5 comments about Fodor's Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Peninsula 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. My girlfriend and I took this book with us on our trip to the Yucatan and it proved to be an excellent resource! The reviews and suggestions were spot on and up to date. Unlike many guide books this one is updated annually which Is very important in a country like Mexico where things change quickly. I also appreciated the personal input and data for sites, activities, restaurants, lodging - it was great having personalized traveling advice. I also like the way the book is laid out making it easy to navigate. This guide was our constant companion and advisor and proved an invaluable resource. The trip would not have been the success it was with out this book! Also pick up a copy of the thriller A Tourist In The Yucatan great beach read!



2. We just got back from a week in Tulum and Cancun. Visited major archaelogical sites in the area, including Chichenitza. This guide states that visitors can climb the main pyramid at Chichenitza though that has not been the case since 2005 when a tourist died from a fall there (the guide includes an old photo of two tourists descending the steps). The restaurant recommendations in Tulum were also quite touristy and did not represent the best food available there.



3. We found a few little gems that were worth the price of the book, most notably, a little museum in downtown Cancun. We were the only ones there and we loved it.



4. I looked at Fodor's, Frommer's, and Lonely Planet for the Yucatan. I found that Lonely Planet concentrated more so on backpackers, and Frommer's was much harder to navigate. Overall, Fodor's was the best. Some parts are outdated, which is natural in a high tourist environment like Cancun. Some restaurants have been replaced with others, and some prices have gone up than what's listed. Navigation is very easy through the book, the reviews were quite good, and suggested itineraries were very helpful.



5. In addition to the outdated info about climbing the pyramids at Chichen Itza, this book also recommended the ruins as Coba as being lightly visited. I just returned from a trip to the Yucatan in Jan 2008 and by 10 a.m. Coba looks like Grand Central Station in Manhattan. Extremely crowded and the narrow paths through the site only emphasize the crowd. Also the Avalon Grand Cancun was listed as beachfront. While technically correct, there is no beach access since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The Caribbean comes right up to the hotel wall. Closest public beach access is a 20 minute walk and is not open 24 hours a day.

5 comments about The People's Guide to Mexico (Peoples Guide to Mexico).

1. This is one of the best and most comprehensive books I have seen about travelling in Mexico. It is full of interesting cultural facts, points about etiquette, and even how best to haggle with vendors without insulting anyone. It was recommended by our University's Study Abroad Director and was well worth the investment. Would advise anyone going to Mexico to buy this book and study it well.



2. If there's Rick Steve in Europe, There are these Carl & Lorena(authors) in Mexico. Unlike any other guide books, there are nothing you should omit. This is my first time i read every single words in the book.



3. Sometimes a book can go beyond the limitations of the genre, much as a comedy can reveal deeper truths or music can inspire you to reflect on your life. "The People's Guide to Mexico" transcends the normal limitations of the travel guide to offer deeper truths about life itself to those who wish to experience them.
   
   Few books are so meaningful that one can read them several times and always remain entertained, challenged, and inspired. The cooking section alone is worth the price of the book. I refer to it frequently when cooking Mexican food dishes. But the author's perspective on life, experiences, and advice continue to provide new truths every time I read it.
   
   Some of you are probably thinking I must be nuts to rant and rave about how brilliant a travel guide to Mexico is. I can hear you thinking, "Dude, it's not the Bible. Chill." Just read it. Seriously, give it a shot. I think at worst you will find it a series of entertaining stories about some hippies who lived in Mexico. But I think if you open your mind to the deeper truths it offers, it will be worth it.
   
   I try when I write reviews to give readers the positive and negatives of whatever I'm reviewing to make the review as helpful, accurate, and balanced as possible. Of this particular book, I can't think of any criticism of it at all. That says a lot.



4. Well written and useful, with information and comments you might not see elsewhere. Sometimes a little more chatty and anecdotal than I'd hope for in a practical guide, and skewed a bit maybe to the backpack and VW Microbus crowd, but it's never dull reading. I would bring this book to Mexico for sure, but I would bring other, more conventional, guides along also.



5. I've lived in a 23ft travel trailer since 2000. Space is obviously limited, so periodically I gather all the books I've acquired and sell or give them away.
   
   All, that is, with one exception--the People's Guide. I bought an early edition in the mid 70s and have purchased every edition since to read and reread. Franz is an astute observer of culture and master story teller who writes with a knee-slappingly funny and outrageous style.
   
