Customer Reviews:
very good.......2007-07-27
This map is excellent because it can get wet and be folded in every way, it will not brake, because of it's material. It misses a metro map, though, but you can get one for free in many places in Barcelona, so it's not a problem.
Wonderfully Useful Map.......2006-11-10
My wife and I spent 6 days in Barcelona and this map was great. While many teensy streets are not shown (including the one where we rented an apartment), to do so would probably expand the size of the map to the size of a barn.
As it is, we navigated our way around perfectly with the map in hand. It shows the Old City in expanded view, details the subway system, includes outlying areas like Parc Guell, clearly labels and demarcates all the attractions and was indispensable.
Best of all, it has a rain-shedding coating that allowed me to fold and refold and bend and generally torture the map endlessly and it's still in excellent condition and can probably be used for another 3 trips.
Get it! You won't regret this purchase.
Barcelona, The Rough Guide Map.......2006-11-10
The Rough Guide plastic waterproof map series provides a durable and easy-to-read product. The Barcelona map depicts different geographic areas at various scales, supplemented by not only an excellent street index but also recommendations for shopping, eating, drinking, venues and hotels. All in all, an outstanding pocket guide to facinating Barcelona.
I used this map for two weeks..........2005-04-28
I used this map daily during a two week stay in Barcelona.
It was indespensible.
The Rough Guide map has a number of nice features. It shows
the location of many locations of interest. Not only
the standard tourists sites, but resturants and hotels.
The map is also accurate and detailed.
The sterling feature of this map is that it is printed on
tough material (some kind of plastic). So it could survive
two weeks of being folded and unfolded without ripping.
The durability of the Rough Guide maps is a huge selling
point and I recommend them for any destination, not just
Barcelona.
The only thing that the map is missing is a map of the
Metro which is the primary way to get around Barcelona.
However, free maps are available at the offices that
sell tickets at the major metro stations.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to Spain is your definitive handbook to one of Europe’s most thrilling countries. From the mesmerizing Moorish monuments of Andalucia to Guadi’s spectacular masterpieces in Catalunya, the 36-page full-colour section introduces all of the country’s highlights. The guide includes detailed listings for all the top places to stay, eat and drink whatever your budget, plus the brand-new âAuthors’ Pick’ feature will highlight the very best options. There is plenty of practical advice on a host of outdoor activities, from windsurfing in Tarfifa to walking the Camino de Santiago. The guide takes an informed look at Spain’s history, architecture and many fiestas and comes complete with maps and plans for every region.
The Rough Guide to Spain is like having a local friend plan your trip.
Customer Reviews:
They tell it like it is!!.......2007-07-05
The authors of this guidebook give lots of interesting information--along with their frank opinions!! As the book is so thick, they really can cover many, many places in Spain. We used the Galicia section for our trip, and it helped me decide in which places to stay/not stay as well as where to go on day trips. If they think the beach is ugly, they will say just that! If they like the architecture in a town, they will offer their opinion.
Because it is so thick, it is not a book that I carried around during the day.
recommended.......2007-05-17
I traveled for three weeks driving in southern and central Spain with this 2007 Rough Guide to Spain, a 2007 DK Eyewitness Travel Spain book, and a 2004 Frommer's Spain's Best Loved Driving Tours guidebook. While each had some information the others didn't, the Rough Guide was the most informative and most used...therefore the one I'd recommend taking.
Times for museums/attractions and prices (in Euros) was accurate. The cultural information helped understand their culture. The historical information helped also. I didn't depend on the specific accommodations listed...I would typically just go into an area with many listed places (typically tourist area with nice walking right outside the room) and ask around until I find someplace. [Note: This method can be a real problem during festivals (which Spain has no scarcity of...) when rooms may be in few supply....or in high season (I traveled in early/mid May...when the flowers were out in the countryside and it wasn't too hot).]
You won't find a book that has "everything" you want to know, so consider buying a couple (like I did) or just getting one and get the most out of it you can.
Whatever you do...enjoy your trip.
'Ta Luego.....
