Travel to India

Frommer's India (Frommer's Complete)

Format: Paperback
Author: Pippa de Bruyn
ReleaseDate: 27 February, 2006
Publisher: Frommers
Rating:

Good
We ended up taking both the Frommers and the Loneley Planet guides. Before going to India we checked out every travel guide the library had. Each give a slightly different view. We were relatively happy with both of them. (I messed up on the stars, but the comment edit function won't let me change them. I would have given this 4).

You'll still need to buy another book...
However, once you get there, the book has a few shortcomings, for example:
1) Maps. I agree with the other reviewer that the beginning section on India is quite useful in providing tips to travelling in India. While there are maps of entire regions, there are very few city maps. So, through reading the book, I had been cautioned that taxi drivers may take more circuitous routes to my destination, but I nonetheless had no clue on how to get there myself.
2) Addresses. The book lists many great stores, but often does not give you more information than the street name or market name. This does not help when you're dependent on your taxi driver. On two occasions, I wanted to visit a store mentioned in the book, but never ended up finding it. One taxi driver did make a concerted effort (stopping three times on the road to ask), but we eventually ended up at a store where he would get commission because we couldn't find the store (also where a detailed map would come in handy).
3) Yoga. It is hard to believe that a travel book on India could hardly mention yoga or have any recommendations on where to go. I don't think it's even in the index (!).
On this trip, we also had the Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide, which were much more informative. The benefits of Frommer's are that it is a more recent (2004) edition and it weighs less (but buy maps!).

Don't go to India without this book!!!
Amen to that. Many times throught this book it mentions that India is not for the fainthearted. Please take this book and plan your trip well in advance to benifit from the best India has to offer. This book is very specific on where to eat, sleep and how to get around with minimal ripoffs. The introductory travel sections are manditory reading. You will receive advice on how to handle unwanted attention from rude men ("strike them")and advice on the water, ("do not open your mouth in the shower"). The guidebook will tell you what sights to avoid and the ones to go out of your way for. Each of India's states are discussed in detail. This book is well written with humor and bluntness and I found it fun to read even after our trip.

Related products:
click image or link for details on these India travel books.

	Fodor's India, 5th Edition (Fodor's Gold Guides)
	India (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
	Lonely Planet India
	The Rough Guide to India 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
	India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)