Polls Which country has the most...
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View Poll Results: What is your favourite travel guide?
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Rough guide
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1 |
4.17% |
Lonely Plannet
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9 |
37.50% |
Berlitz
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1 |
4.17% |
Footprints
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0 |
0% |
Fodor
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0 |
0% |
Frommers
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1 |
4.17% |
Time Out
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1 |
4.17% |
other
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7 |
29.17% |
depends on where I go
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4 |
16.67% |
I never use guide books
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0 |
0% |
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10-20-2005, 05:04 AM
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#1
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lover of Germany
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
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I was just curious. I always liked lonely plannets phrase books-I have the German one. I used Berlitz for China but they only covered big places it seemed-at least they did not cover where I was.
Also I am planning a little backpack trip around Brazil/Argentina/where ever so I need some good guide books.
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.
Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.
[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
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10-20-2005, 05:32 AM
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#2
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BONO'S LOVE SLAVE
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Unfortunately, currently not in Sydney
Posts: 1,639
Thanks: 0
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I like Lonely Planet for countries but sometimes get tired of it as EVERYONE has it so you know many places will be popular/frequented by travellers.....
But for cities, I really like the Time Out guides.
For Argentina, I used Lonely Planet and got around just fine. It's actually Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
__________________
Flight to Tokyo: 92,000 yen
Metro to Ginza shopping district: 160 yen
Watching middle-aged Japanese woman dance to U2: priceless
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10-20-2005, 10:59 AM
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#3
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Members
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 120
Thanks: 0
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Problem with guidebooks is that they are already so out of date by the time they go to print...I have gotten used to Word of Mouth which seems to work best for me.
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10-20-2005, 12:11 PM
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#4
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TPunk Recognized
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 942
Thanks: 2
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I'm a big fan of Rick Steves. I know he doesn't concentrate on the backpacker but I love his view of Europe. I also took his advice in buying a couple of different guidebooks and ripping out the parts that I liked from each and I made my own guidebook. Lets Go for hostels and youth stuff, Lonely Planet for general info, and Rick Steves for off the beaten path stuff.
Hope that helps
Jason
__________________
Live life so there is standing room only at your funeral
The beauty of this world will last
Much longer than its men
No need for man to test this fact
Enjoy the view instead----Me(Part of a longer poem)
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10-20-2005, 12:53 PM
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#5
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Minister of Offense
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: San Fran Disco
Posts: 6,528
Thanks: 0
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TimeOut rules. It's young, it's hip, it's constantly updated - and it's got a lot of good "insider" hints in the sidebars, which often prove to be invaluable. But, like U2Fan said, they only do cities, and big ones at that...
Otherwise I like Lonely Planet a LOT, but I don't use them for suggestions of particular places to go, for the whole crowd reason. I find their content to be excellent for general planning and to get a good feel of what to do/not do.
Rough Guides definitely has the spirit, but their content just isn't up to snuff.
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10-20-2005, 02:57 PM
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#6
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T-PUNK VICE ADMIRAL
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA USA
Posts: 1,313
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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Depends on where I go. I have footprints for South America 2006 and it is VERY thorough and being in its 82nd edition means its been around a while. I have read a chunk of it and it looks very good.
Ben when will you be in South America? I am going to Brazil on Jan 11 and returning Apr 5 having made a full circle. If you happen to fall in this category let me know maybe we can meet up somewhere.
I also like Lonely Planet if there is nothing else available. I get all my hostel suggestions off of hostelworld.com since the reviews are plentiful and I can check out real time pricing.
Foo
__________________
"To Alcohol! The cause of--and solution to--all life's problems." -- Homer J. Simpson
"I didn't get to where I am today worrying about how I am going to feel in the morning." -- Ron White (Blue Collar Comedy Tour)
"I was born to lose and destined to fail." -- Mike Ness, Social Distortion
"Eat healthy, exercise daily, die anyway" -- My motto
"Everyone I know, goes away, in the end...I will let you down, I will make you hurt..." -- Johnny Cash (NIN Cover of "Hurt")
I am traveling around the world until I find something that makes me want to stop. I am an aspiring photographer and hope to find whatever it is I am looking for...