Book Description
The Rough Guide to Portugal is your ultimate handbook to one of Europe''s most beautiful countries. From the wine lodges of Porto and the famous resorts of the Algarve to Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife and the historic city of Ãvora, this guide captures all of Portugal’s highlights in a full colour intoduction. There are lively accounts of all the attractions, both well-known sights and lesser-known local gems. The top hotels, resorts, bars and restaurants are all uncovered in the detailed listings section with the new âAuthor’s Pick’ feature highlighting the very best options. There are plenty of practical tips on a host of outdoor activities from hiking and surfing to exploring the country''s stunning national parks. The guide also looks at Portugal’s history and local culture and comes complete with maps and plans for every region.
The Rough Guide to Portugal is like having a local friend plan your trip!
Customer Reviews:
In depth information.......2007-05-15
This guide includes inexpensive to
moderate accommodation recommendations,
excellent maps, comments on public transportation,
and knowledgeable advice.
Book Description
INTRODUCTION:
Andalucía is the southernmost territory of Spain and the part of the Iberian peninsula that is most quintessentially Spanish. The popular image of Spain as a land of bullfights, flamenco, sherry and ruined castles derives from this spectacularly beautiful region. The influences that have washed over Andalucía since the first paintings were etched on cave walls here more than twenty-five thousand years ago are many - Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Vandals all came and left their mark. And the most influential invaders of all, the Moors, who ruled the region for seven centuries and named it al-Andalus, have left an enduring imprint on Andalucian culture and customs.
The sight and sound of flamenco, when the guitar laments and heels stamp the boards, or cante jondo, Andalucía's blues, as it mournfully pierces the smoke-laden gloom of a backstreet café, also tell you there's something unique about the people here. The Muslim influence on speech and vocabulary, a stoical fatalism in the face of adversity, and an obsession with the drama of death are all facets of the modern Andalucian character. Contrastingly, the andaluces also love nothing more than a party and the colour and sheer energy of the region's countless and legendary fiestas - always in traditional flamenco costume worn with pride - make them among the most exciting in the world. The romerías, wild and semi-religious pilgrimages to honour local saints at country shrines are yet another excuse for a jamboree. And in quieter moments there are few greater pleasures than to join the drinkers at a local bar winding down over a glass of traditional fino (dry sherry from Jerez), while ! nibbling tapas - Andalucía's great titbit invention. Few places in the world can boast such a wealth of natural wonders in so compact an area. The mighty Guadalquivir river which crosses and irrigates the region from its source in the Cazorla mountains of Jaén in the northeast, reaches the sea 250 miles away at the dune-fringed beaches and marismas of the Coto Doñana National Park, Europe's largest and most important wildlife sanctuary. To the east and towering above Granada, the peaks of the Sierra Nevada include the Spanish peninsula's highest mountain, snowcapped for most of the year, while twenty miles away and close to the sweltering beaches, sugar cane thrives. This crop was another contribution to Europe by the Moors, along with oranges, almonds, aubergines, saffron and most of the spices now used to flavour the region's cooking which features an astonishing variety of seafood. Nestling in the folds of the same mountains are the valleys of the Alpujarras, a wildly picturesque region dotted with dozens of mountain villages! , many of them little changed since Moorish times. Further east again come the gulch-ridden badlands and lunar landscapes of Almería's deserts, sought out by film-makers and astronomers for the clearest skies in Europe.
On the coast it's easy to despair. Extending to the west of Málaga is the Costa del Sol, Europe's most developed resort area, with its beaches hidden behind a remorseless density of concrete hotels and apartment complexes. But even here the real Andalucía is still to be found if you're prepared to seek it out: go merely a few kilometres inland and you'll encounter the timeless Spain of white villages and wholehearted country fiestas. Travel further, both east and west, along the coast and you'll find some of the best beaches in all Spain, along the Costa de la Luz, near Cádiz, or the Costa de Almería.
Andalucía's sunshine image - projected across the world in advertising campaigns - belies the fact that this is also Spain's poorest region where an economy rooted in near-feudal landownership (two per cent of the landowners possess fifty per cent of the land area) stifles investment and is the cause of desperate poverty. Rural life is bleak; you soon begin to notice the appalling economic structure of vast absentee-landlord estates, and landless peasants. The andaluz villages saw little economic aid or change during the Franco years, or indeed since, even though the former governing Socialist party has its principal power base here. Tourism in coastal areas has brought some respite to the alarmingly high levels of unemployment, and Spain's growing importance as a member of the European Union promises to speed up progress, but there is still a mighty long way to go.
