Lonely Planet British Columbia

Average customer rating:

Might as well have bought a Fodor's
Travel
Great for tourism and more
Updated version - A great improvement
Unorganized

Lonely Planet Vancouver
Karla Zimmerman , and Chris Wyness
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Lonely Planet Seattle
Top 10 Vancouver & Victoria(Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Frommer's Vancouver & Victoria 2007: With coverage of Whistler (Frommer's Complete)
Lonely Planet British Columbia
Frommer's Vancouver & Victoria 2006 (Frommer's Complete)

ASIN: 1741041945

Book Description

Cycle the wilds of Stanley Park, gawk at towering First Nations crest poles or even get nekkid at Wreck Beach - no matter where you go, Vancouver is the envy of the Pacific Northwest. Scale the heights of the cosmopolitan City of Glass with our smart, streetwise and stylish guide.

• GET OUT & ABOUT - explore Vancouver's mosaic of neighborhoods, where the urban jungle is a rain forest and mountains tower over skyscrapers

• EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY - steal the scene with more than 300 insider reviews of restaurants and nightlife

• SLEEP LIKE AN ANGEL - at regal historic hotels or peaceful B&Bs with breakfast delivered straight to your door; our independent guide lists the best for all budgets

• FIND YOUR WAY - from the West End to East Van and back again with our fully cross-referenced color maps

• GO BEYOND THE CITY LIMITS - rocket down the slopes at Whistler Blackcomb, escape to old-world Victoria or laze in the lotus land of the Southern Gulf Islands

Customer Reviews:

Might as well have bought a Fodor's .......2007-05-03

Perhaps erroneously, I expect Lonely Planet guides to cater to the smart and budget-conscious traveler. Far too many of the hotels and especially the restaurants in this guide were waaay out of my price range. Further, the writer recommends Granville Island as a must-see of artists studios and a farmer's market, when it was actually a Disneyland version of such. Lastly, her chipper enthusiasm for diversity-as-consumer-product chafed. Better to get Douglas Coupland's City of Glass; it's not a guidebook per se, but it's a better guide.

Travel .......2007-03-13

I tend to buy a small guide to carry around and a bigger one such as lonely planet that has more indepth information, but this trip I didn't use the lonely planet that much and stuck with the Top 10 travel guide most of the time, although I suppose it helped that I was visiting someone who lives in Vancouver. I highly recommend the top 10 guide (much better to carry around for quick access of info.) The benefit of the Lonely planet guide I think is to use it ahead of time when planning things out and using the book info to supplement internet research.

Great for tourism and more.......2006-04-23

Whether you are planning to visit Vancouver as a tourist, or you are doing preliminary research about it as a potential permanent destination later in your life, Lonely Planet Vancouver sums it all up nicely for you. The first few pages do a great job of giving the newcomer a birdseye view of the city's composition, lifestyle, culture, etc. The book moves on to cover other aspects from dining to outdoors activities and much more in a detailed yet not overwhelming way.

The only shortcoming this guide (as well as other Lonely Planet books) has is a lack of more pictures, which other series such as DK's Eyewitness Travel Guides excel at. However the competing book about Vancouver in that series is nowhere near as comprehensive as this one.

Updated version - A great improvement.......2005-08-10

I read reviews of the last version and the Lonely Planet people have really taken on board the feedback people gave. Its easy to read, VERY up to date and has some great additions. A great top 10 things to do in Vancouver, it details the top restaurants, good summaries of local areas etc. Its a brilliant overview and now we have our trip all maped out! Its well laid out and the use of color is helpful too. One of the best city guides I've seen.

Unorganized.......2004-04-25

The book contains a lot of information for sure. The thing is for a first time visitor it does not really provide a big help. Which things are a must to see? The book does not say. Instead the reader is forced to read each every section of the book because the book is divided into sections, each covering a part of the city.

