Which is your favorite guide book?

Jeroen

I'm not one for travel without a guidebook - it can help you plan, steer away from things you're not interested in, and can help suggest sleep/eat options if you're not bothered/too tired to search. I'm someone who never can have enough information. Especially now on my first trip to India I'm enjoying reading the book - beforehand, I knew nothing about the place.

Rough Guide is the one for me - I find LP listing too much detail on price and other fast-changing irrelevancies, where RG focuses on content. (I admit that I wrote for RG last year - but that doesn't colour my opinion).
Compare the write-up of a small town between the two - LP will use a lot of space to describe exactly what price everything is. Just read one of the many travelogues (lik Adverse Camber) and you'll see the result: "the guidebook was worng again"/"It was more expensive than listed" etc. With Rough Guides, who use approximate price range symbols, there's less numbers in the texts, and more content.
It also seems to cater to a slightly older audience, and lists different places from the LP, which may make a difference for the famed trodden LP trail.
I also found that RG goes on describing a place where LP stops. Often with LP I'm left with questions, that RG goes on to answer.
Finally, for about the same price, the RG India has 400 pages more.

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jayembee

agree with travelmore - a guide book is a "guide" only. they should be read to get a "feel" for a place, but not followed slavishly.

good to have the maps, an idea where the banks are (especially if you arrive shortly before closing), and as others have mentioned - good to know the budget hotel areas to meet up with other travellers.

one more point - we shouldn't forget here how useful guidebooks are for first time visitors. we have all read of travellers who are about to pitch up in mumbai or delhi and are panic striken at the thought.

Dr Funkenstein

I much prefer 'Rough Guide' to 'Lonely Planet'.

I've used both in various parts of SE Asia and found the RG to be streets ahead of LP in terms of accuracy, historical / political contexts to name but two.

A couple of examples: The LP guide to Viet Nam gives (imo, of course) a way over-the-top description of possible hassles you might have around theCambodian border (bandits, general lawlessness etc). I motorbiked around there for 3 weeks and found the place to be as friendly as anywhere I've ever been. No hassle at all.

I also think that the LP contributes to the Western trait of aggressive haggling. You'll often see the LP state 'Pay no more than ... x' and some backpackers stick to this rigidly. Hence the all-too-common sight of a Western backpacker engaged in a long haggle over the equivalent of 30p or something.

I also admire the Rough Guide's stance on Burma / Myanmar. But that's a whole other thread ...

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Dr Funkenstein

One criticism of 'Rough Guide' that I have, though, is that their maps are nigh-on useless.

Apart from that, I like 'em.

e101g

I am surprized by the absense of DK in this thread.
I have read the Rough Guide and Lonely Planet.
These two dont even come close to what DK provides.
Tons of pictures.

villavic

I have not voted, since I alwys used Frommers books. However I have read very good comments about Lonely Planet (and I got the beautiful screensaver).

About India, I got the Eyewitness travel guide (fortunately in spanish)

I really recommend it!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

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typhoidshaun

I agree that DK has a lot of great photos, and I also like the maps! It doesn't have quite as much information as lonely planet, for example, but I've always liked picture more than words.

wonderwomanusa

I dunno... while in India over the winter, I met a gal who is updating the Frommer India book. She had such an incredibly closed mind that I can't imagine using her experiences for a guide. Example: she refuses to go to Calcutta because her Gujerati friends in New York City told her it was a terrible place.

vistet

I am surprised by their existence . Maybe (probably) I am under lowest sustainable level of caffeine at this hour , but I have no idea what DK means .

rickshawwallah

Dorling Kindersley, who publish striking and graphics-rich titles on a myriad of subjects.

I think they entered the guidebook game quite recently.

Dr Funkenstein

The 'Health' section in 'Rough Guide' deserves a mention.

I've just used it to diagnose and cure myself of bacillic dysentery. Their advice was spot on.

indiawise

If the LP let me I could edit and their Gujarat and Diu section to 'half' the size and improve it to 'twice' its present content value.
Hmmm. thats smug and smart me! But I guess that I know this area good and probably this would apply to some other sections too when edited by knowledgeable locals?
LP, like the rough guide is a liitle too big and heavy. To me they r both EXCELLENT books and this is not a criticism...just like a good movie tells the story but is all the better just because of good editing.
Footprints is the best for guyjarat/diu and I like their style and packaging plus info. even in the other all India edition.

KarinaM

I used the Knopf guide to Rajahstan to get in the mood beforehand - fabulous pictures, much less corporate than DK and more in - depth descriptions of the various sites. Also liked the Footprint guides - an English book. Quite tart, and very blunt about what's a waste of time, bad value etc (contrast with the American guides in which everyone tries to be nice). Had good shopping recommendations - for example their rec. for a shop selling miniatures in Udaipur was spot on. Always regretted it if I forgot it at the hotel

smida02

The DK Eyewitness travel guide is absolutely the best guidebook I've ever read. Don't leave home without it. It is so comprehensive that it even shows street guides for many towns and detailed pictures of food from every region. It's nice to see pictures and descriptions of what you are eating.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

guerik

As much as I like the idea of never using a guidebook, it would surely make things difficult to arrive for the first time knowing not much but the Taj Mahal?

I used a 1996 Let's Go! India with most of the South India pages missing (which was fine as I was in North India) but there were times I would have loved a spanking new guidebook with the up-to-date information! I found myself borrowing LP from other travellers on a couple of occasions to look for hotels, maps, etc.

I've now invested in the newest India LP- it's taken pride of place on my bedside table as I read parts of it at least 2-3 nights per week