French: Lonely Planet Phrasebook

Book Description

Phrasebook in hand, bus ticket secured, you discover the bus driver shares your passion for Monet and fromage. He invited you to meet his family over a long lunch - another language-inspired success.

extensive two-way dictionary & user-friendly sentence builder
pronunciation for every word
how to have fun with the French: food, wine and romance
travelling basics: transport, health and shopping
useful culinary dictionary for exploring gourmet options

Customer Reviews:

extremely useful.......2007-10-03

I went to France not knowing any French except what I learned from songs, and somehow I didn't think knowing how to say "fish" and "will you go to bed with me?" would be good enough. This book was really great for a lot of different situations and was way more useful than my friend who claimed to know French from 3 years of high school. The pronunciations were particularly useful, although be careful if you get a "telecarte" as they might sell you minutes on a cell phone you don't have, not a telephone card.

French Booklet.......2007-07-03

Its OK, I didn't use it too much. Everyone speaks English. Would have been more helpful if I'd went into the more rural parts.

French: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.......2007-05-19

The book is very useful for traveling...as expected from a lonely planet speech book. However, it would be better with an audioguide to pronounce it correctly.

Useful in all situations.......2006-12-06

I got this book as a gift before going to Paris for a month and after taking one quarter of French at school. This book is so useful in very many situations! With my basic skills in pronunciation and grammar, this book carried me through at restaurants, metro stations, going out, etc. The two-way dictionary is also great because I had French people look up words they didn't know in English. There's also a funny romance section that I don't know if you would ever use, but it's a great read and my French friends love it as well. Overall I would recommend this phrasebook if you're going to France for a short trip and as long as you learn some basic pronunciation you should be fine!

Excellent Book to get around!!!!!.......2006-03-10

I was in Paris and with the phonetic pronunciation of phases the Parisians would understand us completely. I was so surprised!!! This book was very helpful and I would recommend it to anybody who needs to get around in France. I just bought the Italian version for my next trip!!!!

Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia (Lonely Planet Tahiti and French Polynesia)

Average customer rating:

New edition is great!
Good, but needed more
Outdated!!!
Excellant Guide book
Good Field Guide

Lonely Planet Tahiti & French Polynesia (Lonely Planet Tahiti and French Polynesia)
Becca Blond , Celeste Brash , and Hilary Rogers
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740599985

Amazon.com

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

If the magical islands of French Polynesia are on your itinerary, here is the perfect traveling companion. Its 29 maps highlight 4WD vehicle tracks, walking routes, and dive sites. The guide features a thorough history section, food section, accommodations for any budget, and useful Tahitian and French language sections. This book also includes all the archipelagos: the Societies, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Australs, and Gambiers--with extensive information in inter-island travel. The authors have personally tested all of the dive sites. --Kathryn True

Book Description

Bonjour and welcome to Tahiti! On your left you'll find great French cooking and fresh seafood; on your right there are ancient Polynesian ruins and brilliant Tahitian dancing. Just offshore there are islands with golden beaches, world-class diving plus endless opportunities to just kick back and relax. We love Tahiti, and know these islands like our own backyard, so let us show you around.

BEFORE YOU BOOK, read what our authors thought about your resort - get the honest scoop

RELAX beachside with us and read up on Tahitian history, culture and mythology, then let us spin you inspiring tales of the mysterious outer islands

SAVE a few bucks here and there - from planning your trip, to booking accommodation, we'll show you how to make sure your trip costs don't blow out of control.

TRUST US - We've dived the dives and walked the walks, we've visited every resort, hostel and cafÃ© between the remote Tuamotus and the backstreets of Pape'ete. We know what we're talking about

Customer Reviews:

New edition is great!.......2007-09-28

This new edition of LP's Tahiti and French Polynesia guide was invaluable on my recent trip. The details of the out of the way islands like Maupiti are wonderful, the writing is funny but clear and informative. It had details of local places and special spots that were not in the old one. I read up on the writers and one of them is an American woman who lives there, I could really tell that she understood the perspective of a tourist. I carried this book in my purse for the two and a half weeks I just spent there and referred to it often. Especially for the directions, cultural details and local customs that I needed. I felt like I had a local friend as my guide. I also find it comforting that they take no freebies from the hotels.
We stayed in small pensions and loved it, no one has screens in Tahiti it seems, but the guide did mention electric mosquito devices which was helpful, it also gave food details on the half-board places, and on the whole seemed accurate and well researched. The enthusiasm of the writing is infectious and I totally fell in love with Tahiti and the other islands we visited, I felt like I really got to know it better than I would have alone because of this book.

