[laureln]

I'm going backpacking for the second time and looking into buying a travel book. The first time I went Let's Go seemed to be the book that everyone relied on. However Lonely Planet also has a good reputation as well. Any thoughts or suggestions. Price doesn't really matter.

[musicdisciple]

I absolutely loved the Lonely Planet Germany book I had, and absolutely hated the LP Europe on a Shoestring book. The Shoestring book just tried to cover too many places. For cities with 20+ hostels it would list 2 or 3, but it also listed 5 star hotels. It was just trying to do too much. The Germany book was good though. It listed some restaurants that didn't exist anymore, but generally it covered the sites and local info pretty well.

Check to see if you local library has a few of the travel guides you're considering so you can compare them side by side before you buy one.

[laureln]

Yeah lonely Planet is good for Specific areas but I'm looking to purchase a book on Europe in General. All Lonely Planet has to offer at the moment is Europe on a Shoestring for a general book on Europe. I'm not sure about the other brands such as Frommers and Rick Steves and suggestions would be great!!!

[musicdisciple]

LP's Europe on a Shoestring is a waste of paper. The Western and Eastern Europe books would probably be a step up. I don't know if it'd be a big enough step though. For hostel listings this website beats any book.

[HP_Lovecraft]

To be honest, I don't care for LP books at all. They are a bit "upscale" for me, and don't reflect the backpacking community at all. They do a poor job listing resources that backpackers would need: Like hostels, groceries, laudromats, internet, public transportation, etc, and instead focus on cultural aspects.
Thats great, and it makes for a good read, but I don't trust LP books enough to get me comfortably through my destinations.

LG is at the opposite end. Its specializes in listing the resources that backpackers would need. A good example is that my LG-Ireland book lists more hostels then my "HOstels of Ireland" book.
But, LG lacks in content, and culture. Its strictly "nuts and bolts". The maps are also terrible.

The Rough Guides are the best for me. They don't waste pages talking about fine restaurants and castle hotels that I will never afford like with LP, but add far more relevant content then is found in LG.
And, they make a book for Europe, which is fantastic.

nick

[renagel]

i like let's go
i'd get a lonely planet city guide but that's it

[ctnightowl]

Another vote for Lets Go. I do most of my planning online but love to carry Lets Go with me. Eyewitness travel guides are great too!

[laureln]

For a book I'm looking at it to tell me more about places to visit and sights to see then hostel info. That I info I can find pretty easily online.

[renagel]

where are you going?
i'd recommend Rick Steves

[laureln]

I'm heading to Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Chech Republic, and Italy

[renagel]

i bought the rick steves best of europe 2005 last year. have you checked out this years edition?

[skate1968]

I used the BUG Britain and Ireland book while in Dublin, Belfast and Derry. I found it to be accurate. Furthermore if i found any information to be non-current I am confident that Tim would update it before next release.

And as Music said, "no book has a more current and comprehensive guide to hostels than this website."

This site does an excellent job whereas other list only the travel resources which provide sponsor revenue. Other forums will leave on "traveler's recomendation" posts which are nothing more than Spam in disguise.