[pin]

Hi

Picked up a guide book today and got me thinking.

So what are people's preferences on guide books. Is it always Lonely Planet or Rough Guide (or another brand), or is it dependant on price or on region?

Just curious really.

[Mat]

I usually travel with LP and/or Frommers

[Mr.Bing]

speaking from all personal experience,
lonely planet is great for europe, east africa, west africa and mexico.

it sucks for asia, (talking about the thailand, phillipines and china books).
i guess it's because i'm Asian and the asia series books tones read like they are white people written for white people, which means missing a lot of the "beef' and a lot more naive and not good local food recommendations because of different taste.

[Mat]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bing

not good local food recommendations because of different taste.

Totally agree with that. They often recommend Western food whether you are in China, Laos or Mongolia....not so good to really appreciate the country. I usually avoid their food advice.

[back2HK]

Fodors - if you want slightly upscale..

[HKfornow]

Usually Frommers for US, but for Europe I have to go with Rick Steeves as he does the local way. He also has a book out on major museums in Europe which was great.

Haven't found good source books in Asia, so usually check out tripadvisor and look at comments made by other travelers.

[Sleuth]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bing

it sucks for asia, (talking about the thailand, phillipines and china books).
i guess it's because i'm Asian and the asia series books tones read like they are white people written for white people, which means missing a lot of the "beef' and a lot more naive and not good local food recommendations because of different taste.

Perhaps that is because LP is written by/for Westerners? And really for Westerners on a budget.
Anyway, what books do you anti-LPers recomend for Asia?

[siumai]

Rough Guide is or at least used to be much better written than Lonely Planet. It depends. If you want lots of quick facts and listings, Lonely Planet is probably better. If you want to get more insight about places you're visiting, I'm quite sure that Rough Guide is better.

All others, Fodors etc. are just nice shiny paper & pretty photos, no value in the written content.

[Pekkerhead]

Rough guide can be a bit...erm, rough?

I had the 1996 edition for HK and it told me there was an escalator up to 10,000 buddha temple. Of course, anyone who has been there knows the escalator goes up to the urn cemetary further down the hill - you still have to plod the 400 odd steps up to 10000 buddha temple (granted now you have the 500 arhans to look at on the way). By coincidence the temple in the cemetary also has lots of buddhas on the wall, but all the same. That was really duff info.

I usually go for Lonely planet as they also have some good diving books out.

[Mr.Bing]

for the china i usually go with local chinese guidebooks- but of course u have to be able to read chinese