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10-21-2005, 01:21 AM
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#7
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***** gear guru
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,299
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
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I search for the bits and pieces I need. Usually skim through a few books and take notes and search the web and ask around
__________________
all that is not given is lost
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10-21-2005, 01:42 AM
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#8
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lover of Germany
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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Quote:
Originally posted by foofiter@Oct 20 2005, 01:57 PM
Ben when will you be in South America? I am going to Brazil on Jan 11 and returning Apr 5 having made a full circle. If you happen to fall in this category let me know maybe we can meet up somewhere.
[snapback]82365[/snapback]
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I am hopinh *touch wood* to be going with a friend arounf Jan/Feb and for about 6 weeks. I will explore Brazil and Argentina but also Chillie and Uruguay. I wanted to see the north but I have been warned about Columbia theres a lot of drug gangs and nasty people. Lets see if we can have a beer together
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.
Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.
[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
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10-21-2005, 07:22 PM
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#9
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Here and there
Posts: 1,633
Thanks: 0
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I do the same as Anthon pretty much. I'll hit the library and check the travel section. Usually they have at least 4 books on any given country or major city. I'll skim through them and copy any super interesting parts (on portion of LP gave awesome advice on camping outside Mexico City near valcanoes). I'll jolt down the cheap hotels/motels/hostels and see if they're still in business. Then I'll make sure the info is still good via the web. The other thing I do is hit up Borders travelogue section and check for any ones from the countries I'm and see if anything interesting is there.
I use Travelpunk for most my info though. Whether the boards or the guides.
__________________
Amber
"If I had a kid I'd f**k it. Then kill it. Then f**k it again." Seattle 2006
blog of travels and such
flickr
Currently located in HAWAII
Been to: Alaska, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, France, Germany, Hawaii, Spain, Switzerland - - also meetups in Chicago, LA, and Seattle
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10-22-2005, 10:56 PM
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#10
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To Smart For Mensa
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 5,585
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
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dude six weeks is not enough time for argentina let alone chile, brazil and Uruguay!
Just a suggestion but I would rethink my itenerary if I were you, I think the other punks that have been there will agree with me....
On another note I took two guide books to brasil with me and only used them for historical info and the map. I ditched them about half-way through and they did me absolutely NO good when I ventured into argentina. I have decided for all future trips to read it in Borders and then go without it. *unless of course I am driving, then the more junk the merrier!
__________________
Adventure needs to be as much about discovering yourself as it is about discovering the world.
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10-23-2005, 02:01 AM
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#11
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lover of Germany
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 4
Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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Think so? Yeah I will rethink. Nothing is really set in stone not even my destinations but after traveling as an ESL teacher I really wanna get out and do some backpacking again and Argentina sounds cool. Of course flights to India are cheap so ya never know!
XPat
__________________
I have been to: Canada, USA, Iceland, Britain, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Poland, Germany, Sardinia, Switzerland, China, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Morocco.
Do to list: [color=blue][color=black] Australia, New Zealand, Austria India and Bolivia.
[color=blue][i][font=Verdana][color=black]"I'm just another stranger lookin' for the promised land"
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10-23-2005, 02:45 AM
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#12
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA
Posts: 3,390
Thanks: 0
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I read a variety of guidebooks, too, checking them out from the local library rather than buying them. And believe or not, the higher end Fodors guidebooks are great for telling you about the sights. Other than that, I also like to read a Lonely Planet, Let's Go or Rough Guide. They're more realistic, and will tell you if something is too touristy, while Fodors will "wax poetic" about it. Still, Fodors DOES do a great job of letting you know what there is to see.
And I read a Footprint guide for Syria and was very impressed...
worldwidemike
__________________
Check out my travel web page at:
Worldwidemike.com
"Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but by the places that take our breath away..."
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10-24-2005, 09:12 PM
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#13
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Last Departure EYW: 2300
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: from a ruck sack and duffle, again...
