Reviews (10)

6th edition 3.5 stars... time for update, guys
I'm a Lonely Planet addict who knew better than to blindly buy this edition (if you order one now -6th edition, as I did, you'll get 2003 info), but addicts usually are not known for using their heads.
You can take it with you
I've used LP before for trips.Once you get the book, you are invited to go on-line for up-dates.There you are directed to "The Thorn Tree" forum.I used it just about every day to keep well-informed and prepare for the trip.The guide is an easy ready and full of useful information.Prior uses were very accurate.

Solid Travel Reference
Many travelers depend on LONELY PLANET travel guides, and usually with good reason.I used this very practical travel guide during my summer (2005) visit to the affordable and thoroughly enchanting nation of Ecuador.This edition contains much valuable information on budget hotels, travel hostels, local customs and fauna.Just as importantly, there's the vital information on getting to and from cities, resort areas, train stations, bus stations, airports, city centers, etc.
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Subjects:  1. South America    2. Special Interest - Adventure    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Ecuador    7. Galapagos Islands    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (6)

Great place to start learning about the restaurant/ bar industry
This book is full packed with information. It is a great 1st book for anyone serious about the restaurant/ bar industry. It has lots of useful tips, and is broken up into logical chapters for easy reference.

Extremely Informative, but out of date
This book was first published in 1986, with the 2nd edition coming out in 1993. I bought and read this book in 2005. I found it very informative with great ideas for running a bar. More importantly, it goes into detail on how to write a business plan, partnerships, investors and etc. Basically all the 'business' stuff that goes behind opening and running a bar. Despite the book being old, the basics are all in there and will work today. However I also feel that in today's world, there are other things that the book does not implement. Things like the internet and wider use of PCs, which I think has greatly altered the way busineses work.

This is an excellent resource for newbies AND veterans.
Just don't look at the cover (the cheeziest cover I think I've ever seen on a book; I literally had to tear mine off to avoid laughing or having any of its "uncoolness" rub off on me).Read more

Subjects:  1. Bartending    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Entrepreneurship    6. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    7. Business & Economics / Entrepreneurship    8. Restaurant & pub guides    9. Small businesses & self-employed   

Editorial Review

From the assassination that triggered World War I to the ethnic warfare now sweeping Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia, the Balkans have been the crucible of the twentieth century, the place where terrorism and genocide first became tools of policy. Read more

Reviews (106)

A Thick Description of the Balkan Landscape
Having read "Balkan Ghosts" after "Imperial Grunts," the experience of reading this book was disconcerting."Imperial Grunts" tells of the present and is much faster-moving with only enough historical background beginning each chapter, to bring the reader up to pace with events in Columbia, the Philippines, Yemen, etc.
Fascinating Corner of the World
I was very intruiged by Balkan Europe and wanted to learn more. This book, while a travelogue, was also a great historical primer. I've had several friends who've also been very impressed with it.
Best snapshot of Balkan history available
I bought this book because I needed a crash course in Balkan history.I am married to a Macedonian and we were getting ready to visit together for the first time.
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Subjects:  1. 1952-    2. Balkan Peninsula    3. Description and travel    4. Eastern Europe - Balkan Republics    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Europe - Eastern    7. General    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Kaplan, Robert D.,    12. Travel   

Reviews (15)

richcontent,easy to read
The Sumerians is a very interesting book about ancient Mesopotamia andSumerian civilisation.
The best source of information on Sumeria
This is one of the best books ever written on any ancient culture. One of the nicest things is extended passages from original source documents. Frequently books written on ancient civilizations only give very brief excerpts. I have given this book as a gift to friends and family and highly recommend it to everyone.

