Rough Guide or Lonely Planet? Here's the answer!

jonnybardo

Before I cast off almost two months ago, I was trying to decide whether to buy and bring the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet guide to India, the two main 'alternative' choices. Anyways, I ended up with the Rough Guide and was reasonably satisfied...but then a few weeks ago while browsing in Premier Books in Bangalore, I picked up a copy of LP (for 800 rupees, not bad) because I felt that it had elements that the Rough Guide lacked. Of course now I have two massive bibles to tote around with me, but thankfully my wife can carry one!

My simple recommendation is this:

For the 'armchair traveller', the Rough Guide is a superior book (imo): the essays and descriptions are longer and more in-depth, as well as more opinionated (in a good way). However, for actual travel, I have found the Lonely Planet to be slightly more useful: they have numerous little handy things that the Rough Guide unfortunately lacks, like population figures for towns, measurement translations (e.g. celsius to fahrenheit), more detailed maps and superior layout.

Overall I like the Rough Guide better as reading material but find the Lonely Planet to be a superior travel utility.

Now this is based on the older edition of the RG--the new one comes out this month--so I am not sure if they have improved their book in any of these ways. I was actually thinking of writing them and telling them that while I prefer their writing and the tone of their book, as a travel utility the Lonely Planet is a superior tome, for the reasons stated. Maybe after I check the new edition so that they can customize the next one to my liking...

Stoi

Anyone got any opinions on the 'Lets Go India and Nepal' guide. Got last years copy for £3 new the other day so was pleased with that, but would i be better off investing in the LP one as suggested by jonnybardo?

Stoi

-m2-

I've never looked at the 'Lets Go' guides, but I think any of the 3 major guide books will be 'good enough' and since you already have a recent copy of one, you might as well stick with it. Most of the travellers you will meet will be lugging the LP and you will easily be able to borrow one occasionally if you with to check out anything in particular and add a note or two.

I have had a chance to look through an old Rough Guide left behind at a guesthouse and I share jonnybardo's observations. My problem with the LP is the bulk and weight of the full India book. I think for anyone planning to visit only the south, the South India LP is a better bet as it has better detail and is about half the size. I haven't used the North India version, but suspect the same would be true for someone visiting only the northern areas.

For a north to south trip a few years ago, I sliced the appropriate chapters out of an old LP and bound them in a school-type binder so I had all the essentials at 1/4 the weight and bulk. Basically, an older issue is amost as useful as a new one -- you can never count on price information anyway and the train and bus info in general is fairly stable over time as is the information on attractions etc.

Just a personal opinion of course, perhaps you can borrow an LP or find one at your library and check it out for yourself.

m2

rab

I would choose the LP for every trip, every country, every time!

Was once travelling through Southern Spain using the Rough Guide. RG said to avoid Antequera as it is dull and boring with nothing to do or see. As I was hitch hiking I ended up getting a lift there and it turned out to be an absolutely beautiful Andalucian town with lots to do and see and plenty of cheap places to stay.

I have never bought a Rough Guide since.

fat freddy's cat

I decided to try the footprint guide which was ok and good for maps and stuff but it hadn't benn updated properly.