Fodor's Germany

I own just about every guide book to Germany. Fodors is the one that I have used the most, by far. My first Fodors guide to Germany was 2004, and my copy is looking pretty sad at the moment. This guide is for someone who wants a complete guide. For those easily confused there are smaller more focused guides (Fodors has those too). I've traveled all over Germany using this book as a primary resource and frankly, my wife and I would feel lost without it. It goes with us whenever we leave Munich. Not a lot of pretty pictures, but a lot of actual useful information. The only thing I dislike is their restaurant recommendations, which are always over my budget. For that, I use Rick Steves.

I recently bought the 2006 Fodors Germany Guide. I am using it in conjunction with my Michelin green guide. Fodors is really very good for planning a trip to an unfamiliar place that they are acquainted with the area, the hotels and restaurants which is a strong point for them. The Green guide offers longer descriptions of some towns than Fodors but it also has its shortcomings. I also like the maps in Fodors and have been using one of their guidebooks for many years now for different countries. As an all around guidebook, even for an experienced traveler they are handy.

Living in Germany and composing a loose travel book myself, I have seen quite a few in numerous languages, and for the more in-depth traveler who wants a bit more history and depth, this is the book to reach for. The only negative side is that it lacks the budget and student offerings that Lonely Planet gives, and is targeted at an older and richer audience.But that also means you do not have to deal with the often superficial writing of other books on the market, namely Lonely Planet, that leave you still wondering what there is to offer in the place of your destination and sometimes are factually completely wrong when it comes to almost every nook and cranny of less explored East Germany. But put against Lonely Planet, the information is much more accurate and reliable, and you can surely thank the editors for that. The history is well described in each chapter, and the research as far as prices, map detail, and transportation routes is second to none. The best OVERALL English travel series on the market. The editors are really top class!

I thought the book was helpful for my trip to Hamburg. It gave me good ideas of where to go to sightsee. During one of my visiting days, the map of Hamburg was helpful as I was walking around the city. I was staying with a local family and they said the book was a good guide. I can't say much about the previous reader's opinion on the Berlin coverage, but I can say that this book was worth it for me.

This new edition provides a lot of useful and practical information for people who like to travel Germany on their own. The hotel and restaurant recommendations are good, they may not be the cheapest place available but following a suggestion garantees a certain standard of comfort and qualtity. However the book could include some more insider information to get off the beaten track