Carol

As a non-driver, I find LP's detailed descriptions of available public transportation from town to town within a region excellent. In fact, I've often wondered why more guidebooks don't include such information.

Dave

I want to add my vote to the minority. I've used LP guides for Western Europe, Britain (repeatedly) and Turkey. I've never really found them to be exessively negative. Besides, if I've waited all my life to take the "Sound of Music Tour", I'm not going to cancel just because one guidebook gives it a negative review. <BR> <BR>I've recently started buying other guidebooks to compare, but I still haven't found anything I prefer. To me the greatest assets of the LP guides are their encyclopedic listing of locations and the emphasis on public transport. In this respect I would say that LP and Rick Steves are the best of two extremes. LP guides are great for exploring; many times I've hopped off the train to see a castle or cathedral because it was listed in my LP guide (and often ignored by the other guidebooks that I've checked). In contrast, Rick Steve's guide to Britain (which I recently read) basically sets out an itinerary for a few sights, with more commentary. If you want to visit Bath and the Cotswolds with reservations made in advance, that's fine. But if you want to go to Hastings or Kyle on the spur of the moment, tough luck. For someone who's looking for a GUIDE-book rather than a reference book, Rick Steve's is a good choice (as long as you enjoy his constant search for the cutsie phrase). For someone who's looking for lots of choices, LP guides seem to have the most. (They also happen to fit my budget and interests pretty well.) <BR> <BR>Most of the other guides I've read fall somewhere in between - more cities, hotels, restauraunts than Rick Steve's; classier digs, more recent prices than LP. In fairness, Fodor's seems to be the best of these. But for my style of travel, LP seems to have the most info and more useful info in my price range. <BR> <BR>By the way, the above opinions DO NOT apply to the LP website. On that subject, I have to agree with Al's posting above. <BR> <BR>-------------- <BR> <BR>I feel a bit guilty about defending a competitor's product on this wonderful website, so let me put in a plug for Fodor's "Compass America" series. I bought the Wyoming book this summer and loved it. These aren't so much guidebooks, as in hotel listings, museum hours, etc. Rather, the Wyoming book was a very enjoyable travelogue (and wonderful picture essay) of the state. Although I was only interested in one small section, I ended up reading the whole book from cover to cover.

michele

BOOKLLIST just gave the ROUGH GUIDE series their "Best Travel Series 1999" award. <BR> I, too, leaf through several books and use parts of all of them. I used to love the old Temple Fielding books as he was so opinionated and quite funny, therefore I appreciate Lonely Planet for their forthright opinions and also Rick Stevesfor his common sense approach ( althoug I disagree with many of his calls). I don't take any opinion as carved in stone. Now, the LP website is another story entirely... <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Linda

I have to agree with Dave & Dan. I took the Lonely Planet Guide to Turkey with me and would have been lost without it. It has practical information for the independent travelers that you just don't get with other travel books. Rick Steves' books are also very good for practical advise, but Lonely Planet's are more thorough. I, too, ignore the disdainful attitude they have towards the touristy sights. That's why we go there!! For the record, I took the Sound of Music tour a few years ago. The next to last stop was St. Gilgen. I fell absolutely in love with it and missed the tour bus. No problem, my sister, brother-in-law & I took another bus back to Salzburg. Use the books as a guide but plan your own adventures!!

alan

Hi! My wife and I went to Oktoberfest 3 or 4 yrs ago. It was horrendous. People passing out drunk in front of us. The crowds are so large that a person is forced to folow it, even when they want to go somewhere else. We were unable ato get into the beerhalls, which by the way are not the regular ones. We were very surprised to see the age of most of the participants as well as the number of young Americans. The beerhalls in the center of Munich are much better and you will have a good time. I don't know how many of the people that posted have been there, but as one who has go at another time. If you do decide to go make hotel reservations earlier and expect higher prices. I know this for a fact, we stayed at the same hotel prior and during Oktoberfest and the owner charged us more and explained to us. Salzberg is a beautiful city and you will enjoy it very much. Yes, it is touristy but we are tourists. It is very pretty. alan

edie

no one has mentioned that in salzburg there is an awesome beer hall in a huge old building on top of a hill that used to house a monastery...the food stands are great, and you can while away an afternoon in the company of other travelers as well as natives. and btw i loved the corny sound of music tour! most of us grew up watching that movie at least once a year (is it thanksgiving or easter that it's always on?) and i was very interested in seeing the sites.

harzer

Guidebooks: In some ways I regret the advent of the practical guidebook, as distinct from the cultural guides that I relied on in the 'old days', such as Michelin and Guide bleu. It does nearly all the work for you, as indeed it is designed to, but it was so much more fun in many respects to be thrust entirely on one's own linguistic and common-sense resources when travelling through(I'm talking 1960's here)rarely <BR>visited parts of the world, like Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania and Thailand. I am surprised that no-one else on this thread has promoted this point of view. <BR>Personally, having been obliged by my travelling companion to adopt a more modern travel philosophy. I use LP, and <BR>Trade and Travel (in North America Passport Books). The newer editions are fine, and certainly save a lot of time, and no doubt money. <BR>As to the Oktoberfest, my advice as someone who lived in Germany for 15 years, is, forget it, and try to visit one of the many festivals held in other cities and towns throughout the year e.g. the biggest of all, Karneval or Fasching, held primarily in the Catholic areas (Bavaria, and States along the Rhine) in the last days preceding the start of Lent. <BR>