Very disappointing, 10 Nov 2008
I got this for Christmas and I was very disappointed. There appears to be no correlation between the titles of the chapters and the descriptions. Apparently the Inner Hebrides are in the Firth of Clyde. I felt like the author had found a formula 50 places before you die - find a few people to interview. I was expecting to find the best places - not just some places to sail.

Avoid - cheap & cynical formula volume, 14 Oct 2008
Bought this on impulse (to top up to free postage!) without reading reviews. A mistake.

All you need to know is:
1) The author's previous books were Fifty Places to .... Play Golf / Go Birding / Fly Fish etc .... before you die
2) The USA based research is so exhaustive that the British Virgin Islands and South Georgia Islands are listed under UK, but Scotland is not (meanwhile each USA state is treated as a nation)
3) Different rent a contributer provides each section - so the author probably never even visited the locations
4) Pictures are few and mostly could be anywhere

Not for sailors, 24 Jul 2008
A very disappointing purchase, I was expecting much more information on the 'places' and less about the boats and contributors life histories. Chris Santella (the author) admits that his experience of sailing is limited to a season of sailing lessons in 1975 thus he enrols the advice of several professional sailors for information. Hence this is a mish-mash of racing locations & partial auto-biographies alongside what looks like stock photography. If you know nothing about sailing and want a nautical book as a coffee table paperweight then this is for you. Otherwise avoid.

Coffee Table Sailing, 05 Sep 2007
I bought this book hoping it would provide coffee table inspiration about where I could one day sail in the world. I expected there would be informative pictures and descriptive narrative about the scenery and what to expect from sailing in each area. I was very disappointed. Some of the accounts given by interviewees lived up to my expectations but many others seemed to just rant on about their own sailing careers or refer to the names of places as though the reader would already know them intimately. The pictures were uninspiring too and there wasn't always a picture for each place visited. Many of the pictures were essentially of yachts rather than the scenery in which they were sailing. If you are into yacht racing and sailing clubs this might be the book for you, but as an account for potential visiting cruisers this book may be one to leave on the shelf.

Very disappointing, 10 Nov 2008
I got this for Christmas and I was very disappointed. There appears to be no correlation between the titles of the chapters and the descriptions. Apparently the Inner Hebrides are in the Firth of Clyde. I felt like the author had found a formula 50 places before you die - find a few people to interview. I was expecting to find the best places - not just some places to sail.

Avoid - cheap & cynical formula volume, 14 Oct 2008
Bought this on impulse (to top up to free postage!) without reading reviews. A mistake.

All you need to know is:
1) The author's previous books were Fifty Places to .... Play Golf / Go Birding / Fly Fish etc .... before you die
2) The USA based research is so exhaustive that the British Virgin Islands and South Georgia Islands are listed under UK, but Scotland is not (meanwhile each USA state is treated as a nation)
3) Different rent a contributer provides each section - so the author probably never even visited the locations
4) Pictures are few and mostly could be anywhere

Not for sailors, 24 Jul 2008
A very disappointing purchase, I was expecting much more information on the 'places' and less about the boats and contributors life histories. Chris Santella (the author) admits that his experience of sailing is limited to a season of sailing lessons in 1975 thus he enrols the advice of several professional sailors for information. Hence this is a mish-mash of racing locations & partial auto-biographies alongside what looks like stock photography. If you know nothing about sailing and want a nautical book as a coffee table paperweight then this is for you. Otherwise avoid.

Coffee Table Sailing, 05 Sep 2007
I bought this book hoping it would provide coffee table inspiration about where I could one day sail in the world. I expected there would be informative pictures and descriptive narrative about the scenery and what to expect from sailing in each area. I was very disappointed. Some of the accounts given by interviewees lived up to my expectations but many others seemed to just rant on about their own sailing careers or refer to the names of places as though the reader would already know them intimately. The pictures were uninspiring too and there wasn't always a picture for each place visited. Many of the pictures were essentially of yachts rather than the scenery in which they were sailing. If you are into yacht racing and sailing clubs this might be the book for you, but as an account for potential visiting cruisers this book may be one to leave on the shelf.

