Worst Guidebook Error
Jul 6th 2004, 9:56 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Worst Guidebook Error
I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
at the moment fall into the latter category.
Yours in eager antci---------pation
Dave
guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
at the moment fall into the latter category.
Yours in eager antci---------pation
Dave
Jul 6th 2004, 10:19 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
David wrote:
> I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
> guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
> breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
> obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
> at the moment fall into the latter category.
> Yours in eager antci---------pation
> Dave
It's certainly not the worst but I noticed this error in a Let's Go
guidebook titled "Amsterdam" at the local B&N this afternoon. The first
page I opened to, near the front, shows a bridge that looks very much
like the Magere Brug, an often photographed bridge in Amsterdam.
Actually the picture shows the Gravenstener Brug in Haarlem. It's no big
deal for someone visiting A'dam, but it is typical, even systemic, of
the Let's Go series. Most of the rest of the book is a waste of time.
For more about guidebooks and more serious errors have a look at my page
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap10/guide.htm
titled "Guidebooks, Maps, Dictionaries." The best known books, named
after real travelers who have since become corporations, are usually the
most erroneous.
John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------
> I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
> guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
> breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
> obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
> at the moment fall into the latter category.
> Yours in eager antci---------pation
> Dave
It's certainly not the worst but I noticed this error in a Let's Go
guidebook titled "Amsterdam" at the local B&N this afternoon. The first
page I opened to, near the front, shows a bridge that looks very much
like the Magere Brug, an often photographed bridge in Amsterdam.
Actually the picture shows the Gravenstener Brug in Haarlem. It's no big
deal for someone visiting A'dam, but it is typical, even systemic, of
the Let's Go series. Most of the rest of the book is a waste of time.
For more about guidebooks and more serious errors have a look at my page
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap10/guide.htm
titled "Guidebooks, Maps, Dictionaries." The best known books, named
after real travelers who have since become corporations, are usually the
most erroneous.
John Bermont
--
------------------------------------------------------
* * * Mastering Independent Budget Travel * * *
http://www.enjoy-europe.com/
------------------------------------------------------
Jul 7th 2004, 12:28 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
David wrote:
> I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
> guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
> breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
> obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
> at the moment fall into the latter category.
> Yours in eager antci---------pation
> Dave
my daughter and I spent a frustrating afternoon in Rome following
detailed directions that led us nowhere -- Time Out just had the streets
and locations of a series of 'hidden treasures' dead wrong -- no one in
the area knew what we were talking about [in English or Italian] and the
streets themselves did not run the way the directions suggested
wasted a lot of time -- never saw what we were looking for
I have never used Time Out guides since, since there had been other
small errors that suggested they are pretty sloppy
> I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
> guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
> breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
> obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
> at the moment fall into the latter category.
> Yours in eager antci---------pation
> Dave
my daughter and I spent a frustrating afternoon in Rome following
detailed directions that led us nowhere -- Time Out just had the streets
and locations of a series of 'hidden treasures' dead wrong -- no one in
the area knew what we were talking about [in English or Italian] and the
streets themselves did not run the way the directions suggested
wasted a lot of time -- never saw what we were looking for
I have never used Time Out guides since, since there had been other
small errors that suggested they are pretty sloppy
Jul 7th 2004, 5:04 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
John Bermont <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
> It's certainly not the worst but I noticed this error in a Let's Go
> guidebook titled "Amsterdam" at the local B&N this afternoon. The first
> page I opened to, near the front, shows a bridge that looks very much
> like the Magere Brug, an often photographed bridge in Amsterdam.
> Actually the picture shows the Gravenstener Brug in Haarlem. It's no big
> deal for someone visiting A'dam, but it is typical, even systemic, of
> the Let's Go series. Most of the rest of the book is a waste of time.
I believe it was Bill Bryson who concluded that "Let's Go" was short
for "Let's go buy a different guidebook".