   The People's Guide is simply the most informative, instructive and entertaining book I've ever read.

No comments about Fodor's Puerto Vallarta 2008: With Guadalajara, San Blas, and Inland Mountain Towns (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1 comments about One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico (101 Towns).

1. One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in Mexico
   
   What a fantastic resource for discovering the hidden gems of Mexico. We're planning a trip south, where the dollar will still deliver good value, and are thrilled that we found this book. It's packed with beautiful photographs, informative summaries, a selection of hotel and restaurant recommendations in each location and a regional index to help the reader/traveler organize and plan an itinerary. It covers the places we're all familiar with, but this book also reveals a whole new Mexico that you don't hear much about from the travel websites and agents.
   It's not the sort of book you take with you. It's one you want to have before you plan. Who knew about the turquoise lagoons of Bacalar? Or the "dance of the fliers" in Papantla? If you're looking for an exciting and exotic cultural adventure or just wanting to know more about Mexico, get this book!

5 comments about Mexican Spanish: Lonely Planet Phrasebook.

1. My wife and I went to Mexico to get married and we are not Spanish speakers. This handy book is first class and here are the reasons why:-
   
   The book is small enough to easily fit into a coat or shirt pocket.
   
   It has drawings of common situations with arrows pointing at items in the drawing with the Mexican word highlighted (how much easier could they make it)
   
   The sections in the book are colour coordinated according to the situations you may find yourself (reservations,dining,partying... etc. Flick to the section and then use the obvious sentences to converse around the subject.
   
   Pronunciation and grammar are explained clearly at the start of the book and all the words in the book are laid out phonetically (the only way you are going to get this wrong is if you can't read)
   
   In conclusion, a first class guide, when we showed the book to the locals in Mexico they wanted to know if they could buy it in Mexico as they didn't think they could. They loved the pictures and even chipped in to help with correct pronunciation if we went astray.
   
   The Mexican slang in the book is spot on, the Mexicans couldn't believe that some of the words were in the book.
   
   When I go back to Mexico this book will be in my pocket, don't leave home without it.
   
   Highly recommended



2. This little book is packed with valuable information and advise when traveling in Mexico.I found the phrases useful and adequate. The book covers every thing from buying groceries to ending up in the Doctor's office. The size of the book is also a plus since it fits into small purses and fanny packs. In 06,I spent a month in Mexico going to village to village and found this book immensley helpful. Go for it!



3. I used to speak pretty fluent Spanish when I was in high school, but with years of neglect and non-use, I've become a bit rusty. This book is a great refresher on key phrases and structure, and will fit in your pocket quite easily.
   Don't expect to have a long, involved conversation using this book (only reason I gave this a 4), but if you're going on a trip, there are plenty of phrases to help you out in MANY types of situations. The scenarios in this book are QUITE comprehensive. I also have the Lonely Planet Japanese handbook which is also quite good.



4. Mexican Spanish is a book I bought because I live in an area where there are many Mexican people. I have been trying to learn enough of their language to "get by". This book could be a tremendous help.
   
   However, it is printed in very small print, as the book itself is pocket sized, a nice size to carry with me. The small print is understandable but the pastel colors of the text is more than difficult to read, especially since the print is so tiny. I think whoever put this book together was going for "attractive" but what I need most is black text!
   
   Otherwise, I would reccommend this book to anyone who has some Spanish, surely not to someone who has not done at least a little studying of the language.
   
   The book is well designed, just, harping on it again, the text needs to be black or at least dark red, navy blue, dark brown, dark green - to differentiate subjects. It is almost impossible to see the tildes and accent marks. One needs a magnifying glass! The italics that are supposed to tell one which syllable of the words must be accented for correct pronounciation, again, are almost impossible to detect.



5. I think these books are perfect for any traveler. With the Spanish language being so unique to each country, the phrasebooks allow you to familiarize yourself with a specific Latin American region. I used the Costa Rican book last year when I visited and found it so useful that I left it with my friend who had just moved there. She found it so helpful that she still carries it with her everyday in her purse. I got my father the Mexican phrasebook for Christmas so he could communicate better with some of his employees at work. I think he has found it very useful as well.

5 comments about God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre.