A big book of adverts, 02 Aug 2008
Bit disapointed with this book. I bought it for my sister when she went on her year out. I had a similar book when I was her age and it was great giving a range of options in order of price (some of them you actually got paid for!) I thought everything is this book looked like an advertisement for some project you could pay to work on and some of them where quite substantial amounts. At least it gives you n idea of where to start looking

Very disappointing, 10 Nov 2008
I got this for Christmas and I was very disappointed. There appears to be no correlation between the titles of the chapters and the descriptions. Apparently the Inner Hebrides are in the Firth of Clyde. I felt like the author had found a formula 50 places before you die - find a few people to interview. I was expecting to find the best places - not just some places to sail.

Avoid - cheap & cynical formula volume, 14 Oct 2008
Bought this on impulse (to top up to free postage!) without reading reviews. A mistake.

All you need to know is:
1) The author's previous books were Fifty Places to .... Play Golf / Go Birding / Fly Fish etc .... before you die
2) The USA based research is so exhaustive that the British Virgin Islands and South Georgia Islands are listed under UK, but Scotland is not (meanwhile each USA state is treated as a nation)
3) Different rent a contributer provides each section - so the author probably never even visited the locations
4) Pictures are few and mostly could be anywhere

Not for sailors, 24 Jul 2008
A very disappointing purchase, I was expecting much more information on the 'places' and less about the boats and contributors life histories. Chris Santella (the author) admits that his experience of sailing is limited to a season of sailing lessons in 1975 thus he enrols the advice of several professional sailors for information. Hence this is a mish-mash of racing locations & partial auto-biographies alongside what looks like stock photography. If you know nothing about sailing and want a nautical book as a coffee table paperweight then this is for you. Otherwise avoid.

Coffee Table Sailing, 05 Sep 2007
I bought this book hoping it would provide coffee table inspiration about where I could one day sail in the world. I expected there would be informative pictures and descriptive narrative about the scenery and what to expect from sailing in each area. I was very disappointed. Some of the accounts given by interviewees lived up to my expectations but many others seemed to just rant on about their own sailing careers or refer to the names of places as though the reader would already know them intimately. The pictures were uninspiring too and there wasn't always a picture for each place visited. Many of the pictures were essentially of yachts rather than the scenery in which they were sailing. If you are into yacht racing and sailing clubs this might be the book for you, but as an account for potential visiting cruisers this book may be one to leave on the shelf.

A big book of adverts, 02 Aug 2008
Bit disapointed with this book. I bought it for my sister when she went on her year out. I had a similar book when I was her age and it was great giving a range of options in order of price (some of them you actually got paid for!) I thought everything is this book looked like an advertisement for some project you could pay to work on and some of them where quite substantial amounts. At least it gives you n idea of where to start looking

Excellent guide to excellent fleamarkets!, 27 Mar 2002
The Paris section is particularly useful - as a regular visitor to the Paris fleamarkets, it is crucial to find the hidden gems of the massive Clignancourt complex. A dozen separate markets with over 1500 stalls, it is so easy to overlook alleyways and miss the specialists. This guide lists the main markets, and lists many of the specialist stalls - an essential planning tool when time and energy are limited.

The London section is also useful - not every last market is included, but for newcomers to Greenwich, Bermondsey and Portobello, it is still very informative. And Alfies is well covered also. Flipping the book over so each of the two parts has it's own front cover confused me horribly at first, but that just me, easily confused - it actually works quite well once you know what's going on!

Read throughly before your trip, and check through the evening before the expedition to make sure you have the address details memorised. Worth it's price many times over.

Glossy overview, 24 Jun 1999
Interesting and well laid, although the depth of the material is sometimes a bit shallow. No mention of Northcote Road or Thames Ditton in London, for example.

Also the first place I tried - in North End Road - had closed, which was a bit disappointing since the book has only just come out.

