Let's Go 2003: Austria & Switzerland

Rating:
Summary: Let's Go Austria and Switz-a big step down
Review: I've been a budget traveler in Europe for 20 years, and have always relied on the "Let's Go" books to take me not only to the well-known spots cheaply, but point out some places I might not otherwise have seen. This edition of Let's Go made me wish I hadn't left my '00 edition in the train station when I left. It devotes a miniscule # of pages to Switzerland, and lists almost no side trips or off the beaten path sites. The restaurant and accomodations reviews seem likely accurate but superficial, and the numbers of places reviewed has dropped by about 50% in my estimate. Also missing are several former great spots, like La Chaux de Fonds, and its watch museum(probably the most interesting and well-set up museum in Switz), and the Museum of Art and History in Geneva itself. I'd recommend "The Rough Guide to Switz" instead. It has the kind of detail that the older editions had, especially if you want to see the real Switzerland.

Rating:
Summary: Snazzy update to the series
Review: I've been a budget traveler in Europe for 20 years, and have always relied on the "Let's Go" books to take me not only to the well-known spots cheaply, but point out some places I might not otherwise have seen. This edition of Let's Go made me wish I hadn't left my '00 edition in the train station when I left. It devotes a miniscule # of pages to Switzerland, and lists almost no side trips or off the beaten path sites. The restaurant and accomodations reviews seem likely accurate but superficial, and the numbers of places reviewed has dropped by about 50% in my estimate. Also missing are several former great spots, like La Chaux de Fonds, and its watch museum(probably the most interesting and well-set up museum in Switz), and the Museum of Art and History in Geneva itself. I'd recommend "The Rough Guide to Switz" instead. It has the kind of detail that the older editions had, especially if you want to see the real Switzerland.

Rating:
Summary: Snazzy update to the series
Review: The new Let's Go Austria & Switzerland book was pretty useful in leading me through my first travels into the two countries. I had picked it up because I had flipped through their Boston city guide and found that it was pretty good coverage, so I figured anything in the series wouldn't be too bad. Information was accurate and helpful, the writing was witty and concise, and it showed me some amazing places to see that I wouldn't have gone to if it weren't for their recommendations. Though i'm sure for a veteran travel, the book may lack depth, as the previous reviewer wrote (what can you expect w/ coverage of two countries in one book?), but I found it pretty good overall for a newbie like me. I figure if i ever go back, I probably wouldn't depend on the book so much and wander more. I'd definitely plan on using let's go again in the future, though one thing I did wish for was coverage of more places. Guess you can only fit so much in a book you can carry in comfortably in your backpack.