Travel to Central America

Lonely Planet Panama

Format: Paperback
Author: Scott Doggett
ReleaseDate: November, 2001
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Rating:

Excellent Guide, but Politicized and Ethnocentric.
Would I recommend it? Absolutely! Unfortunately, Lonely Planet, failed to edit the author's crude, narrow-minded, self-righteous, self-serving commentary. Lonely Planet, probably has the most up-to-date, comprehensive, practical guide for Panama, currently available. The author also glosses over or totaly ignores pertinent information. Personal politics and self-aggrandizement have little, if any place in a travel guide, and when it exists in such a publication, it suggests a lack of empathy for, and or understanding of, other people and their cultures. The shortcomings of Lonely Planet's guide, noted above, mar an otherwise excellent publication. For the typical "Ugly American" wanting to "Do" Panama, the Lonely Planet guide should prove more than adaquate. If on the other hand, you are an open-minded traveler capable of independent thought, you might consider, also obtaining, "Getting to know PANAMA" by Michele Labrut, a former press attache to the French Embassy in Panama. Written with class, mature intelligence and a sense of respect for Panama and it's People, "Getting to know PANAMA", not only fills the gaps in the previous guide, it is also an excellent travel guide in it's own right and an outstanding source for unbiased information.

Tourism or Colonialism
It is actually offensive in some parts with it's colonial nature. Having traveled for 3 months in Panama, I found the guide to contain many opinions and to be extremely judgemental. Also very ego heavy. The author believes his opinions to be golden.

A big dissapointment.
The Panama yellow pages is a much better book.

Go buy the Ulysesses guide.

Helpful Guidebook but Not a Bible
As the owner of a first and only backpackers hostel in David City,Panama (The Purple House) . . . I see many people carrying this useful book around and it seems to be a great help to many. My only complaints about the book (not the writers' fault) is that 1) we are not in it yet because we weren't open at the time of his research. 2) the city of David is not made to sound attractive as a place to visit. There are lots of things to do here that arenýt listed. Of course, that too is Not the writers fault, he can't possibly visit everything the way a person like me can. I have lived here for more than 3 years so I have been able to collect alot of information over that time.

As with any guidebook, it should be used as a guide and not a bible, definitely worth buying and carrying, its the best book for Panama.

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