Virginia Maxwell

This guide has virtues - set out by neighbourhood, which makes way more sense in a city as large and physically compartmentalized as Istanbul than the usual "sleep/eat/see/play" business; it manages to be fairly comprehensive, covering basically all of what our (many, somehow) other guides put up as well as most of what I learned from my cool Turkish pals; and the included map is solid. Overall, it performs, but the fucking lazy-ass, cliche-ridden tone the author throws up all trying to be fun, and her out-of-control penchant for dissecting the relative merits of Ist's many (wonderful) sweet shops while not telling you where to find a fucking doctor (everyone should have a friend who's a local when travelling, but nobody should have the misfortune to have to use a guidebook written by one. This isn't as bad as LP Beijing with his stupid "Just ask for a special secret deal in your perfect Chinese!' but still), aaaand her crazy obsession with the arriviste-y restaurant 360, which she must part-own, kind of sour the firin sutlac for me.… (more)

I love Istanbul, having lived there in the early 1990s. In 2005 I made my first return visit since then, and although I feel confident I know the city well, much has changed. This guide contained information which locals I stayed with weren't aware of, particularly public transport info.

My main criticism of LP books is that the maps are pretty useless, and this is once again the case. You really need to get a separate map f you are going to venture beyond the really well trodden path. (There are a couple of bookshops on Istiklal Cadessi that sell good maps).

I found the tone of the book suited me - it is enthusiastic about an amazing city, and the author certainly knows the place well. I don;t usually follow guide book suggestions for places to eat, preferring to discover those on my own. I am gald I allowed Maxwell to lead me to a couple of cafes and bars, however, as they were excellent.

I recommend this book for both the novice and experienced traveller to the city (which I don;t with all LP City Guides - some, like Paris, I think reather too basic for the experienced visitor to that city).… (more)