I’m planning a trip to Amsterdam this year and so was happy to accept Marco Polo’s invitation to review their new guide to the Dutch capital. The Marco Polo Spiral Guide to Amsterdam is one of a brand new series of travel books published this month.
Marco Polo Spiral Guides
The new books have a spiral binding which makes it easy to open the pages out fully. There are Spiral Guides for Amsterdam, Andalucia, Barcelona, Budapest, Ireland, London, Malta, New York, Paris, Rome, Tuscany and Venice published this month with guides to Florence, Florida, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Marrakesh, Sicily, Tenerife and Thailand to follow in May.
The books have plasticised covers to protect them and they’re just the right size to fit into a handbag. They’re divided into distinct sections such as ‘Magazine’ which has articles about the destination, ‘Finding your feet’ which has practical information, and ‘Walks’ which provides walking routes to follow. The important sights are organised geographically and there are detailed maps and suggested itineraries for a ‘Perfect Day’ in each area. I really like the specially highlighted ‘insider tips’ from locals which pepper the books. At the back of each book is a detailed street atlas showing the sights, hotels and restaurants mentioned. Inside the back cover is plastic wallet containing a pull-out map of the destination.
Amsterdam
I went to Amsterdam with my ten year-old son a couple of years ago and we had a great time: his highlights were the Amsterdam Arena Tour, the canal boat tour and the pancakes, while mine were the Anne Frank Museum and the street markets. I’m looking forward to going back to the city this year with friends.
Marco Polo Amsterdam Spiral Guide
The first thing which I look at in the Amsterdam Spiral Guide is the Top 10 list of sights not to be missed in the city. I think that we covered half of them on our last trip including the Canal Tours which top the list. We avoided number 6 on the list though – I was keen to keep away from the Red Light District and so I made sure that I knew where it was. I’d love to go to number 4 on the list next time – the Van Gogh Museum.
The magazine section of the guide has some fascinating articles. I particularly like the feature about Jewish Amsterdam which explains how the city was a place of refuge for Jewish people as far back as the sixteenth century.
The ‘Finding your feet’ section is packed with useful tips some of which I already knew about – such as the excellent i amsterdam City Card which covers public transport and admission to the major museums – and some of which I was unaware – such as the free ferries from behind Central Station.
The sights are grouped into four sections: Medieval Amsterdam, Canal Ring – West, Museum Quarter and Canal Ring – East. Each of these sections starts helpfully with ‘Getting Your Bearings’ then gives a suggested ‘Perfect Day’ itinerary for that area followed by information for individual sights. At the end of each section are suggestions for where to eat, drink, shop and go out. I particularly like the ‘Perfect Day’ itineraries and would definitely use them to help me to plan my time in the city. Another great feature is the ‘Insider Tip’ label which pops up throughout the book. It signals some quirky and unusual things to do such as the Kinderkookcafé where children can prepare and decorate their own food.
The guide is well-written (as you’d expect with authors such as Simon Calder on the writing team) and thorough. It’s practical, easy to navigate and interesting to read and I’ll definitely be taking it with me when I go to Amsterdam.
Giveaway
Marco Polo have 10 Spiral Guides to give away to Mums do travel readers. If you’d like a chance to win a Marco Polo Spiral Guide then follow the instructions below: good luck!
How to enter
- Type the name of the book which you’d like (Amsterdam, Andalucia, Barcelona, Budapest, Ireland, London, Malta, New York, Paris, Rome, Tuscany, Venice, Florence, Florida, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Marrakesh, Sicily, Tenerife or Thailand) in the comments section below.
- Enter your details via the Rafflecopter widget below.
That’s it! Rafflecopter will choose 10 winners at random and Marco Polo will send each winner the guide of their choice.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and Marco Polo sent me Spiral Guides to Amsterdam, London and Tuscany for review purposes.
Lyndsey Beckford says
New York please 🙂
Barbara Handley says
London.
James Donovan says
I would like the Andalucia book, i have family that live in Spain
Clare S says
Vienna – for when I visit my son
Andrea Shaw says
Barcelona please
Jill fairbank says
Cape Verde guide please
Victoria B says
Budapest
Julie Taylor says
Florence 🙂
Sarah Owen says
Venice please x
Alisa Moore says
Venice
samantha bolter says
Paris would be great x
Amanda Norwood says
London please
Hayley Todd says
I would love the Paris guide please x
Gill Williams says
Tenerife
Susan McFarlane says
Would love to read the Amsterdam guide.
Karen Hannah says
My husband really wants to go to Rome, so the accompanying handbook would be awesome 🙂
Karen Hannah recently posted…Review: Worm World by Interplay
soneailiami says
Ireland
chirag P says
New York,
katie w says
London Please
Helen Garner says
Andalucia
Charlotte A says
Barcelona would be fab.
Helen Allan says
Paris please.