Cheers,
George W. Russell
Hanoi
>
> It's certainly not the worst but I noticed this error in a Let's Go
> guidebook titled "Amsterdam" at the local B&N this afternoon. The first
> page I opened to, near the front, shows a bridge that looks very much
> like the Magere Brug, an often photographed bridge in Amsterdam.
> Actually the picture shows the Gravenstener Brug in Haarlem. It's no big
> deal for someone visiting A'dam, but it is typical, even systemic, of
> the Let's Go series. Most of the rest of the book is a waste of time.
I believe it was Bill Bryson who concluded that "Let's Go" was short
for "Let's go buy a different guidebook".
Cheers,
George W. Russell
Hanoi
Jul 7th 2004, 10:55 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
"David" wrote
| I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
| guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
| breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution
| of obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can
| think of at the moment fall into the latter category.
| Yours in eager antci---------pation
Not a guidebook error, but one of presumption on the part of a traveller.
In Aberystwyth was asked for directions to Marks and Spencer, the
almost-ubiquitous British shop. Told the man that there wasn't one in
Aberystwyth, and he got quite distressed. He'd arranged to meet his wife
there. He always met his wife outside M&S, wherever they went on holiday. I
don't know if that lead to marital breakup though.
Probably the most common failures of guidebooks, for drivers, is not having
one-way streets correctly marked, or in general not updating maps with new
roundabouts etc.
Owain
| I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
| guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
| breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution
| of obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can
| think of at the moment fall into the latter category.
| Yours in eager antci---------pation
Not a guidebook error, but one of presumption on the part of a traveller.
In Aberystwyth was asked for directions to Marks and Spencer, the
almost-ubiquitous British shop. Told the man that there wasn't one in
Aberystwyth, and he got quite distressed. He'd arranged to meet his wife
there. He always met his wife outside M&S, wherever they went on holiday. I
don't know if that lead to marital breakup though.
Probably the most common failures of guidebooks, for drivers, is not having
one-way streets correctly marked, or in general not updating maps with new
roundabouts etc.
Owain
Jul 7th 2004, 11:10 am
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
On 6 Jul 2004 22:04:28 -0700, [email protected] (George W. Russell)
wrote:
>John Bermont <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>>
>> It's certainly not the worst but I noticed this error in a Let's Go
>> guidebook titled "Amsterdam" at the local B&N this afternoon. The first
>> page I opened to, near the front, shows a bridge that looks very much
>> like the Magere Brug, an often photographed bridge in Amsterdam.
>> Actually the picture shows the Gravenstener Brug in Haarlem. It's no big
>> deal for someone visiting A'dam, but it is typical, even systemic, of
>> the Let's Go series. Most of the rest of the book is a waste of time.
>I believe it was Bill Bryson who concluded that "Let's Go" was short
>for "Let's go buy a different guidebook".
Bill Bryson's sense of humour really is second-to-none... anything he
writes is pure gold.
--
"I must be only one in a million
I won't let the day pass without her
wrote:
>John Bermont <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>>
>> It's certainly not the worst but I noticed this error in a Let's Go
>> guidebook titled "Amsterdam" at the local B&N this afternoon. The first
>> page I opened to, near the front, shows a bridge that looks very much
>> like the Magere Brug, an often photographed bridge in Amsterdam.
>> Actually the picture shows the Gravenstener Brug in Haarlem. It's no big
>> deal for someone visiting A'dam, but it is typical, even systemic, of
>> the Let's Go series. Most of the rest of the book is a waste of time.
>I believe it was Bill Bryson who concluded that "Let's Go" was short
>for "Let's go buy a different guidebook".
Bill Bryson's sense of humour really is second-to-none... anything he
writes is pure gold.
--
"I must be only one in a million
I won't let the day pass without her
Jul 7th 2004, 12:11 pm
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
st <[email protected]> wrote:
>On 6 Jul 2004 22:04:28 -0700, [email protected] (George W. Russell)
>wrote:
>>I believe it was Bill Bryson who concluded that "Let's Go" was short
>>for "Let's go buy a different guidebook".
