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Post by Patrick on Aug 7, 2002 19:58:44 GMT -5
Just wondering what people's opinions are on the various guidebooks. Which do you think is/are the best and why? Rick Steve's, Lonely Planet, Lets Go...?
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Post by Kim on Aug 7, 2002 20:07:34 GMT -5
I personally like the Lonely Planet and Rough Guides the best.
We brought Lonely Planet Western Europe and Let's Go Europe with us and Lonely Planet was more up to date with more accurate maps.
Rough Guides are good as well, that's what I am taking to Bali. Very informative with a good range of info, accommodation etc.
Rick Steves books are aimed at a crowd that has more money than your typical backpacker. It's still a budget book and has good info, just doesn't feature hostels like the other books do.
You can always do what we did-bring one, then if it doesn't have the info you need, go into the book store and make notes from the other books. Often resorted to this when all accommodation was full from both of our books. Be sly though.. and don't tell them Kim told you to do it! ;D
Kim
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Post by Patrick on Aug 7, 2002 20:40:52 GMT -5
One other quick question. Do you know if there is a general time when Lets Go/Lonely Plantet etc... puts out the 2003 edition / or "next year's guide"... I'd hate to buy one and find the new one it out in a month!
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Post by Kim on Aug 7, 2002 21:45:35 GMT -5
Lonely Planets are updated every 2-3 years.
The latest version of Western Europe was updated in 2001, so there might be a 2003.
Kim
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Post by Patrick on Aug 8, 2002 13:07:23 GMT -5
Yeah, the Lonely Planet guides seem to be popular. I guess I'll have to take pick up a couple of guides.
And as you mentioned before, getting free info from a bookstore is good too. It's actually fun to skim through the books in the stores and see how long it takes someone to approach you. It seems to be much sooner if you're sitting there with a notepad and pen. ;D
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 8, 2002 14:53:37 GMT -5
I think over the course of 4 months I tried them all, but Lonely Planet was for sure my favorite. I was not staying in hostels so found Rough Guides a bit lacking for my needs. If you are looking for one star, maybe a splurge on two star hotels, LP is the better choice. ;D Rick Steves books I read before I left, but did not take with me. They are very specific for a certain 'travel group' and while very good for whom they are geared to, I found them rather confining on the areas he promotes. (EG....he barely, barely mentions Scotland at all in his UK book). I adore the DK Eyewitness Guides...but for at home books. Way too heavy and geared in food and lodging to a group quite a bit above 'backpacker' status!
I also used bookstores often for info. Maybe coz I am 'older' than your average backpacker I never once got approached or questioned. And I stood there with paper and pen writing away for a good long time. ;D I also bought my guidebooks as I went along. Took books for my first country/countries, then before I moved on bought one for my next stop and dropped the first. I never had any problem finding books, LP's actually were the easiest to find in English, and kept me from toting around all that weight.
ging
oh, on an JMHO note....I really do not like Let's Go at all! I found the info outdated, the maps poorly done and basically useless, and the general 'info' lacking in even the basics. But, just my opinion again.
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Post by Patrick on Aug 8, 2002 16:14:10 GMT -5
It's a shame you think the maps are poorly done, because ideally I would want to pre-book some places online or something and use the guides more for the maps and info. Thanks for all the input on the books though, gives me a better idea of who the audience is for all of them anyway.
btw ging, I left you a note in 'Odd's and Ends' section re: your travel diary.
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 8, 2002 19:55:53 GMT -5
Patrick,
When I said maps were poorly done, I was refering specifically to the Let's Go series. LP and Rough Guides both had very good, user friendly maps that were 97% of the time quite accurate! Rick Steves 'map's' are at best a 'general drawing' of the area he is mentioning....nothing at all of a map map in those books. You surely couldn't navigate a trip with them!
ging
who will go now and check out my message from you! ;D
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Post by Kim on Aug 8, 2002 21:16:04 GMT -5
Agree with the Let's Go maps being terrible.. Lonely Planets are fine, however!
Kim
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Post by me on Aug 8, 2002 22:14:12 GMT -5
if you go at a busy time, the hostels listed in "Let's Go," or other really popular guidebooks, tend to fill. i't a good idea to have other information as well. you can always check the hostel listing on this site!  take a print out with you, or check it from the road at an internet café. |
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Post by musicdisciple on Aug 8, 2002 22:52:41 GMT -5
In most hostels you'll be able to find different people with different guides. People will all sit around sharing. It's really easy to get the book info plus sometimes talk to someone who's been there.
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U2Fan
Full Travel Member
Posts: 17
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Post by U2Fan on Aug 9, 2002 1:45:10 GMT -5
I'm using Lonely Planet and Rick Steves exclusively for my trip to Great Britain. Since I'm traveling with my mother, we won't be staying in hostels, and I(so far)am pleased with what Rick Steves suggests...
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Post by Patrick on Aug 9, 2002 8:27:16 GMT -5
I actually took a look through the sample pages of Lonely Planet Western Europe on Amazon and it looks quite good and seems to cover quite a wide array of topics! Only problem is it doesn't include Scandinavia. I guess they want us to buy a whole nother book for that  |
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Post by LHR02 on Aug 9, 2002 8:59:38 GMT -5
Hey Patrick,
FWIW.....I had the Western and Med Europe editions prior to my trip. But in the end did not take them and just bought UK to begin, and then each countries edition as I went along. The 'big' ones are fine, especially for pre-travel planning, but the single country editions are much more thorough and include a great deal more specific info, especially on food and lodging. I suppose if buying as one went along is not in the 'budget' then the once book covers all would do fine, but I liked having a bit more in-depth. And as I said, I never had any problems finding an English edition for the country I was next moving to. LP's seem to be most popular and found nearly everywhere!
ging
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Post by Patrick on Aug 9, 2002 11:41:30 GMT -5
That's true, I could see how the single country editions would be more thorough. I would probably do that if I was ever just winging it and had lots of time in the countries (as in a couple months) but being there for just a few days in each place i'll probably just stick with a big "cover all" book for now.
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