I travel a lot, and have found Lonely Planet guides to be a big help... I still do... granted, some of the info is inaccurate (particularly with prices), but every guidebook provides a caveat at its beginning to warn readers of unstable prices... generally the inaccuracies never amount to more a pitance.

I found the LP Spain book to be more useful than the Let's Go! Spain guidebook as the LP book had more background information, more listings for places to stay and more maps with better detail... unfortunately, as one of the other reviewers mentioned, this book and many of their other guide books are starting to refer you to other LP mini guides... they used to throw everything you needed between those covers, but these days you almost have to carry a small library around with you to get what a early 90s LP book would give you. Still better than Let's Go!, but for how long?...

My wife and I just completed a tour of some of the major cities of Spain. Before we went, we purchased this Lonely Planet rather than the individual city guides. Since we were part of a tour and merely wanted some supplemental information, we purchased this one.

The information they give on each of the sites and monuments is helpful. Although it didn't go into intense detail, you did get enough background historical information to make some sense. This book also gave us some good ideas of sites to see which the tour we took did not tell us about.

Some of the information is a little inaccurate, don't take this information as 100 percent correct. For instance, admission to the Capilla Real is 350 ptas and not 300. The hours were a little off also. We did find the maps to be pretty accurate. The walking tour of Madrid was a little more difficult to follow, but it could be done.

A fellow traveler had the Let's Go book for Spain and Portugal. Consistently, we found her looking at our Lonely Planet for better information.

I would recommend this book for a trip to Spain. Remember that it is supplemental and should not be taking as 100 percent accurate.

This book I found superior to competitors. Its maps were better and more detailed, allowing me to get aorund Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and the little towns of ALgicerias and La Linia without any trouble. It is a wonderful book and also has a wide variety of places to stay unlike some guidebooks which only have the most expensive or the cheapest(and most savage) places to stay. I was very happy when I found myself alone in Madrid to have this book.

This book contains elements that are truly excellent, however the quality is far too inconsistent and unfinished to recommend it wholeheartedly. Steinbeck, in his introduction, comments on how much he treasured Malory's _Morte d'Arthur_ as a boy, and stated that his goal was to rewrite the stories for a modern audience.

The first section or so is a rather dry retelling of the familiar events and battles. As Steinbeck progreses through the book though, he seems to wander from his goal to merely and faithfully retell Malory's stories; the tales he tells become more lighthearted and introspective as Steinbeck's natural instincts for storytelling take over. One chapter, "Gawain, Ewain and Marhalt" takes a brief chapter in Malory and makes it into a hilarious story that is over 60 pages long. The knights become very human, and Steinbeck appears to be gently mocking the chivalric code. He does offer far more insight into the characters of the knights than earlier writers ever did; we begin to understand why some of the events could have happened. However, when he gets to the affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, he bogs down permanently. For any reader who has wondered how on earth Arthur's favorite knight could have been having an affair with his wife - well, Steinbeck didn't seem able to answer that one either. He leaves us dangling with Lancelot in shameful tears over one stolen kiss - and then the book ends! I believe that Steinbeck could not reconcile his mixed feelings surrounding the downfall of Arthur's knigdom, and therefore he had to stop, and apparently never recovered the enthusiasm to continue.

This book has wonderfully entertaining and insightful elements, but it is obviously an unfinished work, and therefore cannot be considered as a truly significant addition to the Arthurian library.

This book is one of the best modern versions of the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table, along with T.H. White's The Once and Future King. This book achieve what Sir Thomas Malory left blank in Le Morte D'Arthur, psychoanalysis for the characters. The book excludes the Grail Quest and the final phases of the legend. I should say that I loved Steinbeck's perspective of Sir Lancelot.

This book, "The Acts of King Arthur and his Noble Knights, is a collection of vignettes (stories), each, a differnet tale of the knights and their quests for honor and fame. Some of the legendary characters in this book you may know of are King Arthur, Merlin, Sir Lancelot, and many other unique knights. Not only do these stories have adventure, they are also of romance, betrayal, hatred, and trust. My opinion, it's a very good book because it's realistic, yet it's a fantasy. For example, women are treated as though they weren't worth much and the battles have some of the same causes as today, such as greediness and people's beliefs. I also liked it because it is very adventurous and exciting with lots of interesting stories that are well written. King Arthur has many battles and knights fight for honor in these tales of virtue. One such battle is when King Arthur struggles to keep his kingdom when rebellious,greedy lords and dukes attack. This would be a good book for people interested in the Middle Ages and the Arthurian Legend. Therefore, I must say that I would definetly recommend this book to people who like adventure with a touch of histiory.

