Lonely Planet Bangladesh

Average customer rating:

Possibly the worst travel guide ever published by L.P.
Thin gruel for tourists

Lonely Planet Bangladesh
Marika McAdam
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bangladesh | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Southeast | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1740592808

Book Description

Be swept up in the maelstrom of Dhaka, explore the lush forests of the Sundarbans, relax into the serene rhythms of rural life along endless riverbanks and experience the extraordinary kindness of the people - uncover the secrets of one of travel's last frontiers with the only English-language guide to Bangladesh.

• REST EASY - opinionated, in-depth accommodation and eating reviews enable you to make the best choice, whatever your budget <BR>• DISCOVER THE DIVERSITY of this dynamic country with our comprehensive listings of sights and attractions <BR>• FIND YOUR WAY with the help of detailed transport information and over 40 maps <BR>• GET THE BACKGROUND on Bangladesh's intriguing history and culture <BR>• TALK THE TALK with our Bangla language chapter

Customer Reviews:

Possibly the worst travel guide ever published by L.P........2007-03-15

This travel guide is possibly the worst one that Lonely Planet has ever produced. Apparently, the previous edition was a lot better, and since hotel and other such listings change more frequently than any publisher could keep up with anyway, it may be advisable to search out the earlier edition for its purported superior coverage of actual sites within the country.

The main problem is not that huge portions of the guide are out of date (inevitable due to publishing deadlines and due to the quick pace of change in South Asia), but that they were never correct to begin with. Maps are wrong in every possible sense: topologically; geometrically (positionally and locationally as well as in terms of actual distances); inconsistent scale; incorrect orientation, etc.

Also, major streets are unlabeled in many cases, but this is a somewhat moot point as there are hardly any street signs in Bangladesh, and as most streets do not form a grid pattern that is easily followed. For this reason, it would have been helpful to supply dual labeling in Bangla (several competitors do this for most of their maps). That would make it easier to question the locals, who rarely speak or read English.

I also personally find LP maps in general to be too difficult to use except when under strong lighting with a magnifying glass, or in a hotel room. Usually we are using the map while walking, in a moving vehicle, under poor lighting. The cross-referencing scheme and miniscule typeface are of no help there! Rough Guide and Moon have the right approach to legible maps that can be used under adverse conditions (Footprints are OK and sometimes very good, but are rarely to scale).

Everyone that I encountered in my one month in the country complained about this guide; not the least the locals, many of who were interviewed by the LP writer but ignored when the final edition was published. The only thing this guide has going for it is that it has accurate train connections (bus connections are a joke in the country and would be impossible to write up accurately; find a local and ask them where to go). Bus timings are also accurate; though some are now faster due to a few improved roads and some new bridges where ferries were once required.

Descriptions and directions for most of the major archeaological sites (which are on a par with the best that I have seen in Latin America and Southeast Asia, in spite of being relatively unknown), are not adequate and are in some cases quite wrong. But it is very cheap to hire a local guide for a day or more in each region (I mixed this approach with 100% independent travel, and it worked out quite well). Just don't depend on this guide as an aid for independent travel; think of it as an armchair companion to a semi-organised tour.

As one example of a deliberate omission (as evidenced by an interview with local tours and hotels), the one and only hotel that is close to the Dhaka airport was not included, even though it has many flexible pricing options even for transit passengers (the airport itself has few if any facilities) and even provides a free airport shuttle. This omission unfortunately pushes one towards the expensive Gulshan district upon arrival, which is a bit far and also not near any major sites in the capital (my detailed reports will be submitted to Lonely Planet's forum later on, and don't really belong in a book review).

That said, this was the best vacation of my life; mostly because the people of Bangladesh are the friendliest and most open I have ever encountered (and that is saying a lot). I felt like I was already home, everywhere I went. This is in fact a slogan of the country. It is a beautiful and lush country besides, even though mostly flat (except for the unbelievably gorgeous tea and pineapple plantations in the northeastern region of the country), but I think the guide could have done a better job of describing the culture and making a case for why one should visit the country.

It is unfortunate that there are currently no other travel guides to Bangladesh. Competition seems to improve most guides, and this pertains to ALL of the publishers. Bradt used to publish a guide but never bothered to update theirs since the 1992 edition. I doubt there's much of a market though, as I only encountered a small handful of tourists during my entire month in the country. Even more reason to visit now, before it is "discovered".

Thin gruel for tourists .......2005-03-18

"Lonely Planet's" guide to Bangladesh is pretty thin --less than 200 pages -- for a country with a population of 150 million. Well, there's a reason for that. Bangladesh is hardly a tourist paradise.

