City Travel Guides > Books > Asia

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.Russia: A Journey to the Heart of a Land and Its People
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Jonathan Dimbleby

May 01, 2008
After quick first reading I have found how difficult it could be for a West foreigner to learn Russia without more or less good knowledge of Russian language. That is good lesson for Russian authorities if especially they want to attract investments more actively and thus to reopen the country, make it easier to be understood.

In many aspects, the book is full with illusions and stereotypes. The author as a representative of older generation tries to find answers for questions which have been relevant to this audience. This book heads into wrong direction. Worst of all, such the attitude is very close to position of official London.

For example, the author describes Mikhail Khodorkovsky as a man who "worked to create ... Read More:
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Used Price: £12.00

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.Thailand (Lonely Planet Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: China Williams, Aaron Anderson, Becca Blond, Brett Atkinson, Tim Brewer, Virginia Jealous, Lisa Steer

August 01, 2007
After quick first reading I have found how difficult it could be for a West foreigner to learn Russia without more or less good knowledge of Russian language. That is good lesson for Russian authorities if especially they want to attract investments more actively and thus to reopen the country, make it easier to be understood.

In many aspects, the book is full with illusions and stereotypes. The author as a representative of older generation tries to find answers for questions which have been relevant to this audience. This book heads into wrong direction. Worst of all, such the attitude is very close to position of official London.

For example, the author describes Mikhail Khodorkovsky as a man who "worked to create ... Read More:
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Used Price: £9.35

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.Wild China: The Hidden Wonders of the World's Most Enigmatic Land
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Phil Chapman

May 08, 2008
The book provides detailed information of the history, the culture, the wildlife, and the topography of China, with six chapters applicable to the wonderful BBC Wild China DVD. The maps are particularly good. There are many quality photographs, although a few of the best in the DVD have not been included. This book is worth purchasing, ideally with the DVD. The wealth of information presented by the Wild China team is excellent. After seeing the DVD, the book was a must buy. I'm delighted with it. I have a better insight and respect for this most ancient culture. The BBC team had unprecedented access to the rural areas. Previously so enigmatic, China is a land of extraordinary beauty with its magnificent landscapes, rich variety of wildlife, and ... Read More:
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Used Price: £12.17

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.India (Lonely Planet Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Joe Bindloss, Sarina Singh, Rafael Wlodarski, Amy Karafin, Paul Harding, Lindsay Brown, Mark Elliott, Simon Richmond, Virginia Jealous, Tom Spurling

September 01, 2007
and the best guide I've come across for India. Packed with detail and a reasonable cultural/ historical introduction. Maps are great, the timetables are pretty accurate, the opening times and prices are correct...

There are some very bad LP guides out there. Vietnam springs to mind. But LP India has been consistently good throughout the years. I think I've used 4 versions of the guidebook and have been pleased with the improvements everytime.

Obviously the negativities are that it is pretty big but how else are you supposed to cram in all that information.
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Used Price: £11.61

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.Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Greater Mekong (Lonely Planet Multi Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Nick Ray

September 01, 2007
This book covers Bangkok and the Centre and East (Issan) side of Northern Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Yunnan in China.

This is a very good loop for travelers who are going to be doing this circuit around Southeast Asia.

The book is too condensed for my liking though. The book is small and lightweight (about 1/2 size of the Thailand guide book) but with that compromises have had to be made. It therefore seems to be similar in content to the Southeast Asia guidebook for the areas it covers. I would have preferred the book to be the size of the larger guides and covered more detail.

The are also some quirks with the book. Although the sections (countries) have a similar look and feel there are major information ... Read More:
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Used Price: £8.46

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.Turkey (Lonely Planet Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Verity Campbell

April 01, 2007
I have visited Istanbul around nine times and Izmir about seven. This guide will really take you to the wrong hotels and restaurants. The cultural guide is ok despite a rather boring layout, esp. maps. But the restaurant suggestions are disasterous: where do you find Istanbul's best gourmet, Corne d'Or, or the intellectual bastion Yakup 2, or the best chicken and mezes in Istanbul (Hanedan), or the nostalgic charm of Istanbul's 1930's belle epoque (Rejans)? Instead mediocre places are recommended which will give the dogmatic reader a mediocre holiday. Also, Lonely Planet does not mention the new hotel in Izmir (Crowne Plaza Izmir) which receives raving critics. Does it not know of it yet? And no mention of restaurants like Bonjour, British Grill & Pub, ... Read More:
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.China (Lonely Planet Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Damian Harper

May 01, 2007
I have visited Istanbul around nine times and Izmir about seven. This guide will really take you to the wrong hotels and restaurants. The cultural guide is ok despite a rather boring layout, esp. maps. But the restaurant suggestions are disasterous: where do you find Istanbul's best gourmet, Corne d'Or, or the intellectual bastion Yakup 2, or the best chicken and mezes in Istanbul (Hanedan), or the nostalgic charm of Istanbul's 1930's belle epoque (Rejans)? Instead mediocre places are recommended which will give the dogmatic reader a mediocre holiday. Also, Lonely Planet does not mention the new hotel in Izmir (Crowne Plaza Izmir) which receives raving critics. Does it not know of it yet? And no mention of restaurants like Bonjour, British Grill & Pub, ... Read More:
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.Southeast Asia on a Shoestring (Lonely Planet Shoestring Guides)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: China Williams, et al

March 01, 2008
Lonely Planet - great for maps and local transport but thats about all! As any experienced traveller will tell you, the minute any restaurant, cafe or hotel gets it name in LP then its prices will double and the standards will half!
I also agree with some of the other comments here, why do they try so hard to be cool and why do they tell us what we should and shouldnt do?
An OK book but now and then leave it in your backpack and be adventurous.
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Used Price: £9.45

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.Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (Lonely Planet Country Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Simon Richmond

January 01, 2007
As travel guides go, this one combines three very different places... first there's Singapore with its very modern outlook. Then there's Malaysia bridging the vibrant outlook of Kuala Lumpur with the colonial history of Georgetown. Finally there's Brunei which is a whole lot more laid back.

In terms of contents, there's the usual details of history, etiquette, sights etc. There's also the usual combination of excellent maps with only the occassional mistake where a particular landmark has been put on the wrong side of the road. Restaurant and accomodation advice are as usual mixed (many are gone by the time you visit) but it certainly provides good ideas if you are struggling to find somewhere, and also tells you the general area to find stuff.

What ... Read More:
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.Trans-Siberian Handbook (Trailblazer)
City Travel Guides > Books > Asia
by: Bryn Thomas

July 25, 2007
If you are planning to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian, Trans-Mongolian or Trans-Manchurian railway, I URGE you to purchase this book! I cannot express how invaluable this book was to me during my trip.

The book contains a wealth of important information. It helps you to book your trip with suggestions of companies to go through as well as informing you of any complications that may arise such as visas, vaccinations. It has a stop-by-stop guide of the entire length of the railway for all 3 journies as well as kilometre markings and places of interest along the route outside of stops, for photo opportunities and such.

Inside of stops, for the bigger towns along the way it contains a map (very valuable) marking out places of interest such as hotels, Internet cafes, ... Read More:
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Used Price: £7.92