Very disappointing, 10 Nov 2008
I got this for Christmas and I was very disappointed. There appears to be no correlation between the titles of the chapters and the descriptions. Apparently the Inner Hebrides are in the Firth of Clyde. I felt like the author had found a formula 50 places before you die - find a few people to interview. I was expecting to find the best places - not just some places to sail.

Avoid - cheap & cynical formula volume, 14 Oct 2008
Bought this on impulse (to top up to free postage!) without reading reviews. A mistake.

All you need to know is:
1) The author's previous books were Fifty Places to .... Play Golf / Go Birding / Fly Fish etc .... before you die
2) The USA based research is so exhaustive that the British Virgin Islands and South Georgia Islands are listed under UK, but Scotland is not (meanwhile each USA state is treated as a nation)
3) Different rent a contributer provides each section - so the author probably never even visited the locations
4) Pictures are few and mostly could be anywhere

Not for sailors, 24 Jul 2008
A very disappointing purchase, I was expecting much more information on the 'places' and less about the boats and contributors life histories. Chris Santella (the author) admits that his experience of sailing is limited to a season of sailing lessons in 1975 thus he enrols the advice of several professional sailors for information. Hence this is a mish-mash of racing locations & partial auto-biographies alongside what looks like stock photography. If you know nothing about sailing and want a nautical book as a coffee table paperweight then this is for you. Otherwise avoid.

Coffee Table Sailing, 05 Sep 2007
I bought this book hoping it would provide coffee table inspiration about where I could one day sail in the world. I expected there would be informative pictures and descriptive narrative about the scenery and what to expect from sailing in each area. I was very disappointed. Some of the accounts given by interviewees lived up to my expectations but many others seemed to just rant on about their own sailing careers or refer to the names of places as though the reader would already know them intimately. The pictures were uninspiring too and there wasn't always a picture for each place visited. Many of the pictures were essentially of yachts rather than the scenery in which they were sailing. If you are into yacht racing and sailing clubs this might be the book for you, but as an account for potential visiting cruisers this book may be one to leave on the shelf.

A big book of adverts, 02 Aug 2008
Bit disapointed with this book. I bought it for my sister when she went on her year out. I had a similar book when I was her age and it was great giving a range of options in order of price (some of them you actually got paid for!) I thought everything is this book looked like an advertisement for some project you could pay to work on and some of them where quite substantial amounts. At least it gives you n idea of where to start looking

Excellent guide to excellent fleamarkets!, 27 Mar 2002
The Paris section is particularly useful - as a regular visitor to the Paris fleamarkets, it is crucial to find the hidden gems of the massive Clignancourt complex. A dozen separate markets with over 1500 stalls, it is so easy to overlook alleyways and miss the specialists. This guide lists the main markets, and lists many of the specialist stalls - an essential planning tool when time and energy are limited.

The London section is also useful - not every last market is included, but for newcomers to Greenwich, Bermondsey and Portobello, it is still very informative. And Alfies is well covered also. Flipping the book over so each of the two parts has it's own front cover confused me horribly at first, but that just me, easily confused - it actually works quite well once you know what's going on!

Read throughly before your trip, and check through the evening before the expedition to make sure you have the address details memorised. Worth it's price many times over.

Glossy overview, 24 Jun 1999
Interesting and well laid, although the depth of the material is sometimes a bit shallow. No mention of Northcote Road or Thames Ditton in London, for example.

Also the first place I tried - in North End Road - had closed, which was a bit disappointing since the book has only just come out.

Spa Heaven, 05 Oct 2008
My ideal weekend treat is a trip to a spa, and this book covers all the best spas. My only problem is choosing which ones to go to. The pictures are wonderful and there is plenty of detail on what the spas offer with guidelines about cost and what they are best for. I didn't realise there are so many spas around . I'm going to be buying this book for all my girlfriends for Christmas so we can plan a spa break or two next year. I love the fact that all these spas are in the UK...I can't afford to jet off to Thailand but I can run to a weekend in the country.

