18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Are the red Michelin guides getting outdated?, 8 Mar 2006
By Annette Randell - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Michelin Guide to Italy 2006 2006 (Michelin Guides) (Hardcover)
I used to really like the red Michelin guides for places to stay in Europe: to find the best lodging in my price range, preferably out of the way places you just can't find by driving around: like the places indicated with a rocking chair, or the sign for great view , or the bib sign.
I still appreciate the concise info in the red Michelin guide about number of rooms, pricing, directions, times closed, etc. - but this time ( Italia 2006), I am disappointed with the selection of hotels: On my own, via searches on the internet, I am finding quite a few very attractive hotels that are not listed at all in the Michelin. - and with the help of tripadvisor.com, I'm getting an idea about attractivenesss and value of an hotel, comparable to the Michelin star rating.
All in all it makes me think that Michelin is not keeping up with internet search capabilities, but relies more and more on their old and proven places, this year highlighted with a "50" sign, meaning they carried the place in their listings for 50 years..
Also: While the symbols used in the guide are all very well explained in different languages, each red Michelin guide is only printed in the language of the country whose hotels it lists. - so how helpful really are the descriptions of the rooms, the location of the hotel, etc.. - the kind of info that is very valuable for choosing a particular place - when you don't understand Italian, French, or German but picked up the guide for that country?
It is still a good guide - just not the "must have" great guide it used to be, at least not for hotels. For restaurants, I'll continue to rely on their recommendations. The final verdict is still out - but I'm going to rely less on the Red Michelin. This one was probably the last I bought.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My Travel Bible, 26 Mar 2006
By Agatha Comberton - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Michelin Guide to Italy 2006 2006 (Michelin Guides) (Hardcover)
I have just ordered Italia 2006. It must be the 10th edition of this wonderful travel guide that I have bought. I wouldn't leave home without it.
Yes, it is written in simple to understand Italian. After all you are going to visit Italy...they speak Italian not English!
It is one of the few travel guides that tell you the closing days of the restaurants.
I cannot think of one thing wrong with the Michelin Guide and I have been using them for 30 years!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It would be better in English, 17 July 2007
By J. A. Garza - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Michelin Guide Italia 2007 2007 (Michelin Guides) (Hardcover)
I didn't realize the guide was in Italian. Nevertheless, I decided to keep it as the symbols and structure of the book are still easily understood. Plus, written Italian is not so hard to decipher if you know Spanish. I bought the book to learn about the good eats in each of the towns/cities I'm staying in. I like how they list the restaurants and hotels by city alphatetically, so it's easy to find accomodations and memorable meals based on where you're staying. Who would have thought that Bologna does not have any Michelin star rated restaurants and the coastal resort town of Rimini has one!