Dhaka is probably the most crowded city in the world and, in fact, the biggest attraction of the city is the traffic -- which is horrendous. The numbers of rickshas is astonishing; they line up eight-across on some streets all jockeying for position with three-wheelers, cars, trucks, buses, hand-pulled carts, and the occasional herd of goats. Dhaka is worth visiting just for a ricksha ride and traffic jams that are simply unbelievable.

The country is pretty outside Dhaka: emerald green rice paddies, palm trees, and innumerable little villages. The city of Cox's Bazaar is the honeymooner's capital of Bangladesh. The beach here is advertised as the longest and widest in the world. What interested me was the fact that of thousands of people on the beach only a few boys were actually in bathing attire and in the water. Women may dip their toes in the surf but they don't dress for the occasion. The all-covering Shawar Camise with head-scarf is de riguer as female beachware -- as it is for everyplace else.

Despite a lack of major attractions, Bangladesh is not a bad place to visit and you won't encounter crowds of foreign tourists. Maybe you won't encounter any. "Lonely Planet" covers the country in good detail including history, culture, current politics, sidebars about interesting trivia, places to stay and eat, and books you might want to read. It's a good guide to a place that needs a guide.

Smallchief

Average customer rating:

Donýt leave home without it
Nice work!
Excellent Guide
very informative

Lonely Planet Bangladesh
Richard Plunkett , Alex Newton , Betsy Wagenhauser , and Jon Murray
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bangladesh | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Southeast | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0864426674

Book Description

Discover one of the last nations to remain untouched by tourism using this, the only English-language guide to Bangladesh. Explore its myriad waterways, witness rural lifestyles and visit newly opened tribal areas. <ul>

40 detailed maps of every region of the country </li>

reliable information on how to travel around this great budget destination </li>

shopping, cycling, sightseeing and where to chill out </li>

the lowdown on visas, health and local transport </li>

comprehensive language section </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

Donýt leave home without it.......2003-08-27

This is an essential guide for travel in Bangladesh. Like all the books in the Lonely Planet travel series, it begins with Facts about the Country, Facts for the Visitor, Getting There and Away, and Getting Around. Next comes a detailed description of Dhaka and the surrounding district, and then separate chapters for each of the major political and geographical divisions in Bangladesh.

Before traveling to Bangladesh, do take the time to read the Dos & Don'ts article in the Facts about the Country chapter. People in Bangladesh are generally friendly and polite, but they tend to be more friendly if you follow their rules for politeness. Men should give local women some distance, and even women should let other women approach them first. People who wear shorts in Bangladesh are risking at least their reputations, if not more. Going about in shorts in public would be akin to wearing a bikini bathing suit on Wall Street- -sure to gain a lot of unwanted attention. Western women will find themselves much more comfortable in local clothing, salwar kamis or saris as absolutely no woman wears Western clothing in Bangladesh. Women packing for a trip in Bangladesh might be better off packing no clothing at all, and just shopping for local clothing upon arrival because what they find in the local markets will be appropriate for both the climate and the culture. (That will also leave more room in your suitcase for gifts on the way in and souvenirs on the way out.)

Many educated people in Bangladesh speak English quite well. But the average person on the street doesn't, so take the time to study the useful expressions from Facts about the Country chapter when you get a chance. While you're at the airport waiting for departure, look around- -surely there's someone there who can help you with your pronunciation.

As for any travel in the developing world, make sure your immunizations are up to date before you go to Bangladesh. Hepatitis A vaccinations are highly recommended and get your travel doctor to write you a prescription for a full run of Cipro (strong antibiotic) to carry with you, and take plenty of rehydration packets. If you get seriously ill while in Bangladesh, it's better to try to get to Dr. Wahab's office (listed in the Dhaka section of this book), rather than the Cholera Hospital, as recommended elsewhere in the book.

As the book mentions, there's a lot to see in Dhaka. There's even more to see outside of Dhaka, where the air is better and the people are friendlier. A great way to get out of town is to book a tour with Prajatan or The Guide (info in the Dhaka chapter). We had a spectacular all-inclusive boat cruise through the Sunderbans with The Guide (Prajatan's boat had recently sunk). Don't miss shopping in the NGO handicraft stores, particularly Aarong (info in the Dhaka chapter).

As with any guidebook, the info for specific hotels and eateries tends to change between the time the authors visited and publication, but the historic sites and regional highlights will always be there. Read this book over several times before you go, and you will be ready as ever to start your adventure.