An excellent spa guide and introduction!, 07 Jan 2008
This is an absolutely excellent introductory guide for anyone who is contemplating taking themselves off to a spa for the first time, is looking for new options as part of a forthcoming excursion, or who just needs a change of spa-scenery!
The 'spies' have gone to great lengths to give unbiased reviews - you really feel that you can trust their honest opinions - and the authors of this book have put together some really imaginative approaches, with a county by county listing, together with innovative ideas and reasons 'to spa' throughout the year. A terrific book.

Brilliant guide, 16 Oct 2007
This book saved me, a spa newbie, a lot of footwork and dodgy treatments. And it's a really enjoyable read, funny and engaging.

An excellent reference guide, 23 Oct 2006
Having stayed at a number of Health Farms over the past five years I only wish I had seen this book before. It's an honest and reassuring guide to what's available and where and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of visiting a Health Farm for the first time or who is planning on another trip. The photos are as luxurious as the places themselves and there's a comprehensive guide to the types of treatments on offer. Excellent value for money.

Very disappointing, 10 Nov 2008
I got this for Christmas and I was very disappointed. There appears to be no correlation between the titles of the chapters and the descriptions. Apparently the Inner Hebrides are in the Firth of Clyde. I felt like the author had found a formula 50 places before you die - find a few people to interview. I was expecting to find the best places - not just some places to sail.

Avoid - cheap & cynical formula volume, 14 Oct 2008
Bought this on impulse (to top up to free postage!) without reading reviews. A mistake.

All you need to know is:
1) The author's previous books were Fifty Places to .... Play Golf / Go Birding / Fly Fish etc .... before you die
2) The USA based research is so exhaustive that the British Virgin Islands and South Georgia Islands are listed under UK, but Scotland is not (meanwhile each USA state is treated as a nation)
3) Different rent a contributer provides each section - so the author probably never even visited the locations
4) Pictures are few and mostly could be anywhere

Not for sailors, 24 Jul 2008
A very disappointing purchase, I was expecting much more information on the 'places' and less about the boats and contributors life histories. Chris Santella (the author) admits that his experience of sailing is limited to a season of sailing lessons in 1975 thus he enrols the advice of several professional sailors for information. Hence this is a mish-mash of racing locations & partial auto-biographies alongside what looks like stock photography. If you know nothing about sailing and want a nautical book as a coffee table paperweight then this is for you. Otherwise avoid.

Coffee Table Sailing, 05 Sep 2007
I bought this book hoping it would provide coffee table inspiration about where I could one day sail in the world. I expected there would be informative pictures and descriptive narrative about the scenery and what to expect from sailing in each area. I was very disappointed. Some of the accounts given by interviewees lived up to my expectations but many others seemed to just rant on about their own sailing careers or refer to the names of places as though the reader would already know them intimately. The pictures were uninspiring too and there wasn't always a picture for each place visited. Many of the pictures were essentially of yachts rather than the scenery in which they were sailing. If you are into yacht racing and sailing clubs this might be the book for you, but as an account for potential visiting cruisers this book may be one to leave on the shelf.

A big book of adverts, 02 Aug 2008
Bit disapointed with this book. I bought it for my sister when she went on her year out. I had a similar book when I was her age and it was great giving a range of options in order of price (some of them you actually got paid for!) I thought everything is this book looked like an advertisement for some project you could pay to work on and some of them where quite substantial amounts. At least it gives you n idea of where to start looking

Excellent guide to excellent fleamarkets!, 27 Mar 2002
The Paris section is particularly useful - as a regular visitor to the Paris fleamarkets, it is crucial to find the hidden gems of the massive Clignancourt complex. A dozen separate markets with over 1500 stalls, it is so easy to overlook alleyways and miss the specialists. This guide lists the main markets, and lists many of the specialist stalls - an essential planning tool when time and energy are limited.

The London section is also useful - not every last market is included, but for newcomers to Greenwich, Bermondsey and Portobello, it is still very informative. And Alfies is well covered also. Flipping the book over so each of the two parts has it's own front cover confused me horribly at first, but that just me, easily confused - it actually works quite well once you know what's going on!

