No comments about The Rough Guide to Athens (Rough Guide Country/Region Map).

No comments about Athens popoutmap (Popout Map).

4 comments about Greek Waters Pilot 10th Edition.

1. If you'e going, get this book. If you've been there hopefully it was already aboard with you. Great reference book: It is the book to have as a sailor in that area. Greek mapping of ATONs etc is not the best and this publication contains the best local knowledge you could have aboard unless your skipper is a highly knowledgeable local sailor. Landmarks, harbor services, native's demeanor, food & supplies, light historical info, phone numbers, even a glossary of useful Greek terms. This was my second trip using this book.



2. This book is definitely a "must have" for everyone sailing in Greece. We have used it now for 4 Years there without having any problems finding the information we need to find. Together with the local charts (which are often not too accurate) You will definitely find your way to the destination safely.



3. I am planning to bareboat in the Saronic / Argolic soon. It will be my first experience in the area, since in previous ocasions I bareboated, I did it in the British Virgin Islands.
   This is why, My first reaction was to compare this guide with the ones I used in the BVI.
   Assuming it covers an area which is dramatically bigger than the BVI, I was not surprised with the size of the book, which, is big and bulky (certainly not a pocket one, or something you can read at bead, you need a table to put it over...).
   I found the book is clearly written, easy to understand, with good diagrams. If I not rate it with a five (5), is because:
   
   - Though it has a general map at the begining of each section, once you are inside a section, reviewing the different places, is difficult to place certain port in the big picture context. This requires going back and forward, which is certainly not easy considering the size of the book. I believe having the ports (or anchorages) diagrams refered to a bigger portion of the area, would be helpful. This would make easier to plan itineraries.
   - Main ports and anchorages are included. But it seems the book lacks of information about secluded places, which may serve as lunch stops between main destinations.
   - Would have expected more "local flavour" in the descriptions of ports, once you are in. Maybe more recommendations on where to go, or what to do. Or that kind of data, which really makes the difference between the so called "milk charters" or a "tailored" one.
   
   This book is the default guide which you will find on board of many of the yachts in the greek area (as I could find out from many quotations I received when planning my vacation). But if you are going there for the first time, I strongly recommend to have the book far in advance, since is not the kind of book easy to use on board (mainly because of it size, you will only use it down at the navigation table, but not in the cokpit). Then, is up to you if you decide to take it with you in the plane... or trust the one you will find on board is in good shape. But the important thing is to be acquainted with it. Having said all this, I am very happy to have this book in my library while planning my vacations.



4. I'm heading for the Cyclades this summer on a yacht. This book has all the information I need for my trip.

5 comments about Greek Islands (Regional Guide).

1. In general, while I find that Lonely Planet produces far and away the best country guides, their city-, region-, and continent guides have a tendency to be surprisingly light on actual information. (One would expect city guides to have, say, _more_ information, but sadly no.) The same is true for LP Greek Islands, which uses the same stock descriptions to talk about virtually every island, really giving very little sense of how the flavor and atmosphere is different in the different places, and with very few photos to give you a sense of what each island looks like. Ferry information is minimal but sufficient, but if you're looking for information on alternative lifestyles, look elsewhere. Even the section on Mykonos, a famous gay retreat, barely acknowledges it as such!



2. I took Lonely Planet Greek Islands and Greek Island Hopping on a recent trip to the Greek isles and Athens, and by the end of the trip I opened LP only for its eating recommendations (which are pretty sparse, but still better than Greek Island Hopping, which has none). I found LP to be inferior to GIH in virtually every respect. The information is not detailed enough to give a good picture of the islands and towns (making it hard to prioritize which islands to visit), the maps are frustrating in their lack of detail (not to mention that the number of maps is much less than in "Island Hopping"), the writing is uninspired, and it is overpriced for what you get (only $2 less than LP's full Greece guide!).
   
   It did have some good restaurant recommendations, for which I am appreciative (try Levantis if you're ever on Paros!) because it's easy to pay a lot for bad food in Greece. Yes, that's true everywhere, but I'd take issue with anyone who tried to argue that the quality-to-price ratio isn't much lower in Greece compared to places like Italy, France, or even next-door Turkey. Even with food, Lonely Planet still didn't have all that many recommendations and its descriptions on how to find the places were lacking (I don't know how many places were described as "just off the main street" or something like that). Given that many of the towns it describes do not have an accompanying map, that's a problem.
   