Customer Reviews:
Underwhelmed.......2007-05-11
After just spending 10 days in Andalucia, I have to say that I wished I had gotten the Lonely Planet guide. This one just did not have enough truly useful information to justify its considerable weight. For example, it would say "a bus takes you from the train station into town," but did not tell you the number of the line. Or it would say "there's a lively market on thursdays on c/ borroso" in Sevilla, but it did not give you any orientation as to where "c/ borroso" was in the city or on a map...and do you know how many tiny streets there are in Sevilla? Also, while it gave numerous restaurant reviews, it did not give them relative cost ratings (e.g. $, $$, $$$). This would have been really helpful, as I often would seek out a restaurant only to find it out of my price range.
That said, if you're not planning on getting audioguides at the historical sites and have time to read the descriptions, you will undoubtedly get more out of this book than I did. And when they had the necessary details, their recommendations of things to do were spot-on.
After browsing through other travelers' Lonely Planets, I think those guides are arranged much more intuitively.
Top this........2006-12-08
This high-quality guide is 50% thicker than the Lonely Planet guide to Andalucia, yet it's not too big or heavy for a light packer. (But I wouldn't want one any heavier than this.) There's no filler; it's dense with practical information.
The "Let's Go" guides are written by undergrads and have excellent lists of accommodations and eats, but the rest of it tends to be immature and alarmist purple prose. (I'll never forget this comment on Morocco: "But be careful, camels have been known to carry syphilis." OK, how many people do you know that have caught syphilis from a camel?!) I call it "Let's Not Go" because they always try to scare you. Other travelers I've met had similar comments and once upon a train ride we had some laughs swapping ridiculous citations.
Rick Steves is just too political for me. His "guides" read like tiresome negative campaign commercials or anti-American polemics.
This guide is about Andalucia. It starts off with a section called "34 Things Not To Miss" with a nice color photo of each, includes a good index, clear and legible maps, and a section on Gibraltar. All the opening/closing times were accurate for the places I went. Those who enjoy intelligent historical and background commentary will like this.
There's no logistical info on Madrid but that's OK: those who land there can go to the prominent "i" booth in Barajas airport or Atocha (the main train station) for free maps and friendly information in English.
Accommodation prices are absent because they vary by season, but good values are pointed out. The money section should warn about the blue "EXACT Transfer" exchange booths in train stations which charge exorbitant fees (like 25%!) and refuse to cancel the transaction once they have your money. (They display different rates for three amount ranges, but charge the highest rate regardless of your amount; it would be a crime in most places.) Note that prices on everything have skyrocketed since the advent of the Euro: the Ave ("AHH-vay") fast train between Madrid and Sevilla cost 70 Euros each way (!) and taxi fares were what I would expect to pay in the U.S. (Tapas is still a deal.) I also suggest a free glance at the State Department's consular information sheet online --your tax dollars at work.
Great overall resource.......2005-11-16
I found this book extremely helpful, if a bit bulky. One shortcoming is that the book does not include prices for the accommodation it recommends. Prices are always helpful if you're traveling on a budget; even though they become outdated quickly, they at least give you an idea.
Including the frequency of bus and train routes was very helpful, but they should also include web sites to check current schedules.
I do recommend this book.
A must-have for the Andalucian-bound!!!.......2004-07-19
Keeping in the tradition of the insight, clarity, and usefulness which has made Rough Guide among the best of guide book series, the Rough Guide to Andalucia is the definitive book for any tourist interested in visitng that region.
Uncluttered, with honest facts AND opinions about where to eat, landmarks, hotels, hostels, and more, the Rough Guide is peerless in it's thorough usefulness.
This book does an excellent job of presenting more than your usual tourist traps. Special needs travelers (pets, children, handicapped) can also get a sense of what may and may not be good ideas for your Andalucian odyssey.
All in all, if you're looking for a guide book that presents what you NEED to know without a lot of editorial musings, you will find the Rough Guide to Andalucia not only at the forefront of this genre, but without competition when it comes to giving you all things the "non-touristy tourist" wants to know.