>Bill Bryson's sense of humour really is second-to-none... anything he
>writes is pure gold.
But his works should not be taken as guidebooks.
--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
>On 6 Jul 2004 22:04:28 -0700, [email protected] (George W. Russell)
>wrote:
>>I believe it was Bill Bryson who concluded that "Let's Go" was short
>>for "Let's go buy a different guidebook".
>Bill Bryson's sense of humour really is second-to-none... anything he
>writes is pure gold.
But his works should not be taken as guidebooks.
--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED
Jul 7th 2004, 1:25 pm
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
jenn <[email protected]> wrote:
> my daughter and I spent a frustrating afternoon in Rome following
> detailed directions that led us nowhere -- Time Out just had the streets
> and locations of a series of 'hidden treasures' dead wrong -- no one in
> the area knew what we were talking about [in English or Italian] and the
> streets themselves did not run the way the directions suggested
If you are near the Red Square in Moscow and try to find the Arbat using
the map on the Time Out guide you are bound for a difficult time. BTW,
that map does not make clear that the new shopping mall in front of the
Kremlin is undergroup.
Time Out guides seem well done enough, but some time ago the Italian
Let's Go guide of Italy was full of Italian spelling errors. I guess
they could originate some funny misunderstandings, especially as there
were so many of them.
Generally speaking, I always wonder how Anglosaxons can get so bad in
spelling Italian names, considering that in order to spell a foreign
name in a book you just have to copy it letter for letter from a source
- not too difficult a thing to do if you are writing a guide about a
subject.
--
Luca Logi - Firenze - Italy e-mail: [email protected]
(musicologia pratica)
> my daughter and I spent a frustrating afternoon in Rome following
> detailed directions that led us nowhere -- Time Out just had the streets
> and locations of a series of 'hidden treasures' dead wrong -- no one in
> the area knew what we were talking about [in English or Italian] and the
> streets themselves did not run the way the directions suggested
If you are near the Red Square in Moscow and try to find the Arbat using
the map on the Time Out guide you are bound for a difficult time. BTW,
that map does not make clear that the new shopping mall in front of the
Kremlin is undergroup.
Time Out guides seem well done enough, but some time ago the Italian
Let's Go guide of Italy was full of Italian spelling errors. I guess
they could originate some funny misunderstandings, especially as there
were so many of them.
Generally speaking, I always wonder how Anglosaxons can get so bad in
spelling Italian names, considering that in order to spell a foreign
name in a book you just have to copy it letter for letter from a source
- not too difficult a thing to do if you are writing a guide about a
subject.
--
Luca Logi - Firenze - Italy e-mail: [email protected]
(musicologia pratica)
Jul 7th 2004, 2:42 pm
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
jenn extrapolated from data available...
> David wrote:
>
>> I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
>> guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
>> breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
>> obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
>> at the moment fall into the latter category.
>> Yours in eager antci---------pation
>> Dave
>
>
> my daughter and I spent a frustrating afternoon in Rome following
> detailed directions that led us nowhere -- Time Out just had the streets
> and locations of a series of 'hidden treasures' dead wrong -- no one in
> the area knew what we were talking about [in English or Italian] and the
> streets themselves did not run the way the directions suggested
>
I can remember the frustration, if not the name of the guidebook, in trying
to figure out the maze of streets at one end of Rome's Campo de Fiore long
ago (Christmas, 1963), then returning in November, 2003 with a foldout map
and a guidebook equally unsure of the street patterns. Rick Steve's hand
drawn "maps" are especially prone to the fictional.
While the third Richard may have lamented the absence of a horse, I've
thirsted for some clear map markings as to the extent of regulated/banned
traffic zones in Rome and Florence.
TMO
> David wrote:
>
>> I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
>> guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
>> breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
>> obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
>> at the moment fall into the latter category.