Please take caution with one of the reviews
Do not bother with the nazist review you will find below. L.A. Waddell was a crackpot with no formal training in Assiriology, and a typical old-fashioned german anti-semite, full of aryan theories and praise for ''the great white warriors''. It's very disturbing for a foreigner to see how anti-semitism has poured into almost all fields of learning - even Ancient Near-East studies. And his rather demented theories have been dead for decades, by the way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. General    4. Sociology    5. Sumerians    6. Middle & Near Eastern archaeology    7. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    8. World history: BCE to c 500 CE   

Reviews (5)

Wouldnt recommend...
My bf and I recently went on a two week trip to Morocco and took along this book. I have to say, the maps were horrible, we got lost so many times trying to follow the maps and had to constantly ask locals to guide us. We also discovered that the book didnt mention that you need reservations in pretty much every riad and the majority of hotels you want to stay at. Also, make sure you get the most recent edition... a few places listed were closed and had been for some time.
It Just Helps Me Live
I know of no other book that assists in living overseas as well as Lonely Planet.There are other guidebooks out there, and they have their own attributes, but I'm familiar with the Lonely Planet system, and it seems to be far more diverse in the countries covered than any other travel collection.And living in Morocco as I do, I particularly enjoy the Moroccan edition.
itm
Rather stereotyped cultural comments which are not particularly accurate. Having seen the DK Guide to Morocco since, wish I had bought that instead. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Morocco    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (23)

I actually give this book 10 stars...**********
This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone planning a trip to Walt Disney World.It is jam-packed full of all the important information you need to plan your trip.The book has an extensive list of all the WDW resorts including maps of the resort, ratings, cost, a blueprint of the room layout, and a million other little details.The book also has a wonderful list of all the WDW restaurants; including those in the parks and at each resort.The restaurant guide is extremely comprehenisve and helpful when making any advanced dinner reservations.Of course there is also a TON of information on each of the four parks; including comprehensive, easy to read and helpful maps, touring guides, time tables, etc.You name it - this book has it.
WDW Novices Rejoice!
As a novice in the realm of WDW visitors, I have been planning a trip to visit WDW for Halloween.I found this book to be a terrific guide.This edition of the book is spiral bound and has fold-out maps of each of the 4 parks and a review of each ride.Also invaluable are the guides to the restaurants (sit-down as well as counter service) as well as tips to help you get through the trip without killing your traveling companion out of frustration.The book is well written and lovingly researched by Disney vacationers.The spiral binding makes it easier to open and the packing list is invaluable.Anyone who wants to visit the Kingdom of the Mouse, this book will be quite helpful in getting the most enjoyment out of your travel budget.

An excellent guide book
I recently added this to my collection of Disney Guidebooks and find it extremely helpful. The actual trip planning tools are great, especially the maps and daily planning sheets and pockets. Pair it up with the Unoffical Guide and you've got everything you need to plan a succesful trip. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    2. Travel    3. Travel - United States    4. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)    5. United States - South Atlantic - Florida    6. Travel / United States / South / South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)   

Reviews (7)

Cool stuff!
We had this book at school. The teacher used it for our history class and it was really good. He said it was good history guide, but it also had interesting facts. I really loved the photographs. My Grandpa lived in Los Angeles then. My Dad bought him this book and he said it was the best book he'd seen on Los Angeles history.

Los Angeles History for Tourists Only
I was given this book by a friend when we were in a Hollywood book store because he thought this was a book all about Hollywood. He then went back and bought me Rosemary Lords "Hollywood Then and Now". The error because the cover of the Los Angeles book has a photo of the Chinese theater in Hollywood on the cover. This book, side by side with the Hollywood book is not very different in content. In fact, it contains some of the same locations as the Hollywood book. Too many then and now photos basically the same
Of the 69 Then and Now photos, 30 were basically the same becauseRead more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Los Angeles (Calif.)    3. Pictorial works    4. Pictorials    5. Travel    6. Travel - United States    7. United States - State & Local - General    8. Sale Books   

Reviews (113)

History is fun!
A look at the history of U.S. presidential assassinations.Part history, part comic commentary, Ms. Vowell extensively documents her visits to sites (official or not) associated with these events.The history of the assassinations alone is interesting and details are often overlooked (or not looked at at all - e.g., Garfield, McKinley) when these events are presented / captured in popular forums.It is a quick read that will shed light on and insight into these assassinations that you never considered before.

