Rick Steves' Paris 2014

What can I say about this series of guidebooks that I haven't said on my other review? Not much. Rick Steves came through for us again with very practical advice and time saving tips to skip the lines on popular attractions. The book is also well-organized and has a good overview of all the popular sights in Paris so you can decide which one to see. He also grades them on which sights he feels you can skip if you don't have time. I thought that was good to help us narrow down the places since we just didn't have enough time to see everything. There are also walking tours that he provided which were also very good. Overall, I think this book was all we used on our trip. We did use a couple of apps to help us navigate the Metro and for restaurant recommendations as I heard his book was not great for restaurant recommendations. However, I think the book is great as a tour guide to see the city.

This book is amazing. It will really help you get the most out of your trip to Paris. First and foremost it is a guidebook so you don't have to read the whole thing to get what you want from it. Simply browse the table of contents for what you are interested in and skip to that chapter and read what you need. The book comes with a few pre-planned itineraries for a short 3 day trip and a longer trip, which with a little thought, can be customized to fit your schedule and desires. The best advice this book gave was to get the Paris Museum Pass. It saves you money, but even if it cost extra it would still be worth it to skip the lines. Want to skip a 3 hour ticket line at the Louvre and walk right up to the security line? Get the museum pass. It's not perfect though because most major sites will have a security line which cannot be skipped, and can still be particularly long especially at Versailles. It is absolutely essential to learn how to use the Paris metro (subway) to get around, and the guidebook will help explain everything you need to know ahead of time. The guidebook covered common tourist scams, two of which were attempted on me which I easily avoided (friendship bracelet and found ring).

I bought this book in hard copy several weeks before our trip to Paris in January 2014. The book is very detailed and well organized, and punctuated with Rick Steve's humor. This was my first trip to Paris, and I needed help to prioritize how we would spend our time since 1 week is just enough to skim the surface of this city rich in history. It was so helpful that I also bought the Kindle version since I would be sight seeing on my own several days while my husband was working. I liked that the URL links in the Kindle version are clickable links and I could zoom in on areas I needed to be larger. Rick Steve's keeps the book updated via his website. What I really appreciated are the interviews and tours you can download from his website for free. I downloaded many of these to my cell phone before leaving and listened to them on the flight over. It was very enjoyable to hear the added perspectives of local guides Rick has invited to his radio program. Rick Steve's provides tremendous value to travelers. His book allowed us to use our time wisely to see most of the things on our list and have an overview of not to miss highlights at each site. He also advised how to stay safe and avoid pick pockets. We followed his advice and recognized them immediately. We will always buy his guides before traveling to Europe in the future. Thank you to Rick Steve's and his team.

I did have a great time reading the guide, it helped me get more insight about the places I was sightseeing, I did love the quick historical summaries and even the art explanations. I visited Paris in the winter, so I would like to suggest that the author includes that during winter you can face 2 other issues not mentioned, fountains not working and many statues (specially on gardens) wrapped up, so you might not be able to enjoy those places fully. The other comment has to do with the guide being too "American", I think the title should mention that, because it certainly is written for the people on the US, jokes, anecdotes and all. And a last reply, when you use the adjective American it refers to anyone who lives in America as a continent, not only to the US citizens, so maybe you (and many others, since this is a very common mistake "Americans" do) should find a better word for this.

Just got back from Paris - we were there Apr 28-May 1. I found the ebook really convenient, carried my iPad everywhere. Rick suggested buying tickets to the Eiffel Tower online to bypass the long lines. I bought the book just a few weeks before we left - no tickets were available then. Rick suggested buying a ticket at least 3 months ahead but to check availability a week before the trip. I did & there were a few slots open so I bought our tickets. He also suggested buying the Paris Museum Pass to bypass lines - we did & he was right. I planned our itinerary based on his diamond ratings - it worked like a charm!!! The book's maps were much better than the maps from the museums & his street maps showed streets not seen in the Paris street map. Whether you're in Paris for 2 days or a week - Rick's books (I also bought his Rome ebook guide - we went to Paris & Rome April 28-May 6) will help you plan to make the most of your stay.

This author was suggested by a friend, and I was glad I listened to his advice. This book gives a very good overview of the different neighborhoods (Arrondissements) around Paris and gives easy-to-read background information on many of the more popular sights. I did my best to read the book before leaving and plan the trip out ahead of time, but it was also extremely useful at the hotel to help finalize the next day's plans, and even once in awhile to have it out with me during the day in case my memory failed me or we changed our plans on-the-fly. I liked the organization of the book, the helpful travel tips, and the detailed descriptions of the different places. If you've never traveled to Europe before and you're going to Paris, get this book and read all the travel and planning advice before going. It makes the trip a breeze. The one thing I'd disagree with the book about is that getting a carnet of Metro tickets is not nearly as useful or convenient as getting the week-long Navigo pass which gives you unlimited rides inside the city. But I guess it would depend on what days you're in the city and for how long, so it's still worth reading the all the information he provides!

I love all Rick Steve's travel guides. I've used them for Provence, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. He has wonderful walks he guides you through, and they almost feel like treasure hunts, as he has you walk (or take a bus) from intrigue to intrigue. Most information you need about pricing is there for you before you go on your trip, and he always has suggestions about how to travel, take the train, find a place to sleep, eat, etc.... For this particular city, I wouldn't dream of travelling there without the actual book, and the whole thing is FULL of great information and fun activities. I do supplement Rick Steve's books with other travel guides, because he occasionally misses churches/cathedrals/synagogues, and some typical touristy places I like to see. But he gives me the off-the-beaten-path surprises I cannot pass up. I know I will be guaranteed a great trip after reading this book.

We took multiple books to Paris but Rick Steve's book was out mainstay for walking tours, guides for museums, recommendations for places to eat, and general information. We had already made separate arrangements for our hotel so we didn't consult that chapter. He gives more insight, detail and opportunities to see the real Paris than the other books we had. We also save a lot of money and still got to eat good food the locals eat without breaking the bank thanks to him. I will use his guides again. His complimentary audio guides downloaded from the internet were also a great combo for the book

A practical handbook for a Parisian rendezvous. Practical facts about musem passes , modes of transport and Walks makes this a perfect guide to control your budget . A good buy . However harps a lot of certain places and blanks out others .

This was a great guide to Paris, with lots of very practical information. I always use guidebooks when visiting new locations and my husband was very impressed by the information given in this guide. Will definitely purchase from this collection for future trips.

Useful tips and a lot of information, writen with the American reader in mind. Would definitely recommend it to anyone going in Paris for the first time.

Bought as a Christmas present for parents who are taking a trip to Paris in February. Hardly been put down since. Seems to be really good to help plan trips out. Really good tips as to which days are best for all the attractions. Hints to get the best value for money. Good tourist tips. Best ways to travel to and from places. Very accurate prices and times. Just hope its all correct when they go! Would recommend!

Rick Steves gives you a wealth of information, excellent book. The only thing I will say is the book is aimed at American's and could have more information on traveling to Paris from else where in Europe. One thing the book didn't mention which may help out, is that if you are under 27 and a member of the EU many attractions are free, we entered the Sainte Chaplle, Louve and palace of Versaille all free of charge. Bring your passport!