Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)A 10 day, first time trip to San Francisco can be daunting, especially if it is undertaken solo. In order to make the most of the time, I purchased every guide I could find and read it cover to cover. Here are my thoughts on Fodor's:
PROS:
- covers in GREAT detail all available attractions in each part of the city as well as the surrounding area; I carried the guide with me at all times; if lost or if I wandered into an area off my itinerary, I could easily find an appropriate place to eat/visit and/or find contact info to cover most emergencies;
- gives wonderful background information, including historical facts;
- offers sound travel advice to and within the region;
CONS:
Quite frankly, for someone who has never visited the city, that massive amount of info arranged in geographical order is overwhelming and not necessarily conducive to creating an itinerary in line with one's individual interests. For that reason, I think Fodor's is most useful once you find yourself in the city. The guide would be much improved if it invested in an extensive chapter on how to create an interest focused, length-of-stay based itinerary (general, historical, culinary, architectural interest, etc.). This need pertains not just to the San Francisco guide, but to any Fodor's guide. The guide has a very linear way of thinking about tourists: they eat, sleep, shop, and want to see a few museums...The end. Well, that is not how most of us travel. And so, Fodor's is not so much a guide to the area, but rather a detailed description of the area...
Once again, I recommend it once you find yourself in the city, but the guide is no help with creating an exciting itinerary...
Click Here to see more reviews about: Fodor's San Francisco 2010: With the Wine Country (Full-Color Gold Guides)
Fodor's. For Choice Travel Experiences.Fodor's helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. While you're at the helm, Fodor's offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It's like having a friend in San Francisco!•Updated annually, Fodor's San Francisco provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guide book.•Fodor's San Francisco features options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, so you make the choices to plan your trip of a lifetime.•If it's not worth your time, it's not in this book. Fodor's discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor's Choice designations, ensure that you'll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in San Francisco.•Experience San Francisco like a local! Fodor's San Francisco includes unique photo-features that impart the city's culture, covering Chinatown history, Cable Car rides, Alcatraz lore, Golden Gate Park activities, and much more!•Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include "Top Reasons to Go," "Word of Mouth" advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls.•Full-color pullout mapVisit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
