|
Lonely Planet Western Europe (Paperback) (平装)
by Loretta Chilcoat, Reuben Acciano, Fiona Adams
| Category:
Travel, Western Europe |
| Market price: ¥ 288.00
MSL price:
¥ 268.00
[ Shop incentives ]
|
| Stock:
In Stock |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Whether you're planning a whirlwind tour of 12 European countries in three weeks or intending to stay awhile, Lonely Planet Western Europe will get you started out on the right foot. |
| If you want us to help you with the right titles you're looking for, or to make reading recommendations based on your needs, please contact our consultants. |
|
| |
AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 6 items |
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-01-17 00:00>
This summer (2000) a friend and I traveled across Western Europe - Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Span and France. We only visited capital or major cities. I used Lonely Planet's Western Europe Guide and my friend used Lets Go Europe 2000. I assumed that since my book was exclusively on Western Europe it would have much more detailed information on the places we were visiting. However this was completely incorrect. Lonely Planet's Western Europe Guide was useless on the descriptions and information about tourist attractions in these cities whereas Lets Go was much better. Plus Lets Go had entries on many attractions that Lonely Planet did not even contained. Most importantly, Lonely Planet was hopelessly outdated. All the prices it suggested were incorrect and many restaurants recommended were closed. I got the feeling that they had not updated information recently. In contrast, Lets Go was much more up-to-date with accurate prices generally across the board. In short this reader recommends using Lets Go Europe 2000 over Lonely Planet's Western Europe Guide if a fellow traveler intends to visit the big cities of Western Europe.
|
|
|
Renee Melchert Thorpe (MSL quote) , Amlapura, Bali, Indonesia
<2007-01-17 00:00>
Completely absent are good details about points of interest and restaurants, especially in sections for Florence, Venice, Oxford. Many authors means varied levels of expertise, so while the Barcelona section pointed us to some good, non-touristic restaurants, the Italy section was appalling.
Example: The only restaurants Florence has to offer the independant traveller, per this guide, are a handful of places with Japanese on the menu (dead give-away locals aren't wasting their lira there), overpriced... I was glad to have my Europe by the Back Door with me, or I'd never have found the good authentic places in my brief stay there. In Rome, the restaurant choices are simply glossed over (oh, they do get specific about where to find McDonalds).
Simply, the guide just wasn't enough for our five country, six week stay. Was so glad for the other guides I brought along. A waste & a shame. LP has spread itself too thin... they are great for Asian destinations (and I have blindly and happily used them for many Asian travels), only sporadically good for Europe. Paris LP is excellent, for example.
|
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), Bavaria, Germany
<2007-01-17 00:00>
Extremely happy with Western Europe (from Lonely Planet). Glad my friend showed it & recommended it to me. I especially like the fact that it's very brief but includes many towns/cities. Not very comprehensive, but who wants to carry around a 5-volume of European cities? Sometimes, you happen to be in an area that you don't plan to visit, but would like to know if the area has anything to offer. And this book gives you such insight! Great in terms of having campsites of all the cities, as well as other reasonable accommodation. Highly recommend it to all. Wish I had found out about it sooner.
|
|
|
A reader (MSL quote), Lawrence, KS
<2007-01-17 00:00>
I have taken several extensive (3+months) trips to Europe and, having used most of the major European travel guides in the past, I have always been impressed with the relative superiority of LP. I think what most unhappy reviews of these travel guides miss is that these books are all tailored to a very specific market, i.e. "Let's Go" is not for anyone over the age of 30 who wants a serious, non-party oriented European trip; Rick Steves' targets middle-aged and older travelers who need hand-holding because they have little or no experience planning and executing trips abroad; Fodor's is for older adults for whom money is not a real concern; and Lonely Planet is for budget-conscious backpackers of most ages who are looking to spend the least money possible and don't mind roughing it a bit to see the sights. Therefore, you are not going to find the best restaraunts/ hotels in LP, you are going to find the cheapest reasonable local resources that often have an unusual or quirky twist.
From my experience, the LP directions on traveling to/from places, finding train stations, airports, etc. are the most useful thing about the book and well worth the price. However, they don't publish train timetables and don't pretend to give that kind of info because it often changes. You can look that up online. That said, there are some flaws in the books as far as clarity in descriptions for a few point-to-point connections, which can be bit confusing. The book can only cover so much, though. All in all, I've had few hitches in using these guides and highly recommend them to other travelers.
|
|
|
Econ PhD Student (MSL quote), Cornell University
<2007-01-17 00:00>
The Lonely Planet guide book series is by far the best set of books I have found for travel. Let's Go, Rough Guide, Frommer's, etc do not live up to these books. LP offers a great blend of interesting facts (history, etc) with the travel information that we all really want.
I am a student who spent the summer of 1999 traveling through Europe - poor, but free. I did read a number of other books before and durring the trip, and will always buy Lonely Planet as they have impressed me as being the best, hands down. If you want to go on a drunken tour, buy Let's Go and end up in the same run down American hostels and American bars as the rest of the American students, but take my word, you will have enough ability to do that with LP, but you will not be forced to either. LP will help you to actually experience the culture, and take in a more European version of Europe than Let's Go, and still give you the opportunity to party like a rock star when you want - its up to you.
It is the most complete and most versitile book I have found. It will cater to budget and intermediate travelers of all ages and groups. I will buy the same series even when I can afford nice resturants and hotels, because LP tells it all.
The same experience is true for my trip this last spring to Ireland. Lonely Planet Ireland is as good as Western Europe, but more detailed.
|
|
|
Jeff Rutsch (MSL quote), Oakland, CA United States
<2007-01-17 00:00>
Lonely Planet is definitely the guidebook to beat, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it ahead of the others.
However, buyers should be aware of a few problems. The first is the popularity of the Lonely Planet guides...since they're so popular, following the guides too closely steers you entirely to the same well-recommended hostels, restaurants, and so forth, that every other LP reader goes to. These institutions start specifically aiming themselves at the LP crowd. Definitely loses some of the cultural experience, and well-reviewed hostels are something like an American/Australian frat party. I'd view the Lonely Planet guide as a necessary evil. It's very convenient, but their recommendations are self-defeating, especially in the more heavily-touristed areas.
Secondly, most people visiting Europe seem to be doing massive every-big-city-in-three-week tours. This guide is suited for that, but for those spending more time in the indivisual countries, definitely buy the single-country guide.
|
|
|
|
1 Total 1 pages 6 items |
|
|
|
|
|
|
