Lonely Planet Laos

Lonely Planet Laos
Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
  • Not for everyone, but my choice Part 2
  • Great traveling companion
  • This guide was useful
  • Not a full update--Hua Phan Province info VERY out of day
  • Great for the cities and history
 Lonely Planet Laos
Joe Cummings , and Andrew Burke
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1741040868

Book Description

Welcome to Laos, Southeast Asia's best-kept secret. Now choose your adventure: follow the path of the mighty Mekong River through remote and pristine wilderness, marvel at mysterious ancient relics at the Plain of Jars, or head to the hills to experience the unique culture of a highland village. Whatever your Laos inclination, it's all here, packed between the pages of this inspiring guide.

• FIND THE FUN - tips on where to ride an elephant up a mountain, go tubing down rapids, or party to Lao pop bands

• KNOW YOUR WAY - over 50 detailed maps, including customised itineraries maps and a full-color country map

• TALK THE TALK - practical Laos language chapter to help you distinguish your mae nam (river) from your jia hawng nam (toilet paper)

• DREAM SWEETLY - full range of accommodation options, whether you fancy a floating ecovillage house, hammock in traditional hut, or a lakeside resort complete with casino

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Not for everyone, but my choice Part 2.......2007-05-15

I agree 100% w/ Bryan below. (So, you could stop reading my review now) But when planning a trip to Laos, one needs to do allot of research on one's own. You can't leave it up to a guidebook. But why would you really want to anyway? Of all the guidebooks on the market, I'd still pick this one as my top choice. It's respectful of Laos, imparts a firm sense of culture, history and identity with the reader and then let's you figure some things out for yourself. Laos is a beautiful country... but you need to relax and keep in mind the motto" LAO PDR...please dont rush".... same thing with any guidebook, relax, enjoy the read and let the journey take you where you need to be.

5 out of 5 stars Great traveling companion.......2007-04-01

This book made traveling through Laos a fantastic experience. Though prices in the book can't keep up with increases, most of the information was very timely and accurate. Very useful as a reference guide and helped make our trip go smoothly.

4 out of 5 stars This guide was useful.......2007-01-09

When I first read the reviews at amazon, I thought I just ordered a worthless piece of paper. In fact that guide was as useful as I used lonely planet in other countries. It gave me maps of where I was, general knowledge of many regions of Laos and much more, exactly what a guide book is intended to do.

I agree though that some of the information in the book is no longer right, but it is as always in a country opening up to tourism, constantly evolving. Anyway, if you live by the book, you will be deceived so use it as a reference when needed and try to go beyond the book (same for every lp).

2 out of 5 stars Not a full update--Hua Phan Province info VERY out of day.......2006-04-05

I bought this edition for a bicycle trip across northern Laos, but was very disappointed with the very old and inaccurate information on Hua Phan Province in the northeast of the country. It's a remote region, and probably on few travelers' itineraries, but it was on mine. I felt let down that the authors didn't provide up-to-date coverage. Neither author even visited the province! That's not good enough.

2 out of 5 stars Great for the cities and history.......2006-03-02

If you are doing the regular two week route of Luang Phrabang - Vang Vieng - Vientiane, this is an outstanding book, despite the inevitable dating of hotel and restaurant info. You have got to expect this considering how much stuff is written about these three places and Laos in general, leaving only a third of the book to cover the other 99% of the country.

The only really useful bits were the map and suggested itineraries where the authors actually offered their opinions.
Generally the "around the area" sections are far less useful than anyone you would meet in the street of the town because of the emphasis on describing restaurants and hotels. As if anyone would have difficulty in finding the only restaurant or guesthouse in a one street village.