Posts: 286
Thanks: 0
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Rough Guide preferably, but I'll take Lonely Planet too!
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"Life's about choices, LT." (J. Tyskiewicz)
DON'T DRINK THE WATER. Fish have sex in it.
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10-24-2005, 10:45 PM
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#14
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Members
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: near Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,239
Thanks: 0
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lonely planet is the way to go
im the current high bidder on ebay for Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring 12th ed
__________________
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Danieljh/ <--- pictures of from eastern europe trip
Where ive been: Cộng Hňa Xă Hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt , Preăh Réachéanachâkr Kâmpŭchea, Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Česká republika, Slovenská republika, Magyar Köztársaság, Republika Slovenija, Republika Hrvatska, Bosna i Hercegovina, Republika Srbija, Republika Balgariya, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, România, Rzeczpospolita Polska, Lietuvos Respublika, Latvijas Republika, Eesti Vabariik, Republiken Finland
MY NAME IS
Daniel
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11-25-2005, 12:45 PM
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#15
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workin for the man...
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Toronto.... Canada
Posts: 295
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
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let's go worked well for me...
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Livin' the life... The Working life now!!!
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11-25-2005, 03:00 PM
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#16
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Drifter in the making.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: The Bubble, Ontario
Posts: 2,063
Thanks: 0
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I have to agree that while I've tried many books for my different trips. LET'S GO has always come out on top... it's written by 20 something year olds for 20 something year olds and just seems so perfectly geared to what I'm looking for in travel...
It's very personal I think. <---- I love this guy
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I will not say that your mulberry-trees are dead, but I am afraid they are not alive. ~ Jane Austen in a Letter (1811-05-31)
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11-27-2005, 01:58 PM
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#17
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: From Aussie, but living in Canada for now
Posts: 1,789
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Lonely Planet seems to work well for me, but i only use it for the maps really, and sometimes for the things to do section if i don't know anything about the place i'm in. Word of mouth is definately the best way for choosing what hostel to stay in. I had a rough guide for Mexico and Central America and i have to say that it didn't really do it for me, it was ok, but the LPs that i looked at were far better. I had the South America on a shoe string while i was in Argentina and Brazil and it was perfect, but i did only go to major touristy places, don't know how well it would go for off the beaten track type stuff.
Quote:
I am hopinh *touch wood* to be going with a friend arounf Jan/Feb and for about 6 weeks. I will explore Brazil and Argentina but also Chillie and Uruguay.
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Dude, jake is right, if i was you i would only go to 1 or 2 countries, otherwise you will only get to see the capital cities and main touristy places and miss out on the real experience. But i can't talk, i was in South America for 2 months and went to Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina....but that's why i offer the advice i do, because the only country i really got to know was Peru, no regrets though, just means i will have to go back again
Quote:
I wanted to see the north but I have been warned about Columbia theres a lot of drug gangs and nasty people.
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I have a few friends that have been to Columbia recently, they reckon it was bloody fantastic, one of the safest and niceist places in South America. There's drugs and nasty people everywhere you go in South America, you've just gotta be sensible and there's nothing to worry about.
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11-28-2005, 03:48 AM
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#18
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TPunk Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA
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Quote:
Originally posted by LostFarmboy@Nov 27 2005, 09:58 PM
I have a few friends that have been to Columbia recently, they reckon it was bloody fantastic, one of the safest and niceist places in South America. There's drugs and nasty people everywhere you go in South America, you've just gotta be sensible and there's nothing to worry about.
[snapback]89987[/snapback]
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-- Could be, my friend. I haven't been there, and the thing that is scaring me away is tourists HAVE been targetted and killed there. Plus, the chance for just stumbling into the wrong place at the wrong time down there with an insurgency/drug war going on, seems to increase the risk.
It's just one of those things...everybody makes their own call. My friends are still clucking and shaking their heads over Syria, but after doing research, I found it is really quite safe.
worldwidemike
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Check out my travel web page at:
Worldwidemike.com
"Life is not measured in the number of breaths we take, but by the places that take our breath away..."
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