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Brit's Guide to Disneyland Resort Paris 2008-2009: And Paris Attractions

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Simon Veness, Susan Veness

February 12, 2008
We have just returned from short trip to Disney Paris. This book was quite useful, but best read with a degree of caution. The authors seem to be lacking any real objectivity and are so gushy about the resort some parts of the book are nauseating to read. Whilst I would agree Disneyland is a great experience for children and a lot of fun for all, the authors don't point out the poor points clearly enough. e.g. the hotel accommodation (we stayed at the Vienna Dream Castle) is below par for the star ratings given, I imagine because they have a captive audience and can get away with murder. Also the food outlets are all extortionate.

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The Rough Guide to Venice and the Veneto (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Jonathan Buckley

June 28, 2007
Not only was this book helpful when choosing where to stay - information was accurate and relevant - it was also invaluable in terms of finding ways to save money (which is a must in Venice!).
But the best feature about this book was its information on the places to visit. It saved us a fortune because we didn't need to buy guide books for any of the venues!
The book is written with fascinating tidbits of information, many of which will make you smile and laugh, so be careful not to read in church if you're not prepared to stifle your laughter.

If I had to say one negative thing about this book, it would be that the entry fees are now very slightly out of date... but if you add 1 euro to the price in the book, you're never ... Read More:

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Venice

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Jan Morris

October 07, 2004
I decided to read "Venice" in preparation for a week-long stay in the Italian city.

Broken into three sections -- The People, The City, The Lagoon -- "Venice" is not a chronological history of the city but a meandering look at its past, present and future. Nor is it a guidebook, although it does contain a mine of information about what to see and where to go.

I think "The Times" probably described it best when they said it was "a classic love letter to Italy's most iconic city", because it is, indeed, a beautiful missive dripping with exquisite descriptions. I found it an enormously engaging and evocative read by an accomplished writer who really knows how to string a simile or two together.For example: "Venice is a cheek-by ... Read More:

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Turn Left at Orion: A Hundred Night Sky Objects to See in a Small Telescope - and How to Find Them

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Guy Consolmagno, Dan M. Davis

November 01, 2000
if you are interested in imaging, forget it. there is no info on what the variouse targets can look like when photographed, only how to find them. a companion book on how too image and what to use is recomended.

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Notes from a Big Country

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Bill Bryson

September 16, 1999
This is guaranteed to put a smile on virtually anyone's face.

Bryson's dry humour & witty observations of life's absurdity coupled with Kerry Shale's excellent delivery make this an easy winner.

The basic material is also very interesting so a wining combination all round.

I had this in the car & found myself sitting listening to it long after I had arrived at my destination - it's that good!

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The Rough Guide Map Marrakesh (Rough Guide Map)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
from: Rough Guides Ltd

April 28, 2005
This map is an absolute must for anyone going to Marrakech. I recently went and not only would have been totally lost without it, but would have missed out on some of the treasures Marrakech has to offer. Street names are a rarity but this map makes up for the lack of them by being absolutely perfect - even through the maze of the souqs! Without it i may have had to resort to pay a few dirham to be guided by locals who either take you on a roundabout route to where you want to be, normally via their cousins tannery, or send you in completely the wrong direction and laugh at you as you go. Buy it before you leave or suffer the consequences!

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Between the Woods and the Water: On Foot to Constantinople from the Hook of Holland - The Middle Danube to the Iron Gates

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Patrick Leigh Fermor

April 08, 2004
As one reviewer said it makes you envious of a vanished time and life style otherwise immensely enjoyable!

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South India (Lonely Planet Country & Regional Guides)

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Sarina Singh, Rafael Wlodarski, Amy Karafin, Simon Richmond, Virginia Jealous, Stuart Butler

September 01, 2007
I'd bought my flight tickets, travel insurance and the all important Visa for entering India. Next on the list was the guide book. It was a choice of this one or the Rough Guide.

Both were published around the same time, and I've used both before for different countries, so I'm happy with their layout and content. However, choosing the right guide this time seemed far more difficult.

Both contained detailed information about the places I plan to visit. However, I found some bits were present in one book, but not the other, and vice-versa. In the end I decided to go for both books. I'm travelling in South India for 3 months, so I thought it would be worth the luxury of having two guides.

Having read both now, I can confirm ... Read More:

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The Places in Between

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Rory Stewart

April 01, 2005
I enjoyed the book, for Stewart's eye to detail and his ability to convey so well the challenges facing the people of Afghanistan. As someone who has worked occasionally in Afghanistan (and with much less insight than Stewart), I felt that he really captured the realities of Afghanistan in 2002 and it made me wonder how much the same region has changed today, if at all. Stewart has an impressive knowledge of Islamic history and culture and uses it well to provide understanding of the people and the book is worth reading just for that.

Other reviewers have commented on his prose, and it has a simpleness to it, but lacks real depth, it has a repetitive quality, not unlike the steps he took on his journey. The missing link is his reason for the journey. Of course there doesn't ... Read More:

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The London Encyclopedia

Childrens Toy Shop > Books > Travel and Holiday
by: Christopher Hibbert, Ben Weinreb, John Keay, Julia Keay

August 15, 2008
The old 'Weinreb' was the best single-volume reference book on London, despite a few minor but still niggling errors. Happily most of these have been pulled out, the book's been expanded with more entries and even better illustration, and I had no hesitation whatever in grabbing a copy as soon as it went on sale. There's nothing to touch it, frankly: magnificent, endlessly fascinating, and outstanding value even before the discount. My 'Desert Island Discs' read, as indeed it's been for the last 25 years.