I have been travelling for the last 2 months around Europe and the UK and I have used all the relevant Suzy Gershman guides. As a matter of fact, they are the main guides I have used as they are independent and Suzy knows her stuff about where good shops and markets are.

Her guides are great, written in a lively style, with tips on the best places to stay, hidden shopping streets that only locals would know about and lots of other streetwise tips for travelling. She also has a lot of local knowledge on non shopping related matters eg she advises in Italy about the two sets of street numbers, one for shops and one for residential.She also gave for eg. great tips on what to expect from a gondola ride in Venice.

I do not rely on accurate prices from travel guides, no guide book should be used for that, it is impossible to keep up with prices and exchange rates in such a book. That is what the internet is for.

I would highly recommend her books if you are interested in finding great shops, seeing what is in trend in a country, where great markets are. As a bonus as well her books are small enough to pop in your handbag and take with you. They have plenty of maps in them too.

In summary, a very good and entertaining set of travel guides.

The latest Edition of Born To Shop London just arrived & on my November trip I missed a few "goodies". I will just have to arrange another flight over the pond.....won't I!

Over twenty years now I have tucked a BTS slim edition into my carry on & enjoyed areas of the greatest cities on earth & I am so glad Suzy is still shopping for all of us girls & guys!

like all travel guides, the pricing is always suspect between the writing and publication time. where this guide is good is that it gives off the beaten path as well as the more 'touristy' stops: good for the first time london visitor as well as the person returning for the umpteenth time. like with anything else, know your prices before you go. **credit card companies do not charge the overseas fee - that is often seen on the atm side!*****