Read throughly before your trip, and check through the evening before the expedition to make sure you have the address details memorised. Worth it's price many times over.

Glossy overview, 24 Jun 1999
Interesting and well laid, although the depth of the material is sometimes a bit shallow. No mention of Northcote Road or Thames Ditton in London, for example.

Also the first place I tried - in North End Road - had closed, which was a bit disappointing since the book has only just come out.

Spa Heaven, 05 Oct 2008
My ideal weekend treat is a trip to a spa, and this book covers all the best spas. My only problem is choosing which ones to go to. The pictures are wonderful and there is plenty of detail on what the spas offer with guidelines about cost and what they are best for. I didn't realise there are so many spas around . I'm going to be buying this book for all my girlfriends for Christmas so we can plan a spa break or two next year. I love the fact that all these spas are in the UK...I can't afford to jet off to Thailand but I can run to a weekend in the country.

An excellent spa guide and introduction!, 07 Jan 2008
This is an absolutely excellent introductory guide for anyone who is contemplating taking themselves off to a spa for the first time, is looking for new options as part of a forthcoming excursion, or who just needs a change of spa-scenery!
The 'spies' have gone to great lengths to give unbiased reviews - you really feel that you can trust their honest opinions - and the authors of this book have put together some really imaginative approaches, with a county by county listing, together with innovative ideas and reasons 'to spa' throughout the year. A terrific book.

Brilliant guide, 16 Oct 2007
This book saved me, a spa newbie, a lot of footwork and dodgy treatments. And it's a really enjoyable read, funny and engaging.

An excellent reference guide, 23 Oct 2006
Having stayed at a number of Health Farms over the past five years I only wish I had seen this book before. It's an honest and reassuring guide to what's available and where and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of visiting a Health Farm for the first time or who is planning on another trip. The photos are as luxurious as the places themselves and there's a comprehensive guide to the types of treatments on offer. Excellent value for money.

Avoid...., 19 Sep 2008
Don't bother - its just bad bad bad.

The descriptions for each festival are minimal and of a very weak journalistic standard, giving the book the feel of a quick-cash-in rather than a guide written by someone who cares about their subject matter. Has the author actually been to a fraction of the events listed? I get the impression that the book is just a collection of listing data and anecdotal content.

Far better festie info is freely available online at places like Virtual Festivals and so on.

Very disappointing, 10 Nov 2008
I got this for Christmas and I was very disappointed. There appears to be no correlation between the titles of the chapters and the descriptions. Apparently the Inner Hebrides are in the Firth of Clyde. I felt like the author had found a formula 50 places before you die - find a few people to interview. I was expecting to find the best places - not just some places to sail.

Avoid - cheap & cynical formula volume, 14 Oct 2008
Bought this on impulse (to top up to free postage!) without reading reviews. A mistake.

All you need to know is:
1) The author's previous books were Fifty Places to .... Play Golf / Go Birding / Fly Fish etc .... before you die
2) The USA based research is so exhaustive that the British Virgin Islands and South Georgia Islands are listed under UK, but Scotland is not (meanwhile each USA state is treated as a nation)
3) Different rent a contributer provides each section - so the author probably never even visited the locations
4) Pictures are few and mostly could be anywhere

Not for sailors, 24 Jul 2008
A very disappointing purchase, I was expecting much more information on the 'places' and less about the boats and contributors life histories. Chris Santella (the author) admits that his experience of sailing is limited to a season of sailing lessons in 1975 thus he enrols the advice of several professional sailors for information. Hence this is a mish-mash of racing locations & partial auto-biographies alongside what looks like stock photography. If you know nothing about sailing and want a nautical book as a coffee table paperweight then this is for you. Otherwise avoid.

Coffee Table Sailing, 05 Sep 2007
I bought this book hoping it would provide coffee table inspiration about where I could one day sail in the world. I expected there would be informative pictures and descriptive narrative about the scenery and what to expect from sailing in each area. I was very disappointed. Some of the accounts given by interviewees lived up to my expectations but many others seemed to just rant on about their own sailing careers or refer to the names of places as though the reader would already know them intimately. The pictures were uninspiring too and there wasn't always a picture for each place visited. Many of the pictures were essentially of yachts rather than the scenery in which they were sailing. If you are into yacht racing and sailing clubs this might be the book for you, but as an account for potential visiting cruisers this book may be one to leave on the shelf.

