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Rating: 
- A very useful book
I bought the 4th edition (2006) of this book, not as a travel companion, but to help me decide whether to take a trip to California. The hotel prices are more up to date now, and this is one factor which was important to me as one of my aims in reading this book was to assess the cost of a possible trip. I found the introductory sections on Environment, History and Culture really interesting, I think the thoroughness of the background information is one of the areas in which LP excel. I looked at the practicalities - food, transport, etc., and I read the sections on San Francisco and the National Parks. Despite finding the descriptions of the National Parks very tempting, the book has not yet persuaded me that California is the place for me. This might be an unusual result of reading a travel book, but it is precisely because LP present so much informative detail that I was able to come to this conclusion.
Rating: - Excellent guide that contains a few real gems
I used the previous version of this guide for a six week trip through California, Vegas, Nevada, Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. I never have found a guidebook so useful. Anza-borrego National Park, Zion Nat. Park (Angels Landing), Valley of Fire State Park, Ventena wilderness. are all places that I'd never heard of before but visited because of this guidebook - All fantastic places.
Enough was covered on the Grand Canyon for me to arrange a camp site in the Canyon itself - no mean feat because of the demand.
Highly recommend this to anyone on a California, Nevada + Canyons trip
Rating:
- OK, But needs updating
Although the book boasts 'www upgrades' on the cover, there is currently no update available. The hotel information appears to be VERY out of date, so the price guides are a waste of time. The book does not really reference the www, but at least it's not as uptight as the rough guides
Rating: - Comprehensive backpacker's guide
All you need to know for planning a trip on limited time and budget: good list of budget to mid-priced accomodation for most towns and cities, concise guides for all places of interest, good introduction and background of the region, suggested itinery is good for reference, but lack of photos, and poor quality maps: insufficient maps for motorists.
- A very useful bookI bought the 4th edition (2006) of this book, not as a travel companion, but to help me decide whether to take a trip to California. The hotel prices are more up to date now, and this is one factor which was important to me as one of my aims in reading this book was to assess the cost of a possible trip. I found the introductory sections on Environment, History and Culture really interesting, I think the thoroughness of the background information is one of the areas in which LP excel. I looked at the practicalities - food, transport, etc., and I read the sections on San Francisco and the National Parks. Despite finding the descriptions of the National Parks very tempting, the book has not yet persuaded me that California is the place for me. This might be an unusual result of reading a travel book, but it is precisely because LP present so much informative detail that I was able to come to this conclusion.
Rating:
- Excellent guide that contains a few real gemsI used the previous version of this guide for a six week trip through California, Vegas, Nevada, Grand Canyon and Monument Valley. I never have found a guidebook so useful. Anza-borrego National Park, Zion Nat. Park (Angels Landing), Valley of Fire State Park, Ventena wilderness. are all places that I'd never heard of before but visited because of this guidebook - All fantastic places.
Enough was covered on the Grand Canyon for me to arrange a camp site in the Canyon itself - no mean feat because of the demand.
Highly recommend this to anyone on a California, Nevada + Canyons trip
Rating:
- OK, But needs updatingAlthough the book boasts 'www upgrades' on the cover, there is currently no update available. The hotel information appears to be VERY out of date, so the price guides are a waste of time. The book does not really reference the www, but at least it's not as uptight as the rough guides
Rating:
- Comprehensive backpacker's guideAll you need to know for planning a trip on limited time and budget: good list of budget to mid-priced accomodation for most towns and cities, concise guides for all places of interest, good introduction and background of the region, suggested itinery is good for reference, but lack of photos, and poor quality maps: insufficient maps for motorists.