Guide books: is up-to-date important?

jonnybardo

While I already own the latest edition of Rough Guide's India (4th, 2001), I'm still unsure about whether it is the best book to bring, especially considering that the new Lonely Planet India comes out this month (10th, Aug/2003 in the US), and the 5th edition of the RG doesn't come out until December (2003). So my question is, for people who have bought multiple editions of guide books, how much is changed in the new editions? Is it mostly just price updates? In other words, is it worth dropping $20+ on the new Lonely Planet? How much changes in two years?

I tend to fret about these things, for some reason, even though in the end I realize that it doesn't matter all that much and that no guide book should be regarded as gospel.

wonderwomanusa

I would hope (but haven't seen it yet) that the new LP will have more about ATMs and cybercafes, more e-mail addresses for booking hotels, etc.

Other than that, yes, I suspect there are lots of updated prices.

I've called a downtown SF bookstore a couple of times and the book is still not in... must be the END of August that it's due.

__________________
The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

jonnybardo

The British version is August 22nd, as far as Amazon UK says, although who knows if that is accurate. I'll check it out if I see it, though. I've been buying my books through overstock.com for 40% off, and I used to work for Powells in Portland, so it would be awfully difficult for me to want to pay full price for it

wonderwomanusa

I have a client who works for Stacy's in downtown SF; I'll ask him to get it for me with his discount -- which is larger than the 10% they give regular customers.

Shall I try for two?

jonnybardo

Thanks for the offer, but don't worry about it. I'm actually going back up through Portland in a few weeks (we fly out of Seattle, near which my sister-in-law lives, who is taking care of our kitties) and I still have friends at Powells who can "hook me up." (Sounds sinister)

wonderwomanusa

Not sinister at all when you always know folks who work in bookstores -- a very important class of friends to cultivate!

luderick

I have been comparing the new (2003) LP with the 1996 version it does have a few e-mail address's and a bit of info on ATM's, the maps have also inproved marginally but overall I wouldn't recommend the new version.
I find that the prices a not really very relivant I use the prices more for a comparision and a rough guide anyway

Save you money

Watson

My Girlfriend and myself are taking the LP-India guide from 2001 this year with us. I guess it all depends on how often you have been to India and how comfortable you feel in swinging it without total up-to-date info. The attractions haven’t changed and we all know that prices go up.

KAM

Has anyone used the Blue Guide Southern India? I have been impressed with other Blue Guides (namely Egypt) but haven't read the India version yet. I think the latest edition is 1998 but it matters less since its strength is not in practical info but in cultural/history background.

jonnybardo

I'm probably just going to "stick it out" with Rough Guide. I spent some time in the San Francisco and Berkeley today and browsed some of the other books, and probably like the Rough Guide the best (it has the most info on yoga, meditation etc, among other reasons).

By the way wonderwomanusa if you are reading this, I saw the new edition of the LP India at a travel shop in Berkeley (around Shattuck and Rose?) called Easy Going.

IainC

Last Christmas, I went to India and Bangladesh WITHOUT a guide book, and it is a very liberating experience! I did sort of know where I was going, what I was doing and where I would be staying. But all the same it was great fun and an educating experience, and I took great pleasure in giving directions to other tourists that were standing on street corners in Calcutta with a guide book in their hands trying to orientate their maps.

wonderwomanusa

Thanks, Jonnybardo, I reserved a copy at Stacey's -- should be in any day now.

-m2-

jonny: good idea. As a new to India traveller, it is good to have a guide book particularly before the trip to get some ideas and form some general outline of what you want to do. the hotel, restaurant, and price stuff always changes but is always sort of relative -- the important stuff is timeless -- even things like rr schedules and bus frequency change little from year to year. The best info on a lot of things will come from the people you meet along the way and whose experiences are really up-to-date and you can evaluate your source. a place like indiamike is a good resource as well as you can check out ideas with people who may have experienced or are familiar with a place or a situation.

Since you're keeping the older book, here's another old hand's tip. Slice the states you will be visiting out of the book with a razor blade. check to see what other sections of the book might be useful and slit them out too. staple together and punch 2 holes that will line up with those of a cheap folder (usually they are 3 hole, so you just use two holes and trim the excess with scissors), and *whall-ah*, you have the essenials for about 1/4 the weight.

m2

jonnybardo

ha ha, m2--actually, Rough Guide suggested something very similar, although the other way around (cutting out the parts you don't need and keeping the rest).

This forum has been mucho helpful and no doubt will continue to be so during my trip. Now I just gotta figure out where I'm staying in Bombay when I arrive...

jonnybardo

IainC, yeah I hear ya. I see the guide book as more of a general orientation and a backup, secondary even...but a helpful friend to have.