   LP has built its name on its usefulness to the independent budget traveler ... but its guides are often hit or miss for me. I'd put LP Greek Islands in the "miss" category: get "Greek Island Hopping" instead.



3. Lack of information is the big feature of this guide. Where to eat and stay is the worst thing in this book. So if you think to choose a hotel or restaurant forget it! Choose another guide. Lack of criticism concerning sights and places to visit is another minus point. Lonely Planet guides are very narrative. Like Frommer`s guides these guides should rate sights and places.



4. The media has recently reported that many travel books are now written by people who don't actually travel to the places they review. While using this book in Greece I had the nagging suspicion I must have bought one of those books.
   
   For example, the book reviews several beaches on Patmos but doesn't mention a single hotel around Grikos Beach, even though there are at least half a dozen places to stay. Also, I'd expect a book to do more than just list the beaches on an island--but to let us know which ones are crowded, which are nearly inaccessible, and which beaches are hidden "gems". The books gives no such information, leaving you to waste time finding it all out yourself.
   
   Also, the book doesn't indicate which beaches can be walked to and which require your own wheels or some other form of transport.
   
   The book's information regarding ferries and connections was completely inadequate, making it impossible for us to plan a ferry trip before reaching the place we planned to leave from.
   
   Finally--don't bother with this book if you already have LP Greece. The islands book is just a shorter version of Greece w/o the mainland--literally word-for-word.



5. Elaborate & all important info,one needs to know is available in this book.Wished it had more pictures of pertinent places.

5 comments about The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Greece.

1. I agree with the reviewer who said that this book assumes you are already familiar with Greek history and even Greek geography. It is not an introductory book. Rather, it's a very good book to read after you have read a number of other books. It ties together scholarly opinion. There are still-existing controversies in Greek history, and it may be that this book takes a position in some instances that not everyone agrees with. But I don't see that as a major issue.
   To be able to read comfortably just about any book on Greek history you should be familiar with the geography. This is hard for us Americans, but it is a gradual learning process, and finally when they mention Argos or Thebes or Delphi or Thrace you will know more or less where these places are located. Of course, the maps in this book can be used to make other books more readable.
   An example of how this book is enjoyable in the context of other books previously-read, is the subject of Crete, Mycenae and Linear A and Linear B. The most interesting way to learn about this controversy is to read one or better yet both books about the interpretation of Linear B. The significance of the discovery that Linear B was a form of Greek is that it meant that at least by 1450 or 1400 BC Mycenae held sway over Crete instead of vice versa. What this Penguin book does is to emphasize that, according to the author, prior to 1450 BC, and for the previous say 600 years, there is no question that the Minoan civilization (Crete) held sway over Mycenae and much of the eastern mediterranean. I was not aware of that, and I'm not sure there is a consensus on that, but it is an example of how this book is much more meaningful if you have read a lot of Greek history prior to this book. This book is not an introductory course, it is a delicious dessert.



2. The maps of countries change so much throughout history, making this book a must have for students of Greek history.



3. With all the fine Classical scholars out there, why did Penguin pick an Egyptologist? The volume on Egypt isn't done by a scholar of Summerian history. His views are often dated, criticising or praising theories that are long since forgotten. A scholar like Peter Green could have made a fine book out of this.



4. Sure, maybe Penguin waters things down a bit to much but when it comes to reading complicated primary texts or reviewing scholarly essays, sometimes you need something reliable, short, and to the point and this is it. Also, accompanying every section if a primary quote which I think is a nice touch, there are also good maps and some photographs. I am a fan.



5. compared to other books having to deal with the subject matter this book is rather boring. But then I have never been that much of a fan of the subject matter either. It is rather small and if you just want a bullet point history then it is great but it tends to be harsh to read in my opinion.

5 comments about The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome (Hist Atlas).

