Lonely Planet Central Asia

Average customer rating:

Have used for uzbekistan and found it useful
Essential guide for anyone coming to Central Asia
Okay, but...
A warning guide.
Truly a travel survival tool in this magnificent region

Lonely Planet Central Asia
Bradley Mayhew , Paul Clammer , and Michael Kohn
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Central Asia Phrasebook: Languages Of The Silk Road (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)
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Lonely Planet Mongolia

ASIN: 1864502967

Book Description

Wander through history in Uzbekistan's Silk Road towns, taste the nomad's life in a Kyrgyz yurtstay, be astonished by the bizarre personality cult of Turkmenistan's president, experience cutting-edge adventure on Tajikistan's soaring peaks and lose yourself in the desertscapes of Kazakhstan. Surreal, fascinating and addictive - discover the 'stans with this insightful and comprehensive guide.

• GET THERE FIRST - brand-new coverage of Afghanistan, open to travellers for the first time in 25 years <BR>• GET AROUND with the help of 80 detailed maps and thorough transport information <BR>• WORK THE BUREAUCRACY like an old hand with our tips on getting visas, crossing borders and handling officials <BR>• HANG WITH THE LOCALS - details on how to access the unique community based tourism network <BR>• GET THE BACKGROUND on the region's intriguing history, politics and culture

Customer Reviews:

Have used for uzbekistan and found it useful.......2006-10-08

I used this guide when traveling in Uzbekistani cities in 2003. I found it very helpful ESPECIALLY THE MAPS.
There were a few comments/inaccuracies that I noted and I called those to the Lonely Planet's attention. Despite this, this is probably the most useful reference for the English speaker -- at least for Uzbekistan. (If traveling in Almaty, I would first recommend the "Almaty Guide Millenium Edition" written by the Almaty International Women's Club.)

Essential guide for anyone coming to Central Asia.......2002-08-27

Take it from an American expat living in Uzbekistan and traveling throughout the region - this is by far the best guide to any place in Central Asia. The authors do a great job of covering all the countries, and they have practical advice on necessary precautions. The general information about the area is solid. Every expat who lives here has a copy, and we all rely on it for advice on where to go and what to see. Also, the historical review is thorough without being tedious, and the practical information on things like climate and local customs is generally dead on.

Nevertheless, you can't rely on this book (or any other) for specifics like suggested hotels and restaurants or things like visa fees. These all change so frequently in the CAR that everything is out of date before it's hit the printers. Use this as a guide to the area, but don't rely on it for planning the details about where to stay and where to eat.

Okay, but..........2001-10-18

This is a decent overview of the area. I found, however, that when it came to actually visiting the areas mentioned, there was little for the traveler that wasn't easily obtained simply by DOING it rather than reading about it here.

A warning guide........2001-07-23

As with all countries in the far east, one has to use a guide as simply a guide and not a bible. Lonely planet is great in giving travel warnings without preaching. This style leaves it with a laid back approach to traveling. Unfortunately in Central Asia where things do change often, where situations can be increadibly dangerouse or unbelievably gloriouse, no guide can stay so up to date. This guide is nessasary in Central Asia. There are few in between which can cover the scope which Lonely Planet Manages, however I can't stress any more how important it is to do research on all five-stan republics. Pay attention to travel stories, keep a positive additude and enjoy the wonderouse Rejistan, Karokarum and charming turk peoples. A deffinate and more concise version to the first, there is still less coverage on visas and dealing with officials then is needed for the westen traveler. And as usual there should be much great getting there and away information. Four Stars

