Fodor's South Florida 4th ed.

Rating:
Summary: Nightlife, art and shopping recommendations are very good!
Review: Tourism generates over $41 billion annually for the Florida economy, which is more than twice the entire GNP for Cuba. That is why there is a fierce fight for the Florida travel guide market.

This South Florida guide is somewhat more focused and more expanded than the better know "Fodor's Florida" Guide (see my review). SO, if you are going to visit just MIAMI, the EVERGLADES, PALM BEACH, FT. LAUDERDALE or the KEYS, then you will find this guide more compact, lighter and a bit cheaper guide.

The "What to Read and Watch Before You Go" section (books and videos) is a very nice touch. Fodor's is the only So. Florida guide to do this. KUDOS. Also, the detachable road map at the back of the book is another nice touch.

Fodor's publications tend to be for the more affluent travelers and, though Florida excels in great bargain restaurants, few are listed. That said, Fodor's dining recommendations are VERY GOOD and this guide lists some of the best restaurants that South Florida has to offer.. You won't be disappointed by any of these restaurant listings. .

As with the "Fodor's Florida" Guide I was disappointed by SOME of the accommodations listings. One especially stands out. Fodor's profiles and recommends a major name Resort and Spa Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. I stayed there and it was such a run down "has been" of a hotel (bad Service, dirty building, rotted wood railings, refrigerator door broken, hole in blanket, housekeeping did not clean counters or empty trash), that I wrote the company and to their credit, after 6 weeks, I got a full refund.

A lodging index and a restaurant index would be a definite plus for this guide. As it stands now, if you have a restaurant you want to look up, you have to go through all the listings in your city until you stumble across the name you seek or miss seeing it completely.

Fodor's is catching up to other guides regarding website and email addresses, however this is restricted to the lodgings, even though many of the restaurants now have their own websites with photos and menus.

I am a firm believer that any guide book worth its salt has to guide you with quality maps. This guide has very good dining and lodging maps. The few regional maps that are included are very helpful, and the maps clearly show you sites to visit, but with maps, more is better, and this guide begs for MORE specific area maps.

The nightlife, art and shopping recommendations are very good. Sports sections are also reliable and comprehensive. For those living in South Florida, and those traveling to South Florida, this guide would be good, recommended companion. 3.5 stars