Most guidebooks consist of endless lists of things to see, with scant detail about why you should bother, and almost no background information to make it meaningful. Nor do they tell you much about the character of the different neighbourhoods, which is critical to choosing where to stay when time is tight. What’s missing is a guide focused on contextual stories, beauty, and experiences that delight the senses.

If you find yourself drawn to visual feasts like Downton Abbey, The Borgias, The Crown, and The Tudors, and enjoying the scenery, hair, jewels and costumes as much as the story, then this is the travel guide you need.

Because really, what’s so terrible about wanting to look at gorgeous art, fountains, palaces, jewellery and costume exhibitions? Absolutely nothing.

Hidden Bias

The problem with most travel guidebooks is that they are:

1. published by corporations whose legal departments advise a just-the-facts approach
2. attempting to sell a one-size-fits-all guide, in order to reach the largest audience
3. written and edited by men, who —God love ’em— don’t usually consider the decorative aspects interesting, or the social/cultural stories behind them terribly important.

If you’re lucky, these “neutral” guides will include an overview of say, a palace, with logistical information and dry facts, but nothing about why it’s really worth your time and energy to trek out to see it. This makes it rather difficult to assess in advance and leaves the average traveller overwhelmed by choices and uncertain as to which she should bother to visit.

The Alternative

After many trips to Europe and much research, I decided it was high time someone remedied the situation. So I spent months sorting through books, blogs, and reviews so that you don’t have to.

Isn’t it time you embraced your inner-princess and got to enjoy a little more glamour and fun, at least while on holiday?

Life is short

Life is short, and vacations even shorter, so why waste time seeing sights that you’re not that into? Our guides give you the resources to plan a trip that’s perfectly tailored to your interests and desires. This is especially important if you’re taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a city you’ve always dreamed of visiting: you don’t want to miss out on any of the hidden gems.

What’s inside?

Written with a woman’s interests in mind, a Princess Guide covers all the fabulous stuff so often overlooked by standard travel guides.

Rather than a fire-hose of dry facts, you’ll find a curated list of the best experiences, along with practical advice on the best time of day to see them, the easiest way to get there and back, and the most enjoyable way to experience them.

We’ve created original self-guided walking tours that highlight the beauty and unique charm of each city, and the stories behind them. We’ve included hidden points of interest that don’t usually appear on the average Top 10 Must-See list. We also tell you what to avoid, to ensure you have a safe trip and avoid being unnecessarily overcharged.

Includes

• extraordinary experiences specific to each city
• best areas of town to stay for maximum value
• what parts of town to avoid
• loveliest cafés for people-watching
• short walking tours through the most beautiful parts of a city
• palaces, fountains, gardens, and art galore
• best rooftop terrace bars for a sunset cocktail
• how to eat like a princess on pennies
• cooking classes, wine classes, art classes, etc
• spas and beauty salons
• vintage fashion shopping
• where to find the perfect one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Plus

• references to history & herstory to make it all more meaningful
• recommended films, novels and music to inspire you
• pre-trip planning tips specific to each location
• what to bring, what to leave behind, what you’ll really wear
• how to think and act like a local to get the most out of your trip