[bin sleepin]

Should i buy the 2001 LP to South India or the 2003 Rough guide? The LP is a little old, me thinks.
Or should i just pick up either in India?
Thanks.......

[kiwi_razz]

Well, I travel with the LP and it does well for me. The prices are a little off but not by that much.

Up to you really, but I am a confirmed LP-aholic and wouldn't dream of using a different guide book.

[vishant]

I think a lonely planet isnt a good idea at all... the places they say are 'pristine" were that 10 years ago.... the scene has changed dramatically in the end 90s...

I suggest u come to India and then buy a set of "Outlook Getaway" guides... do not mistake it with the Outlook Traveller monthly magazines (they make a good read though)

This is a set of guides:

52 weekend getaways from Delhi
52 weekend getaways from Mumbai
52 weekend getaways from Bangalore
75 getaways in the Hills

and i guess there are a couple of recent additions to it... the price of all put together should be a little more than the loney planet... its well worth it though... u cud plan ur trip according to the nearest city u are in and the information is updated and accurate

[Karma Queen]

if it's your first time in india i'd recommend going with a foreign guide book such as lonely planet (another LPaholic here)

[nomadelmundo]

LP is the way to go, and get the other info off of this great site!
will

[Wanderratte]

Personally, I like the Rough Guide better. It is more critical than the LP is. But if you know how to read the LP between the lines, it's also a helpful guide book. I found it always helpful in determining where I did NOT want to go.

[goangoangone]

I've just got Footprint and it's looking good. I'll let you know

[UltraViolet]

I normally buy LP's for travelling but I have just got back from eastern europe and the information was rubbish, so my relationship with that guide is a bit rocky at the moment. I dont know what the footprint guide to India is like, but I used one in Australia and it was spot on, really honest, much better than LP. I think i am just a creature of habit and thats why I use them, i know the limitations.

[Eduardo]

I think monopolies are a bad thing. Does anyone agree with me that Lonely Planet's dominance of guide books genre is not healthy in that it marshals tens of thousands of people to the same tourist sites? i feel it is very patronising and talks to us like we are stupid and i find it irritating how they tell us to respect the locals- as if we don't know. There seems to be an LP culture that has developed and that sometimes they are (I guess unavoidably) inaccurate. I have read a lot of them over the years. I saw people many times walking around reading the damn thing instead of looking around the place they are visiting. Has anyone deliberately gone somewhere to experience a place without referring to LP? i always get the feeling they have been everywhere before me and that there is nothing to discover for myself. Nowadays I buy other guidebooks even if they don't seem so all-encompassing. This is an expression of a general impalpable unease about LP.
Its the monopoly that disturbs me. ie the fact that people follow it like holy scripture and the sheer number of people acting like lemmings and following its advice. Of course many will jump to its defence because a lot of people are very attached to it. Sometimes LP's presumptuousness and its value judgements are breath-taking. Once LP recommends a location it destroys it. Also it seems like a big multinational and takes the fun out of travelling. Please don't abuse me for expressing this heresy. Hey I could be completely wrong- but few seem to be expressing reservations about Lonely Planet. It is one of the reasons I like this website- it is unconnected to LP and provides alternative info. Thanks for reading this and please be tolerant of this viewpoint- its only my humble half-baked (probably) opinion

[edwardseco]

What monopoly? There are 4 other major contendors (counting that Harvard preppie thing) and several up and coming efforts (National Geographic, etc.)..

[Eduardo]

In reality- in effect its a monopoly in the sense that it overwhelmingly dominant- by far the majority of travellers use it. Not being a complete simpleton I realise it is technically not a monopoly. Through its utter dominance, it has I contend, a similar negative effect. Of course there are other guidebooks- I realise that. Monopoy is a loosely applied word- most would understand that it is not used literally.

[Merchant]

We've discussed the LP at length fairly recently. Some of those threads may interest you, if you do a quick search.

[Dennis-M]

Originally Posted by Eduardo

In reality- in effect its a monopoly in the sense that it overwhelmingly dominant- by far the majority of travellers use it. Not being a complete simpleton I realise it is technically not a monopoly. Through its utter dominance, it has I contend, a similar negative effect. Of course there are other guidebooks- I realise that. Monopoy is a loosely applied word- most would understand that it is not used literally.

The lonely Planet seems to attract rather negative responses now and then ,maybe it's just that they are the biggest. it's for sure not Monopoly, people choose the book , it's not like there is no other choice and Lonely planet is doing things to stop the competition, people choose LP.

As for the so called must see tourist attractions , the book did not find them for me , I skipped TAJ ,felt free to go to kashmir, but did not.

For the amount of wisdom it carries the book should be around 20Gram instead of a kilo

[vistet]

[quote=edwardseco(counting that Harvard preppie thing) [/QUOTE]

?? ?

[ColinT]

I am aware of the role of LP on the travel circuit. There are some good and bad things about their guides but they should only serve to "guide" and not be the definitive take on travel. Maybe its a lot to do with unimaginitive travellers... http://www.indiamike.com/india/article.php?a=35