Blue Guide Paris (Eleventh Edition) (Blue Guides)

Very helpful guide. I used it every day. It provides good historical information of the most important sites and it has walking tours that are exciting and interesting. It has also many pictures and maps that make it very practical. I particulary enjoyed the tour of Les Marais that guide me to intimated streets that I may not had visited otherways.

I bought the Blue Guide and Michelin in 1982 and have never been sorry or willing to give up either one. The whole idea of choosing what you want to see / do / experience is all about knowing about the history, the people, the culture. And so far as being outdated, travel guides are basically outdated the moment they go to print. And I don't ever remember not wanting to tour the Tower of London because the entry fee was more than what was printed in a travel guide. Besides, these days we have the internet and websites, and, and, and, so there is no reason why fees or opening and closing times should be put in print only to be outdated as soon as the book is offered for sale.

When you want a travel guide that separates you from the typical tourist, select the Blue Guide or Michelin. You get information that actually prepares you for what you are going to see so that you have insight, information, and knowledge.

If you want a sweet, simple, 'go here' travel...Read more

Blue Guides are simply among the best you can get for detailed historical, architectural, and culturally relevant information, not only for tourists but for locals.

The Paris guide is no different -- but beware -- this is a 2007 volume and it is outdated in many areas....while the historical information will not change other things are generally out of date at this point. Prices listed should be doubled. But it does provide some excellent walking tours, and lots of insider-information for what you are seeing.

But there is also a lot of missing information: new museums have opened; some museums have significantly redesigned displays and no longer follow what is written here. Other tours walk you right past museums that aren't even mentioned.

Recall that a guide book like this, updated in 2007, was rewritten and compiled in 2004, 5, 6....making this information 7 years old at this point.

That being said -- this is an excellent volume...Read more