Book Description

In British Columbia, get ready to say 'Wow!' Spectacular scenery, Olympic-class skiing and First Nations art will take your breath away. Set sail from cosmopolitan Vancouver down to the Southern Gulf Islands or up the Inside Passage. Follow our experts to national parks and mountain resorts. This definitive guide gives you detailed coverage for the perfect getaway.

* PLAN YOUR ADVENTURE - our thrilling road trips, ferry rides and Outdoor Activities chapter will put you at the heart of the region's beauty * INDULGE YOURSELF in high-class restaurants or small-town cafes with the world's best salmon and bountiful fresh fruits and vegetables * FIND YOUR WAY with over 70 detailed maps, more than any other guide to the region * REST EASY in luxurious alpine hotels, fun family inns, comfy B&Bs or hip hostels * EXPLORE IT ALL - coverage of British Columbia, the Canadian Rockies and the Yukon gives you every option for every sort of trip

Customer Reviews:

Rushed & Poor.......2006-07-30

You know that this is a rushed slacking off LP job when the index on page 4-5 with the map of places to visit still shows names of places with placeholders. For example, it would say "see Victoria (pp XXX)", etc. Suprisingly, newer editions do not have this print error.

Avoid this book. Its just not researched enough.

Cheers.

very poor indeed.......2006-07-16

I recently took this book on a trip to British Columbia. No idea why I bought it (except that I thought Lonely Planet put out decent guides), but this book was of far less value than the freebee tourist bureau handouts that one finds along the way. I'm absolutely certain that the authors did not visit any of the locations, as they provide no insights at all into the destinations, and their recommendations seemed outdated and sketchy at best. Bottom line is, I left it at a hotel because I didn't think it was worth the weight or effort to carry it around.

poor effort.......2004-07-06

The basics in this book are okay, but it looks like Lonely Planet hasn't used the original author and instead this edition has been updated by people with dubious qualifications and no link at all to Canada. This shouldn't translate to a poor guidebook, but in this case it does. The research was obviously done very quickly and some in some regions not at all. When I compared some sections to the previous edition, it looks like the prices had simply been raised a few dollars. In one case, a restaurant had been closed since 2001 (just as the first edition came out), yet the listing was identical, except for the prices. Even if the writers didn't visit, I'd at least expect them to call and check to see if it was still operating - I suppose changing the price makes it SEEM like the job is done. As this was in Whistler, a major tourist area, I would have expected them to have at least visited the town. They didn't - this restaurant alone was a giveaway, as was the lack of correct info center location (changed three years ago).

Book Description

City Maps cover the world's great cities in a full-colour, easy-to-use format. Downtown and metropolitan maps are provided for each city as well as public transport routes, walking tours and a complete index of streets and sights. Plastic-coated for extra durability. <ol>

Around Vancouver</li>

Central Vancouver</li>

Greater Vancouver</li>

Gulf Islands</li>

West Side & Kitsilano</li>

Stanley Park</li>

Granville Island</li>

Unique Lonely Planet Walking Tour</li>

Index of all Streets & Sights</li>

Essential Information</li></ol>

Customer Reviews:

Not what I expected.......2002-10-02

The map is ok. Laminated and colorfull, but too small. I was looking for more details.

Excellent brochure sized city map.......2001-08-11

First, I must say that this item was not what I expected. I thought I had ordered a guide book, not a map! Having said that, I will not be returning the item because it is an excellent value and an item which I'm sure I will get much use out of on my first trip to Vancouver.

The map is actually 7 maps in one brochure-sized, laminated, accordian-folded sheet -- much easier to reference than maps in a guidebook. The maps include not just the main city center but the outlying areas of interest. It even has a suggested walking tour described in words and graphically represented on the map. Best of all - Lonely Planet has pointed out on the map not just the main touristy attractions but smaller recommended ones - like "Little Sister's Book & Art Emporium" and "Kitsilano's Cyber Cafe".

