Knopf Guide: Provence

Rating:
Summary: Great book, but complimentary info, not comprehensive
Review: I state in the reviews of the Knopf City guides that I prefer this set of books for how it deals with Cities, particulary Paris, Rome, and Venice, however, as I always begin my trip preparations by buying the Knopf guide, I started with this book.

The problem, I think, with this book in general, is that is tries to cover Provence and the Cote D'Azure. It should be difficult to say those two place names in the same breath because of the sheer size of the region, but also the sheer diversity of activities and sites, but this book tries to handle them both and I think it 'covers' both scantilly, although I am a 'buff' of this area and this may be my own personal bias.

While Provence and Cote D'Azure cover much of the same geographic area, due to summer traffic, when you plan your trip, plan it so that you have a Provence part, and a Cote Part. In essence, your hiking and ruin exploration part and then your beach, booze, and sun part. But understand that in either location, there is more to do, more to see, more delightful places, more interesting and half hidden towns, then you could possibly see in a lifetime. There is no region on Earth like it. This Knopf book coveres hundreds of the points of interest in the area, but as one area is completely different to the next it is difficult, you cant use this book to find the niche you want to stay in, nor can you use it to get the real history of some particular monument or town. Picking what you may want to see is very important because with summer crowds, (just about the entire French nation gets off in the summer) traffic, and getting caught in a cheesy tourist mill can dampen your trip. This area is about superlatives, and when you go you want to be sure to get it all. there is a reason the wealth of the world beats a path to the South of France every year! You will see it rather quickly when you get there.

In my other City trips, I use Knopf guides about 95% of the time I reach into my backpack. In The South of France or the French Alps, I use it 30% of the time, to compliment what I read somewhere else. I recommend if you go, use the Karen Brown guide to pick a B&B, then read Fodor's 'Exploring Provence' and the Rough guide too. But always bear in mind, that many of these resort towns, or seaside towns, or mountain towns, have their own particulary slant, if you will. None of the books on this region can adequately brief you on this. You will just have to keep going back till you find the perfect town. You know, the South of France was the only place I have ever been where a manager of a hotel actually recommended in French, another hotel to me, if I came back to the region. It must have been a middle class bonding thing. Anyway, pick up those other books, then get this one, and armed with the three of them you will be fine!

Happy traveling!

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, beautiful, handy and inspiring.
Review: These Knopf guides are pictorially rich, have excellent tips and itineraries, and are comprehensive in scope. Small enough to pack and carry too! The Provence guide really introduces you to the art, culture, geography, history and the sights beautifully. Just about all you need (or can rely on comfortably) in advance of a trip. OK, so there are guides richer in hotel/restaurant details, but as a general trip planner, keepsake, and carry around guide this is the one!