A big book of adverts, 02 Aug 2008
Bit disapointed with this book. I bought it for my sister when she went on her year out. I had a similar book when I was her age and it was great giving a range of options in order of price (some of them you actually got paid for!) I thought everything is this book looked like an advertisement for some project you could pay to work on and some of them where quite substantial amounts. At least it gives you n idea of where to start looking

Excellent guide to excellent fleamarkets!, 27 Mar 2002
The Paris section is particularly useful - as a regular visitor to the Paris fleamarkets, it is crucial to find the hidden gems of the massive Clignancourt complex. A dozen separate markets with over 1500 stalls, it is so easy to overlook alleyways and miss the specialists. This guide lists the main markets, and lists many of the specialist stalls - an essential planning tool when time and energy are limited.

The London section is also useful - not every last market is included, but for newcomers to Greenwich, Bermondsey and Portobello, it is still very informative. And Alfies is well covered also. Flipping the book over so each of the two parts has it's own front cover confused me horribly at first, but that just me, easily confused - it actually works quite well once you know what's going on!

Read throughly before your trip, and check through the evening before the expedition to make sure you have the address details memorised. Worth it's price many times over.

Glossy overview, 24 Jun 1999
Interesting and well laid, although the depth of the material is sometimes a bit shallow. No mention of Northcote Road or Thames Ditton in London, for example.

Also the first place I tried - in North End Road - had closed, which was a bit disappointing since the book has only just come out.

Spa Heaven, 05 Oct 2008
My ideal weekend treat is a trip to a spa, and this book covers all the best spas. My only problem is choosing which ones to go to. The pictures are wonderful and there is plenty of detail on what the spas offer with guidelines about cost and what they are best for. I didn't realise there are so many spas around . I'm going to be buying this book for all my girlfriends for Christmas so we can plan a spa break or two next year. I love the fact that all these spas are in the UK...I can't afford to jet off to Thailand but I can run to a weekend in the country.

An excellent spa guide and introduction!, 07 Jan 2008
This is an absolutely excellent introductory guide for anyone who is contemplating taking themselves off to a spa for the first time, is looking for new options as part of a forthcoming excursion, or who just needs a change of spa-scenery!
The 'spies' have gone to great lengths to give unbiased reviews - you really feel that you can trust their honest opinions - and the authors of this book have put together some really imaginative approaches, with a county by county listing, together with innovative ideas and reasons 'to spa' throughout the year. A terrific book.

Brilliant guide, 16 Oct 2007
This book saved me, a spa newbie, a lot of footwork and dodgy treatments. And it's a really enjoyable read, funny and engaging.

An excellent reference guide, 23 Oct 2006
Having stayed at a number of Health Farms over the past five years I only wish I had seen this book before. It's an honest and reassuring guide to what's available and where and I would recommend it to anyone who is thinking of visiting a Health Farm for the first time or who is planning on another trip. The photos are as luxurious as the places themselves and there's a comprehensive guide to the types of treatments on offer. Excellent value for money.

Avoid...., 19 Sep 2008
Don't bother - its just bad bad bad.

The descriptions for each festival are minimal and of a very weak journalistic standard, giving the book the feel of a quick-cash-in rather than a guide written by someone who cares about their subject matter. Has the author actually been to a fraction of the events listed? I get the impression that the book is just a collection of listing data and anecdotal content.

Far better festie info is freely available online at places like Virtual Festivals and so on.

Outstanding, 01 Jul 2008
There must have been a tremendous amount of research put into this book and it really shows. It does have a UK bias, but most of the UK jobs were in industries I'd never heard of or thought of applying to, so I didn't mind. There are also a lot of European opportunities listed. Well worth getting the 2009 edition.