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Home / Tips & ideas / Book reviews / Marco Polo guidebook review & giveaway

Marco Polo guidebook review & giveaway

October 23, 2014 by Gretta Schifano 90 Comments

Marco Polo Athens guidebook. Copyright Gretta Schifano

Marco Polo Athens guidebook. Copyright Gretta Schifano

I was delighted to be sent a new guidebook to review just before my first trip to Athens. The guide to the Greek capital is published by Marco Polo and I’ve enjoyed reading it and finding out about the city in preparation for my trip.

Marco Polo guidebooks

Marco Polo have more than 100 guidebooks covering everywhere from the Algarve to Zakynthos. Each Marco Polo guidebook is written by a local who knows the destination intimately. They all include specially highlighted ‘insider tips’  which are are personal tips from the author.

The book is a good size, just right to fit into a handbag. The cover is plasticised so that it’s waterproof and hard-wearing. There’s a handy pull-out map of the city in a plastic wallet inside the back cover as well as a street atlas within the guide. The guide was published in 2013 and so is pretty much up to date.

Marco Polo Athens

I find the book easy to navigate. I like the fact that the photos in the guide aren’t just of the tourist sites but also of different aspects of the city such as the flea markets and kids skateboarding. The book is divided into clear sections such as Sightseeing, Food & Drink and Where to Stay. The Travel with Kids section covers the attitude to kids in Athens (apparently they’re given a lot of freedom and are allowed to go out with their parents in the evening) and suggests some attractions which kids will particularly enjoy such as the planetarium and the zoo. There’s a helpful section called Great Places for Free which gives tips such as which museum is free on Thursdays and where to catch the free buses which serve the harbour area. If you’re in a rush then head to The Perfect Day section which shows you how to see the city’s highlights in just 24 hours. I like the list of Do’s & Don’ts which is placed prominently inside the back cover next to the pull-out map. It offers local advice such as places to avoid and how to get the best deal on a hire car. The Travel Tips section gives useful, practical information such as how to get from the airport to the city centre.

Image courtesy of Marco Polo

Image courtesy of Marco Polo

Giveaway

Marco Polo have 10 guides to give away to Mums do travel readers. If you’d like a chance to win a travel guide and you live in the UK then go to the Marco Polo website and decide which one you’d like. Then enter your details on the Rafflecopter widget below and write the name of the guide you’ve chosen in the Comments section. 10 winners will be picked at random and Marco Polo will send them the guide book which they’ve chosen. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Related

Categories: Book reviews, Competitions
Tags: Athens, guidebooks

About Gretta Schifano

I'm a freelance journalist and blogger specialising in family travel with teenagers, trips when parents manage to travel without their kids, and 50+ travel. I also write about vegetarian travel, parenting teenagers, adoption, SEN, ADHD and anxiety. My work's been published by the Financial Times, Guardian, Independent, National Geographic Traveller, Lonely Planet and others. I've lived and worked in Italy and Spain and am now based in rural south-east England with my husband, adoptive and birth kids and our dog. I previously worked as a social action radio producer for the BBC.

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Comments

  1. Alisa Moore says

    November 17, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    Scotland

    Reply
  2. Jackie Rushton says

    November 17, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    Athens

    Reply
  3. Dawn Totton says

    November 17, 2014 at 10:10 pm

    The New York one would be fab.

    Reply
  4. Denielle Nicol says

    November 17, 2014 at 7:41 pm

    Mauritius

    Reply
  5. Adrian Clarke says

    November 17, 2014 at 7:05 pm

    Corfu as hopefully we will be off there in the summer.

    Reply
  6. Barbara Handley says

    November 17, 2014 at 6:43 pm

    Canada

    Reply
  7. LEE HARDY says

    November 17, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    Would like Rhodes guidebook

    Reply
  8. katie w says

    November 17, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Paris as would love to visit there

    Reply
  9. Michelle Stokes says

    November 17, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Any of the Greek Islands

    Reply
  10. Sarah Parker says

    November 17, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    New York

    Reply
  11. chirag p says

    November 17, 2014 at 2:14 pm

    New York

    Reply
  12. Matthew Waterhouse says

    November 17, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    I would love the Athens guide, would like to take the wife there one day

    Reply
  13. Tobys proud mummy says

    November 17, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    I would love the Florida guide as its been years since I last visited and I guess a lot has changed as I would love to take my little one in a couple of years so would be great to get prepared and get some inspiration and tips from a wonderful guide

    Reply
  14. Gary Topley says

    November 17, 2014 at 11:56 am

    Venice x

    Reply
  15. Elle Warwick says

    November 17, 2014 at 11:46 am

    Tenerife!!

