Greek Islands vs Fodor's Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands
Buy Fodor's Greece if you want one big, current, full-color book that covers the mainland and the islands, including a cruise chapter. Buy the Lonely Planet Greek Islands guide if your trip is islands-only and you want a pull-out Athens map and a lighter book to carry. The two listings conflict on price and edition, so check the exact copy before you order.
Ask our shopping agent
Greek Islands
4.3Choose the Greek Islands guide if you are island-hopping only and want a compact, map-forward planning book with a pull-out Athens map.
- Islands-focused, so no mainland padding
- Pull-out Athens map
- Small enough to carry
- Durrell's prose is a known draw
- 1978-1980 content is badly out of date for prices, ferries and hotels
- Only 287 pages
- No cruise coverage
- Listing details conflict on publisher, binding and edition
What separates them
| Greek Islands | Fodor's Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Greek Islands only, plus an Athens section | Mainland Greece plus the islands, with a cruise chapter |
| Length | 287 pages | 776 to 832 pages depending on the listing |
| Publication year | 1980, c1978 (first edition) | 2015 (11th edition) |
| Maps | Maps plus a pull-out map of Athens | Dozens of full-color maps |
| Photos | Some color illustrations | Full-color photography throughout |
| Portability | About 5 x 1 x 7 in, 1.41 lbs | 832 pages, heavier to carry |
| Cruises | Not covered | Dedicated cruise chapter and Island Finder |
Price history
- Greek Islands: lowest $7.95 on Oct 30 at Roundabout Books.
- Fodor's Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands: lowest $21.67 on Oct 30 at Walmart.
Prices at every store
Greek Islands
- Lonely PlanetCheck price at Lonely Planet
- Roundabout BooksCheck price at Roundabout Books
Fodor's Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
- WalmartCheck price at Walmart
Specs compared
| Spec | Greek Islands | Fodor's Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands |
|---|---|---|
| Page Count | 287 p. | 776 pages |
| Language | English | English |
| Publisher | Penguin Books | Fodor's Travel Publications |
| Illustrations | ill. (some col.) | — |
| Maps | maps | — |
| Portraits | ports. | — |
| Size | 25 cm | — |
| Publication Year | 1980, c1978 | — |
| Includes Index | Includes index. | — |
| Author Name | Lawrence Durrell | — |
| Binding Type |
What reviewers say
Greek Islands
The 4.3 out of 5 from 15 ratings reflects steady approval for Durrell's writing rather than its use as a travel guide. Readers value the atmosphere and observation; the common caveat is that it is dated as practical advice.
- Lyrical, observant writing about island life
- Good armchair reading before a trip
- Strong sense of place and history
- Out of date for planning
- Some find it slow or dated in tone
- Not a replacement for a current guidebook
Fodor's Greece: with Great Cruises & the Best Islands
Fodor's guides are generally well regarded for organized, readable coverage and reliable maps. Owners of this edition often note that the color photos and cruise chapter are useful for planning, while the age of the 2015 content is the main complaint.
Questions and answers
- Which is better for an island-hopping trip?
- The Greek Islands guide, if you want an islands-only book you can carry. Fodor's covers the islands too but spreads its pages across the mainland.
- Which is more up to date?
- Fodor's, from April 2015. The Greek Islands listing is a 1980 printing of a 1978 book, so its prices, ferry times and hotel picks are unusable now.
- Is Fodor's worth the extra weight?
- Yes if you also want Athens, Delphi, the Peloponnese or a cruise. If you are only island-hopping, the smaller book is easier to carry.
- Does either cover Crete and Rhodes?
- Both do. Fodor's also covers Corfu, the Peloponnese and Thessaloniki, which the islands guide does not.
- Which has better maps?
- Fodor's has dozens of full-color maps. The Greek Islands guide has maps plus a pull-out Athens map, which is handy on foot.