Must Have Guide.......2003-11-07
Fantastic resource for the Andalucian paradise! We travelled to Spain with other guides, purchased this one on Gibralter and weren't without it the rest of the visit! We also travelled with a 6 month old, great recommendations for sites and out of the way not- touristy spots. Roman ruins listed in here are incredible and would have been missed if using any other guide.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to Barcelona is the ultimate handbook to Spain''s most dynamic destination. This seventh edition has beenthoroughly updated and revised and includes up-to-the-minute reviews ofthe city''s best restaurants, bars and clubs, to suit every budget. There are in-depthaccounts of all the sights, from the tree-lined Ramblas to the weirdand wonderful modernista architecture all over the city. There are detailed chapters on Barcelona''s history and cuisine with a section on Catalan cookery and recipes. The guide comes complete with information about day-trips outside the city and includes maps and plans for every neighbourhood.
Customer Reviews:
excellent.......2007-07-27
This is an excellent guide.. although I must admit I did not expect anything less from Rough guides. It is full of helpful details which make you go around the city on your own with no fear of getting lost, from the airport till your own destination. It includes sightseeing and absolutely everything about the city.. I always buy rough guides, although there is more text than photos, because the information given inside are excellent.
A good guide to Barcelona.......2005-05-07
I just got back from a two week trip to Barcelona and I found
the Rough Guide very useful.
I read a number of books on Barcelona before I went, including
Robert Hughes' "Barcelona: the great enchantress" and Tobin's
"Homage to Barcelona" (the title is a play on Orwell's "Homage
to Catalonya"). I also had the TimeOut Guides, both to
Barcelona and the TimeOut Guide to Barcelona Food and Drink.
What I particularly appreciated about the Rough Guide was its
accuracy and its completeness. For example, it includes
accurate information about the metro stops to various places
of interest. Each district in Barcelona has a brief guide to
points of interest. The Rough Guide even provides accurate
directions to Calonia Guell, where Gaudi's chapel, referred to
as "The Crypt", is located. Since getting around and knowing
when points of interest are open is a big part of visiting
Barcelona, the Rough Guide was invaluable and I carried it
everywhere.
Along with the Rough Guide to Barcelona there is the
Rough Guide Map for Barcelona which I also highly recommend.
This map survided two weeks of constant use in very good
shape.
TAKE THIS ONE WITH YOU!.......2001-04-22
Like most other Rough Guides, I found this very reliable. It is not too heavy to carry round ,even on a night looking for good Tapa Bars! The recommendations in eating out proved invaluable and accurate. They are much easier to follow than the LP guide as the different city areas are conveniently headed up.This enables you to wander around an area and stop off at your leisure sampling tapas. A very agreeable night out. Our favourite bar was El Xampanayet (A Cava Bar). The accomodation recommendation we chose proved good and prices were also as quoted. Time spent browsing the net for accomodation was far less productive than a quick read. The colour maps are an improvementon earlier additions, but you are better with a tourist centre map, not because that in the book is inadequate, but it is easy to have a map which slips into your pocket. The tourist info in the guide is good, the style is easy to read and all the city is covered, including days out from barcelona if you feel so inclined. The section on getting around is useful and includes weekly transport tickets etc. Overall excellent value. If you like pictures your better with Eyewitness, but its much heavier to carry, and in Barcelona you'll be doing lots of walking!
Get the Lonely Planet book instead.......2001-02-13
The maps in this book are completely inadequate. Barcelona is a big complicated city and needs more than Powerpoint-style graphics that pass for maps. Reading a flimsy Spanish map from the tourist office was better. Pictures... virtually non-existent. Construction of book absolutely pales in comparison to a Lonely Planet book. Poor layout. I do not work for Lonely Planet!
Average customer rating:
- not the best
- Not bad, but a little dry.
- Lots of info, but...
- Indispensable!
|
The Rough Guide to Spain (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
Simon Baskett ,
Jules Brown ,
Marc Dubin ,
Mark Ellingham ,
John Fisher ,
Geoff Garvey ,
Graham Kenyon ,
Phil Lee ,
Chris Lloyd , and
Iain Stewart
Manufacturer: Rough Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Europe
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Spain
| Europe
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
Guidebooks
| Reference & Tips
| Travel
| Subjects
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Rough Guide
| Guidebook Series
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Lonely Planet Spain
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The Rough Guide to France 9 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
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The Rough Guide to Morocco 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
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The Rough Guide to Italy 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
ASIN: 1843532611 |
Customer Reviews:
not the best.......2007-05-01
this does read more like an encyclopedia than a real travel companion.it doesn't really have alot of pictures of the places it talks about....it is a little on the borring side.
