
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
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
Scotland
Athens
The New York one would be fab.
Mauritius
Corfu as hopefully we will be off there in the summer.
Canada
Would like Rhodes guidebook
Paris as would love to visit there
Any of the Greek Islands
New York
New York
I would love the Athens guide, would like to take the wife there one day
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
Venice x
Tenerife!!
We are planning a trip to Amsterdam so that would be very helpful
Scottish Islands, please
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 !!
florida please
Venice please, we are booking thre for our honeymoon x
Spain
Amsterdam
Australia, please as we are off there in Feb ( VERY EXCITED )
Paris
india, please
paris, please
I’d love the Istanbul guide
I’d like to win the Croatia one please 🙂
I’d like to win the Budapest guidebook as my mum is going there soon
FLorida please
costa blanca please
California would be great to lip earn about 🙂
New York please 🙂
I’d love one about New York 🙂
New York
Malta as going there next year
California
Barcelona, as I’m hoping to get their in the spring
I would love the guide to Italy please
Florida please
Amsterdam 🙂
Cambodia or China please!!!
Australia, please
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
California
Lanzarote please
Paris
New York please
New York
Australia please
Naples and Almafi Coast
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Belgium please
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A bit closer to home, I’d say the Shetlands and other surrounding areas.
Ireland please
Thailand! 🙂
Paris!
I am of to Paris soon, so a guidebook would be really useful.
Italy please 🙂
New York would be fab, thanks
New York, please.
TURKEY
Austria
Australia
Florida x
new york one please
Oslo!
Barcelona as we are planning a weekend away there in the new year
New York would be fab!
Albania – we keep planning to go there, but haven’t made it yet
Switzerland
I am going to Chicago in May so that one would be really useful.
Florida please
Would like Greece as would love to go
Lanzarote!
I’d like the Athens guidebook – my Dad owned a house there and we love Greece.
New York
USA Southwest for me please!
The Paris guide please as I would love to visit.
Austria
Paris please
Canada
My favourite city – Istanbul!
http://www.marco-polo.com/shop/buy-travel-guide/detail/read/istanbul.html
Amsterdam
Ireland because I’ve always wanted to visit and plan to one day.
I would like Germany please.
australia
Australia, please
I wouls love their Tenerife guide! Thank you!
New York
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I would like the Athens one please,my son’s girlfriend lives there so it would be useful to us when we visit.