Unfortunately, this book fails to a overcome a gee-whiz attitude toward Guatemala. It seems as if the author and the destination were not a good fit, both in terms of analyzing the country and its culture, and in the quality of its writing, which is often choppy and non-sequitur--though this could also be an editing problem.
The apparent promotion--or at least tolerance--of drug consumption in Panajachel is unfortunate. Whether or not one agrees with the criminalization of marijuana or any other controlled substance, it is not a topic that should be treated so lightly in a country where the police have a reputation for corruption and the prospect of a jail term is truly frightening.

I have travelled to Guatemala, Belize and Honduras several times over the last 4 years. I met Conner at a friend's office in Guatemala City while she was researching and writing this book. My husband and I had a fantastic time visiting with Conner and sharing travel stories. I see from some of the other comments that readers felt that the book was rushed and not well researched. I know for a fact that Conner had lost valuable notes on the highlands while in another part of the country and was going back thru the highlands to rebuild her notes. I'm not surprised that this section is not complete. Additionally, I met Conner the day after the WTA Riots in Seattle, Washington. That was in December 1999. Things can change quickly in some areas of Guatemala. Other others don't ever change. Depending on the government. She did tell us of her harrowing hike to El Mirador. In general, when I reviewed the book, I found information to be OK.

However, I have found over the years we've travelled that the Rough Guide is more accurate. We have also met the writer for the Rough Guide, Peter Eltringham while travelling in Belize. Peter has a wealth of information and is brutally honest about what to expect. Especially if you want bus schedules, travel times for busses, dangerous areas. The Rough Guide makes sure that travel advisories are noted. For instance, the danger around the Lake Atitlan area for tourists. I've also found that the Rough Guide is considerable more accurate with regard to price ranges for accomodations. The maps that are included are also very good.

For those of you who have never travelled to Guatemala. It is a beautiful country. The people are poor but friendly. Just like travelling anywhere -- don't leave your better judgment at home. If it looks like a rough area, it probably is. We never travel at night. We always check with out local host/hostess at whatever accomodations that we are staying at for information about the area -- crime, areas to stay away from etc.

That said -- I've camped in the jungles at Mayan ruins. I've hiked into Salpeten. I've taken a pickup truck from Copan to the border of Guatemala, then the chicken bus to Chiquimula and then a bus to Guatemla City and to Antigua in one day. I've travelled overland from Belize City to Flores more times than I can remember. I'm looking forward to spending more time at Lake Atitlan, probably in Santa Cruz or San Marcos. Also, looking forward to Rio Dulce and Coban.

If you've never travelled independently before, I'd say get both books. The Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide. Both writers are experienced travellers. If you get hooked on travelling independently (that is no formal guide service) -- you'll start to develop your own resources.

While the other reviewers clearly know more about Guatemala than I ever will, I found this book much more helpful than the Rough Guide. The maps were easier to read, and the hotel places had prices, which was very helpful to me...

I just got back from a month in Mexico. The book was probably quite impressive back in the early 90's. However, many of the hotels and restaurants listed in the book have gotten so much business that they have lost what good attributes they originally had. Also, many of the prices quoted in the book were way off. The book prices were frequently one-half what the concierge or waiter quoted. The peso has not changed enough for a 5 dollar hotel room to become 12 or 15. Perhaps that is the risk one finds with any guidebook.

Museum hours were consistently incorrect, especially for Mondays, weekends and evenings.

This book might keep you out of trouble, but it is not the guide for a budget traveler.

Lonely planet guides are absolutely invaluable for the independant adventurous budget-minded traveler, and LP Mexico is no exception. Included are informative sections on pre-departure info, cultural tips, etc. I travelled extensively throughout Mexico with the 5th edition last year, and it really got me to explore some of the remote places I otherwise wouldn't have found- such as the silver towns of Guanajuato, Zacatecas and Taxco. Plus, out of the way beaches, hard-to-find ruins, centotes, you name it. They're covered. Don't borrow you'r friend's old dog-eared copy of the 3rd of 4th edition. Spend the money on the latest edition, because price info is almost always out of date within months after printing, and an older edition is usually hopelessly out of date. I found myself disregarding their accommodations recommendations, because once a place finds its way into the LP Guide, their visitor traffic usually increases exponentially, the staff gets surly, and prices go up. If you're just going to Cancun, Mazatlan, etc, skip this book, but if you're not afraid to venture out into the 'real mexico', grab it.

I have just returned to Norway after backpacking around in Latin America for a year (of course accompanied by the Lonely Planet book). I do not claim to be an expert, but I do know what I am looking for in a travel guide.