Buying a map and talking to other travellers was far better, more fun, and cheaper than the LP.
Lonely Planet Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Road Atlas (Travel Atlases)
Average customer rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars
  • Worst Map of the Region
  • For the traveler that's NOT off the beaten track
 Lonely Planet Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Road Atlas (Travel Atlases)

Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1864501022

Book Description

From the hill villages of northern Vietnam to the beach resorts in Thailand's south, whether you're driving or sitting at the back of a bus, with this indispensable Lonely Planet Road Atlas you're sure to be on track. Thoroughly checked by Lonely Planet authors, this Road Atlas is the perfect companion to your Lonely Planet Guide. <ul>

  • The Thailand, Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Road Atlas also features:
    </li>
  • Climate charts </li>
  • Distance tables </li>
  • Comprehensive index </li></ul>

    Customer Reviews:

    1 out of 5 stars Worst Map of the Region.......2006-01-06

    Claiming to be "the best, most up-to-date source of maps" for the region this is a book by Lonely Planet that holds nothing it promises. I used the Laos and the Thailand maps to bike from the Chinese border at Boten to Bangkok via Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Udon Thani and Korat. I found that not a single (!) information regarding distances was right. And they weren't off by a few kilometres but rather by 10 up to 25 km (Udomxai to Pak Mong). Further the maps, especially in Thailand, depict roads to be unpaved where according to local information (and Thai maps) they were paved since more than a few years. The topographic shading is sloppy at best, if not completely incorrect. The mistakes are far beyond the "things change fast" warning published in every Lonely Planet guidebook and signal a further deterioration of quality at Lonely Planet. I strongly advice against buying it, it's just a rip-off!

    2 out of 5 stars For the traveler that's NOT off the beaten track.......2001-05-18

    For the traveler that intends to leave the beaten path, be aware that this atlas misses off hundreds of villages in between larger towns and cities. After spending four months in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos I found this atlas to be dead weight in my pack. However, Lonely Planet publishes an atlas for each individual country, which has more detailed secondary roads, natural features, and remote villages. Moreover, if you do not have the luxury of four months plus at your disposal and you are traveling in these fascinating countries in a rush, this atlas will more than likely meet your needs.
    Lonely Planet Cycling Vietnam: Laos & Cambodia (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Lonely Planet Cycling Vietnam: Laos & Cambodia (Lonely Planet Cycling Guides)
      Nick Ray , and Ian Duckworth
      Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 1864501685

      Book Description

      Discover Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia by bike - explore the best of Vietnam's coastline, stay with hill tribes in Laos and ride around Cambodia's ancient city of Angkor. Choose from 21 rides, ranging from sightseeing day trips to multi-day tours.

      <ul>

    • 70 days of the region's best cycling </li>
    • Angkor Temples - detailed routes guide and planning advice </li>
    • where to eat - markets, noodle cafes and traditional cuisine </li>
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      Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook)
      Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
      • Helpful little book
      • transliteration makes lao even more complex than it is
      • Lao Phrasebook
      • Nifty little phrasebook
      • It's a very through pocket book that can guide you in Laos
      		 Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook (Lonely Planet Lao Phrasebook)
      Joe Cummings
      Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 1740591682

      Book Description

      Let language be your guide in the land of a million elephants! From the vital flow of the Mekong to the fertile Bolaven Plateau, words will be the life of your travels in Laos as you make those conversational connections. In the musical voice of this tonal language, you'll forever be singing the praises of Laos and its people. <ul>

    • talk yourself into a Lao stupa </li>
    • get the goss as you ponder the Plain of Jars </li>
    • verify vocabulary with the comprehensive dictionary </li>
    • grab a guide and hit the highlands for real Lao coffee </li>
    • wondering about wats - ask the locals yourself </li>
    • develop an admirable accent with the practical pronunciation guide </li></ul>

      Customer Reviews:

      4 out of 5 stars Helpful little book.......2007-05-15

      Besides my Lao Dictionary, this is *the* Lao book I carry around daily with me. I wish I could post a photo of my worn out dog-eared copy. I agree w/ the one reviewer who said the transliteration is a little wacky, however the Lao script is generally "spot on". (I'll mention transliteration with Lao is a less than exact science) It's one of the few if only books outside of the books attempting to teach Lao that handle things like Grammar.. very handy for the traveler. It also throws some Lao culture in for good measure to make sure you don't do something offensive to the local people. Great book, worth the money and besides... it's so small you can fit it in your pack/bag pretty easy.