Truly a travel survival tool in this magnificent region.......2000-12-31

The first edition of Lonely Planet's Central Asia guide was not up to their usual standard. Its data and advice was incomplete and even wrong, but more than anything, it was out-of-date beforen it was published: things had changed a great deal in Central Asia, between 1991 when the countries became independent, and 1996 when the guide was published. But finally, this second recent edition of the book fully compensates for those lacks. Truly up-to-date, it offers all the advice, tips and information that travellers expect to get from Lonely Planet. And in this region, you'll need it ! Even if you speak Russian like myself, this is not an easy region to travel around. The people are nice and hospitable, the places are marvellous, but the first impact can be very negative and gloomy. It can be hard or impossible to get around - visas and other bureaucratic problems, flights and trains which may or may not run, hotels which may or may not exist... You won't know what to do or where to go, and once you do you may realize you should have done otherwise. With this guide, you won't be lost. It will truly be your companion during the whole journey, whether or not you are familiar with the region. And it will also provide excellent and very plesant reading with its sections on culture, history, politics, etc. Last but not least, this edition contains two new sections on Afghanistan and on China's Xinjiang province. Afghanistan will be hard to visit so far (but not impossible - ask me !), yet the information is invaluable and highly interesting. Xinjiang is a destination which, thanks to the information contained in this guidebook (and ONLY thanks to that information, which you won't find elsewhere !), you will be able to combine with your trip to the five former Soviet nations of Central Asia. Buy it now, and you will be on your way even sooner than you plan.

Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

Average customer rating:

use it as a very general guide
Very Useful ...
Good book, but....
slightly better than the last book

Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
Tom Masters , and Richard Plunkett
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Armenia with Nagorno Karabagh, 2nd: The Bradt Travel Guide

ASIN: 1740591380

Book Description

Hike in the stunning Caucasus Mountains, bathe in the Black Sea, explore lush, church-studded hills, laze on the shores of Lake Sevan and enjoy generous local hospitality. Connect with the diverse cultures and wide-ranging landscapes of the South Caucasus in this, the only guide to cover the region.

• UNRAVEL THE PAST - extensive coverage of the region's fascinating history and mosaic of cultures • PLAN YOUR ROUTE with the help of tempting highlights and itineraries and over 40 detailed maps • SLEEP SOUNDLY - wide-ranging listings from welcoming homestays to Soviet sanatoriums • ENJOY fine wines from Georgia and tasty Armenian cognac with our enticing food & drink sections • TALK THE TALK - impress the locals in all three languages using our expert guide

Customer Reviews:

use it as a very general guide.......2007-06-13

I only used this book for Georgia, but it got so much wrong---including maps!--that it was almost useless.

It was good, however, for a general overview of the history and culture, and what's where. It was also used frequently to try to find the right 'mashtruka' when traveling, since routes are written in Georgian, and I could show the Georgian name to drivers to see if I was in the right van going to the right place.

Let's hope that this book is either updated soon, or a competitor decides to publish a guide to this intriguing part of the planet.

Very Useful ..........2006-07-19

The Caucasian countries probably constitute the last bastion of the enigmatic destinations in the world and are shrouded in rumors & unclear doubts. The time trusted Lonely Planet is your only hope and probably the only guide that'll help you plan and execute your trip. I recently came back from a short trip to Georgia and found the information remarkably accurate and undoubtedly useful. It'll serve as your lifeline whilst in the Caucasus.
I've seen some dismal review comments and whilst I respect other people's opinions, I cannot help wonder what (else) were travelers expecting? A street-by-street guide with illustrated pictures will take away all the enigmatic charm and adventure that the Caucasian countries have to offer. A trip that is planned to perfection is usually not much fun. However, the hospitality of the wonderful people and the overwhelming beauty of the country will supersede your dependence on the guide.

Good book, but...........2004-10-30

I used the guidebook in all 3 countries within one month of its publication, and found it to be accurate for the most part. However, the authors seemed to be under orders to write glowing reports on anything considered mildly worthwhile to visit. Many of these places were not particularly noteworthy, and after awhile we took each raving description with a grain of salt. For some of the most spectacular sites (Davit Gareja and Kazbegi, both in Georgia) the book really should have included maps. The descriptions of both struck me as being second or third hand, as if the authors themselves had not taken any of the trails they described.

slightly better than the last book.......2004-08-05

I had been anticipating the new LP guide for Armenia for quite awhile. I must admit
that when I finally got it I was disappointed. It is better than the last one, but that's not saying much. The information is OK, but not extensive. There are barely any photos, so you don't really get a good feel for any of the places. The maps are so small that you need a magnifying glass to read them. And, the 6 pages dedicated
to Karabagh just doesn't cut it!

