The Bottom Line
Pros
- Comprehensive - it seems to contain everything in one handy volume.
- Catering for every segment of thr traveling community - from backpacker to to golfers.
- Good local maps help in esploring.
Cons
- Weight - backpackers will grown.
Description
- Up to Date? The 2007 edition has a few outdated items, but generally is spot-on.
- Images and Illustrations - Eight color pages, many monochrome pictures in text, quality generally is good.
- Maps - Local maps are great, the pull-out (literally) map of Ireland works as a quick orientation guide only.
- Typeface - Clear, the reader is spared fancy typework and garish colored backgrounds.
- General Layout - Regional and giving highlights first.
- "Completeness" - Generally speaking "everything" is included.
- Binding and Paper Quality - Paperback using thin paper.
- Size and Weight - 656 pages plus covers, 5.25 by 8 inches, 750 grams.
- Would I Feel Comfortable Using this Book? Yes, from a glovebox ... I would not fancy carrying the tome all day.
Guide Review - "Fodor's Ireland 2007" by Anto Howard and Colleagues
Backpackers might find the guide a bit too tame for their taste ... and too heavy. It can easily double as a door-stopper and is best carried in a car. Not that this is a guide made for drivers - it caters for walkers as well, especially in the urban areas. But you'll notice you are carrying it.
Who then should consider buying this book? Well, it is so comprehensive that nobody should really be disappointed with it. The advice is well-presented, reasonably up to date (at least the dreaded National Wax Museum is not mentioned, but the Sean O'Casey Bridge is missing and the National Museums need updating) and quite a bit of background information makes for enjoyable reading. Or browsing - you can dip into the guide at your leisure and be sure to find an interesting snippet of information.
Just don’t expect too visual a guide - illustrations are good, but kept at a minimum.
What you can expect are honest opinions - Fodor's Ireland 2007 does not promote Doolin for instance, the largely diplomatic review will, however, raise a few alarm bells with those in search of unspoilt tradition. You may disagree with some, but that is natural and goes with the territory.
Recommended for the traveler who wants to tour Ireland without too rigid an agenda - you might discover more interesting detours than you may imagine by dipping into the book during a visit to the pub ...
If you want to discuss this review, please use our forum to do so.