      2 out of 5 stars transliteration makes lao even more complex than it is.......2003-12-04

      The Lonely Planet phrasebooks are usually a great help travelling around the world. This one however turned out to be creating more problems than solving them. The transliteration is so weird that you actually have to learn two new languages before pronouncing anything closely right. I tried the book with several english speaking lao persons and lao speaking native english speakers while travelling around the country and all had problems with the transliteration. Nothing is like you would naturally pronounce it. For example who would say Khoj if you see Khawy?
      Helpful is the lao bit so you can point, in the end its how I got around. A pity, there are much better transliterations around.

      5 out of 5 stars Lao Phrasebook.......2002-03-04

      Very good book, especially for someone that don't understand a lot of English. They could always use as reference anywhere they go. Again, good book and excellent choice for someone who wants
      to learn English. [reasonable] price and great book, what can I say.

      5 out of 5 stars Nifty little phrasebook.......2001-02-16

      The Lonely Planet phrasebooks have come a long way since the days when the foreign script portion was merely hand-written in the space beside the romanized portion. The Lao phrasebook is representative of that new generation, and it is pretty impressive. Along with all the usual categories of phrases one would expect to see (greetings, directions, lodging, food, shopping, health, numbers, dates, emergencies, etc.), the splendidly informative introduction provides an interesting background on the spoken language and script, followed by a great section on pronunciation and grammar. There are interesting cultural notes dispersed throughout the book, and a vocabulary list at the end. Its compact size makes it ideal to carry in one's pocket. On the down side the marking system used in the romanized portion to indicate Lao tones is a little confusing and under-explained, but all-in-all a great little phrasebook.

      5 out of 5 stars It's a very through pocket book that can guide you in Laos.......1999-02-12

      This is an excellent book for those who wish to travel to Laos, or even those who wish to begin learning lao in small steps. I purchased this book in order to learn the language at a quicker and more simplified pace. It contains not only basic phrases that one might need to know in order to conduct ones self in the main parts of Laos but also be able to learn some of the country's culture as well. Even though studying an entirely new language can be laborious, Mr. Cummings has made it easy for anyone to be bilingual, even multi-lingual.
      Lonely Planet Laos: A Travel Atlas (Lonely Planet Travel Atlas)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Lonely Planet Laos: A Travel Atlas (Lonely Planet Travel Atlas)
        Joe Cummings
        Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        AtlasesAtlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books
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        ASIN: 0864423756
        Lonely Planet Vietnam Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          		Lonely Planet Vietnam Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong (Lonely Planet Travel Guides)
          Nick Ray
          Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          CambodiaCambodia | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
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          ASIN: 1741047617

          Book Description

          <B>Discover Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong</B><BR> <BR> Take a slow boat down the mighty Mekong past remote jungles, ancient temples and intriguing hill-tribe villages, p.23<BR> Get up close and personal with wild elephants in Laos, p.285<BR> Trek to secluded waterfalls through Khao Yai National Park in Thailand, p.156<BR> Explore magnificent Angkorian temples without the crowds in Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province, p.223<BR> <BR> <B>In This Guide:</B><BR> <BR> Full-color chapter on the region's ancient wonders, from majestic Angkor Wat to World Heritage-listed Lijiang.<BR> Border crossings chapter to help plan your adventure, with info on which borders are open and a map with marked crossings.<BR> Visit <B>lonelyplanet.com</B> for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler insights.<BR>
          Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            		Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit)
            Joe Cummings , and Daniel Robinson
            Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

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            ASIN: 0864420986
            Lonely Planet Laos (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kits French Edition)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              		Lonely Planet Laos (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kits French Edition)
              Joe Cummings
              Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover

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              ASIN: 2840700506

              Book Description

              20 Maps

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