Fodor's Great Britain 2003

Rating:
Summary: My first choice is still Frommer�s
Review: I took two country guides with me to England: Fodors and Frommers (see my review). Frommers is my first choice for England, and here is why.

Fodors publications tend to be for the more affluent travelers. Dont be mislead by the subtitle, which states: Guide for All Budgets- NOT. Though I am no longer a young, backpacking, hostel staying traveler, I am not rich, nor am I affluent, nor even close to the 'very comfortable' category. Rather, probably like most who will buy this guide, I am a mid-income, working stiff. So, for me, the mass majority of the selections in this book are steep. In London, most of Fodors accommodations are more than $100, many $200-$400. Hotels in smaller cities or towns were at $80-$340. I would not hesitate using any of Fodor�s recommendations. Lodging reviews are descriptive and accurate. However, when Fodors states, as it did with the 'Posthouse Kensington' that the hotels standard rooms are on the small side they mean closet small. Very small, Lilliputian small, infinitesimally small, get the idea? We could not pass each other in the room without one of us getting on the bed while the other passed.

The dining recommendations that Fodors lists are VERY GOOD, and this guide recommends the best restaurants that Great Britain has to offer. But, though London has many bargain restaurants, and some of these are very good, few are listed. I found nothing less than $20 per person listed. Most lunch meals cost (for 2) more than $45 and dinner more than $60.

A guide book worth its salt has to guide you with quality maps. The few maps that Fodors uses are good at helping you locate dining or lodging. However, this guide is deficient in the quantity of maps provided. A very weak area in this guide.

Also, instead of giving the general price of lodging (and restaurants) Fodors gives you a cumbersome code to use, IE ££££=over £230, £££=£160-230, etc. You need to remember what the symbols stand for as you read through the guide, then, unless you are British, you will need to convert pounds to dollars. Frommers is much more straight forward and is converted already to dollars. A significant plus!

Fodors is excellent regarding website and email addresses for accommodations, however, even though many of the top restaurant now have their own websites with vivid photos and menus, I found no addresses listed.

Their travel information essentials (A-Z information) is very good and there is a top rate Portraits of Great Britain and Books and Movies section. Overall, this is a reliable, informative guide that is full of interesting tidbits. That said, my first choice is still Frommers. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: My first choice is still Frommer's
Review: I took two country guides with me to England: Fodors and Frommers (see my review). Frommers is my first choice for England, and here is why.

Fodors publications tend to be for the more affluent travelers. Dont be mislead by the subtitle, which states: Guide for All Budgets- NOT. Though I am no longer a young, backpacking, hostel staying traveler, I am not rich, nor am I affluent, nor even close to the 'very comfortable' category. Rather, probably like most who will buy this guide, I am a mid-income, working stiff. So, for me, the mass majority of the selections in this book are steep. In London, most of Fodors accommodations are more than $100, many $200-$400. Hotels in smaller cities or towns were at $80-$340. I would not hesitate using any of Fodor's recommendations. Lodging reviews are descriptive and accurate. However, when Fodors states, as it did with the 'Posthouse Kensington' that the hotels standard rooms are on the small side they mean closet small. Very small, Lilliputian small, infinitesimally small, get the idea? We could not pass each other in the room without one of us getting on the bed while the other passed.

The dining recommendations that Fodors lists are VERY GOOD, and this guide recommends the best restaurants that Great Britain has to offer. But, though London has many bargain restaurants, and some of these are very good, few are listed. I found nothing less than $20 per person listed. Most lunch meals cost (for 2) more than $45 and dinner more than $60.

A guide book worth its salt has to guide you with quality maps. The few maps that Fodors uses are good at helping you locate dining or lodging. However, this guide is deficient in the quantity of maps provided. A very weak area in this guide.

Also, instead of giving the general price of lodging (and restaurants) Fodors gives you a cumbersome code to use, IE ££££=over £230, £££=£160-230, etc. You need to remember what the symbols stand for as you read through the guide, then, unless you are British, you will need to convert pounds to dollars. Frommers is much more straight forward and is converted already to dollars. A significant plus!

Fodors is excellent regarding website and email addresses for accommodations, however, even though many of the top restaurant now have their own websites with vivid photos and menus, I found no addresses listed.

Their travel information essentials (A-Z information) is very good and there is a top rate Portraits of Great Britain and Books and Movies section. Overall, this is a reliable, informative guide that is full of interesting tidbits. That said, my first choice is still Frommers. Recommended.