Andrew Hindley says
Ireland
Sarah Norgrove says
Amsterdam would be lovely, thanks
Francesca Tuck says
Rome
Katherine Coldicott says
Thailand please.
leanne weir says
Florida!
Solange says
Amsterdam
Lauren Old says
London please
Spencer Broadle)y says
Amsterdam 🙂
Lisa Wilkinson says
Barcelona please 🙂
EJ Dunn says
Marrakesh as I’m going there in May 🙂
Jackie ONeill says
I would love the Ireland guide please as going there for Easter x
Laura Asplin says
New York as we are going in May!
Deborah Scott says
I’d like the Paris Guide If I win please.
Minna says
Sicily!
Rachael Pilkington says
Thailand would be awesome!
Kasia says
Malta please! <3
Lyla says
Amsterdam
Amy Rennocks says
London please 🙂
Karen Barrett says
Barcelona please
ALISON BARLOW says
Barcelona for me please 🙂
Vicky Rimmington says
Florida please!
Rhi P says
Budapest please… though tough decision as there’s so many places I want to go…
So Sun Park says
Hello Gretta! I really enjoyed your guest lecture at LCC few weeks ago 🙂
I would like to participate this poll — Budapest Please!
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Gretta Schifano says
Thank you So Sun, that’s great to hear and thank you for entering this competition.
Anja Christiansen says
The London guide please 🙂
Stephanie Whitehouse says
Venice for me please
Sonia Vegas says
Amsterdam would be great!
Fanny Tran says
Barcelona as I am going in July ! Can’t wait although slightly apprehensive of the heat at the peak of the summer :S.
Marycarol says
Amsterdam
Jennifer Toal says
London would be great being a country bumpkin
Keiko Taylor says
Budapest
Matthew Sinclair says
I would love an amsterdam one
Becky John says
London as my current guide is about 15 years old and well thumbed!
Claire Kyle says
Barcelona x
israr baig says
New York, or , Florida,
Patricia Fraser says
New York as i have always wanted to go there.
Nicola Baird says
Venice please
Nicola Baird recently posted…Do you love your child or partner more?
Wendy Edwards says
Rome 🙂
Claire Bellot says
Amsterdam ????
Gerri Anne Tennant says
Budapest would be great as we are visiting for the first time in April.
Nicole says
I’d love to win London or Amsterdam!
Nicole recently posted…Peaceful Parisian Moments
Louise Perry Fairweather says
I would go for Thailand please as we are hoping to go next year
Louise Perry Fairweather recently posted…Lushice Sorbet and Lime Shortbread
iamalighthouse says
I’d get the Budapest one!!
Lisa Parker says
New York x
Connor says
Malta!
Maxine Owen says
New York please! Going there later this year 🙂
Fiona says
London
Eva Appleby says
London Thank you x
Richard Tyler says
New York [Big Apple;]
Rachael Barnard says
New York
Becca Staples says
I’d love to win the guide for London x
laura stewart says
Paris x
karen Howden says
London
Miss Tracy Hanson says
Amsterdam 🙂
David Ellis says
Amsterdam please!
Lance Bellers says
Tuscany
Tracey Parker says
Morocco
Sarah Griffiths says
Budapest
Tammy Tudor says
I’d love the New York Spiral Guide
Paul Scotland says
A London guide please
clair downham says
london please
Gillian Holmes says
Paris
Sandra Lane says
New York
aaron broad says
Tenerife
Sharon says
Thanks for your helpful review! Would love for an Amsterdam book please x
sal says
tuscany
Jana Harwood says
Would love to win a London guide
Cathy (MummyTravels) says
I’d love Gran Canaria as we’re off there soon (although hopefully Amsterdam later in the year too so I’m making a note of these guides!)
Cathy (MummyTravels) recently posted…Family day out: Warwick Castle – unlocked and with a toddler
Steve Weaver says
I’d love to visit Malta, fantastic sights and great history. So it would be the Malta book for me.
Pam Smith says
Greece please
Lucy Bishop says
I’d love to win Thailand for my parents who are going this October for the first time! x
Helen G says
Amsterdam, though I have been there three times!
elaine dale says
Amsterdam please
Keith Hunt says
The Iceland Guide
Suzanne says
London would be great, please.
Claire Nutman says
Amsterdam x
Fiona K says
South of France
Michael says
Amsterdam please
Jessica Powell says
The London guide x
Karl Borowy says
London
Bob Clark says
Tuscany
laura banks says
Gran Canaria
Jo welsh says
The London guide please
cat reynolds says
Vietnam! :3
Jo addison says
I’d love an Amsterdam book please! Thanks!
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Elizabeth (Liz) Briggs says
I would love London please x
Tracy Nixon says
Thank you for the lovely post and giveaway! I would love to win the Budapest Spiral Guide please!
Felicity Smith says
Paris
The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover says
Barcelona for me 🙂 never been but it was a hard choice as I love Amsterdam too
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Christine Lockley says
Fab review, thanks for sharing! Would love to win a London guide.
Ashleigh Allan says
Florida!