The Mexico guide is a good, complete guide. Filled with information, history and beautiful pictures about almost every corner of this gorgeous country. Reading the whole book gives you a good update on your history and geography knowledge! (Something to do if you are trekking around by bus like I did!)

I have always been satisfied with the LP guides. The information given is good, just what you need to get around. The only negative with this book (and the reason I give it 4 and not 5 stars) is that it was completely outdated on prices etc. Another thing (that goes for most of the travel guides) is that many of the hotels that are listed in the book has gotten so much (too much?) business so that the service is down to a minimum. This we found especially in Isla Mujeres where the price was the double of what the book said, and really lousy customer service, if any.

This is not it. Sorry. Not that it is an aweful book, but hardly comprehensive. Lonely planet's individual guides are passable, but what little savve they have is sadly editted out in this oversized under norished number. Having travelled in a good few of the countries mentioned here, I eventually ended up ditching the book and using photostats of the South American handbook, a vastly better publication. Remember that a guide book defines, to no small degree, how you see the places you visit. Following the lonely planet guides gives you great generic lonely planet experience. But if you want something more or different, the options aren't there. Sure, its colorful, and yes, it is useful as a map book, but as you only source of information on vast continent, follow the footprint

It is hard to concentrate so much information in a single book, covering all of South America from Colombia to Chile. Lonely Planet have tried and have done a good job, but the target was too ambitious... If you are literally running through South America with little time, and perhaps you don't want to carry the weight of too many guides, then do get this book. It is of some use, and offers interesting reading. Yet, if you plan to get to know each country more thoroughfully, you are much better off with Lonely Planet's (or other publishers') single guides on each individual country, and there are lots to choose from.

I have just returned to Norway after a year backpacking around in Latin America (of course accompanied by the Lonely Planet books). I do not claim to be an expert, but I know what I look for in a travel guide!

This edition of the LP South America did not disappoint me. (Please note that I used it only for Colombia, Ecuador and Perú). It is up to date on the information, and as with all the other LP books it is easy to find your way around with it. It includes maps over the big cities, good information about the hotels, restaurants, places worth visiting, and time schedules for bus, train etc.

You have to take into account that this is a guide that is meant to cover the whole South America so naturally it is not as detailed as the guides for each country separate. It is good as an overall guide if you plan to go to more than one or two countries, as you would try to cut down on the baggage you would have to carry around.

As for the prices for hotels and food, the book is not accurate.. But you cannot expect that. It is hard to keep up with all the changes, especially in the Latin American economy, where the inflation is "somewhat" higher than in the rest of the world. So, for prices, do your own research, or at least be prepared for changes! (We usually doubled the prices in the book and that gave us a good indicator of what to expect).

You will find that if you are walking around with the LP book under your arm, many of the local people will approach you and ask you if you need help. Say yes - even if you don't need help! It is a great opportunity to get in contact with the local people!

This book is a must on your travel!

I travelled through Russia from Magadan to Minsk one month in July/August 2000 and had the lp Russia, Ukraine & Belarus as a travel book. After having used several lp guide books I must say, that this one is a very bad one. The information is old, some at least 5 years, there are wrong or missing adresses of hotels and museums, wrong and inconsistent information about prices, locations and shedules and even some errors in the maps. Especially the prices for travel and accomodation given in the book are about twice the actual price. A lot of cheap hotels are missing but the book is just full of 5-star super-expensive hotels. The part about Siberia and the Russian Far East is much too short. But the worst thing about that book is - in my eyes - the sometimes really unrespectful and unfriendly (to the Russian people) language chosen especially in the captions and comments. I never read that before in a lp-book. One star for the good maps of Moscow and Petersburg and one because it is pretty much the only book covering whole Russia.

It is undoubtedly hard to write a good guidebook on countries like Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, where the situation has been changing daily for the last 12 years, in almost every aspect of life. Hotels, restaurants and other outlets change. Styles of life change, as do security and the uninspiring state bureaucracy. Yet, Lonely Planet has successfully overcome this challenge, and produced an excellent guidebook, perhaps only slight below its usual excellent standard. Information on Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, etc, is thorough and wise, and is a must for any traveler. The guidebook is perhaps weaker on other, more remote, regions of these three countries, as one would expect. The facts about the country (history, culture, etc) are of great interest and excellently written. This is definitely a book not to be left out of your baggage before you take off.

