'unofficial' does not mean 'alternative' (or 'un-American')
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If you are looking for a guide to 'alternative' Washington look elsewhere.
This guide is very much aimed at providing good practical thoroughly researched down-to-earth information and advice to an American of largely conventional tastes visiting his capital city, possibly for the first time, quite possibly with children in tow, and quite possibly with no previous experience of being in a big city before (p 128 even includes advice on exactly how to board and how to get off a metro train!).
But it does contain a lot of useful information for a visitor who wants a detailed guide with lots of practical information and tips on DC in general, e.g. a detailed description of how to use the somewhat eccentric metro ticketing system (saving you from the fear of looking like a complete idiot when you try to work it all out for yourself at the station, possibly making yourself vulnerable to urban predators in the process), and on every possible visitor attraction including tips on best times to try to avoid queues and crowds, what you will find there and how long you might want to allow for your visit.
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A very good guidebook
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My wife and I used this guide book for a weekend break in Washington. It is highly informative and helped us make the most of the short time in Washington. The restuarant recommendation we used was very accurate. The only negative points that I would make is that it directed at an American audiene. This is just irritating rather than causing any practical problems. Also, do people find the Metro so tricky to work out that it needs so much space ? I found the Metro system excellent, the staff were helpful and it was really easy to use.
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The section on the Metro is worth the price of the book
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I used this book last summer when my 9-year-old son and I visited DC. It gave us several suggestions of activities that would not have otherwise occured to us. The section on the Metro was great! It does a great job of describing what to expect on the Metro which is a clean, safe and inexpensive way to travel around the city.
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Well done--doesn't rehash the marketing material.
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This is the only one of the "Unofficial Guide" series that I've read, but I'd eagerly order the others if they're anything like this. Infomation on general touring strategies; safety; transportation; maps; daytrips; restaurants (with prices, maps, phone numbers); hotels (ditto); and loads of details about main attractions for both the quick stay-over and the extended vacation trips. At an inch thick, it's sizeable--but it's the only guidebook I took with me during the trip.
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