I will buy this book from you if you don't like it
I read this book aloud to 5 pre- and teenagers on a grueling road trip down south over Easter. Not only did it hold their attention the entire time it was an incredible coincidence to pass an important site in the book at the EXACT time we were reading about the capture of John Wilkes Boothe. Because of the author's exacting description we were able to arrive at the exact site she describes in such detail and VOILA, nearly living history. (Of course, being uncouth Northerners we allowed our dog to pee on the shrine in question and one child left eggs from his Easter basket on the marker).This book compelled me to read three or four more books about Lincoln, Booth and assorted others Vowell writes about. She captures history in such a remarkably approachable manner, I've since bought copies for every history teacher in our school district. Every American should read this book and even if you think you know about our first assassinations, you will learn something, and laugh while learning it. Spectacular.

Move over Bill Bryson, there's stiff competition
Assassination Vacation is one of the best books I've read this Summer. Ms Vowell should take up teaching American history. Her brilliant and expert knowledge of her subjects (normally written about in stententious and serious tones given the subject matter) is quite impressive. But, it is the wit and humor and unusual angle of expression and personal observations that is the most captivating. I was amazed to learn so much more about the Lincoln assassination and conspirators (despite more than 35 years of reading and research on the subject) and view it from a different and less reverent angle. But even more, I was entranced by the Garfield and McKinley coverage - which added huge amounts of information to my very limited knowledge of either of these presidents or their assassins and the events surrounding them. Garfield came off so much better than I ever knew - which was very little. And his hilarious "disappointed office seeker" far more ambitious (Ambassador to France?) and political (Stalwart for Grant) than I ever knew. Don't know how one can make an account of assassinations hilariously funny? Read this book - and don't assume that it isn't historically accurate, because it is. This one is a real keeper and I am thinking of buying it on tape - just so I can listen to it while stuck in traffic, so that fellow travellers can see someone who is having fun while in the midst of DC rush hours.Have fun with this book and share it with everyone you know who loves history and has a good sense of humor. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Assassination    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Homes and haunts    7. Murder - General    8. Presidents    9. Presidents & Heads of State    10. Special Interest - General    11. Topic - Political    12. Travel - General    13. U.S. President    14. United States    15. United States - General    16. Biography & Autobiography / Presidents    17. Crime & criminology    18. Travel writing    19. USA   

Subjects:  1. Europe - General    2. Europe - Western    3. Museums, Tours, Points of Interest    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides    7. Europe    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Europe / General   

Reviews (4)

Never To Be Forgotten
There have been numerous books published which present exhaustive overviews of New York City and environs, but "Forgotten New York" is the first to focus exclusively on the vanishing details which once defined the metropolitan area. So much of the larger urban picture is made up of small but significant specifics -- street furniture, architectural subtleties, physical or geographical characteristics of particular neighborhoods -- that when they begin to disappear, the entire fabric of the neighborhood, and the larger urban area, are affected. Kevin Walsh has spent a lifetime defining, finding, and chronicling these elements, and "Forgotten New York" is devoted to remembering them, in the interest of understanding the continuum of the larger picture via its changing landscape.
A Bird's Eye View Of Forgotten Places
I agree with the comment "Whirlwind Tours." The book covers tons of neighborhoods throughout all of NYC but simplistically. It's a wonderful book if viewed merely as a sampling of forgotten places. Perhaps Kevin can follow this book up with more detailed books on each borough: Forgotten Manhattan; Forgotten Queens, etc. After being introduced to in-depth coverage of forgotten places throughout the city on Kevin's website, I was a little disappointed with this cursory exploration.
A Real Guide to New York for the Native New Yorker
Most NYC guidebooks out there are heavy on Manhattan, light on Brooklyn, and ignore the other three boroughs of this city completely.Kevin Walsh has managed to write a guide that includes the entire city, is entertaining, and will appeal to people who were born and raised in New York as well as those who are just visiting.It will open your eyes to the past of the city around you - and things that are often ignored, neglected or taken for granted.A definite must have book for the NYC native! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Description And Travel    2. Historic buildings    3. Historic sites    4. Historical Geography    5. History - General    6. History - U.S.    7. New York    8. New York (State)    9. Pictorial works    10. Travel    11. Travel - United States    12. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    13. United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic    14. American history    15. Places & peoples: general interest    16. Travel / United States / Northeast / Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA)   

