Rating: 
Summary: read in bookstore, but not impressed, LP Turkey better
Review: Evaluated this in bookstore, but the LP Turkey had a bigger section on Istanbul and seemed better to buy overall. LP Istanbul didn't attract me with its layout, when compared to DK Istanbul. I could get a much better "big picture" using DK. Tom is an authority on travel to Turkey, and I think his website does a much better job at showcasing his expertise than this book does--it's more dynamic, updated, has discussion forums.
Rating: 
Summary: A Package Tour in Book Form
Review: If you are interested in seeing Istanbul beyond its tourist districts, buying Tom Brosnahan's book is a mistake. Although LP Istanbul covers Sultanahmet and its attractions in depth, the rest of the city is largely left out, and what is included is organized in a format that defies logic. If you are visiting Istanbul on a package tour you might find the book useful, but if your aim is to explore the nooks and crannies of the city I would suggest Eyewitness Guides' Istanbul. It's full of pictures and more expensive than LP Istanbul, but it is by far the most comprehensive guide to the city that I have read.
Rating:
Summary: A Package Tour in Book Form
Review: If you are interested in seeing Istanbul beyond its tourist districts, buying Tom Brosnahan's book is a mistake. Although LP Istanbul covers Sultanahmet and its attractions in depth, the rest of the city is largely left out, and what is included is organized in a format that defies logic. If you are visiting Istanbul on a package tour you might find the book useful, but if your aim is to explore the nooks and crannies of the city I would suggest Eyewitness Guides' Istanbul. It's full of pictures and more expensive than LP Istanbul, but it is by far the most comprehensive guide to the city that I have read.
Rating: 
Summary: Real men drink tea
Review: It's more lively and entertaining (and cheaper) than the Blue Guide. Sometimes it tries too hard for laughs. I didn't notice any Turks amused at naive tourists drinking non-caffeinated apple tea instead of the hard stuff. Some of the penny-pinching Lonely Planet stuff doesn't make a lot of sense in country that is so cheap once you get there but so expensive to get to. It's full of interesting and practical information but the Blue Guide remains the standard reference for serious study (if serious study is what you travel for).
I'd recommend reading this before you go but carrying the Blue Guide with you at the sites.
Rating: 
Summary: Detailed overview allows good trip planning
Review: This book was easy to use and effective when planning my trip. Good overview of the key places to see, thus easy to select the key things to do. The hotel lists allowed me to e-mail the hotels, get prices, and make my reservations, along with using Yahoo/Excite/Fodors sites/listings to get hotel info. Small size and inexpensive price make it 1st of a core set of books to have. Start with this one then get an expanded one for more details.
Rating: 
Summary: On the fence
Review: This is one of two books that my wife and I took with us for our week in Istanbul. The other being DK's Eyewitness guide. While we would call neither a difinitive guide, both were helpful. We found the Lonely Planet to be hit and miss. Practical layouts and maps were very helpful with key sights. We never would have found the crusader tomb in the Aya Sofya without it. Nor would we have thought to go to the Museum of Archeology if it was not for it's strong endorsement. The overview of the history was surprisingly in depth and very informative. And what to expect as far as the people and tips on bartering were dead on. The condition of the public restrooms (yikes!) was also a nice heads up.
However, if this is the most recent guide it is outdated. It mentions a book bazaar that has since closed when we arrived in October of 2003. This wasted a signifigant portion of our day looking for it. Also the restaraunt guide was frustrating. The Cozy Pub lived up to it's endorsement. Friendly folks who delighted in telling us the do and dont's of Turkish cuisine. We dined there three times. But the "five star" Sarnich restaraunt was the biggest dissapointment. Even though you could not beat the atmosphere (dining in a 1000 year old cistern)the waitstaff was rude and the food was just plain bad. I swear to god, french fries and frozen veggies with meat the size and hardness of hockey pucks with moderatley decent wine for two for a 100 bucks.I do recommend this book but with the strong reservations mentioned. There were things that we found in this guide that were not in our other one and vice versa. But this is to be expected, since I have never relied solely on one book for any country.
Rating:
Summary: Nice, but pictures are not realistic
Review: Tom's book is good, he gives good pieces of advice galore, but I must say that those pictures of 'Turkish women' are quite exotic for me, too. I am Turkish and I see women wearing that scarf quite rarely. In this case the book is misleading. Most Turkish women dress in 'Western' clothes, and the 'turban' has been prohibited at universities and all state buildings since the beginning of this century. I ask Tom to put more realistic pictures next time, those women are maybe exotic for foreigners, but they are exotic for most Turkish women, too. It would not be fair if I put pictures of the Amish to my New York guide as an example of "American women".
Rating:
Summary: Great reference book!
Review: We found this book to be very useful before and during our first trip to Istanbul. It was a wonderful resource for hotels, museums, restaurants and other typical "touristy" stuff as well as cultural differences that we may encounter... maps were helpful as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great reference book!
Review: We found this book to be very useful before and during our first trip to Istanbul. It was a wonderful resource for hotels, museums, restaurants and other typical "touristy" stuff as well as cultural differences that we may encounter... maps were helpful as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great reference book!
Review: We found this book to be very useful before and during our first trip to Istanbul. It was a wonderful resource for hotels, museums, restaurants and other typical "touristy" stuff as well as cultural differences that we may encounter... maps were helpful as well.
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