I mentioned a couple of years back and its worth mentioning again ... if you are homesick for western company or you want to meet up with some young female western company while you are out in the middle of nowhere, then by all means go to a place mentioned in Lonely Planet.

Certainly showing up on your own bike where others arrive by rancid public bus scores a lot of points with the average female backpacker, and I know of a number of bike trips that have picked up an extra passenger after staying at Lonely Planet listed accommodation for a couple of days.

So social opportunities for meeting western company is certainly one valid reason to carry a guide book.

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I have to agree. Lonely Planet hot spots are definitely the place to meet the ladeeeeeez !!

Maybe that's the only reason I keep buying them !!

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

A lot - but not all - of the books can be had on kindle, and you can keep a bunch on there without taking up a lot of packing space. And of course there is the internet.
Occasionally all the weight of this extra technology can keep a little weight down in books and repair manuals. And of course we can let everyoneknow where in the world we are.

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engjacques
09 R1200GS. 06 Royal Star Tour Deluxe

When you get to my age finding out where the local Gringo trail hotspots are is great for changing your paperbacks, sad really, but it comes to all those that have not been cut off in their prime so ride safe and start reading.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Agree with alot of what has been said before, it would seem that; the smaller company books are probably better - certainly more accurate, and actually researched in person, by the guides.

From my experience - although mostly a fair few years ago!

Footprint - the few that I have experienced have been pretty good

Bradt - good from my experience

Rough Guide - mixed opinion

LP - Would not bother with this again. Found several if not all the African based books I used/tried, inaccurate, out of date, completely rubbish and very biased towards companies/people/hostels/etc that sponsored them.
The Kenyan coverage was complete and utter nonsense, hopelessly inadequate, inaccurate and seemed to be based mostly on brothels and pick up joints.
I then had some direct experience of the LP Guides researcher in Namibia -had to be the most miserable freeloader I have ever had the misfortune to meet!
Expected everyone to run around and fawn over them. Get everything based around them, for them and bugger anyone else, and had to be the most miserable, boring, po faced shit I have met, no attempt to join in, cook or anything, apart from eat the food, drink the drink and do what they wanted when they wanted it!
In short I wouldn't wipe my ar%* with one!

Think thats it in a nutshell - just think its a shame that these books are what so many people rely upon.
So thank goodness for the internet, do your research, ask questions here in the Hubb or other appropriate forums, and if you can speak to travellers who have 'just' been there - peolpe travelling the opposite direction to yourself.

Happy travels and do the research

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ChrisC

Thats exactly it in a nutshell!

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