Average customer rating:

The Best Practical Guide out there
Pretty much your only choice....
Mongolia's development hotly debated
Extremely useful and complete
I have found this book to be very helpful.

Lonely Planet Mongolia
Michael Kohn
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Mongolia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Lonely Planet Mongolian Phrasebook
Hearing Birds Fly: A Nomadic Year in Mongolia
Mongolia Map
Mongolia: The Bradt Travel Guide
Trans-Siberian Railway (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

ASIN: 1740593596

Book Description

Let the adventure begin! Ride a camel across the sun-scorched Gobi, feast by moonlight at the bottomless lake of Uureg Nuur, and experience traditional archery and wrestling at the Naadam Festival. Escape to the ends of the earth in the footsteps of the first Mongol nomads. All you need is a strong pair of boots and this bestselling guidebook.

• FIND YOUR WAY - detailed maps and GPS coordinates for hundreds of key sites

• CONNECT WITH THE LOCALS and sleep in a ger, Mongolia's famous felt-tent abode - expanded reviews describe the country's best ger camps

• STRIDE ACROSS THE STEPPES with our inspiring itineraries through the Land of Blue Sky - witness magical monasteries and spectacular ice canyons

• TALK THE TALK - our Language chapter makes communication easy

• GET UNDER THE SKIN of Mongolia with dedicated Culture and History chapters packed with fascinating insights and little-known facts

Customer Reviews:

The Best Practical Guide out there.......2007-05-31

Mongolia is a difficult country to travel. No infrastructure, roads, cities, familiar modes of transportation, hotels or food.
This guide is practical and detailed to help plan and execute a safe, memorable, fun trip with out having to spend thousands of $'s on tour groups.
The best guide out there!
Janice Jaffe

Pretty much your only choice...........2007-05-24

This guide is pretty much your only choice when it comes to travel guides of Mongolia. Nevertheless, I found it helpful and up to date everytime I came to rely it during my time in Mongolia.

Mongloia is indeed a huge country and this guide is small, but seemed complete and well researched and presented. Mongolia is indeed a remote place with little in the way of modern conveniences. This book is a good place to start when planning your trip or to find what you are looking for when you are on the road.

Mongolia's development hotly debated.......2006-07-05

I think one of the reasons why this guide book comes in for criticisms has to do with Mongolia's mixed development since the collapse of communism. There was initially a great deal of optimism that the economy would take off and that Mongolia would become another asian tiger. At that time the Ghengis Khan hotel was thrown up. But in fact the country has endured a topsy turvy road to economic stability, with widespread poverty and crumbling infrastructure. People look at China, and its breakneck development, and think Mongolia must be improving at the same pace.

Tourists seeking the sanitised and comfortable journey they can experience in China, end up feeling very disappointed. Tourists must be forewarned: Mongolia is still an adventure destination and one that takes an adventurous spirit to tackle successfully. Don't expect things to work well, or food standards to be high, or the infrastructure to be new. It is a ramshackle country with a fantastic culture and great people.

The people's pride comes in to this. Being a democracy, Mongolians hotly debate the state of their country, and many are not happy with the path taken so far. This pride and anger comes out in its attempts to pretend the place is more advanced than it is, or to take offence when people comment frankly on the true state of the capital. But it is better to tell the truth because then people will know what to expect. I can think of equally volatile debates over guidebooks about the UK. But I had to agree with LP,since its writers point out the true state of a place.

Extremely useful and complete.......2005-09-03

Some of the negative reviews on this website actually got me wondering whether I should buy this book or not. Now that I'm back from the trip, I have not doubt about it: it's pretty much a must. Had I not brought the book along, I would've had to keep borrowing other travelers' copies during my visit. The information's extremely useful and complete, whether you agree with every single comment or not. I'm not familiar with other similar guides on Mongolia in English, but every foreigner that I met there seemed to be carrying a copy of this one.

I have found this book to be very helpful........2005-08-27

I used this book to prepare for my visit to Mongolia and I continue to use it as a great reference resource while here. I have recommended "Lonely Planet Mongolia" to several others here visiting Mongolia.

