I have to admit that I was truly disappointed in this book.

There are numerous ways to travel, and not all of us travel by staying in luxurious hotels and dining at extremely fancy restaurants. I had been hoping for some suggestions that were not tourist traps, perhaps some beautiful destinations where the cost of transportation was the main concern.

Moreover, the printing of this book was ridiculously tiny. I actually had to use a magnifying glass that I wore around my neck to read it. Maybe it was a cheaper way to print, but it was incredibly difficult to read.

Overall, this book failed to meet my expectations in both content and print quality. It left me feeling dissatisfied and longing for a better travel guide.

It's truly wonderful to dream and formulate plans regarding where to journey next. In this regard, the book holds a certain allure and is rather enjoyable. However, I find myself slightly disappointed and somewhat perturbed by the unequal distribution of places among the various countries and continents. There are dozens of places mentioned in the USA, taking up almost 200 pages out of a total of 900, and a significant number in Europe as well.

Conversely, in Russia, there are only 11 places listed. Five of them are in Moscow, five in St. Petersburg, and then there's the Transsiberian Railway, which amounts to a mere 8 pages in total. It gives the impression that Russia is the tiniest country on the planet and consists solely of those two towns connected by a railway.

Moreover, the places listed in Switzerland are definitely not among those that I would consider an absolute must for taking my foreign friends. They seem to be mostly rather snobbish locations. This unequal representation and the nature of some of the listed places do leave a bit to be desired in terms of providing a comprehensive and diverse guide for travelers.

An enjoyable read indeed. I was thrilled to discover that I had visited over 120 of the places she mentions. However, I was also a bit disappointed to realize that I had missed some things in the places I've been. This book will definitely be a valuable resource for me the next time I travel as I plan my trip.

HOWEVER, I think it's important to do further research on a place and take a more detailed country-specific guide with me when actually traveling. For example, guides like Let's Go or Rick Steves can provide more in-depth information on other sites, hostels/hotels, and food suggestions.

Secondly, as others have pointed out, she spends an excessive amount of space on the US. If whole countries can be skipped, perhaps it would be okay to skip a few states as well. This would allow for more coverage of other regions.

Thirdly, the spas/hotels/restaurants should have been presented as add-ons to the sites, rather than standalone entries. A simple note like "while you're there, check out...." would have been sufficient.

It also bothered me to see her suggesting that you spend $300 - $600 on a room in a country where people live on $5 a day. This seems a bit out of touch and insensitive.

I understand that she had a huge task of covering so many places and narrowing it down to 1,000 must have been extremely difficult. I don't blame her for the omissions, even though I was shocked to see my own top choices not in the book. It's a subjective list based on her own preferences.

Nonetheless, I want to add my own suggestions. If you're ever in Poland, I highly recommend visiting the Auschwitz/Birkenau concentration camps. They are truly remarkable and are well-preserved by the government, not turned into a commercial tourist trap. It's a place to learn about our history. The Wieliczka Salt Mines near Krakow, Poland, are also amazing. The most astonishing part is an entire underground church made entirely of salt, including the icons, floor, chandeliers, and more. Even for an atheist like me, it was a deeply moving sight.

A well-written book is truly a gem. It has the power to transport the reader to different worlds, evoke a wide range of emotions, and expand one's knowledge and understanding. When I picked up this particular book, I was immediately drawn in by its engaging storyline and well-developed characters.

The author's writing style was流畅 and easy to follow, making it a pleasure to read. I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to put the book down until I had reached the end. The book also had several thought-provoking themes that made me reflect on my own life and values.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good read. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.

As a person who has a great passion for traveling, I was really looking forward to having a bit more detailed information about what there is to see during the journey rather than just reading about fancy places to stay.

To be honest, with this expectation in mind, I did take great pleasure in reading about many other interesting places. The descriptions and details provided really piqued my interest and made me imagine myself being there.

However, there were also some parts that I just skimmed through. Maybe they didn't quite catch my attention as much as the others, or perhaps they didn't offer the kind of information that I was specifically looking for.

Overall, while my initial focus was on the sights to see, I still found value in reading about different aspects of the various places. It gave me a more comprehensive understanding and allowed me to consider different options for my future travels.

This is an outstanding reference book.

If you have a passion for traveling, then this book is truly worth picking up.

As a matter of fact, I am currently checking all the places that I have been to.

And whenever I have an upcoming trip, I utilize it to determine if there is anything that I should incorporate into my plans.

Nevertheless, it is really thick. With 1,000 places to cover, it's no wonder.

