Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > sub-Saharan Africa
sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 13 Jan 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12
What's the score with Lonely Planet's budgets in the Africa guide?

Er, yeah. A few countries they list in that guide, they suggest you arm yourself with anywhere from $50-100USD a day. And yet Wikitravel, people here, people on the Lonely Planet forum all speak of it doing much cheaper. We're ignoring fuel (not relevant to me) and visa costs here -- food, water, accom. and other day-to-days are what I'm talking about.

Who's right? Do Lonely Planet factor in tours? There's no break down that I can see, anyway, of how they reach that figure. Their Lonely Planet index, which tells of the price for bottles of water, condoms, obscure local foodstuffs and such doesn't really explain how they could hit $100. Or do they have a ... standard? Are they above the grotty $5-a-night holes with bathrooms that look as if someone's just casually let off a grenade in them (yeah, I've seen photos from someone's Ethiopia/Somaliland jaunt)?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 13 Jan 2008
mattcbf600's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 706
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJ86 View Post
Er, yeah. A few countries they list in that guide, they suggest you arm yourself with anywhere from $50-100USD a day. And yet Wikitravel, people here, people on the Lonely Planet forum all speak of it doing much cheaper. We're ignoring fuel (not relevant to me) and visa costs here -- food, water, accom. and other day-to-days are what I'm talking about.

Who's right? Do Lonely Planet factor in tours? There's no break down that I can see, anyway, of how they reach that figure. Their Lonely Planet index, which tells of the price for bottles of water, condoms, obscure local foodstuffs and such doesn't really explain how they could hit $100. Or do they have a ... standard? Are they above the grotty $5-a-night holes with bathrooms that look as if someone's just casually let off a grenade in them (yeah, I've seen photos from someone's Ethiopia/Somaliland jaunt)?
Hi Chris - can you point me in the direction of exactly where Lonely Planet are saying this... can't spot it... sorry!
__________________
------------------
http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13 Jan 2008
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 12
Look at the intro page for each country. Where they give the vitals -- currency, capital, borders and such. Many sit around the $40USD mark. A handful weigh in at $100USD.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13 Jan 2008
mattcbf600's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London, England
Posts: 706
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChrisJ86 View Post
Look at the intro page for each country. Where they give the vitals -- currency, capital, borders and such. Many sit around the $40USD mark. A handful weigh in at $100USD.
Ahhh got it - thanks :-) Mmmm how odd - even Russia is only $80 per day...

m
__________________
------------------
http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 14 Jan 2008
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,898
The LP has shifted their target audience a lot over the years. When studying those sorts of projections, look at the back of each country section to see how they are defining things like "budget accomodation" for that country. Often you see things like "budget" hotel rooms at $60....which will surely skew your daily figures. The guidebooks in general really seem to cater more to the $150 a night, fancy dinner every night, guided tours at every stop sorts of folks.

I assume they have done their homework and that these are really the people buying their books, but it seems to apply less and less to me personally.

enjoy,

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 14 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
Wow!

Well Matt,on that kind of Budget you can live like a King!!!!!!!! espacially here in Spain if you want to Splash out.......you can do Menu del Dia, usually 3 courses and includes a bottle of wine for 7 Euros. (I usually ask if i can take the wine for later as I am driving and they ALWAYS say yes......... I actually don't drink, but I have friends who do! it is nice to sit round the fire later on & offer a glass or two to your buddies)

My Daily Travel Budget in Spain goes Like this:

Breakfast: 2 Cafe con Leche & Half a Baguette Toasted with Tomato & Olive oil 2.50 Euros

Lunch Menu del Dia: 7-8 Euros

Evening, Just a snack. bread/ cheese/ olives & Alcohol free 4 Euros

Fuel 10 -15 Euros depending on what Im doing.....

Camping FREE

so a Budget of 30 Euros a day would see me right. and I wouldn't have Menu del Dia every Day.... maybe every other day. I do like to eat light during the day, especially in Summer...... and have my main meal Spanish style at about 9pm or even 10pm at night....... sometimes later in August if its 40 degrees for a few days on end!

Martyn
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Hindu1936's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Yongin, South Korea
Posts: 327
Okay Martyn! Let's talk a bit more about that free camping! My ears are perked up, I am salivating, and my eyes are growing bloodshot just thinking about free camping. We have located some cmapgrounds that are in the 8 euro bracket, but free is better. thanks

joe
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
beaches....... secluded...OK?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hindu1936 View Post
Okay Martyn! Let's talk a bit more about that free camping! My ears are perked up, I am salivating, and my eyes are growing bloodshot just thinking about free camping. We have located some cmapgrounds that are in the 8 euro bracket, but free is better. thanks

joe
secluded beaches, not in main resorts....but just 'outside' of them you can usually camp for free......
there are sometimes signs saying NO CAMPING or 'Acampar Prohibido' but in all honesty as long as you dont make a nuisance of yourself, or light fires or leave litter or be noisy....... no one cares a fig if you camp.