Average customer rating:

Invaluable for tourists who plan visit the Maldives
LP Maldives
A good place to start...
Maldives-The lost paradise

Lonely Planet Maldives
Tom Masters
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Maldives, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide

ASIN: 1740599772

Book Description

You're not dreaming - it really is this good. The Maldives is the world epicentre of tropical luxury. Raise a cocktail-filled glass in your lavish over-water villa to this extraordinary patch of paradise: picture-perfect coral atolls strewn across the cobalt-blue Indian Ocean. Stretch out on blissful beaches in the fringed shade of coconut palms - go on, you deserve it. This bestselling guide is your passport to the holiday of a lifetime. CHOOSE WISELY - our author gives you the facts before you book your stay; the Choosing a Resort chapter and detailed listings compare all the resorts SUBMERGE - our Snorkelling, Diving & Surfing chapter gives you the when, where and how on getting the best out of all the offshore pursuits KNOW THE BACKGROUND - dedicated History and Culture chapters give you the picture behind the postcards JUMP THE FENCE - we give you the options on escaping your resort and meeting the locals

Customer Reviews:

Invaluable for tourists who plan visit the Maldives.......2006-03-27

Like all Lonely Planet guides, a mine of useful information, that proves invaluable in picking the resort that best suits your interests and pocket. A good section on diving and snorkelling. Well worth the money.

LP Maldives.......2004-11-02

I find this guide very useful in terms of choosing the resorts. It has good descriptions of all the resorts in terms of facilities, clients, food served and activities. The resorts are in different chapters according to the different atolls. So, it is a good guide for choosing the right resort according to one's taste

A good place to start..........2002-08-26

There are four main tour books for the Maldives, and this one is a good place to start. (Another good one is the Michelin guide.) This book gives a general overview of the islands and many of the resorts. Divers will want the Divers' Guide to the Maldives to fill out the information here.

Maldives-The lost paradise.......2000-06-22

It was a good book about an overview of Maldives but did not focus much on the interior travel within Maldives and getting around its myriad of islands

Central Asia Phrasebook: Languages Of The Silk Road (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)

Average customer rating:

A compact and enjoyable reference work
The only one - unfortunately
A useful introduction to Central Asian languages
A useful, easy to use book!
It has lots info with 16 different central asian languages

Central Asia Phrasebook: Languages Of The Silk Road (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)
Justin Jon Rudelson , and Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Lonely Planet Mongolian Phrasebook

ASIN: 1741046041

Book Description

This new phrasebook is your key to travelling the famed Silk Road, with essential words and phrases for getting around and getting to know the tools. From western Xinjiang to the Karakoram Highway you'll be able to haggle in the bazaars and order your favorite kebabs with ease. <ul>

covers all essential language and more, in an easy-to-use format </li>

includes comprehensive sections on Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Pashto, Tajik, Tashkorghani, Turkmen, Uyghur and Uzbek. </li>

also includes essential words and phrases in other languages of the region </li>

pocket-sized and organized by subject; the perfect language companion </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

A compact and enjoyable reference work.......2005-12-19

By means of confession, I have not yet had a chance to "field-test" this book and am not an expert in Central Asian languages; ergo, my review can only reflect the book itself and the work that has gone into it.

I am always skeptical of phrase books - somehow, they seem rather useless creatures to me, unless you're endowed with a rather prodigious ability to memorize and internalize phrases without grammar or context. If you don't have knowledge of the language of the country in which you're traveling, the best practical (though perhaps culturally insensitive) thing to do might be to come armed with a big smile and a laminated card with pictures of food, toilets, and other universally recognizable pictograms.

That said, as far as phrasebooks go, Justin Jon Rudelson's Central Asia phrasebook is entertaining and well-researched. It provides basic travel and conversation phrases in a slew of languages: Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Pashto, Tajik, Tashkorghani, Turkmen, Uyghur, and Uzbek. The book may be worth buying for the short author's biography of Rudelson alone, a remarkable professor with an interesting life story.

The book itself could be viewed as a nice companion to Lonely Planet's Central Asia guidebook, which seems the best one-volume travel book to take with you to Central Asia. The sad and cynical reality may be that trying to be communicative in this many languages is not a reasonable goal for the average traveler, though that would be a poor excuse to not bring this slim volume with on any traversal of the region.