Reviews (8)

Rick's advice and judgments are helpful
We have just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in Spain and Portugal, using the Rick Steves 2006 guides to those two countries.We also carried the Michelin Green Guide, and this was a good complementary pair.We appreciated the fact that Rick tells the reader: this museum is boring, another museum is underrated and worth visiting, the Costa del Sol is gridlock, etc. - in other words, he makes judgments and offers frank advice where other guidebooks are politely descriptive.Michelin has more detail and lists more places but makes fewer judgments.
Bundle with Party Spain
What a great guide. Rick Steve's told me so many chill, off the beaten path things to do in Spain and then I picked up my Party Spain guidebook and had the most fun and social days and nights. What a great combination of books.
Steves' Spain- not the color one!
I was disappointed with this order. I had previously borrowed this book from a friend and loved it. It was most helpful while in Spain.However, I was surprised [and felt fooled] that THIS version has almost none of the glossy color photos that another seemingly same edition had.Misleading description. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Spain & Portugal    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Spain    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Europe / Spain & Portugal   

Reviews (6)

I recommend this guide only as a complement to the "Top 10 New York" guide, or other small guide like that...
I recently visited NYC for the first time. I took only three books about that city with me: this guide, the "Top 10 New York" guide, and "The Metropolitan Museum of Art Guide". I must say that the "Lonely planet NYC Guide" was not my favourite, though.
Pretty Good
I liked the combination of facts and opinions.Interesting suggestions.Good walking tours.Good color maps.

Great guide, BAD index
What makes this a great guide is the fact that the listings for attractions/ shops / etc all have map numbers, which makes them very easy to find on the book's maps.Also, the maps have their own little mini tables of attractions.So, it's easy find where to go (if you are looking for something in particular) or what's around you (if you're already there).Unfortunately, the index is sorely lacking.Suppose you want to go for a horse-drawn carriage ride in Central Park, and you want to know where to find the carriages.You will not find out through the index.There is no mention of them under "Central Park."There is no listing for "carriages" nor "carriage rides" and the listing for "horse-drawn carriages" is about the ones in Philadelphia.Luckily, there actually is an extensive paragraph telling you all you need to know about this, and it is in the book's description of Central Park (which makes sense).But you wouldn't know by looking at the index.So, if you're planning a trip to N.Y., and you don't see a particular attraction in the index, do some research on the web, find out where it's supposed to be, and then turn to the section on that particular neighborhood in the book.Maybe you'll find it there.Use a highlighter to mark the page. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Travel - United States    3. Travel Guides - U.S.    4. United States - Mid Atlantic - New York City    5. United States - Northeast - Middle Atlantic (General)    6. New York    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (3)

Make the Most of Your Trip
I prefer guidebooks that aren't just mammoth listings of everything (hotels, restaurants, sights).This compact book hits the target with its highlights and its walking tours.
Surprising gem of a guide book
This guide book was a last-minute impulse buy before we headed off on our 10 day trip to France.We surprised ourselves by using it almost exclusively to navigate around this wonderful region of France.Short 'n sweet descriptions of all noteworthy towns in the region helped tremendously with deciding where to head next.We used the walking tours in Aix-En-Provence, Avignon, and Arles, and felt them invaluble in getting the most out of our time in each city on our brief trip.We also visited many of the tiny scenic villages recommended in the book."Provence Made Easy" is accurate, well-written, concise, and fun to read.(Fits in your pocket!)We also had Lonely Planet Provence with us and ended up using it almost exclusively (and seldom) for accommodation and restaurant information.For trip shaping, this small, handy book was it.We used this book in conjunction with "Walking In Provence" by Janette Norton and felt that together these two books offered us a unique, authentic view of the region.We wished we had Andy's book "Paris Made Easy" when we arrived there for the last two days of our trip!Thanks, Andy!