I had initially thought that the book would be taller and thinner.

But in reality, it is basically short and thick.

This makes it extremely heavy, so it is essential to find a suitable place to set it down and read.

Overall, despite its weight and thickness, this reference book is an invaluable resource for travel enthusiasts.

I have a great affinity for the overall concept of this book. It essentially encompasses the 'essential sights' in almost every country. The organization of the book is truly excellent. Despite not being arranged in alphabetical order, it groups places by country and region. Moreover, no place is ranked in order of preference by the author, which gives readers the freedom to explore based on their own interests.

However, when it comes to each individual place, we must disregard the "where to stay" recommendations. It is quite easy to find accommodation through Airbnb or by looking for hotel deals independently. The book only provides three options, which may not be sufficient or suitable for everyone.

Overall, this book is highly beneficial for those who wish to plan their own adventures. It allows you to fill the gaps in your itinerary and plan side trips, thereby enhancing your travel experience. It serves as a valuable resource for travelers who want to take control of their journey and create memories that are unique to them.

This book has truly opened my eyes and taught me an important lesson - that I really need to get out more. It has made me realize that my bucket list has become somewhat out of control. There are so many things I want to do, places I want to visit, and experiences I want to have.

But with this newfound awareness comes a tinge of worry. Here's hoping I don't die soon, because there is still so much life left to live. I don't want to leave this world with an unfinished bucket list.

I have decided to take action and start crossing off those items one by one. I will no longer let fear or excuses hold me back. I will embrace every opportunity that comes my way and make the most of my time on this earth.

After all, life is short, and I want to make it count. I want to look back on my life and be able to say that I lived it to the fullest, that I chased my dreams, and that I had no regrets.

So, from now on, I will step out of my comfort zone, explore new places, meet new people, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

This book held the potential to serve as an excellent guide to all the "must-sees" in each city. However, unfortunately, it fails to fully deliver on that promise.

There are a significant number of great places that are conspicuously missing from its pages. Do we really need to have every five-star hotel in every city listed? It seems rather excessive.

"1,000 Places to See Before You Die" does have some value in that it can give you an idea of where you might want to travel to next. But when it comes time to actually book the tickets, it would be wise to also invest in a Lonely Planet guide.

The Lonely Planet is known for its comprehensive and up-to-date information, which can provide a more detailed and practical understanding of the destinations you plan to visit.

In conclusion, while this book has some merit, it falls short of being the ultimate travel guide. It's best used as a starting point, with other resources like the Lonely Planet being consulted for a more complete and accurate picture.

It’s a TOT, which could stand for Toitlette or Table Top, book. However, it has its drawbacks. Firstly, it’s too big to hold comfortably while one is sitting on the toilet throne. Secondly, it’s not the most ideal for a table top perusal when waiting for a date.

Another aspect that disappoints is the content. There are too many card stock pictures of ordinary places, and there are none of the out-of-the-way, unique pictures that one might expect.

The book is a quick read. In fact, it’s more of a flip-through as you simply glance at the photos. These photos range from hotels and buildings to wildlife. But unfortunately, there is a preponderance of urban choices rather than natural ones.

In conclusion, if you’re extremely bored and have nothing better to do, you might give this book a read. But don’t expect it to be a truly engaging or fulfilling experience.

2.5 Stars

I delved into the entire monster book, cover to cover, even perusing the index! The list of places it presents is truly captivating and has piqued my interest. However, I have a major gripe. It showcases only ultra-expensive hotels and restaurants. This, ironically, makes travel seem less accessible and attainable for the average person. It gives the impression that one needs to have a bottomless wallet to experience these wonderful destinations.

Despite this drawback, I did manage to salvage something from it. I saved the links to my Pinterest travel boards. Now, whenever I have a spare moment, I can lose myself in daydreams about visiting those places someday. Maybe, just maybe, with careful planning and saving, I'll be able to turn those dreams into reality and experience the magic of those locations without breaking the bank.

This is a truly special book. It's a book that I like to skim through, and as I do, I turn down the corners on the pages of those places I've been extremely lucky to actually visit in person.

After more than 40 years of extensive travel, I still feel that I've hardly scratched the surface. There are just so many wonderful places in the world.

Moreover, there are also those favorite places that I've loved with all my heart and soul but unfortunately aren't included in this book.

I often think that perhaps after I pass away, this book will end up in the Goodwill. And then some unlucky buyer might look at those turned-down corners with scorn. What a pity that would be. But oh well, such is life. Ha ha.