Perhaps the best thing you could do with this volume would be to come armed with a few semesters of Russian under your belt, and pepper your speech with as many regional phrases as you can possibly memorize. No Tajik expects you to be fluent in Tajik, but in traveling, as in the rest of life, a little bit of respect of and effort towards cultural knowledge goes a long way.

The only one - unfortunately.......2005-02-03

As other reviewers have pointed out, this is the only guide that contains a number of Central Asian languages. This monopoly is quite unfortunate, since this book cannot really be recommended. There are good courses in many Central Asian languages, - "Modern Literary Uzbek" and "Beginner's Guide to Tajiki" - so if you're going to visit just one country you'll be far better of with one of them. The author of this book is a specialist on the Uyghur language and it shows. As far as I can tell, the Uyghyr chapter is very good. Unfortunately, some other chapters are really bad. My main points are:

1. The languages presented
The authors have decided to focus mainly on six languages: Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Pashto, Tajik, Uyghur and Uzbek. These languages get about 30 pages each, while the remaining eight languages get an average of 5 pages each. For some reason, the Dari language isn't even mentioned in this book. In terms of speakers, it is the second largest language of Afghanistan after Pashto - however, it is the general lingua franca of the country and the language of most major cities, including the capital Kabul. While it is true that Dari and Tajik are extremely close, there are still a number of differences. Travellers to Afghanistan should definitely look for another phrase book than this one.

2. The maps
The six main languages are all introduced together with a map showing where they are spoken. I'm sorry to say that the maps are spectacularly wrong. The fact that many languages are shown as the spoken language in a certain area or city is no problem, many areas of Central Asia are bilingual or even trilingual.
a. Uyghur. As far as I can say, this map is correct, just as the chapter on Uyghur.
b. Uzbek. The Uzbek map is not as silly as some other maps, but it's still wrong. That the mainly Tajik cities of Samarkand and Bukhara are included in the Uzbek language area is absolutely correct, both have significant Uzbek minorities. Some areas of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are definitely Uzbek speaking, but this map would have us believe that the Uzbek areas cover more than 50% of the two republics respectively. That is not the case.
c. Kyrgyz. This map is just incredible. Cities such as the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, the former Kazakh capital Almaty, the two Tajik speaking cities Bukhara and Samarkand in Uzbekistan and the Uzbek Ferghana valley are all shown as Kyrgyz speaking... Of course there might be some Kyrgyz speakers living in each of these cities, but so are there in London and New York. None of these cities have even a mentionable Kyrgyz minority, not to speak of a majority.
d. Kazakh. This map is even worse. It correctly covers all of Kazakhstan but it also covers ALL of Uzbekistan and about 80% of Tajikistan. The Kazakh population in these countries are 3% and 2% respectively.
e. Pashto. Also a map made at random, and the one most likely to cause offence. All of Afghanistan is shown to be Pashto speaking. In reality, it's about 50% of the area of Afghanistan and 40% of the people. The major cities of Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif and Herat are all populated by Dari speaking Tajiks, yet at this map they are all shown to be Pashtuns. Even the Panjshir valley, the heartland of the Tajiks, is shown to be Pashto speaking. Apart from that, the Baluchi speaking areas are also shown to be Pashto speaking.
f. Tajik. Another confusing map. Tajikistan is of course shown to be Tajik speaking, as are the Uzbek area around Samarkand and Bukhara. More incredibly, even the Uzbek capital of Tashkent (in which Russian dominates and Uzbek comes in second) is shown to be Tajik speaking. What really makes one laugh is that even the south of Kazakhstan and the Kyrzyz(!) capital are shown to be Tajik speaking. In stark contrast to the "gains" by the Tajik language, the vast areas of Afghanistan, including Kabul, that are Tajik speaking are blank on this map.