1. I would like to second the comments of Jacques P. Talbot. I bought this book expecting an atlas, that is a book of maps. There are some maps in this book, but they are small and cluttered and I don't really find them useful. The book is mostly pictures and text. It reminds me of that Time-Life series, that is aimed at young people, although this book is not as good as any in that series. The publishers must have changed their mind about what they wanted to do with this book. They should not have put the word "Atlas" on this confused mess. It might be OK as an introduction for people about 14-16 years old, but if you want an atlas with useful maps in it, don't buy this.



2. The atlas is not that large. I bought four similar atlases all from Penguin and they are all thin books (< 150 pages) and small in size (10" x 7").
   Atlases are supposed to be hugh.
   However this (and the other 3 books) do contain loads of information.
   The book skims over the Republican era. The first map at page 22 and by page 32 the Republic is over.
   The book has only a few maps of the expansion of Rome within Italy (hardly a mention of the Samnites, or Sabines; and one small blip on the map for Sparticus)
   It has a few maps of Asia Minor at this time. With Carthage and the Punic wars taking up most of these few pre-Empire maps.
   Maybe 10 maps to cover 600 years.
   
   We then have many maps to cover the next three hundred years.
   
   Then the book ends abruptly. Shows Constantine's Empire and then quickly shows the Germanic kingdoms and the new Byzantine Empire. And it is over. No maps of Parthia or the neo Persian empires. No maps of the distribution of Germanic tribes outside of Roman areas.
   
   I would have liked to have a bigger book with larger maps. Too many maps cover two pages, so the book binding obscures some information and making a scan of a map is very hard.
   
   On the plus it has many other types of information (unfortunately sometimes repeated by the author in the start of a chapter and later in some specific article).
   The types of info include the economy, currency (25 silver Denarius = 1 gold Aureus), the legions (names and numbers at different times), how mines work, the olive oil industry, and of course articles on emperors, politics and religion. A good dozen examples of city maps and a legion camp are shown.
   
   On the whole a good reference and a good read on the history of Rome. But of course a real book with 1000+ pages is required to cover all aspects of the Roman empire. So this is a great companion atlas to that other book. I also got Penguin's Ancient & Medieval Histories (2xMcEvedy) and Ancient Civilizations (Haywood). Together all four give you the info to cover Rome very well.



3. This short book is an excellent introduction to Roman history. It is divided into easy to digest chapters which deal with a single theme.



4. A quick and reasonable overview of Roman history. This short book provides the basic narrative, historical geography, and some highlighting of specific topics like art, funerary customs, and religions. A good introduction for high school students or early undergrads with little prior knowledge of classical history.



5. Perhaps it should be called, "Penguin's Lavishly Illustrated but Brief History of Ancient Rome With a Bunch of Maps." As some reviewers have mentioned, it's really too small -- both in map quantity and size -- to earn the name of an atlas.
   
   Despite that, and the errors mentioned above, there is a lot of info in this book that can be useful -- and some of it is hard to find in other places. The map of sailing times across the Mediterranean, for example, presents information I've only found in Lionel Casson's excellent books -- and presents it in a form much easier to use.
   
   As others have mentioned, the pictures are nice, and the captions are informative. While it falls somewhat short of an atlas, I use it as a quick supplement to other references -- but now I'll be careful to verify what I find here.
   
   What I'm really looking for is a book of large-scale maps of the city and environs of Rome itself from say, 400 BC to 400 AD -- now that would be useful!

2 comments about Michelin Greece/Grece (Multilingual Edition).

1. This map was easy to read, gave us enough detail for driving to various locations throughout the country and was very practical. The only problem was when driving on the roads in Greece, none but the super-highways has any route markers. We drove for miles and miles on state highways and never once saw a route sign. You have to navigate by destinations toward a city or village. (So that's not a fault of the map.)



2. This is a very big map. 5 feet x 3 feet and it is a good overview map of all of Greece. It gives you enough detail to help you navigate around different parts of the country. Good aid if you are driving around. It also gives you a good sense of where all the major cities and islands are. Should be a good aid if you are exploring around Greece and are driving.
   Only printed on one side, though, the back side is blank. I think they could have printed some detailed city maps on the back side.

4 comments about Frommer's Athens Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day - Pocket).

1. This book is pretty good for describing different areas in Athens. Has some good maps too.
   You will definetely need another good book though.