Good, but needed more.......2004-05-23

I've used many Lonely Planet (LP) guides and found this one to be lacking their usual detail. I got the sense much hotel information was pilfered from Web surfing the basic info, rather than first-person investigation. While still a good book to take, next time (and there will be a next time because Tahiti is wonderful) I'll be sure take another guide along with it, and to thoroughly read actual travelers' online reviews. I'll also know the questions I need to ask before booking. My sense was that the reviewers weren't seeing things through the fresh-eyes of a first time traveler. The details, such as directions accommodation features were often lacking.

One thing I've always liked about LP is that they will list small locally owned budget places - that are occasionally hidden gems - whereas many other guides only list "approved" chain-type accommodations. However, in this book key information about lodging was missing. For example, it's very uncommon to find window screens in Polynesia despite a lot of mosquitoes, yet it is not standard for the book to say if there are screens or mosquito netting at each location (sometimes there are neither). Screens would be a big selling point for me. In Lonely Planet's India guide - which I was quite happy with - they deliberately note whether hotels have air-conditioning or not; in this guide this rather important information (for the tropics) is randomly added. Sometimes we'd get there and they'd have AC and sometimes they wouldn't. A more specific example is a pension primarily described as "friendly" - which it was in spades - with no mention that there's one bathroom shared with 8 people and that doesn't have hot water. With what prices are in Tahiti, poor information is very costly. One "resort" (our over-water bungalow splurge) was merely described as "competitive with other luxury resorts." Come to find out it had bedbugs and no air-conditioning.

If level of detail can be evidenced by pages numbers, note that LP's Hawaii guide (five main islands) is 615 pages, while their Tahiti guide (50+ islands/atolls, with ten commonly traveled) is a only 287 pages.

Outdated!!!.......2003-02-13

I was expecting more from lonely planet but aside from the maps, the book is obsolete. It also reads like a text book, no passion, no flavor, very boring. The sections on each area are not very big at all. ...

Excellant Guide book.......2002-06-02

This book did a wonderful job of not only preparing us for the journey, but help us get around. We have now been there three times to three difference islands, and each time it preformed well. Although with all travel books they get out to date in a year or two, you should always call a head to verify critical information.

Good Field Guide.......2000-09-28

This book is very comprehensive. It will help you find all of the places you want to go, and will give you an overview of what to expect. Some of the items could have been a little more detailed though. Directions were OK. Luckily the islands are easy to get around. We found the combination of this book, Jan Prince's book, and the Moon book to be the perfect combination for our trip in November of 1998. Read more about our trip and how we used these books at DiveAtlas.com.

Book Description

Home of Champagne, croissants and cafés, France is the birthplace of cuisine as we know it. But French food goes beyond ratatouille and reputation. It has a beating heart that you'll discover in the crowds of Marseille markets, Bordeaux wine cellars and within this book. Whether you crave the creamiest goat's milk cheese or want to create your own crêpes, this guide shares the secret ingredients behind France's culinary culture.

an exploration of the regions and their specialities
an extensive guide to wines and wine regions
shopping the street markets of Paris
tasting truffles, terrines and foie gras
the definitive culinary dictionary, a quick reference glossary and useful phrases for every food & drink occasion
tantalising photography and recipes

Customer Reviews:

GREAT Info!.......2007-05-09

This book is a wonderful intoduction to different types of cuisine that is avaiable in france. Its real insight to the interesting combinations of food and preparation techniques, not to mention a great cursory intro to the wine regions in France. I would definately recommend this book to the first time novice in French cuisine!

