Travel to Australia

Lonely Planet Australia

Format: Paperback
Author: Paul Smitz
ReleaseDate: January, 2004
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Rating:

It is really really really bad travel guide!!!,
I can say that I am a witness of how much quality deteriorite it has been. I started to use Lonely Planet 15 years ago. I used to just buy it by default. It was a Bible for me. But, a BIG but, this Lonely Planet Australia set a new lowest standard for the series.

First of all, it had so old information. The hostels listed in the book in Sydeny probably were closed more than 5 years ago. One hostel in bondi beach that I wanted to go that was listed in the book. When I showed up in the hotel address, there was a internet cafý and pub. No hostel at all.

Second. The most unbelieveable of all, the book I have, which is 2004 version, has no mention at all about the Olympic Village in Sydeny. Oh my God! Sydney Olympic was in 2000. Can you believe that after 4 years, they still didn't update it? I was reading it again and again, before I throw this book away to trash can, I still didn't belive that they can omit all the information about Olympic, like the village, the boat to go there, like the stadium. . . they pretend that there is no such a thing!

I know that Lonely Plante started many years ago in Australia, by some Australian backpackers. So it is a REAL shame that Lonely Planet Australia is so bad. If there is negative score, I will give that. As one star is minimum, I have to give that. But my true belief is that this book deserves negative 5 stars!!!

.

Great book for big cities
This book had great information about where to stay, what to do, and great places to eat. On my recent trip to Australia, I only visited the typical big American tourist spots: Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns (Great Barrier Reef).

LP Australia provides lots of background and history for each city as well as information about what's been going on. It's almost like having your own personal tour guide. (Of course, when I was there this last December, they were having race riots at the beaches - so I avoided those. )

The only draw back is I think that the maps could have been a bit more clear as sometimes it was difficult to see where a hotel, site or food establishment was.

All on all, a great book. It came in very handy on my two week trip.

so far, so good
Of course, I haven't tested it out yet. I'm planning to go to Australia and have found some useful information in this book. The history and background included have set the stage for my other research. Some of the recommended lodgings seem a bit too cheap for me. I'm not a hosteler, I want a little comfort but I don't need to stay at the Ritz. Still, this book does have plenty of details on the sights to see and it serves as an overview of the country.

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

	Lonely Planet New Zealand
	Australia (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
	The Rough Guide to Australia 7 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)
	In a Sunburned Country