This review is a follow-up to my May 13, 2000 review and only addresses the Ukraine portion of this guidebook. My wife and I did spend our entire summer in Ukraine and used this guidebook as our travel bible. We found the information up-to-date and accurate. We also generally agreed with the advise which I think is remarkable since, with three months there, my wife took me to see just about everything the book suggested doing in Kiev and many things it merely discussed but did not recommend. Additionally we also traveled throughout western Ukraine for two weeks. In fact, we went on a group tour of western Ukraine and our guidebook turned out to be a big hit. Everyone on the bus wanted to read it. A fellow traveler who had brought Let's Go Eastern Europe 2000 with him agreed that Lonely Planet was much better. Until something newer comes out, with respect to Ukraine guidebooks I think Lonely Planet can't be beat.

A fair book. It is about the life and times of John Wesley Hardin. Please read it with a grain of salt. Mr. Hardin was not the hero he appears to be in the book. Some is fact but lot is fiction. He kills his first man at age 15, I think, then is really on the run from then on. He is quick with a gun and very good with a shotgun. He finally gets married and has two children. As usual, he is caught and pays the price, as set out by a judge and jury. Lots of shooting, lots of western clans involved. I am sure true to life at that time. Just don't believe he was as good as book leds one to believe.

Overall, I enjoyed Braun's Noble Outlaw. It was very well-written, and Braun managed to transform a thug with a nasty temper into a sympathetic and misunderstood Texas hero. Though I'm not so sure the men Wes Hardin killed would appreciate the author's skill, I enjoyed the book and intend to read more of Mr. Braun's work. I would, however, be careful and not use the term "Historical Fiction" too loosely, for according to my history books, Wes Hardin was no hero.

After reading this book, I wondered whether the authors are or were cops themselves. At least one of them (Crank) isn't, and never has been. This makes sense, because the ethics cases presented in this book are bland and barely skim the surface of what we (cops) go through every day. On the face of it, the ethics questions seem reasonable. To those of us in the profession, they are laughable. Sorry, but this book is another one of those written by college professors who don't really understand the world of the cop.

Excellant Book! A must read for all future employees of the Criminal Justice System. This reminds me of another book I just read and recommend, U.S. Customs Badge of Dishonor. Both of these books demonstrate just how tuff it is to be a cop.

I made the mistake of trying to travel in Brazil with this book. The new editions come out every couple of years or so, but really don't get updated much, which becomes obvious if you try to use the book extensively. Hotels are listed which closed years ago. Maps are next to impossible to use as they show only hotels and restuarants, not landmarks. Half a page will get devoted to the Carmen Miranda museum in Rio de Janeiro, which is freqented only by people who have read about it in LP, is next to impossible to find, and contains next to no history about her, and no artifacts apart from a couple of dresses. After a couple weeks of frustration (thankfully rescued with e-mail advice from Brasilian friends) trying to travel round Brasil with this book, a traveller I met gave me the Footprints guide, which is much more helpful.

The conventional wisdom is that you can't go wrong with Lonely Planet guide, but this Brazil guide proves otherwise. The new 5th edition is little changed from the 4th, except for 1) the new Natural Brazil section. Most travelers will find this section too dry and uninteresting, while those really interested in nature will find it too superficial 2) $5.00 higher price tag.
Useful things, such as info on hotels, restaurants, entertainment, and prices are too often inaccurate. The most annoying aspect of this guide is that all prices are out of whack. LP translated prices (some of which were probably 5 years old) into US dollars when the real was 2.2 per dollar. Now it is about 3.5.
All this raises doubts of whether or not the authors actually went to Brazil to update this edition and not just slapped on a new cover and threw in a new useless section. So, if you have the 4th edition, keep using it. If not, look into buying either the Footprints or the Rough guides. The high popularity of LP is another reason to go with something else. When you go to places recommended by LP, you are very likely to run into hordes of other backpackers clutching their LP guides like bibles and afraid to make a step on their own. On a positive note, the LP guide does have useful info about Brazil's history, economy, culture, society, film and literature.

I lost count of the number of errors in this book. They printed the wrong dates for Carnaval Samba Parades, the prices are in USD rather than in local currency - all wrong by an average 30%, as well. Hotels and restaurants are listed that closed long before the January 2002 publication date, and it's obvious that they haven't been to Brasilia in years - citing it as `treeless` - which I`m sure it was twenty years ago, but not today.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend a better Brazil guide because I don't have any experience with any others, but I enjoyed ceremoniously burning this book when I left Brazil.

The most disappointing is that other Lonely Planet Guidebooks (I have used 5 other ones) far exceed the standards that this one set.

For the most part, the author seems to have pretty good information for the time of the book's printing, but for anyone who wants to read this book on purely scientific terms, be warned; there are several places where the book goes awry, for example: the author states that tracks of tyrranosaurus indicate that it was a solitary animal, occasionally hunting in pairs. Problem: no tracks of a t. rex have been discovered to date, a decade and a half after the writing. Aside from that and a few other points, though, the book is good reading.