>> Yours in eager antci---------pation
>> Dave
>
>
> my daughter and I spent a frustrating afternoon in Rome following
> detailed directions that led us nowhere -- Time Out just had the streets
> and locations of a series of 'hidden treasures' dead wrong -- no one in
> the area knew what we were talking about [in English or Italian] and the
> streets themselves did not run the way the directions suggested
>
I can remember the frustration, if not the name of the guidebook, in trying
to figure out the maze of streets at one end of Rome's Campo de Fiore long
ago (Christmas, 1963), then returning in November, 2003 with a foldout map
and a guidebook equally unsure of the street patterns. Rick Steve's hand
drawn "maps" are especially prone to the fictional.
While the third Richard may have lamented the absence of a horse, I've
thirsted for some clear map markings as to the extent of regulated/banned
traffic zones in Rome and Florence.
TMO
Jul 7th 2004, 3:48 pm
#10
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
"Luca Logi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:1ggk7hj.1xd8o2q1dwpeinN%[email protected]...
> Generally speaking, I always wonder how Anglosaxons can get so bad in
> spelling Italian names, considering that in order to spell a foreign
> name in a book you just have to copy it letter for letter from a source
> - not too difficult a thing to do if you are writing a guide about a
> subject.
A fascinating example, for those with an interest in naval history, is the
report by Lt Battersby, RN, on his four days spent as liaison officer on
board RN Vittorio Veneto in September 1943, available on the website
www.regiamarina.net . Lt Battersby on several occasions manages to mis-spell
the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
Alan Harrison
news:1ggk7hj.1xd8o2q1dwpeinN%[email protected]...
> Generally speaking, I always wonder how Anglosaxons can get so bad in
> spelling Italian names, considering that in order to spell a foreign
> name in a book you just have to copy it letter for letter from a source
> - not too difficult a thing to do if you are writing a guide about a
> subject.
A fascinating example, for those with an interest in naval history, is the
report by Lt Battersby, RN, on his four days spent as liaison officer on
board RN Vittorio Veneto in September 1943, available on the website
www.regiamarina.net . Lt Battersby on several occasions manages to mis-spell
the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
Alan Harrison
Jul 8th 2004, 9:01 am
#11
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
Let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of "Alan Harrison"
<[email protected]> :
>"Luca Logi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:1ggk7hj.1xd8o2q1dwpeinN%[email protected]...
>> Generally speaking, I always wonder how Anglosaxons can get so bad in
>> spelling Italian names, considering that in order to spell a foreign
>> name in a book you just have to copy it letter for letter from a source
>> - not too difficult a thing to do if you are writing a guide about a
>> subject.
>A fascinating example, for those with an interest in naval history, is the
>report by Lt Battersby, RN, on his four days spent as liaison officer on
>board RN Vittorio Veneto in September 1943, available on the website
>www.regiamarina.net . Lt Battersby on several occasions manages to mis-spell
>the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
>complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
>officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
>Alan Harrison
"The webmaster returns the complement in the Italian translation of
his report by recording the gallant officer as "Liutenant, Royal
Nay".)"
He was in the Horse Guards, then?
<[email protected]> :
>"Luca Logi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:1ggk7hj.1xd8o2q1dwpeinN%[email protected]...
>> Generally speaking, I always wonder how Anglosaxons can get so bad in
>> spelling Italian names, considering that in order to spell a foreign
>> name in a book you just have to copy it letter for letter from a source
>> - not too difficult a thing to do if you are writing a guide about a
>> subject.
>A fascinating example, for those with an interest in naval history, is the
>report by Lt Battersby, RN, on his four days spent as liaison officer on
>board RN Vittorio Veneto in September 1943, available on the website
>www.regiamarina.net . Lt Battersby on several occasions manages to mis-spell
>the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
>complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
>officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
>Alan Harrison
"The webmaster returns the complement in the Italian translation of
his report by recording the gallant officer as "Liutenant, Royal
Nay".)"
He was in the Horse Guards, then?
Jul 8th 2004, 12:34 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
On 6 Jul 2004 14:56:43 -0700, [email protected] (David)
wrote:
>I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
>guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
>breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
>obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
>at the moment fall into the latter category.