Not bad, but a little dry........2005-05-26
In the past I've been all about the Lonely Planet guides but tried out the Rough Guide for a recent trip through Spain. Though it's a great guide, it lacks personality and reads more like an encyclopedia than a real travel companion. The small print and color scheme is also hard to follow. If you want lots of details and don't mind lugging this massive volume around with you, this is a good choice, but if you want a more concise and cheeky review of a place, this book probably isn't for you.
Lots of info, but..........2005-03-18
Having been to Spain 14 times, I can say that this is a useful book, although some of the information and pictures are not essential. Given its size (1152 pages) and weight, this is a book to be read before your trip; be sure to have good lighting and good eyesight as the somewhat faint and small type will prove challenging to some.
Indispensable!.......2004-07-19
If you are looking for a small book to fit in your back pocket, The Rough Guide to Spain is not for you. If you are looking for a guide that lovingly describes even the smallest Spanish town in careful detail and clear format, then this IS the guide book you should be looking for.
The Rough Guide to Spain does an excellent job in several areas where many guide books fail. For example, smaller attractions are often overlooked in favor of the larger cities, such as Barcelona or Sevilla. Rough Guide ensures that for those who want to go provincial, they won't be going in blind.
Another merit of the guide is in it's clear, concise format. Not overburdened with irrelevant maps/illustartions (a pet peeve of mine), Rough Guide has clean, simple directions and mapping. This is a vast imporvements over Guides like Lonely Planet, where I often feel the editors publish more with an eye towards their own self-satisfaction than towards the serious traveler.
The resturaunt/hotel features are adequate, frequently include useful maps, and will not tax anyone's checkbook too harshly.
Perhaps the greatest strength of this guide is the seeming conviction of the editors to tell you that which you NEED to know for that trip to Spain. Michelin might the cultural ask-all, DK may have lots of lovely photographs, but Rough Guide is for when you're ready to get serious about your trip to Spain.
Well-written, informative, with a clear and honest style that should impress both casual and budget traveler alike, The Rough Guide to Spain should be your FIRST PICK in guide books.
Book Description
Mallorca is one of the Mediterranean''s most popular and beautiful islands with attractions and activities ranging from the cosmopolitan streetlife of Palma to established beach resorts and beautiful towns of Deia and Valldemossa. The Rough Guide map will make exploring the island by car that much simpler with information on all the routes from the main roads to unsurfaced tracks. The map pinpoints the location of many attractions and places of interest, including golf courses, churches, monasteries, palaces and archeological sites. As with all the maps in the Rough Guides series, this map is made of rip-proof, waterproof Polyart™ paper, durable enough to survive a trip spent in the car seat-back, rucksack, and café table-top.
Book Description
The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca is your definitive handbook to two of the Mediterranean''s most beautiful and popular islands. From the cosmopolitan street life of Palma to Menorca’s remote prehistoric ruins, the full-colour section introduces all of the islands’ highlights. For every town and region, there are comprehensive and opinionated listings of the best hotels, bars, restaurants and clubs, plus a new âAuthor Pick’ feature to highlight the very best options. The guide provides detailed route descriptions of hikes on both islands, plus tips on bird-watching and where to find the islands’ most secluded beaches.
The Rough Guide to Mallorca & Menorca is like having a local friend plan your trip!
Customer Reviews:
THE Map for Galicia!.......2007-07-05
I had the Michelin maps of Spain/Portugal and the big Michelin map of Galicia and the next area..........but the Rough Guide map was my #1 choice by far for our 10 days in Galicia and the one I used as family navigator. The map has a plastic coating, so it won't break as with paper maps when you try to fold it over into the section that you need.
The symbol for scenic overlooks or miradors was great........I managed to get our family to a bunch of obscure but beautiful sites, some of them on those narrow "white roads."
I found the printing and colors much easier to follow than the Michelin maps.
One caution about all the maps other than the one that we got from the Galician tourist bureau........the road numbers on the maps do not always match the road numbers on the roads!
Detailed.......2006-05-18
Good map. Nice and detailed. Unfortunately the area I am most interested in is just south of the southern cut off. Don't buy this map if you are planning to visit Castille y Leon or Catalonia.
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The Rough Guide to Barcelona 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
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