louvre.
    >
    > The Michelin has 38 pages of very detailed information including 4 pages of
    > floor plans locating the various sections of the museum and most famous
    > works contained in them followed by 20 pages of detailed descriptions of the
    > contents of the various departments and galleries.
    >
    > The Eyewitness has 4 pages total: 2 pages on the history and structure of
    > the building, then 2 pages summarizing the best-known works. Perhaps the
    > Eyewitness for Paris has more detail,

Perhaps?

jay
Sun, Mar 30, 2003
mailto:[email protected]



but it would have to be much more to
    > compare with the Michelin Green Guide.
    >
    > The Eyewitness guide weighs 2-1/4 lbs./1.02 kg.
    > The Michelin weighs 14 oz./.39 kg.
    >
    > I love looking at the Eyewitness Guides both before and after the trip, but
    > think they're much too heavy to carry around with me during the trip.
    >
    > GG
    >
    >
    >
    >

--

Legend insists that as he finished his abject...
Galileo muttered under his breath: "Nevertheless, it does move."

Mark Fagan

Exactly! It's too heavy to carry with you all day.

"GG" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

    > The Eyewitness guide weighs 2-1/4 lbs./1.02 kg.
    > The Michelin weighs 14 oz./.39 kg.
    > I love looking at the Eyewitness Guides both before and after the trip,
but
    > think they're much too heavy to carry around with me during the trip.
    > GG

Barbara Vaughan

Go Fig wrote:
    >
    > In article ,
    > Barbara Vaughan wrote:
    >
    > > Jenn wrote:
    > > >
    > > > In article ,
    > > > Go Fig wrote:
    > > >
    > > > > In article ,
    > > > > "Mark Fagan" wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > > I'm not a fan of the Eyewitness type guides. They are heavy, with thick
    > > > > > glossy paper, but the coverage tends to be thin. And why do you need a
    > > > > > floor plan to a museum when they give them out free?
    > > > >
    > > > > To plan ahead of time ? That's how I use them.
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > > mosts European museums provide utterly useless free guide materials --
    > > > and some don't even semi-adequately label their displays. The
    > > > archeological museum in Naples and the Campidoglio museums in Rome are
    > > > two great examples. Without buying your own guidebook, you might have
    > > > no clue about what you are observing.
    > > >
    > > > and simple floor plans don't provide much that is useful in touring a
    > > > museum
    > >
    > > In my experience, the Eyewitness guides are too cursory to be of much
    > > use in a museum. I prefer to buy a guide at the museum, if there is a
    > > decent one available. The Michelin green guides usually have fairly good
    > > museum guides, if not.
    >
    > I would recommend looking at http://www.amazon.com/
    >
    > They have actual pictures of many pages for each guide, it is anything
    > but cursory for the average tourist.

I have the Eyewitness guide to Italy, and I find it too cursory. The
main thing I use it for is to show visiting friends and relatives to
help them decide where they want to go after they leave here. I once
took it with me on a trip (to Verona), and was very frustrated with its
level of detail. Even Let's Go, which I use primarily to find lodging
and rarely for sightseeing, had more detail. I've never taken the
Eyewitness Guide along again.

Barbara

John Bermont

Terryo wrote:
    >
    > I was going to order Eyewitness Guides from Amazon.com, but got
    > confused.
    >
    > There is an "Eyewitness Guide to Prague" dated March 2003. It is 264
    > pages, costs $14.
    > There is also an "Eyewitness Top 10 Guide to Prague" dated February
    > 2003, with different authors. It is 160 pages, costs $8.
    >
    > Same with Berlin (though both are a little older).
    >
    > Can someone explain what the difference is between these two editions?
    > I've seen the Eyewitness guides highly praised in this group, but I
    > wonder whether you folks are talking about the "Guide", or the "Top 10
    > Guide".
    > I'm inclined to get the "Guide", rather than the "Top 10", but
    > sometimes MORE is not necessarily BETTER when it comes to
    > guidebooks....
    >
    > Or would you recommend something else? I'm interested mostly in
    > sightseeing, not shopping or nightlife. I'll be in Prague 5 days,
    > Berlin 2 weeks. I'll also be in Budapest and Vienna, 5 days each, but
    > the Eyewitness Guides to those cities are older, so I'll need other
    > sources. (I already have Rick Steves's 2003 book on Germany and
    > Austria, which includes Prague.)
    >
    > Thanks to this great group for your help! Sorry I don't have any
    > comments on the Iraq war or the mistreatment of Americans in
    > Europe.....

I suggest the Michelin Green Guide, if there is one for the Czech
Republic. Lonely Planet's Europe On a Shoestring is good. A discussion
of these, Eyewitness, and many other guides is in chapter 10 on my site
at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
John Bermont