I went to the archives to look for the last discussion on guidebooks for France, it was from 2004 and the link was a dead end.

I know we all have our favorites, which are yours and why? Alphabetical, regional, photos...?

I waffle between Green Guides and independent guides because I like content and logistics (phone numbers, hours of operation, etc.) combined with an easy-to-read presentation and maps.

How about you? Well-kept secret guides you're willing to share?

Laura

There's some good information here on the main site. For general overviews, I've always liked the Eyewitness guides, because of their birds-eye views and because they don't devote 2/3 of the book to outdated and questionable hotel and restaurant listings.

I always try to find information as specific to the area I'm visiting as I can. A guidebook on "France" is pretty useless, I think. I also think books that relate to your specific interests, such as hiking or wines or whatever, are more useful than general guidebooks.

This page from my trip report on the Languedoc lists the books we especially liked for that region.

And here is the bibliography for our trip to the Loire Valley.

The Pudlo restaurant guide for Paris is terrific. Is there a specific area of France you are interested in?

- Roz

The book that is the most dog-eared and bent out of shape after just a week was Lonely Planet's (2007 ed) for Provence & Cote d'Azur. We didn't need a book full of photos or restaurant/hotel listings. We basically wanted a guide that we could look into when we stumbled onto something and wanted to learn more about it. I find that Lonely Planet consistently points out off the beaten track and true to local culture experiences for travelers. It contains addresses and hours for places and always includes the contact information for the local tourism office -- usually where we started when looking for something to do in a newly discovered destination. Given our travel style, Eyewitness is too brief (yet their neighborhood walks in the Paris guide perfect!) and the Green Guides too stodgy, but that's just it -- our book choices reflect our personal style of travel.

My only critique of the list on SlowTrav is that it is becoming dated with editions that are several years old at this point and seems narrow on regions. Sure, it is a good start, but maybe this thread will give us insight into if later editions of the same publications live up to their ancestors or if something new and exciting has come out in the last few years! And with the majority of the suggested books falling into Paris & Provence, I know I've read ST accounts of some wonderful trips taken to other parts of France!

The beauty of knowledge is it's always evolving. Thanks for getting this conversation off to a start, Laura!

I've been told that the Rough Guide books are based on the Guides Routards, which are very popular in France. We liked the one we used for the south of France.

- Roz

Thanks for the tips! I am taking notes and heading to the travel store. I know it's a personal choice, but I like knowing what others are using and why they appeal.