Hotel Gems of France : Places not only to see but also to stay.

Hardcover, 195 pages, ENG, 330 x 245 x 22 mm, dustjacket, book is in very good condition, illustrated in coloured photographs, . ISBN 9789075658019. Hotel Gems of France is the first in a series of books profiling what one might consider to be the world's dream vacation hotels. To me, it's a perfect scaled-down blend between the "Resorts & Great Hotels" and "Architectural Digest" magazines. There are 34 "gems" in this book, each portrayed in four to eight pages of text and gorgeous photographs. The back of the book contains an excellent section of factual information (e.g., rooms, facilities, activities, location), plus a map of France pinpointing the location of each hotel. I wouldn't necessarily use this book as a travel planning tool unless I had lots of time and was expecting to cover lots of territory. There are probably more than 34 hotels just in the Latin Quarter of Paris, so taking this number within all of France doesn't make for useful comparisons. Also, there are no rate listings for any of the hotels, but I'd guess that the term "upscale" would fairly describe the price, as it surely does the quality of the properties. Still, for those who enjoy superb photography, or who wish to get an introduction to France's beauty, or who might REALLY go on a dream vacation, this is a wonderful book. If I were rating this with my heart and eyes only, it would be 5 stars.