3. The language descriptions
I'll start with a confession: I don't speak many of these languages and I cannot say how correct the descriptions are. I do speak Russian and have to say that I have never seen a more faulty description. The pronunciation this book uses is so far from the actual pronunciation that you won't stand the remotest chance of being understood. I get by in Tajik and the pronunciation table given here is beyond belief. Out of a total of six vowels, five(!) are given a pronunciation that is just wrong. According to this book, the Tajik "o" is pronounced as in English "go". It's not, it's pronounced as the "a" in "all" or the "aw" in "law". The word Tajik "ston" rhymes with English "lawn", not with "stone". In the Mandarin section, all the four tones of the language are ignored!! As even a beginner could have told the authors, the tones are absolutely crucial for speaking Chinese.

I agree with the reviewer who called for grammar descriptions of the main languages in this book. If such descriptions were introduced, if the maps were corrected, if the pronunciation guidelines were written from scrach, if Dari was included and if the sections on Russian and Mandarin were more substantial, this would be a rather good book.

A useful introduction to Central Asian languages.......2004-09-23

Rudelson's guide is the best - but only - guide to Central Asian languages that I've come across. For languages like Uighur and Turkmen, it's about all that's available, which makes it a must-have for visitors to Central Asia.

The greatest feature of Rudelson's effort is also its biggest drawback: a common adaptation of our alphabet to represent all the languages covered. This allows for ease of pronunciation and helps the reader see the differences in pronunciation and similarities in vocabulary among the different Turkic languages. However, this makes it difficult to use with (the few) other resources without first drawing up one's own tables of spelling conventions. Still, it's worth the trouble.

The only other drawback is the lack of a good grammar section. It's not necessary to give all the details but more information on how Turkic languages agglutinate, how Iranian languages express "to be," and such would be helpful.

A useful, easy to use book!.......2001-09-03

I strongly recommend that anyone going to Central Asia get this book. It is full of necessary phrases that will help you get where you need to go. It is very compact and can fit easily into a pocket. It is also very comprehensive, containing large sections of phrases in Uyghur, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Pashto, and Tajik, plus smaller sections on ten other regional languages. Also, it has a section outlining the history of Central Asian languages and certain grammatical/linguistic essentials.

Again, if you are going to Central Asia, invest in this book!

It has lots info with 16 different central asian languages.......1999-03-17

It has good information about meeting people, riding trains, booking hotels, and even seeing a doctor. It has lots of facts about greetings and the countries too. I recomend this book.

Trekking in the Karakoram & Hindukush (Lonely Planet walking guide, 2nd edition)

Average customer rating:

excellent book...

Trekking in the Karakoram & Hindukush (Lonely Planet walking guide, 2nd edition)
John Mock , and Kimberley O'Neil
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1740590864

Book Description

Remote and spectacular, the icy peaks and vast glaciers of northern Pakistan offer unparalleled opportunities for adventure. Whether you're a novice trekker or a seasoned explorer, let our expert authors guide you on the journey of a lifetime. <ul>

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Customer Reviews:

excellent book..........2007-05-06

well,,, i just wana say dat, dis book iz realy excelent. with reasonable prise...
thnx amazon

Lonely Planet Citiescape Kathmandu (Lonely Planet Citiescape. Kathmandu)

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet Citiescape Kathmandu (Lonely Planet Citiescape. Kathmandu)
Joe Bindloss
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Average customer rating:

Wait for next version - No tsunami updated

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Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Thailand (Diving & Snorkeling)
Thai: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
Lonely Planet Bangkok
Lonely Planet Best of Bangkok

ASIN: 1740595009

Book Description

Island ways, long days, late rays...relax to the blissful pace of Thailand's south. Feast in paradise, barter for a bungalow, join the party or escape entirely. Our definitive guide gives you detailed regional coverage for the perfect getaway.

• DINE OUT - with our food and drink chapter and comprehensive listings across the region

• GO FOR BROKE - from market bargains to boutique fashion, we have shopping covered

• GET AROUND - explore coastal jungles, remote islands and blue lagoons

• NAVIGATE - over 50 maps cover the city to the sea, including national parks and dive sites

• HIT THE HUB - the lowdown on Bangkok, from banking to bar-hopping

Customer Reviews:

Wait for next version - No tsunami updated.......2005-06-27

Despite all SE Asia - tsunami affected guides - say: "you can update online" you don't get lot of information on their website.
Practically half of the areas detailed by this book is affected by the tsunami. The information is good, but not certain due to all the problems in the area. I've been in the andaman beaches and the guide was usefull, but I would wait for next version of this book. Lonely Planet Thailand (the next version, tsunami updated) is ready in august 2005, I think. So it's worth waiting...