I have camped in a Van on the Beaches at Monsul in Cabo de Gata & the police came round at 9am to move the 30 or so vans parked up...... gave a few tickets to the stroppy guys, but as soon as they discovered I was English & 'Couldnt' Speak Spanish...... they gave up and said in what little english they had.... 'no sleep aqui, no sleep aqui' (no sleep here) Acampar en Pueblo! ( camp in the Village, in a car park, or park)

also if your discrete no one bothers you...... the Spanish have a saying "Oh yes....... we HAVE those laws........but......." meaning, we take stuff all notice!

so be discrete, no litter, fires, or parties and you will be ok. ( the Spanish on the otherhand are as noisy as hell)

You might think i contradict myself on the fires thing from what I said on my earlier post........ well, its like this...there are special places for lighting fires. barbecue places. if you light a fire in one of them, your ok, if you just do it on a beach..you could be asking for trouble......... just to clarify ! :thumbs:

Martyn
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Hindu1936's Avatar
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Yongin, South Korea
Posts: 327
Thank you Martyn. I have managed to do that on a bicycle where I could hide my bike by laying it down, but with a big machine that once laid down requires two elephants and a diesel truck to get back up, I've been a bit leery about free camping.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sax, Spain
Posts: 901
Cammo net.....

folds down small....... fits in a stuff sack........

or a bike cover in a very plain colour ( like beige) that you can 'cammo' with some spray cans in earth tones.......

and for sleeping either a HAMMOCK or a bivi bag........

Dont be beat......

martyn
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: London
Posts: 249
Lonely planet blows...its really really is getting bad. I dont know if its LP or the people who feautre in it (who suddenly hike their prices) or both...but you are right...$100 a day? i could travel UK based for that. How silly.

Bought a rough guide today and really impressed with it, much thicker, much more writing and much cheaper. The tunisia guide was a 1cm thin and £15.99.
__________________
Thanks
Joe
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Philadelphia, US
Posts: 646
Your Sterling are better spent on strippers in America than on the LP guidebooks...they definitely are catering to a different crowd.

They come in handy for lodging recommendations when you arrive in capital cities, BUT you can research that for free on the Thorntree online forum...PLUS its more up to date than the guidebook quote often...

HTH
__________________
edde
93 BMW K75s
www.motoedde.com
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 17 Jan 2008
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,898
I've been complaining about LP guidebooks since I first saw one in use several decades ago....but I always seem to find myself carrying one (sometimes more) wherever I go. A month ago I left my cheap, convenient room in Ceuta (not listed in the LP, of course), crossed into Morocco and didn't notice until the following morning in Meknes that I'd left the guidebook behind. Three weeks later I swung back through on the way to the ferry and found that the Berber chambermaid had carefully set it aside. She gave it to me and turned away to carry on with her work, and I actually had to call her back to offer a tip—not my usual experience in Morocco.

Traveling without a guidebook was interesting for sure, reminding me greatly of travel before such things existed (before the internet, too, if it matters). I don't really like doing internet research enroute, and I speak only a bit of French but no Berber or Arabic. Sometimes I did better without the excess of highly-suspect information and inaccurate maps the LP provides; other times I missed out entirely on interesting stops and side trips. Often, the places I overnighted were chosen of laziness or exhaustion, and I might've done better chosing from those endless LP listings. The mere fact that I often had no idea where I was headed, how long it might take to get there or what would await once I arrived led to some worthwhile experiences....but it also led to some uncomfortable times, without apparent redeeming qualities. Since I was on a motorbike, the absence of information was sometimes dangerous as well; anyone who's toured after dark in single lane Moroccan roads shared with transport lorries and varieties of pedestrians and animals plus other drivers will know what I mean.

On the other hand, I spent no time at all with my face buried in those foolish maps, trying to interpolate directions to my chosen "budget" lodgings or the recommended internet cafes. Not once did I look up from perusing my guidebook in some sort of bar or eatery and notice that it was populated primarily by other tourists, dressed much like myself, glancing up furtively from their own, identical guidebooks. I saw some interesting places and met people I would've missed had I any clue where the consensed points of interest were located. And I found it a real relief not to have to listen to myself complaining about the peculiar tastes and likely mental and emotional disabillities of LP guidebook authors at every turning.

I will continue to try to resist the temptation to think myself greatly superior to those who have never mistakenly left their LP guide behind for a few weeks, though I admit this is terribly tempting at times.

enjoy,

Mark
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 18 Jan 2008
MetusUK's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England
Posts: 72
Lonely Planet?... Lying Planet

Having used both the Rough Guide and the Lonely Planet books before, I personally find that the Lonely Planet is crap. I wouldn't use it, it's awful... Rant over. I do use the rough guide, but mainly just to put me in the 'cheap' hotel 'district' (cos they are always all together) so I can nose around myself, so I really do use it as a 'Rough Guide'
__________________
Bonis Se Aliovorsum Avertentibus Hic Crescit Pravitas
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Books for and about Motorcycle Travel BklynDakar Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 71 20 Apr 2007 22:45
Michelin 953 & LP West Africa Guide Book For Sale Huey TRAVEL Equipment for Sale / Wanted 0 6 Jan 2004 14:15

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 02:41.