which Europe guidebook is the best?
Mar 11th 2004, 6:01 am
#1
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which Europe guidebook is the best?
among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Mar 11th 2004, 6:22 am
#2
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
In rec.travel.europe abdul rahim <[email protected]> wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Rough Guide, do you mean? I think they are very similar, I really like Lonely
Planet, it seems a touch less dry to me. And quite comprehensive.
Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Rough Guide, do you mean? I think they are very similar, I really like Lonely
Planet, it seems a touch less dry to me. And quite comprehensive.
Julie
--
Julie
**********
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm
Mar 11th 2004, 6:37 am
#3
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
In article <[email protected] >,
[email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
> why?
By Rough Cut do you mean the ones that are produced by the company called
Rough Guides? (I have a feeling they're marketed under different names in
some parts of the world, but if there is any reference to "Rough Guides"
on the copyright page they're likely the same thing.)
If so, I would say they're the best /on balance/, combining practical
information (on accommodation, eating, transport, entertainment etc.) with
well-written accounts of major and lesser things to see, informative
background, discussion of local culture and history, vocabularies, notes
on food and so on.
My only caveat would be to not rely /too/ literally on their accommodation
and dining recommendations - they often leave out good and well-known
places for no obvious reason, so don't assume somewhere's unsatisfactory
or doesn't exist just because it doesn't appear in the guide.
Of the others, Lonely Planet is arguably better on the real nitty-gritty
of budget travel (where to do cheap laundry in Sardinia, that sort of
thing) but fairly limited in its coverage of the "sights", and sometimes
rather dismissive of things that don't fit into its preconceptions of the
backpacking target market - Rough Guide is much broader in this respect.
Let's Go always feels a bit thin and unsatisfying to me, and for this
reason I don't use them much so can't comment in detail.
Where are you planning to go?
[email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
> why?
By Rough Cut do you mean the ones that are produced by the company called
Rough Guides? (I have a feeling they're marketed under different names in
some parts of the world, but if there is any reference to "Rough Guides"
on the copyright page they're likely the same thing.)
If so, I would say they're the best /on balance/, combining practical
information (on accommodation, eating, transport, entertainment etc.) with
well-written accounts of major and lesser things to see, informative
background, discussion of local culture and history, vocabularies, notes
on food and so on.
My only caveat would be to not rely /too/ literally on their accommodation
and dining recommendations - they often leave out good and well-known
places for no obvious reason, so don't assume somewhere's unsatisfactory
or doesn't exist just because it doesn't appear in the guide.
Of the others, Lonely Planet is arguably better on the real nitty-gritty
of budget travel (where to do cheap laundry in Sardinia, that sort of
thing) but fairly limited in its coverage of the "sights", and sometimes
rather dismissive of things that don't fit into its preconceptions of the
backpacking target market - Rough Guide is much broader in this respect.
Let's Go always feels a bit thin and unsatisfying to me, and for this
reason I don't use them much so can't comment in detail.
Where are you planning to go?
Mar 11th 2004, 7:14 am
#4
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
In article <[email protected] >,
[email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
> why?
I wouldn't buy any one of them. Baedecker is my guide of choice.
--
Mary Loomer Oliver(aka erilar)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no such thing as too many books. Bookshelves, on the other hand . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Erilar's Cave Annex:
http://www.airstreamcomm.net/~erilarlo
[email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
> why?
I wouldn't buy any one of them. Baedecker is my guide of choice.
--
Mary Loomer Oliver(aka erilar)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no such thing as too many books. Bookshelves, on the other hand . . .
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Erilar's Cave Annex:
http://www.airstreamcomm.net/~erilarlo
Mar 11th 2004, 7:42 am
#5
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 19:37:36 +0000 (UTC), [email protected]
wrote:
about Rough Guide:
>My only caveat would be to not rely /too/ literally on their accommodation
>and dining recommendations - they often leave out good and well-known
>places for no obvious reason, so don't assume somewhere's unsatisfactory
>or doesn't exist just because it doesn't appear in the guide.
I have also found wildly inaccurate descriptions of lodgings in Rough
Guide. Also wildly inaccurate descriptions of itineraries. Perhaps
because they aren't updated frequently enough.
>Let's Go always feels a bit thin and unsatisfying to me, and for this
>reason I don't use them much so can't comment in detail.
I find Let's Go to be much more reliable for budget lodging than
either Rough Guide or Lonely Planet. They are also updated annually.
