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anabelle0 · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Portland, OR

Hello everybody,

I am new to this forum, though I've been reading entries for the past month or so. Here's the scoop...I'm planning a trip to Latin America sometime next summer. I'm going to start in Mexico where a friend of mine lives and then was hoping to head down the continent. I want to start doing research on the countries to find out what I want/don't want to see. I only have vague ideas right now. Does anyone have any suggestions of where to go or of good guide books? I haven't heard great things about the Lonely Planet. Thanks a bunch!

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Have you gone down to the local bookstore and flipped through their selection of travel books? I think that although Lonely Planet has some big flaws, there isn't going to be much better in the way of all-inclusive general travel guides.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2005 2:33 am Post subject:

The Rough Guide ain't bad, as far as these things go.

The problem is that you'll either have to get quite a few, for the most detailed info, or get a general South America one, which is so general as to miss out a lot of what you're buying it for. This is true whether it's the Lonely Planet, the rough guide, or whatever..

Justin

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

What I usually do is borrow the outdated versions of Lonely Planet or Rough Guide from my local library if I have lots of time before travelling. Then, closer to the time, there is usually an updated version ready for purchase. I think Lonely Planet is better for accommodation, but Rough Guides have some good advice for getting to places off the beaten track that LP doesn't. All guide books (and in fact, advice from fellow travellers) are subjective opinions, so a lot of what you will read or hear can be open to interpretation, and in fact, sometimes completely wrong.

Good luck! Very Happy

Lozwich.

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

lets not forget about 2nd hand book stores. I found buying even last years at way less than 1/2 the price worth it. Read them then take them back for a credit. You can then choose which one was closest to what you're looking for.
I purchased books for Panama and Nicaragua from a bookstore in Costa Rica. They cost me about $2.50 a piece !

good luck in your travels
d

anabelle0 · Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 6 Location: Portland, OR

Thanks a lot for the feedback. I appreciate it. Laughing