Duncan Garwood

If this is indicative of a "new look" Lonely Planet guide, then it is a wonderful step up. I have used LP guides for years, and always found them reliable , informative and occasionally nicely opinionated.

However, there was a format change a couple of years ago I wasn't too pleased about, which somehow rendered the txt less readable for "mature eyes" (lighter print?).

This guide is fabulous. There are colour pics scattered throughout, the layout is attractive and clear, and the information show more as good as ever. There has been some criticism that LP are now aiming at the "flashpacker" market, and leaving behind the budget traveller. Perhaps. But while appealing to the more experienced independent traveller, there are still the budget sleep and eat recommendations, and lots of info for the younger, party-searching traveller.

The only niggling thing I don't like about LP guides is their maps. They are not street-indexed, and they don't mark all the streets. Don't rely on LP to get you about - you will need a stand-alone map, or if you are an Eyewitness Guide fan, try to fit both in your luggage, as Eyewitness do great maps. show less

I do like LP and have been a loyal customer for many years -but why, oh why, do they continue to have such useless maps? Not street indexed, and don't show all the streets. You have to buy a separate map anyway (or use the ones in Eyewitness Guides, which are superb), so why bothr takign up space with them, LP?

Rome, from Lonely Planet. A great book, ideally to read when visiting Rome; it is also a very pleasant lecture when visiting other cities; however the included map will generally give you the wrong indication in that case.

Per usual, I loved reading this wonderfully-written Lonely Planet book, detailing all aspects of Rome. I used this book on my travels, and there are some lovely places detailed in this travel guide, which I just had to go to. Thank you Lonely Planet for your advice!

Some places to visit are:
- The Trevi Fountain, with many beautiful statues. Want to learn some history, and how to properly throw a coin into the fountain?
- The Pantheon, (No, not the Parthenon, though, they do have a book show more detailing all the places in Greek!) a 2,000 year old temple, which is now used as a church. Want to learn more about the dome, and how water enters the church through the opening in the top of the roof?
- And of course, don't miss out on the Colosseum!
You can learn more about the wonderfully interesting history of Rome, and catch some good places to stay, eat, rest, or whatever else you might want to do in Rome! There's also some information about shopping, and some day trips to places outside of Rome, or inside the city. Beautiful maps are also included in this book, along with information about entertainment, culture, and top sites!

For a book 19 cm tall, and 328 pages plus an amazing pull-out map, I would say it's jam-packed with very interesting details of places to visit, and the beautiful sites of Rome.

I would like to thank Lonely Planet for providing me with this book in exchange for this review. show less