However, Rough Guide and Lonely Planet cover a wider range of lodging
and also are more likely to cover small towns. Let's Go covers the
cheapest lodging very well for major cities and smaller towns with a
sizeable tourist presence.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
wrote:
about Rough Guide:
>My only caveat would be to not rely /too/ literally on their accommodation
>and dining recommendations - they often leave out good and well-known
>places for no obvious reason, so don't assume somewhere's unsatisfactory
>or doesn't exist just because it doesn't appear in the guide.
I have also found wildly inaccurate descriptions of lodgings in Rough
Guide. Also wildly inaccurate descriptions of itineraries. Perhaps
because they aren't updated frequently enough.
>Let's Go always feels a bit thin and unsatisfying to me, and for this
>reason I don't use them much so can't comment in detail.
I find Let's Go to be much more reliable for budget lodging than
either Rough Guide or Lonely Planet. They are also updated annually.
However, Rough Guide and Lonely Planet cover a wider range of lodging
and also are more likely to cover small towns. Let's Go covers the
cheapest lodging very well for major cities and smaller towns with a
sizeable tourist presence.
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
Mar 11th 2004, 7:56 am
#6
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
none of them. no single book can possibly cover Europe.
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Mar 11th 2004, 7:58 am
#7
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
the DK books are good.
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Mar 11th 2004, 8:09 am
#8
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
None of them are the best. A combination of them will give you different
views and ideas.
If you are an AAA member they have some excellent ones available at some
steep discounts, at least our office does.
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
why?
views and ideas.
If you are an AAA member they have some excellent ones available at some
steep discounts, at least our office does.
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
why?
Mar 11th 2004, 10:45 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
In article <[email protected] >,
[email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
That's a matter of personal preference. Sit down at a good bookstore
and thumb through the books on your list and decide for yourself
which seems most useful.
[email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
That's a matter of personal preference. Sit down at a good bookstore
and thumb through the books on your list and decide for yourself
which seems most useful.
Mar 11th 2004, 12:33 pm
#10
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
yes, rough guide is what i meant.
i'm thinking greece/turkey/bulgaria.
had to sweat a bit b/c some guide publishers don't include turkey in
euro guidebooks, and i DID NOT want to carry two guidebooks over
there. but rough guide does include turkey
i'm thinking greece/turkey/bulgaria.
had to sweat a bit b/c some guide publishers don't include turkey in
euro guidebooks, and i DID NOT want to carry two guidebooks over
there. but rough guide does include turkey
Mar 11th 2004, 2:47 pm
#11
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Posts: n/a
Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
abdul rahim wrote:
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Of your selection Lonely Planet's "Europe on a Shoestring" is the best
choice. A discussion of many of the guidebooks is on my page at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap10/guide.htm
John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and why?
Of your selection Lonely Planet's "Europe on a Shoestring" is the best
choice. A discussion of many of the guidebooks is on my page at
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap10/guide.htm
John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------
Mar 11th 2004, 3:06 pm
#12
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Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
why?
A matter of preference of course, but I would avoid Let's Go. When I was
backpacking around Europe I could tell in about 10 minutes of conversation
whether someone else was following thr Let's Go guide, and then I could
usually predict where they were going next (" so... you're going to catch
the night train to Rome tomorrow at 5pm then?..."). So unless you're up for
the ABC* tour, I'd use one of the other guides - but only as a source of
useful information - not as a recipe. The unexpected moments and places are
what will make the trip memorable.
Tom
* Another Bloody Cathedral...
news:[email protected]...
> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
why?
A matter of preference of course, but I would avoid Let's Go. When I was
backpacking around Europe I could tell in about 10 minutes of conversation
whether someone else was following thr Let's Go guide, and then I could
usually predict where they were going next (" so... you're going to catch
the night train to Rome tomorrow at 5pm then?..."). So unless you're up for
the ABC* tour, I'd use one of the other guides - but only as a source of
useful information - not as a recipe. The unexpected moments and places are
what will make the trip memorable.
Tom
* Another Bloody Cathedral...
Mar 11th 2004, 5:06 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
It's a matter of which guide best serves your area(s) of interest.
Personally I prefer Lonely Planet.
Worst Guide book series - again IMHO is Let's Go!!!
"Tom Johnstone" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
> why?
