Lonely Planet guides? How did they do that?

[sparkit]

I prefer LP as a rule, not so much for the content but for the layout. I didn't get on with the (only) Rough Guide that I used - I found it boring when I was reading it.

I reckon that it doesn't really matter what guidebook range you use, it's more down to individual authors rather than the publisher. And, more importantly, which book is the most recently published for the area that you are travelling to.

Im my opinion, guide books are not much more than a general source of information about an area, nice to consult when you're on the bus to somewhere or when you're sitting at the bus station deciding where you want to go next.

 

[Fidel]

I prefer http://www.virtualtourist.com/

Nice one, any one got anymore online peer review type sites?

 

[Sunray]

I prefer LP as a rule, not so much for the content but for the layout. I didn't get on with the (only) Rough Guide that I used - I found it boring when I was reading it.

I reckon that it doesn't really matter what guidebook range you use, it's more down to individual authors rather than the publisher. And, more importantly, which book is the most recently published for the area that you are travelling to.

Im my opinion, guide books are not much more than a general source of information about an area, nice to consult when you're on the bus to somewhere or when you're sitting at the bus station deciding where you want to go next.

Its that very layout that has come to irritate me most. The contents are only at the beginning of the book and not at the beginning of each section. The maps are often poor quality. The picture sections they have are generally unrelated to the section they are bound into, the phone code for an area is only at the beginning of the chapter and they have an extremely limited section for accomodation.

 

[spacemonkey]

I prefer to call um the 'Lonely Bastard' you get all these people on their tods with their head buried in the book, without actually looking at the scenery around them!

 

[Yu_Gi_Oh]

The Korean LP is driving me mad, they have directions that are totally wrong- turn left when you should turn right etc and they're stupid enough to give names of places (eg hotels) in English when the actual sign is written in Hanguel (korean script). If I couldn't read Hanguel then I'd be screwed a lot of the time using the LP, it's not on as most people will be using the book as tourists and could end up wandering around for hours looking for their hotel. They could at least give the name in English and then write it in Hanguel to give people a chance.

I reckon that the info for the Korean LP was gathered years ago by about three people and they've never been back.

 

[zoltan]

The Books are OK for background & basic transport information, but like any travel guide, are only as good as the people who write 'em...and its a production line of standardised contributors unfortunately

have a look at the contributors section of the next LP guide you thumb thro'.......They all smack of groovy liberal unoriginality.You may see the following pharases or variations thereof over used in the Bios, whoever is being described:

1) US Degree in liberal studies/ arts/ humatities
2) "itchy feet"
3)"wanderlust"
4) Spent 3 months travelling around Europe
5) Intern as a Journalist
6) Has now travelled to 23 countries!
7) Has beard
8) Now based in San Francisco with partner + 2 cats


any others youve noticed ?

have a look & get back !

 

[zoltan]

One other thing to remeber is that through expert marketing, the LP guide has become another badge of identification for the gap year rich boys & girls - along with their pretty much identical backpacks & baby G watches - all doing the usual gap year route of India - Thailand - Oz/NZ - Peru - USA then back to Mummy & Daddy before starting at Durham in October & then boring the arse out of other Freshers with their identikit tales of derring do on the well trodden formulaic Grand Tour gap year.

Its a fashion thing as well as a guide thing.

 

[chilango]

They recommend the worst bars in mexico.

I live in a touristy area, and every holiday you see streams of people clutching their LPs going to the same shit bars. The muggers must have a field day.

 

[Sunray]

The Books are OK for background & basic transport information, but like any travel guide, are only as good as the people who write 'em...and its a production line of standardised contributors unfortunately

have a look at the contributors section of the next LP guide you thumb thro'.......They all smack of groovy liberal unoriginality.You may see the following pharases or variations thereof over used in the Bios, whoever is being described:

1) US Degree in liberal studies/ arts/ humatities
2) "itchy feet"
3)"wanderlust"
4) Spent 3 months travelling around Europe
5) Intern as a Journalist
6) Has now travelled to 23 countries!
7) Has beard
8) Now based in San Francisco with partner + 2 cats


any others youve noticed ?

have a look & get back !

I would but I don't have a LP guide to read anymore. Gone back to the Footprint guide which is better.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Depends on which one it is and where you go. In India it got used shed loads and whilst its nice to find your own stuff, if your had a journey from hell and feel sick its nice to be able to pick a place in your price range (cheap) whithout the hassle that can normally go with it.

Think I sold my one to Aus within two weeks of going, it was pointless, contained no info that I could not easily find elsewhere for free. Although the Indonesia Eastern Isles one had its uses I found it very dry.

 

[118118]

..Oh, tahts where I posted it. Sorry.