Target Audience

Let’s Go is perfect for the first-time backpacker who appreciates the books’ “Alternatives to Tourism” chapters, which discuss the pros and cons of working and studying abroad, cultural exchanges, and volunteer options.
To buy: www.letsgo.com.

Strengths and Weaknesses

The series has drifted from its original written-by-students-for-students focus to appeal to the mass market. (It now includes five-star hotels as well as $5- a-night hostels.) But it’s still especially useful for walking tours, though its writing is sometimes dry. Students might prefer Lonely Planet or Rough Guides. Updated every one to two years.

What It Says About Paris

“It’s a good rule of thumb in France to avoid fitting the stereotype of the American tourist. The more of an effort that you make to blend in, the better your experience in France will be. For dress, what may look perfectly innocuous in Peoria will mark you out instantly in Paris.”