The Best Sights and Walks of Provence and the French Riviera
This handy pocket guide to the best sights and walks of Provence is all you need to make your visit fun, memorable, and easy. Inside you'll find short opinionated descriptions of both well-known and off-the-beaten-path sights; detailed walking tours with street-by-street descriptions; and great outdoor markets - plus a travel-planning section to help you arrange your trip!
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Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. France    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Europe / France   

Editorial Review

The first thing you should know about Fielding's Read more

Reviews (98)

The World's Most Dangerous Book
It took about five months, but I read all thousand pages of The World's Most Dangerous Places, known to its fans as DP. The book is a breezily written cyclopedia of what can go wrong and where as you travel the world.
Great
I recently finished reading the 5th Edition of DP, and was amazed.Pelton's travel tips offer a wealth of uncommon "common sense" and his tongue-in-cheek humour, rather than make light of the difficulties and suffering experienced by people in warzones, adds a strange touch of realism and illustrates the true absurdity of some situations.A must read for anybody traveling outside of the first world, or any of those folks who are afraid to leave the house in Canada or the United States.

Danger!Danger!Danger
If you are one of those poor guys who live by according to what you're told then this book is for you. Threat to national security, threat of sharks, threat of food, threat of turtles, threat of....
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Subjects:  1. Reference - General    2. Reference - Guides (General)    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Travel    5. Travel - General    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Adventure   

Reviews (4)

motivation for a boomer to move
If I do one of these glorious hikes each year I'll be .....78???? when I get done...guess I better start with the hard ones. Definitely a motivator to get out and see this wonderful world we live in. All the info and great pics make it easy to do so.

bestof the best hikes
A great book to get you really motivated to go off and adventure.I gave it to my neighbor and have not seen it for a month.That says it all because they have been to lots of great places and they were mildly interested in it when I offered it to them.Worth every penny.

Great Book !
I will skip the debate about which hikes are the world's greatest, and greatly admire this book as a current, concise and nicely illustrated presentation.Potterfield lays it out as clearly as a trail guide and attractively as a travel agent.But most of all, these are all hikes he has made. Very professional and personal.
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Subjects:  1. General    2. Guidebooks    3. Hiking    4. Special Interest - Adventure    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Active outdoor pursuits    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (5)

Army Corps Of Engineers camp ground Modoc, SC
Just returned to Florida from three days at Modoc,SC Strom Thurman Lake and Dam. The Campground was everything the guide said it was. We were more than pleased and no complaints. We look forward to utilizing the guide again and hopefully soon...

Happy Rving
its a nice book it will help find our camp sites
Gold mine
This book really is awesome. Sure it doesn't list every campground out there, but the book is already the size of a major city's phone book, so it lists the best ones. I love the rating system because it gives each campground separate 1-5 star ratings whether camping with a tent or in an RV. Extraordinary detail and excellent tips, but so far I haven't seen any altitudes given, which would have been useful.
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Subjects:  1. Automobile travel    2. Camp sites, facilities, etc.    3. Camping    4. Guidebooks    5. Parks & Campgrounds    6. Recreational vehicle living    7. Travel    8. Travel - General    9. Travel Guides - U.S.    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    13. Travel / Parks & Campgrounds    14. USA   

Reviews (4)

Great Guide...scavenger hunt idea and book for kids was great suggestion!!
We just returned from a trip to Venice and found Rick Steve's Venice 2006 book extremely helpful in navigating the city.We also took his advice regarding traveling with children (we have [...]) and used a scavenger hunt idea to keep them interested.We bought a kids book called "TREASURE HUNT VENICE" which was the ideal scavenger hunt for the kids to do.It truly was a perfect match in that the adults used the Rick Steve's book and the kids used the TREASURE HUNT VENICE book.

Buy it, read it, love it!
This book has become so hugely popular and successful there are no real secrets anymore. Booking recommended hotels is nearly impossible. Recommended eating establishments are usually crowded with Rick's book toting tourists, and I think this may even be now available in other languages.
The Only Book You Need For Venice
If you're going to Venice BUY THIS BOOK.It's the only one you'll need.I promise you. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Europe - Italy    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Italy    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Europe / Italy   

Subjects:  1. Dance    2. Photo Techniques    3. Photography    4. Pictorials    5. Subjects & Themes - Travel - General    6. Subjects & Themes - Travel - U.S./General   

Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. European    4. Sicily    5. Travel & holiday guides   

Editorial Review

No matter what the actual temperature may be, several pages into