    Reply
  16. Carey A says

    November 17, 2014 at 11:11 am

    We are planning a trip to Amsterdam so that would be very helpful

    Reply
  17. George Williamson says

    November 17, 2014 at 11:03 am

    Scottish Islands, please

    Reply
  18. Alison clark says

    November 17, 2014 at 10:45 am

    New York – I have wanted to go since i was 18 – I have waited for 18 years and I’m going in may – i can not wait !!

    Reply
  19. clair downham says

    November 17, 2014 at 10:10 am

    florida please

    Reply
  20. Ami Tobbell says

    November 17, 2014 at 9:31 am

    Venice please, we are booking thre for our honeymoon x

    Reply
  21. Kieran McKernan says

    November 17, 2014 at 3:22 am

    Spain

    Reply
  22. Isabelle Smith says

    November 17, 2014 at 12:35 am

    Amsterdam

    Reply
  23. SUSAN L HALL says

    November 17, 2014 at 12:01 am

    Australia, please as we are off there in Feb ( VERY EXCITED )

    Reply
  24. Joanna Sawka says

    November 16, 2014 at 11:14 pm

    Paris

    Reply
  25. david wilson says

    November 16, 2014 at 10:59 pm

    india, please

    Reply
  26. ruth hunter says

    November 16, 2014 at 10:57 pm

    paris, please

    Reply
  27. Chris Fletcher says

    November 16, 2014 at 10:48 pm

    I’d love the Istanbul guide

    Reply
  28. Lisa Wilkinson says

    November 16, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    I’d like to win the Croatia one please 🙂

    Reply
  29. Lucy carter says

    November 16, 2014 at 9:18 pm

    I’d like to win the Budapest guidebook as my mum is going there soon

    Reply
  30. olivia Kirby says

    November 16, 2014 at 9:07 pm

    FLorida please

    Reply
  31. robert sharman says

    November 16, 2014 at 7:40 pm

    costa blanca please

    Reply
  32. Jamie says

    November 16, 2014 at 6:30 pm

    California would be great to lip earn about 🙂

    Reply
  33. Lyndsey Beckford says

    November 16, 2014 at 6:20 pm

    New York please 🙂

    Reply
  34. Laura Vitty says

    November 16, 2014 at 6:10 pm

    I’d love one about New York 🙂

    Reply
  35. Karen Dixon says

    November 16, 2014 at 5:31 pm

    New York

    Reply
  36. Michelle Ferguson says

    November 16, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    Malta as going there next year

    Reply
  37. Michelle Phillips says

    November 16, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    California

    Reply
  38. Bernadette Willis says

    November 16, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    Barcelona, as I’m hoping to get their in the spring

    Reply
  39. Andrea Balderstone says

    November 16, 2014 at 8:20 am

    I would love the guide to Italy please

    Reply
  40. Andrea Johnson says

    November 15, 2014 at 3:35 am

    Florida please

    Reply
  41. aideen patel says

    November 15, 2014 at 12:29 am

    Amsterdam 🙂

    Reply
  42. Veronica Lopez-Smith says

    November 14, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    Cambodia or China please!!!

    Reply
  43. leanne weir says

    November 14, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Australia, please

    Reply
  44. joanne thomas says

    November 14, 2014 at 8:35 am

    i would love to win the Australia one please as i have been lucky enough to win a holiday there and would love to read up before we go

    Reply
  45. Keith Hunt says

    November 14, 2014 at 12:13 am

    California

    Reply
  46. Jade Brookes says

    November 13, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    Lanzarote please

    Reply
  47. Stephen Little says

    November 12, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    Paris

    Reply
  48. Heather Harris says

    November 11, 2014 at 5:29 am

    New York please

    Reply
  49. Solange says

    November 10, 2014 at 4:40 am

    New York

    Reply
  50. Kiran Parry says

    November 9, 2014 at 5:14 pm

    Australia please

    Reply
  51. Erica Price says

    November 7, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    Naples and Almafi Coast
    Erica Price recently posted…The Princess Twins of LegendaleMy Profile

    Reply
  52. Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One says

    November 7, 2014 at 2:20 pm

    Belgium please
    Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One recently posted…Heritage Motor Centre with friendsMy Profile

    Reply
  53. Stevie says

    November 7, 2014 at 1:22 pm

    A bit closer to home, I’d say the Shetlands and other surrounding areas.