Average customer rating:

Fine, but VERY out of date!
Essential reading - but out of date
A fine guide to the Central Asian republics.
Very informative but outdated and no longer accurate.

Lonely Planet Central Asia
Andrew Humphreys , John King , and John Noble
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Central Asia (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)

ASIN: 0864423586

Book Description

50 Maps

Customer Reviews:

Fine, but VERY out of date!.......1999-04-20

It's a good book, very handy if you're going to Central Asia in 1996. Four years later, however, it ain't worth squat.

Essential reading - but out of date.......1999-02-05

Come on Lonely Planet - give us a new version

A fine guide to the Central Asian republics........1999-01-14

Until recently, few westerners have ventured into the former Soviet republics of Central Asia; but there is a lot to see here: the Registan of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Alamaty, the fading Aral sea, and remote (and possibly dangerous) Tajikistan. While some of the travel information is dated, this is the most comprehensive of the guidebooks to this area that is available. So, if you venture on the Golden Road to Samarkand, this is the one to take!

Very informative but outdated and no longer accurate........1998-05-15

The book was published in 1996. I travelled to Uzbekistan in 1997 and, already, many details have become obsolete. For e.g. I had NO problems with the police, there are MANY new bed and breakfasts and changing money on the "street" is more the norm. When I was there, the official rate was 80 Som to US $1.00. On the streets, it was 140 to the dollar. I did not change a single dollar officially.

Lonely Planet Nepal: A Travel Survival Kit (3rd ed)

Average customer rating:

Solid book
Travelin' 06
Great travel advice, as usual for Lonely Planet
tour guide
Paperback Sherpa

Lonely Planet Nepal: A Travel Survival Kit (3rd ed)
Hugh Finlay
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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Lonely Planet Tibet
Lonely Planet India
Lonely Planet Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya, Eighth Edition
Lonely Planet Bhutan
Lonely Planet China

ASIN: 0864423977

Amazon.com

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globetrotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money.

This completely updated guide contains excellent trekking information (including advice for those planning to trek with children), extensive background on people and cultures, and essential pretrip guidance, including tips on being an ecologically sound traveler. Sidebar highlights: short overviews of a festival calendar, the Dhyani Buddhas, one traveler's account of a Nepalese bus ride, antiques, and the gods of Nepal. --Kathryn True

Book Description

Shangri-la exists. Trek to the top of the world, or share a smile with a Buddhist monk; raft down a mountain gorge, or glimpse a living Hindu goddess - in Nepal adventure and culture go hand in hand. With this definitive guide, you'll tread lightly through the best of the Himalaya.

Customer Reviews:

Solid book.......2007-05-14

Good overall coverage of the region. Listed all major activities from rafting, hiking, driving, or whatever. I would recommend it for people traveling there. I wish it would have gone into detail about the tour operators.

Travelin' 06.......2007-03-08

Lonely Planet has never let me down. It seems no matter where in the world I travel, LP has walked, slept, and eaten there! I am still looking for a place to travel where they have not been. Any suggestions?

Great travel advice, as usual for Lonely Planet.......2006-10-31

I bought this book to prepare for my trip to Nepal. I found the advice in the book regarding cultural mores and appropriate behavior to be invaluable. The descriptions of places, restaurants, and hotels was accurate. I would have liked to see longer lists of accommodations. One thing I learned in Nepal is there are many, many more hotels than this book describes.

Here's why I gave it a 4: if you are over 40, go out and buy reading glasses before purchasing this book. The font size is very small and difficult to read for those of us with older eyes, especially in the dim light of an airplane or a Nepal Hotel Room.

tour guide.......2005-08-27

we were in nepal in recently and found this guide to be very useful and informative; will recommend it to anybody who is travelling to a new country.

Paperback Sherpa.......2005-05-13

The first time I traveled to Nepal I was on a limited budget, was alone, had no idea where I was going to stay and there was a riot going on in Kathmandu.
This unassuming book got me through.
Fantastic!

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