A must-have in France.......2002-01-29

On a recent trip to Paris, my father-in-law brought along the dictionary part of this book. A bit excessive, I had thought. However, we used it in just about every restaurant we visited - French, Moroccan, Vietnamese, you name it. It defines every imaginable food and preparation type. The English to French translation is not quite as complete, but it doesn't diminish the book's value. Well worth the money and the trouble carrying it (at least the dictionary section). I'm buying this one and the Italian one for myself.

A must-have in France.......2002-01-29

Average customer rating:

Excellent!
easy to hear audio but hard to follow along with book

Lonely Planet French (Traveltalk)
Inc. Penton Overseas
Manufacturer: Penton Overseas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1591252938

Customer Reviews:

Excellent!.......2007-02-14

I am going to Paris in a few weeks and need a small book to carry around. I found this book and it is fab!
I have tabbed off the important details, like how to get a taxi and how to order vegitarian food. It also features a great 2 way dictionary. I look forward to using this handy book in Paris!

easy to hear audio but hard to follow along with book.......2006-08-20

i was debating between this book and In-Flight and ended up getting both. good thing bc In-Flight audio was terrible, but the companion book was done very well. completely opposite, the Lonely Planet's audio is great - they say the word/phrase twice and slowly, but the books it comes with aren't so great. the companion pamphlet has the follow-along to the CD but does not help with pronounciation. it does come with a pretty big to-go book, about 300 pages worth of French lessons, words, phrases - everything. a bit too much for a beginner.
the audio is good, but don't expect to pop it in the cd player and be on your way.

Lonely Planet Fast Talk French (Fast Talk Guide)

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Fast Talk French (Fast Talk Guide)
Lonely Planet
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740599934

Book Description

When time is short, Fast Talk French gives you the essential language to:

* do the sights & shop till you drop * book a room & order a meal * get from A to B fast * clinch that crucial deal * get your message across

Includes easy pronunciation of all words & phrases plus a mini dictionary of key words.

Product Description

Tahiti, Morea, Bora Bora - names that evoke warm South Pacific fantasies. French Polynesia boasts legendary topside beauty and a variety of diving adventures. Join a shark feed, swim with manta rays or snorkel alongside humpback whales. Pelagic encounters top a list of underwater highlights, including dramatic topography, prolific marine life and even a few shipwrecks. From the ripping passes at Rangiroa to the sheltered lagoon of the Society Islands, this book details nearly 50 of French Polynesia's best sites, with full-colour photos throughout.

Customer Reviews:

OK book for snorkeling advice.......2002-07-25

This book is ok for snorkeling advice. Mostly geared to diving. A lot of the descriptions of the locations for snorkeling where not accurate. I would recommend since you really do not have a choice.

Required reading.......2002-02-16

An excellent guide with supurb photos, invaluable to anyone planning to dive these islands. The layout is intelligent and very easy to follow, and the practical advice is well up to the standards I expect of LP.

Buy it well before you go to plan out that dream vacation

Useful Book!.......2001-03-12

This met my expectations quite well. A good overview of the area, followed by a review of the key dive spots in French Polynesia. Excellent phtography, including a good critter guide at the end.

The only downside I can find is that there's no real overview of good snorkeling sites . . . they're lumped in with diving sites.

Amazon.com

In few countries will you depend on your phrasebook as much as in France. Certainly some folks there know English, but you'll want to be able to greet people politely, make small talk, shop in the open-air market, and order food more varied than boeuf bourguignonne. At some point you'll probably want to swear like a French sailor, and who knows, you may want to croon sweet French nothings too. For all this, you need the Lonely Planet French Phrasebook. Along with help on grammar and pronunciation, the vocabulary of getting around, finding a room, shopping, and health, and a two-way dictionary in back, there are all the phrases you'll need to sound erudite au café, artsy au musée, and risqué in bed. --Stephanie Gold

Book Description

Definitely not your everday phrasebook, this little pocket dweller has everything for the traveller, and more. The only words you can forget about are 'faux pas'.