    Reply
  54. Pam Francis Gregory says

    November 7, 2014 at 10:07 am

    Ireland please

    Reply
  55. Richard Tyler says

    November 6, 2014 at 2:46 am

    Thailand! 🙂

    Reply
  56. Ashleigh Allan says

    November 3, 2014 at 9:21 pm

    Paris!

    Reply
  57. Jo Evans says

    November 3, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    I am of to Paris soon, so a guidebook would be really useful.

    Reply
  58. Emma Ellams says

    November 2, 2014 at 6:55 pm

    Italy please 🙂

    Reply
  59. Jackie ONeill says

    November 2, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    New York would be fab, thanks

    Reply
  60. Sarah Pybus says

    November 1, 2014 at 9:08 pm

    New York, please.

    Reply
  61. Claire Walmsley says

    October 28, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    TURKEY

    Reply
  62. Claire D says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:13 pm

    Austria

    Reply
  63. Allan Smith says

    October 26, 2014 at 8:14 pm

    Australia

    Reply
  64. Jessica Powell says

    October 26, 2014 at 3:49 pm

    Florida x

    Reply
  65. jayne hall says

    October 26, 2014 at 10:22 am

    new york one please

    Reply
  66. cat r says

    October 25, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Oslo!

    Reply
  67. Maxine says

    October 25, 2014 at 5:39 pm

    Barcelona as we are planning a weekend away there in the new year

    Reply
  68. Lorraine Stone says

    October 25, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    New York would be fab!

    Reply
  69. Stephanie Whitehouse says

    October 25, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    Albania – we keep planning to go there, but haven’t made it yet

    Reply
  70. Michael Williams says

    October 25, 2014 at 3:58 pm

    Switzerland

    Reply
  71. kazza ham says

    October 25, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    I am going to Chicago in May so that one would be really useful.

    Reply
  72. Joanne Jackson says

    October 25, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    Florida please

    Reply
  73. Hayley Robson says

    October 25, 2014 at 9:33 am

    Would like Greece as would love to go

    Reply
  74. Corinne Peat says

    October 24, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    Lanzarote!

    Reply
  75. Natalie England says

    October 24, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    I’d like the Athens guidebook – my Dad owned a house there and we love Greece.

    Reply
  76. Rachael Barnard says

    October 24, 2014 at 1:59 pm

    New York

    Reply
  77. Andrea Williams says

    October 24, 2014 at 8:14 am

    USA Southwest for me please!

    Reply
  78. Sandra Lane says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:27 pm

    The Paris guide please as I would love to visit.

    Reply
  79. Karen Usher says

    October 23, 2014 at 8:15 pm

    Austria

    Reply
  80. alex fowler says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    Paris please

    Reply
  81. Jo welsh says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:44 pm

    Canada

    Reply
  82. Rich Hill says

    October 23, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    My favourite city – Istanbul!
    http://www.marco-polo.com/shop/buy-travel-guide/detail/read/istanbul.html

    Reply
  83. Tracey Parker says

    October 23, 2014 at 5:50 pm

    Amsterdam

    Reply
  84. Pamela Risk says

    October 23, 2014 at 4:18 pm

    Ireland because I’ve always wanted to visit and plan to one day.

    Reply
  85. Di Wareing says

    October 23, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    I would like Germany please.

    Reply
  86. liz ferguson says

    October 23, 2014 at 2:27 pm

    australia

    Reply
  87. Kevin Honey says

    October 23, 2014 at 11:33 am

    Australia, please

    Reply
  88. Tracy Nixon says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:39 am

    I wouls love their Tenerife guide! Thank you!

    Reply
  89. The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:23 am

    New York
    The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover recently posted…Flint Plus Flint Skin Care ReviewMy Profile

    Reply
  90. melanie stirling says

    October 23, 2014 at 10:13 am

    I would like the Athens one please,my son’s girlfriend lives there so it would be useful to us when we visit.

    Reply

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This is a personal blog written and edited by me, Gretta Schifano. Sometimes I’m given products or sent on trips to review, but I always make this clear and give my honest opinion. See my About page for full details.

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