Frommer's? Washington, D.C. 2002

I knew NOTHING of DC when I learned I had to attend a conference there. I purchased this edition of the Frommer's DC guide and the little bit of money I spent on it was well worth it! I've never had to maneuver around a city without a vehicle and I was MOST worried about learning to use mass transit in DC. This guide calmed my fears about the Metrorail which was actually one of my favorite aspects of DC! I studied up on how things work and the tips saved me a lot of headaches. For example, one tip said to stand on the right of the escalators when exiting or entering the Metro station so that commuters in a hurry will be able to run up the left side. That one tip saved me from getting in the way of those who I know would have run over me! I feel the ratings that the guide gives attractions are right on. Too many times, authors of guidebooks don't even visit an attraction and they just copy and paste a description that comes straight from the attraction itself. I've been to too many attractions that weren't worth my time, but who billed themselves as being worthwhile and exciting to visit. The writers of this guide have actually been to all of these attractions and are honest about what to see and what to skip. I had two days outside of the conference I attended to do some sightseeing, but on some mornings and in the evenings during the conference, I had free time as well. The Frommer's guide gave me the information I needed regarding times and days that attractions were open. Also, knowing which ones were closer to the Metro stations was helpful when I knew I'd have limited time before I had to be back. Even though the edition I used for this trip was at least a year old, I felt it was indispensable. I know one reason my trip was so wonderful is because of this book! The tips are very helpful. The writers are knowledgable. The information is correct. The only thing I would change would be the index - it could have been more comprehensive. I've always relied on information from visitors' bureaus and tourist information spots when visiting a new city. However, those brochures and guidebooks are always written to glorify everything. They don't critique and they don't offer tips. After using the Frommer's guidebook, I'm a firm believer in avoiding visitors' bureaus and sticking to Frommer's.