Features: covers all essential language and more in an easy-to-use format; two-way dictionary; local usage, slang; grammar and pronunciation guides; conversation topics such as sport, current issues, environment, romance; attractive illustrations and two-colour throughout; and specific needs include business, families, health, gay travellers.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent BookýIF you have any prior knowledge of French.......2004-07-19

I found this book to be very helpful, but only if you've taken a French class before and know basic vocabulary and pronunciation. I don't think it will prove as helpful to someone with no background in French, unless maybe they study and practice it before going to France.
I found the sections on socializing very thorough and useful, but I wish that there had been more about the public transportation system. Overall, a useful guide if you want to talk to locals, who are so much nicer to you if you attempt to speak French, even if your accent isn't that great.

Good, but..........2002-04-26

Let me see if I can help clear up some of the confusion caused by the mixed reviews of this book:

It is true that this phrasebook is sorely lacking in pronunciation instruction. The emphasis is on phrases and general sentence structure. The grammar advice can be hard to follow unless you are already familiar with basic French grammar. Therefore I would not recommend this book for beginners, especially beginners who truly want to learn French beyond just the words needed while traveling.

Having said that, this book is an AWESOME resource for those with at least some background knowledge of the French language. Pretty much every idea/situation you would want to communicate is in this book. It's very well organized and a handy pocket size as well. I had 1 semester of French each in high school and college, and while I don't speak French too well I still remember the basic pronunciation and grammar rules. I found that this book contained enough phrases and general information to jog my memory enough to the point that I can sufficiently communicate in French with the help of this book alone.

So if you know a little (or more) French already and are looking for something with lots of handy phrases, go for this book - it will serve you well. If you are looking for an introduction to the language and/or have an interest in learning French from the ground up, I would recommend purchasing some sort of book & tape set, maybe with this phrasebook as a backup guide while traveling. Hope that helps!

SUPER.......2001-10-09

THIS IS A VERY COMPACT BUT VERY COMPLETE PHRASE BOOK. IT IS VERY EAST TO READ AND HAS INTERESTING TIPS AND HINTS THROUGH OUT. THE PRINT IS ALSO A GOOD SIZE FOR EASY READING. IT IS WORTH EVERY CENT.

"Can I buy drugs?": Yes. "Can you take our picture?": No........2001-08-28

We just got back from a 2-week vacation in France. We do not speak any French, and on the advice of the other reviews and the reputation of the publisher, we used this phrasebook for the trip. Boy were we disappointed! Tons of really basic things are missing from the book. For example, in the 2-way dictionaries and the food section, we could not find a lot of simple food items. What does "oeuf" mean? I'll give you a hint: you'll be as luckless in finding the answer as you will in finding the French word for "egg." The book also lacks standard travellers' phrases like "could you take our picture?" These are just a few of the many basic words, phrases, and terms that are missing here. What's even more infuriating is what this book DOES contain instead: an entire section devoted to "social issues," including talking politics, buying drugs, and dealing with the police if you are caught with drugs. My own views on these issues tend to be pretty liberal, but really - if you are not a native speaker of French, and are travelling abroad, do you have any business arguing social issues or getting involved in drug deals in a foreign country? And do these things really have any business being in a phrase book that doesn't even have the word for "egg"? I think the authors put in the extraneous stuff in order to fit in with Lonely Planet's hip, with-it image. Instead, they should have concentrated on making this book a little more helpful and useful. In France, the word "acceuil" appears in train stations, metro stations, airports, and on street signs. Not the most esoteric of terms, to be sure. The only place it doesn't appear is in this most useless of phrasebooks.

Great phrasebook.......2001-05-27

We used this phrasebook to get around Paris. A recommended reading on the plane to France. Master looking up the phrases fast. The logical sections makes this easy. We used this phrasebook frequently to decode menus at restaurants which are not as touristy (as recommended in LP Paris book). Overall, excellent guide, a must buy for your trip to France IMHO.

Lonely Planet Tahiti and French Polynesia

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Lonely Planet Tahiti and French Polynesia
Robert F. Kay
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0864421435

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Lonely Planet Australie
Lonely Planet
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2840700859

Book Description

140 Maps

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Acquitaine Et Pays Basque French
Guide Lonely Planet
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2840702711

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