Book Description

Want to stroll the streets of Vancouver? Ski Whistler? Snorkel with salmon? Take in totem poles? This comprehensive guidebook points the way, with full coverage of the entire province - cities, glaciers, hot springs, deserts and everything in between. <ul>

lodging for all budgets - from rustic campsites to four-star resorts </li>

activities section, with advice on the best spots to hike and ski </li>

extensive coverage of parks, both big and small </li>

tips on seeing grizzlies, killer whales and moose </li>

more than 40 detailed maps, including a Vancouver map section </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

solid british columbia guide book.......2002-07-29

a solid british columbia guide book that i used as a reference while exploring the area for three days lonely planet is always gearded towards those not wanting to spend a lot of money and that perspective kept my spending in check

Ordinary, even for backpacking readers.......2002-05-22

I've been a fan of Lonely Planet books since using them to backpack through Asia in the 1980s, but it seems to me they are in the middle of an identity crisis. Case in point is the British Columbia book, which I've added to my collection of guides to my home province. It retains the "Backpacker" feel but includes multiple listings of upmarket hotels and restaurants with scant regard to actually desrcibing individual places, which is why I buy a guide book in the first place. The result is a watered down version of what was once a great series, with the great descriptive and personalized writing replaced by page after page of listings that any reader could find in a phone book. For example, in the Vancouver chapter, instead of critical apprasial of the places to stay that appeal to budget travelers, literally dozens of places in all price ranges are listed, with little more than an address and price given for each. There's a privately run hostel in Vancouver that is nothing short of digusting and has been closed down and reopened under new names on two occassions. And yet the author lists this place along with the excellent choices that do exist as if all are of the same quality. I doubt whether the author has ever visited any of these places, but even if she has, some kind of description is what is missing. In a similar vein, out near the Vancouver airport, an RV park lies right under the flight path. Again there's no mention of this very basic information, just a phone number, address, and price. Finally, prices are almost always wrong. Prices haven't risen that dramatically over the last two years and as this is the first edition of the book my guess is that they've transfered information straight from the Lonely Planet book that covers all of Canada.

Further afield, in recent travels, I noted the same lack of perception in the writing about other areas of the province. It's obviously useful for young budget travelers to know which bars have cheap drinks, but I still expect more, such as some good solid descriptions of what there is to see in each town and coverage of all the great outdoors opportunities. These things
are sorely lacking.

On the plus side, the introduction chapter is very strong, with detailed coverage of history, geology, and wildlife. History might not be that exciting, but the author has obviously done her homework in this department. The maps are also much improved from the old days and even the smallest town has a map.

In conclusion, the fact that the author is not from Canada does not worry me, but she needn't have even visited to put this book together. Even if you're a young backpacker from overseas desperate to fit in by traveling with a Lonely Planet guide, I'd skip this book and buy the Lonely Planet Canada book.

Ordinary, even for backpacking readers.......2002-05-22

Best BC guide I found!.......2001-07-13

After combing 3 other travel guides before my trip, I realized that my Lonely Planet guide had it all. Where other guides miss the mark, Lonely Planet nails it. Everything in Fodor's, Off The Beaten Path and some other one I can't recall was in the Lonely Planet guide. As well, Lonely Planet honestly tells you the truth about why "this" is a winner and "that" is a loser. Information was up to date and accurate and most importantly opinionated and honest! Had a fantastic vacation!

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Pacific Northwest: Includes Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and Vancouver Island (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Great Barrier Reef)

Average customer rating:

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to the Pacific Northwest: Includes Puget Sound, San Juan Islands, and Vancouver Island (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Great Barrier Reef)
Edward Weber
Manufacturer: Pisces Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1559920750

Book Description

22 dive sites in the Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands in Washington State and British Columbia's Canadian Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island, Quadra Island and Queen Charlotte Straits. Dive highlights: Kelp and spectacular "big critters," wrecks, world-class currents.

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