Fodor’s Munich & Bavaria, 1st Edition: Plus Salzburg (Fodor’s Gold Guides) (Paperback)
June 12, 2009 by Destination Guide
Filed under Travel Germany Guides
Product Description
Oktoberfest and beer halls, fairytale castles atop green mountains, and lost-in-time medieval towns are just a few reasons why Munich and Bavaria remain Germany’s most popular areas, with 620,000 American visitors in 2006. The World Cup Championship brought the region even more attention last year. Whether travelers want great shopping or classical music in Munich, or the best hiking, boating, and skiing in the mountains and lakes of the Bavarian Alps, this easy-to-use guide has it all. Written by local experts, Fodor’s Munich & Bavaria is an insider’s key to both the sophisticated urban pleasures and the gorgeous countryside of Germany’s heart.
·CloseUp boxes focus on German beer and attending Oktoberfest, plus the best beer gardens in Munich
·The Romantic Road chapter is a complete itinerary for touring the villages, churches, and castles along this famous scenic and historic route
·Side trip to nearby Salzburg, Austria, covers the highlights of this beloved city
· “What’s Where,” “Quintessential Bavaria,” and “If You Like” sections at the front of the guide identify the main attractions and experiences
·“Top Reasons to Go” boxes at the start of each chapter make planning a snap
·Discerning dining and lodging reviews cover cozy local favorites, fine-dining picks, good-value city hotels, and idyllic mountain inns
Buy Fodor’s Munich & Bavaria, 1st Edition: Plus Salzburg (Fodor’s Gold Guides) (Paperback) at Amazon
I haven’t taken my trip yet so I can’t judge the recommendations or the accuracy of the details. I also bought “Rick Steves’ Germany and Austria 2008″ (which I think is near-great), so I will highlight Fodor’s strengths. This book is well-organized. It’s easy to quickly find what you want: Use the thumb tabs to get in the right region, then thumb through looking at the orange page and section headings. The font styles and symbols are easy to read. The maps are excellent. The sightseeing map location numbers are repeated by the sight descriptions. The “Where to Stay & Eat” maps are similar but the location numbers are not carried over to the description section. There are more recommendations for hotels and eating places than in RS. For Munich, they are subdivided by neighborhood. The menu guide translates ingredients such as meats and vegetables. Also this book probably covers every town that a tourist might want to see in Bavaria (more than you see in the Table of Contents) while RS covers only the “best”. RS is much better for describing the sights, history, and practical details such as the transportation systems, but I think Fodor’s will be a good supplement.
This book was perfect for getting an over-view and doing pre-planning for our trip to Bavaria. It isn’t suited for carrying around with you like a field-guide, though. The section on Salzburg was great and helped us decide to go there, as well. It has a good section about road trips, too.