Andalucia

This guidebook was a terrific resource for a vacation in Andalucia. The detailed maps and descriptions of historic sites are excellent. Hotel and restaurant recommendations were also very good. The introduction to the guide is an excellent source of history and culture.

Michelin guides are always a great source of reliable and comprehensive information. I love them because by giving so much detail they allow the me to choose as I go, and not having to rely in the narrow selection of a (good) travel writer. This guide on Andalucia is not an exception. The fluid text helps to recreate the landscape, traditional architecture and cultural vivacity of such a rich region. It is a very good guide, but still far from the best by Michelin. Comparing this 2nd edition to the first one, there was lots of editing, especially condensing and cutting text. The first version was a bit too wordy and meandering, but in my opinion there was too much cuts, especially on minor sites and description of sites. Also, surprisingly, there was nothing new - and there are always some new museums (Almería, Málaga, La Línea, Moorish baths in Cordoba), important reopenings after restoration (Los Remedios at Estepa, Santiponce), and good content missed in previous editions (ever heard of Zufre? Mulva? La Hoz de Rute?). Coverage of natural sites is still a week point of this guide; and a few extra maps of scenic drives and city plans (e.g. Antequera, Osuna, Priego) would help. In the end it was a surprise to see how increasing fonts and line spacing led to more pages in spite of less content. I'll rather keep the first edition.

Michelin is always a great source of reliable and comprehensive information. I like plenty of details so I can make my choices as I go, review my plans, envision and compare options in my mind. Many guides in the market just give the author's picks or are excessively opinionated (e.g. Rough Guides). It is rare to find deep and well-informed text, a good understanding of the local culture, off-the-beatten track sites. Andalucia can't be visited in 1-2 days, and is incredibly rich and complex; seeing a few great places just off the hotel gives too little, considering how much is there. This guide is very good. The text is perhaps too wordy in some places, but recreates well the landscape, traditional architecture and cultural vivacity of this fabulous region. It is not the best from Michelin, but is a great start. I prefer this 1st edition to the second, where there was too much editing, especially cutting text. And, surprisingly, nothing new, less content and more pages! All in all, I'll keep my old and good first edition.

I really enjoyed readingt his book. A great resource for traveling in the Andalucia