> A matter of preference of course, but I would avoid Let's Go. When I was
> backpacking around Europe I could tell in about 10 minutes of conversation
> whether someone else was following thr Let's Go guide, and then I could
> usually predict where they were going next (" so... you're going to catch
> the night train to Rome tomorrow at 5pm then?..."). So unless you're up
for
> the ABC* tour, I'd use one of the other guides - but only as a source of
> useful information - not as a recipe. The unexpected moments and places
are
> what will make the trip memorable.
> Tom
> * Another Bloody Cathedral...
Personally I prefer Lonely Planet.
Worst Guide book series - again IMHO is Let's Go!!!
"Tom Johnstone" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
> why?
> A matter of preference of course, but I would avoid Let's Go. When I was
> backpacking around Europe I could tell in about 10 minutes of conversation
> whether someone else was following thr Let's Go guide, and then I could
> usually predict where they were going next (" so... you're going to catch
> the night train to Rome tomorrow at 5pm then?..."). So unless you're up
for
> the ABC* tour, I'd use one of the other guides - but only as a source of
> useful information - not as a recipe. The unexpected moments and places
are
> what will make the trip memorable.
> Tom
> * Another Bloody Cathedral...
Mar 11th 2004, 6:18 pm
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
"Shawn \"Me\" Hearn" <[email protected]> writes:
>In article <[email protected] >,
> [email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
>That's a matter of personal preference. Sit down at a good bookstore
>and thumb through the books on your list and decide for yourself
>which seems most useful.
Or go to your local library and check out a range of different guides, and
read them to see which ones you are most comfortable with. If you're not
going for a terribly long time, and the most up-to-date guide is available
for borrowing- take *that* on your trip! Even the largest overdue fee is
less than buying the actual guide! ^_~
--
Widya Santoso [email protected] +61 2 6288-0405
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep
-- Stopping by woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost
>In article <[email protected] >,
> [email protected] (abdul rahim) wrote:
>That's a matter of personal preference. Sit down at a good bookstore
>and thumb through the books on your list and decide for yourself
>which seems most useful.
Or go to your local library and check out a range of different guides, and
read them to see which ones you are most comfortable with. If you're not
going for a terribly long time, and the most up-to-date guide is available
for borrowing- take *that* on your trip! Even the largest overdue fee is
less than buying the actual guide! ^_~
--
Widya Santoso [email protected] +61 2 6288-0405
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep
-- Stopping by woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost
Mar 12th 2004, 4:05 am
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: which Europe guidebook is the best?
On Thu, 11 Mar 2004 22:06:39 -0600, "Tom Johnstone"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
>why?
>A matter of preference of course, but I would avoid Let's Go. When I was
>backpacking around Europe I could tell in about 10 minutes of conversation
>whether someone else was following thr Let's Go guide, and then I could
>usually predict where they were going next (" so... you're going to catch
>the night train to Rome tomorrow at 5pm then?..."). So unless you're up for
>the ABC* tour, I'd use one of the other guides - but only as a source of
>useful information - not as a recipe.
That's ridiculous. No one guidebook has such mass mind control and
these days these guides are sold all over the world. I live in Italy
and I use Let's Go to find cheap lodging when I travel, even within
Italy. Two years ago, we spent a week in a little town in Abruzzo and
found a nice lodging there from Let's Go. All of the other guests were
Italian.
All you have demonstrated is that when you were backpacking around
Europe you stayed on the beaten path yourself and mostly only talked
to other backpackers.
No guidebook should be used for "recipe travelling".
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
<[email protected]> wrote:
>"abdul rahim" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> among let's go, lonely planet, and rough cut, which one is the best and
>why?
>A matter of preference of course, but I would avoid Let's Go. When I was
>backpacking around Europe I could tell in about 10 minutes of conversation
>whether someone else was following thr Let's Go guide, and then I could
>usually predict where they were going next (" so... you're going to catch
>the night train to Rome tomorrow at 5pm then?..."). So unless you're up for
>the ABC* tour, I'd use one of the other guides - but only as a source of
>useful information - not as a recipe.
That's ridiculous. No one guidebook has such mass mind control and
these days these guides are sold all over the world. I live in Italy
and I use Let's Go to find cheap lodging when I travel, even within
Italy. Two years ago, we spent a week in a little town in Abruzzo and
found a nice lodging there from Let's Go. All of the other guests were
Italian.
All you have demonstrated is that when you were backpacking around
Europe you stayed on the beaten path yourself and mostly only talked
to other backpackers.
No guidebook should be used for "recipe travelling".
-----------
Barbara Vaughan
My email address is my first initial followed by my surname at libero dot it
I answer travel questions only in the newsgroup