My Lonely Planet guide for Ireland gives the location of the Galway
airport as "10 km east of the city near Inverin" and notes that there
are two flights daily to Dublin. Inverin is west of Galway, however.
The Galway airport is in fact east of the city but no where near
Inverin. Near Inverin there is, however, a very small airfield for
flights to and from the Aran islands, but no other flights.
Obviously, the Lonely Planet has conflated the airport and the little
airfield. We were staying near Inverin and without noticing that
critical "east", I assumed we were near the airport. While driving
along the road looking for an airport sign, we stopped at a gas
station to fill up our rental car and learned we were about 25 km from
the airport. This could be a big problem for people who tend to cut
things close.
If anyone has the most recent Lonely Planet for Ireland, I would like
to know if this error has been corrected in the latest edition. If
not, I'll point it out to them. It's in the Galway section, under
"Getting There and Away"
-----------
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:
>I am curious to know of any serious blunders perpetrated by the
>guidebooks, leading to screaming fits, frustration and marital
>breakup, as opposed to those resulting from incorrect attribution of
>obscure 18th Century French Art. Unfortunately all that I can think of
>at the moment fall into the latter category.
My Lonely Planet guide for Ireland gives the location of the Galway
airport as "10 km east of the city near Inverin" and notes that there
are two flights daily to Dublin. Inverin is west of Galway, however.
The Galway airport is in fact east of the city but no where near
Inverin. Near Inverin there is, however, a very small airfield for
flights to and from the Aran islands, but no other flights.
Obviously, the Lonely Planet has conflated the airport and the little
airfield. We were staying near Inverin and without noticing that
critical "east", I assumed we were near the airport. While driving
along the road looking for an airport sign, we stopped at a gas
station to fill up our rental car and learned we were about 25 km from
the airport. This could be a big problem for people who tend to cut
things close.
If anyone has the most recent Lonely Planet for Ireland, I would like
to know if this error has been corrected in the latest edition. If
not, I'll point it out to them. It's in the Galway section, under
"Getting There and Away"
-----------
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
Jul 8th 2004, 2:40 pm
#13
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
> the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
> complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
> officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
>
> Alan Harrison
Nay, Nay and thrice ?
> complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
> officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
>
> Alan Harrison
Nay, Nay and thrice ?
Jul 8th 2004, 2:42 pm
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
>
> In Aberystwyth was asked for directions to Marks and Spencer, the
> almost-ubiquitous British shop. Told the man that there wasn't one in
> Aberystwyth, and he got quite distressed. He'd arranged to meet his wife
> there. He always met his wife outside M&S, wherever they went on holiday. I
> don't know if that lead to marital breakup though.
It will probably be a BHS soon anyhow if Philip Green has his way...
Dave
> In Aberystwyth was asked for directions to Marks and Spencer, the
> almost-ubiquitous British shop. Told the man that there wasn't one in
> Aberystwyth, and he got quite distressed. He'd arranged to meet his wife
> there. He always met his wife outside M&S, wherever they went on holiday. I
> don't know if that lead to marital breakup though.
It will probably be a BHS soon anyhow if Philip Green has his way...
Dave
Jul 8th 2004, 3:15 pm
#15
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Worst Guidebook Error
>>A fascinating example, for those with an interest in naval history, is the
>>report by Lt Battersby, RN, on his four days spent as liaison officer on
>>board RN Vittorio Veneto in September 1943, available on the website
>>www.regiamarina.net . Lt Battersby on several occasions manages to mis-spell
>>the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
>>complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
>>officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
The complement of what? ;-)
>>report by Lt Battersby, RN, on his four days spent as liaison officer on
>>board RN Vittorio Veneto in September 1943, available on the website
>>www.regiamarina.net . Lt Battersby on several occasions manages to mis-spell
>>the name of the vessel on which he was sailing. (The webmaster returns the
>>complement in the Italian translation of his report by recording the gallant
>>officer as "Liutenant, Royal Nay".)
The complement of what? ;-)