Frommer's the Carolinas & Georgia [With Fold-Out Map]

Note that this review is for the 2009 edition. Heading down from Atlanta, to spend a week on the coast of Georgia (especially St. Simons), I took with me three guides: Frommer's, Fodor's The Carolinas & Georgia and Moon: Savannah & the Georgia Coast. For just the GA coast, Moon's new release "Savannah & the Georgia Coast" - was the best. Frommer's is superbly laid out guide. It gives you a brief history section, as well as sections that films, books & music that reflects the Carolinas & Georgia in print and celluloid (tip: before your journey, have a little fun and a get few DVD to set the mood- Gone with the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, Driving Miss Daisy and, of course, Forest Gump to name a few). This guide has great information on what to see; and their recommended accommodation and restaurant were very reliable, with many good choices. That said, I found a few reviews that were carried over from the previous edition without checking out if the place was still good, or open. Also, I found some great new restaurants that had been opened for two years or more, i.e. the Cargo Grill in Brunswick, that should have been in this 2009 guide. However, no guide will be 100% current; thus, you should cross-check Tripadvior on the internet to get the latest scoop. This guide has a serious downside and it is the lack of maps. Maps that help you locate the accommodations and restaurants guide are absent, except for only the largest cities (Atlanta, Savannah, Charlotte etc.). This is a critical shortcoming on the part of the publishers. Overall this is a very good and reliable travel guide, superior to Fodor's, and good for all of the Carolinas and Georgia. However, if you are going to just the Georgia Coast I strongly commended Moon's. Happy travels. Recommended 3.5 stars

I planned to go to NC, SC and bought this guide. You will get an add. map and find a structured book, with lots of details and useful recommendations.

I'm used to travel books with a lot of pictures, but the more I travel the more I see how the pictures from the books are not the same in reality. This book is a good example how only two cover pictures and well written text can manage you to want going to this far away place.

I know this may sound like a commercial, but what can I do? I've become a fan of Frommer's guides. They are predictable in terms of quality: you know you will get a solid and up-to-date guide for your trip planning needs. It is consistent through the years, even as it improves: you know where to look for things. But best of all, it is definitely written with the traveller in mind. Things are arranged in a way that makes searching for information easy. We are planning a trip to North Carolina soon, and I sat down to get ideas and tips for it with the Frommer's guide to the Carolinas & Georgia. I am happy I took the time to check it out. We now have the info we need to make the most of our time there without having to "eBay" an arm and a leg.

My husband and I visited Charleston for two nights on our way to Florida in June. As always, Frommers's to-the-point opinions were right on. We had a wonderful stay at a historic inn and enjoyed some memorable dining experiences. Although it was wretched hot, the maps of Charleston were easy to understand and we were easily able to venture out of town to explore the Isle of Palms and the Boone Plantation without getting lost-hehe. I cannot say enough good things about the organization of this book. We were easily able to find activities and dining options in our price range and were never steered wrong. It also includes so many other wonderful vacation destinations (i.e. Outer Banks, Savannah, Beaufort, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, etc) so you definitely get your money's worth.