2. This book was all I used for three days in Athens and it was great. I hit two restaurants, one doughnut place and a coffee shop that the book recommended, and all were dead-on. The restaurants were notably better than those I found on my own. Advice on museums and sites was solid. Most importantly, the book marks locations on maps by section, so even if you can't find or read street signs, you can find what you're looking for. I used a different brand for Rome and had a much harder time getting around (indeed, I didn't find several of the restaurants that book recommended because it didn't label the streets on its map, much less show precise locations). I'd use the day-by-day series for any new city.



3. Lots of things to do in Athens so how do you figure it out? This book will help. It gives you all the major sites and things to do and it gives you all kinds of great ways to set up your sightseeing either in daily treks or in multi day treks. Highly recommmended. I really used this book. I used the various recommendations to plan out my own itinerary.



4. I have shelves full of travel books because I love to travel. And while I no longer worry about traveling by the seat of
   my pants (deciding what to see after I get there), I still want to know where I am going to stay before all else. And I
   am never (well, hardly ever) looking for the glamor of the rooms. I want it centrally located and I want to know what I
   am getting. Frommer's is the best travel guide out there in describing a room. If you are looking for another Holiday
   Inn or Merriott you don't need a travel guide to point things out. If you want a room that looks like it actually belongs
   in the country you are visiting, then Frommers is the guide for you. This was true in my college years, ever so many years
   ago, and it remains true today. They also have very adequate one, two, and three day plans of things to see.
   
   I am writing under the Athens book simply because that is where I am going on my next trip. I would recommend almost
   any of them.

5 comments about Streetwise Athens Map - Laminated City Center Street Map of Athens, Greece - Folding pocket size travel map with metro map.

1. The handy litte map was exactly what we needed in the urban center of Athens. It was clear to read, and fit right in my pocket as we walked around. With the subway information it made it so simple to get started underway to any city goal.



2. Streetwise maps are the ones I use for travel both domestic and international. I think they are great, convenient to carry, precise and easy to use. Athens has changed a great deal since the last version had come out so the newly revised map is most welcome. I will certainly be bringing mine along when I revisit Athens next year.



3. Comforting to know I had a good map in my pocket before I arrived!
   Can't tell you how many times I have arrived in a big city and you are at the mercy of the airport info desk, train station or a visitor's booth to not only be open, but to actually stock a good map. Too many times I have been out of luck and try to piece may way around as best I can. I was able to figure out how to get around and where I wanted to go without emptying my pockets on a cab driver either. Great map! Glad I had it.



4. While this review is on the Athens map, these maps are excelalnt. Great quailty. They fold easily and can fit in you back pocket and they will take a beating. Don't have to worry about a little mositure as they are plastic covered. The maps are printed on both sides with a close up of a particular section of town. We have several of these maps in our travel guide section at home.



5. All the Streetwise maps are the best tool when traveling. I have even purchased ones for cities that are on list of future travel plans. The Athens map had everything I could ever want to experience. The Metro stops are clearly identified and it made for very easy navigation around the city.

5 comments about Frommer's Greece (Frommer's Complete).

1. If you haven't been to Greece before, this is where to start. You'll want to read most of it before you go to help plan your trip and get you oriented. It has just about everything, although Greece is a dynamic country, and no travel book will be up to date on everything. If you're looking for a personal touch to traveling Greece, something that connects archaeological sites with mythology and history, you might try this: Oedipus on a Pale Horse: Greek Journey in Search of a Personal Mythology. I was in Greece for ten weeks along a few years ago, and relied heavily on a guidebook, and this is one of the best. Happy travels!



2. WOW- what a great book!
   This book made our trip to Greece in so many ways.
   We got great ideas from this book that were accurate and fun. I would recommend it to anyone headed to Greece.
   A day trip to Albania was one of the best things we did-suggested in the book.



3. We knew Frommer's was geared more toward people with a larger travel budget than we had, but we were still disappointed with this guide. It didn't offer intra-city travel options and most of the museum/sight information was outdated. We missed Rick Steves on this leg of our trip.



4. This is definitely a good travel book however some parts of the book (even though you get a current copy) may already be outdated especially when it comes to hotels and restaurants. You can get better info on the internet and definitely will be more up to date. Still it's a good travel book if you purchase it at a discount price.



5. I am sure this book will bea help on our trip to Greece this summer.