Lonely Planet Paris

• Paperback - 31 December, 2004 - Lonely Planet Publications
• Usually ships in 24 hours
• By: Steve Fallon
• ISBN: 1740597605

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About this book

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

If you have to choose one book to take to Paris, this fully updated Lonely Planet guide will cover all your bases. Whether you're camping, planning to splurge on a chic hotel, picnicking, or set on haute cuisine, this book gives you thousands of options. Also included is a useful 12-page overview of Parisian architecture, detailed entertainment information, notes on day trips to nearby châteaux and villages, plus 20 pages of detailed city maps, including the Metro. --Kathryn True

Other books you may find interesting

• The Rough Guide to Paris 9 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
• The Paris Mapguide: Third Edition (Mapguides, Penguin)
• Streetwise Paris (National & International Titles)
• French: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
• Lonely Planet Germany
• Let's Go Paris 13th Edition
• Lonely Planet Barcelona
• Lonely Planet France
• Lonely Planet Prague
• Fodor's Paris 2006 (Fodor's Gold Guides)
• Lonely Planet Paris City Map
• Lonely Planet Spain
• Lonely Planet London

Reviews by readers

Vivre le Lonely Planet en Paris!

After many a trip to Paris, Lonely Planet still stands out as the guidebook of guidebooks. This edition has great restaurant reviews, as is common with LP guides. We have never been steered wrong unless it was to a place that had gone out of business and therefore was no longer open. To avoid this, you can always call ahead of time if you are really concerned.

What I always like about LP is the background info they give on the city, plus they recommend books, music and movies to get you in the mood for your travels. The hotel info is good, though their prices are not always totally accurate (understandable, hotels change their rates yearly and therefore may not always be updated in real time). What is accurate is the ranges they give Budget, Mid-Range, High-End.

They also have top 5 restaurants, top 5 sites, depending on the arrondissement you are in. This is great because if you are on the go, it saves you the trouble of reading each restaurant review, or each museum/site description.

You will probably want to buy a map to accompany you, as the ones in the back of the book are adequate, but could be better. We have traveled with Rough Guide maps, very convenient and weather safe with relatively large print. LP makes maps too, but I prefer the RG's.

If you are lucky enough to go to Paris, this is a great guide to have in your bag. It is also a great pre-trip guide and reading the background or getting some of they books they recommend before you step on the plane can only enhance your experience. I would recommend A MOVEABLE FEAST by Ernest Hemingway, a fantastic book about his days in Paris in the 20's.

A very disappointing LP

I always buy Lonely Planet guides, but I am returning this one. I tried to use it to plan my next trip to Paris in two weeks. It's very frustrating. The map is difficult to follow, and there is very few hotel information. It also keeps referring to a map PP396-9 which doesn't exist (Try look up Museum Louve).

It does however has a lot of other cute-but-useless info .. for example .. where a straight guy can get his facial done. Well, if you are into such things, get this guide. I am returning mine.

Of very limited use - not your typical LP guide!

Surprisingly superficial guidebook from a publisher that usually sets the standard. The book might be useful for those who have never visited Paris and don't intend to spend more than a couple of days. For most visitors, simple web searches will result in more substantive information. I was really disappointed by page after page of cliches. Weight is a consideration when choosing a guidebook, and we could easily have been spared introductory chapters - why lug around pages of simplistic analysis of the French? This updated edition has all the faddish content of a Travel channel guide (page 274's "Queer Eye for the Metrosexual" section is a typical example). Nothing seems improved over previous editions, and some content is quite baffling: why not just save paper and overall weight, rather than including a "Thanks" section (p.361) that concludes, "As always, I'd like to dedicate my efforts to my partner, Michael Rothschild, whose knowledge of menu French grows in proportion to...well, never mind."?

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