Nice work!.......2002-01-17

This is the best lonelyplanet guide book I've ever had. Normally, I find them OK but irritating. Miraculously, this one is different.
Firstly, it's not too big (unlike, say, the Indian one) and is not afraid to leave some good stuff OUT. Secondly, it's very well researched, which is impressive in Bangladesh because information isn't all that readily available. Nor is it patronising in tone!
Best of all, though, is that reference to women travellers isn't restricted to a nauseating passage on what women "shouldn't" do because of the dangers, and then special women's diseases. Instead, it actually suggests that there are advantages to being a woman and special places to visit (such as women's development programs) that might interest women in particular. Yay! Welcome to the 21st century LP! I don't know what this sudden change in tone is due to, but I hope it spreads throughout the LP philosophy.
Otherwise, the information is helpful and up-to-date. The maps are a bit dodgy and could do with some work. For example, Thanchi does NOT lie between Ruma and Keokradung, and nor is Keokradung the highest peak in Bangladesh. The Chittagong map, in particular, is fairly useless.
Still, a very nice job. Very impressive. Very interesting and well written.

Excellent Guide.......2000-06-06

I found this guide to be very informative and helpful. The maps are a very good basis for getting a sense of where various sections of the cities are located. Some guidebooks are sorely outdated but this book is still quite current. Many of the places mentioned are still in existence. We plan to take several of the recommended trips from this guidebook as well as cycling trips. Since moving to Dhaka I have used this book continually for a reference book. I would highly recommend reading this book before coming to visit Bangladesh!

very informative.......1999-05-21

This was my first Lonely Planet book and I could not have made the trip without this very informative and helpfull book. I highly recommend any Lonely Planet books to any one traveling abroad.

Lonely Planet India & Bangladesh Travel Atlas

Average customer rating:

Passport, Wallet and Atlas
Indispensable!
Never used it....

Lonely Planet India & Bangladesh Travel Atlas
Hugh Finlay
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

Bangladesh | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
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Lonely Planet India

ASIN: 0864422709

Amazon.com

India is enormous. At 1,237,062 square miles, it's more than five times the size of France. Yet how many maps does the average guide to India provide, and with what amount of detail? With nearly 100 pages of accurate maps, the Lonely Planet atlas for India and Bangladesh is a slim but liberating addition to your travel gear. It contains travel information in five languages and a comprehensive index; the atlas is an invaluable travel aid, unlocking India from Srinagar to Nagercoil and Jamnagar to Dibrugarh.

Book Description

With full-color maps throughout. Travel information and roadtesting provided by guidebook author Hugh Finlay.

Customer Reviews:

Passport, Wallet and Atlas.......2006-03-01

If you know where you want to go then I would agree with the above reviewer- a guidebook will tell you about nearby sites and how to get there and for that you can get by without an atlas. But for those who want to explore a particular region- how else are you going to plot an itinerary? This atlas is fully indexed by place, and also by beaches, capes & headlands, caves, forts, islands, mountians & passes, rivers, lakes, & bays, ruins and temples. And no matter how good a guidebook- only an atlas like this will assure you that you haven't missed anything of interest whereever you happen to be.

Map Scale is 4cm = 50K (1.5" = 31 miles)

For security reasons (I'm told) quality maps are not easy to find in India- and rarely for sale.

Indispensable!.......1998-12-18

While working on an on-going university research project I have spent five years driving the back roads of India. This book has saved my sanity as well as my tires and axles. It is by far and away the most helpful road atlas available.

Never used it...........1998-10-16

The maps are better than what most Indians have ever seen in their lives, which is exactly why travellers don't need it. If you are taking public transport around the country, you get plenty of information about how to go where from LP India or from information at train stations, bus stations and other travellers. It simply isn't worth the excess weight (in a rucksack). If on the other hand you are cycling or have your own motorized vehicle, this would be irreplacable (so be careful who you show it to).

Lonely Planet India & Bangladesh: Road Atlas (Lonely Planet Road Atlas)

Average customer rating:

Lonely Planet India & Bangladesh: Road Atlas (Lonely Planet Road Atlas)
Lonely Planet Publications
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Atlases | Atlases & Maps | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Bangladesh | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Whether you're heading to the majestic Taj Mahal, lazing on Goa's beaches or braving the rugged heights of the north, this indispensable Road Atlas will guide you around the entire Indian Subcontinent. Thoroughly researched by Lonely Planet authors, the India & Bangladesh Road Atlas will enhance your travels by car, bus or train and is the perfect companion to your Lonely Planet guides.

Lonely Planet's India & Bangladesh Road Atlas also features: <ul>

climate charts </li>

distance labels </li>

comprehensive index & glossary </li></ul>

Lonely Planet Books:

Lonely Planet Books

Lonely Planet Books