1. Richard Grant is a cool mix of adventurer, explorer, poet and passionate writer who definately went the extra mile to write this book.
   
   What a revealing look at the Sierra Madre and from a point of view you or I are very unlikely to ever have. I love the way that Grant uses very descriptive Spanish profanity translated to sterile and family friendly English, the juxtaposition of the language with the experience made me laugh out loud more than I have in a long time while reading a book.
   
   The book is written in a way that only someone who set out to capture an adventure could . . . and who nearly lost his life over it. Both retrospective and insightful, the book leads you through a vivid exploration of one of Mexico's most dangerous and beautiful regions.
   
   This is a must read for every person who still has one adventure left in them but has been putting it off and for every person who likes their adventures wrapped in delightful sentences and palpable visuals.
   
   This is one of the best books of its kind that I've read in a long time, it was so good in fact, I bought another of his books immediately because I didn't want this one to end.



2. I highly recommend this book!!! He really takes you into the secretive world of the Sierra Madre. We visited or were near many of the areas on a recent roadtrip through The Devil's Backbone to Sinaloa and Copper Canyon---glad we didn't deviate too far off the beaten path. While on the Chihuahua train, the security guard told us about all the "agriculture" being grown nearby.



3. Not since the J. Maarten Troost books about life in the South Pacific have I enjoyed a travel book as much as God's Middle Finger. Although Richard Grant does not provide Troost's side splitting yucks, he creates a sense of menace and fear that drives you ever deeper into the bowels of the Sierra Madre. He brilliantly weaves historical details, with endearing descriptions of the beautiful people and mountain landscapes while making certain that you never forget the ever present liklihood of being robbed, beaten up or killed.



4. This book has touches of gonzo but manages to be a profound and relevant look into the heart of darkness that is Mexico. (America has its own H.O. D. but its quite different) I grew up in Venezuela and travelled in both Mexico and Spain for work. While I never had any trouble, my American cousin and her British boyfriend were stripped of everything in less than 24 hours in Mexico City a year after I had been there. This is the book for anyone who has ever been to Mexico and is shocked by the poverty and wonders what the heck is going on. It is also an insightful book for anyone who owns a business and employs people from Mexico. It explores issues that extend beyond the Sierra Madre into the culture as a whole, such as the pervasive machismo, sexism, etc. Richard Grant is a great tour guide in that he is an accurate observer, has the right amount of humor and moral discrimination, and isn't afraid to give an overview to the culture and history and anchor his story in reality, for all the surreal touches. My family has lived in Arizona and had land near the border for over 50 years but in the last few years there has been an unprecedented number of illegals coming over our land, leaving clothes, underwear, water bottles while they wait in the night to get around the checkpoint just up the highway. They've made off with tractors, guns, horses, all kinds of stuff. A book like this does a lot towards answering my questions - like how much money does get sent back to Mexico and what are the number one and number two sources of income in Mexico? Plus its extremely well written. Apparently it has produced some controversy by people who are offended by the portrayal of the Sierra Madre as dangerous. That is kind of crazy because I know native Mexicans who tell me all kinds of stories about people being held up by bandits and how dangerous it is. Its definitely a place where anything can happen. Of course, this is true of life in general. This should be required reading - its quite educational.



5. Grant does a superb job describing the culture and personalities he meets along the way. The story can come across unbelievable, unless you have visited any parts of "real" Mexico. Parts of the book are funny, scary, depressing, and a range of other various emotions from page to page.
   
   It is hard to imagine that people live in countries and areas in countries like this all over the world. As an American it makes you feel grateful to live in a country where a woman has rights, bandits aren't lurking on every highway, and AK-47's aren't the common travel accessory.
   
   
   Good author and a great read. I look forward to reading more of his work.
   
   T.

5 comments about Rand McNally 2008 United States, Canada, Mexico Road Atlas: Vinyl Covered (Rand Mcnally Road Atlas: United States/Canada/Mexico (Vinyl Covered Edition)).

1. I've used many Rand McNally Road Atlases over the years, 27 of those years spent driving semis. This is the best yet and highly recommended for those traveling America's highway system. While not detailed enough to replace the need for a gazetteer, this atlas is well-made and sturdy enough to take a lot of thumbing through! To borrow from the American Express ad, "Don't leave home without it!" An indispensable tool for making your travel vacation by land much more enjoyable!



2. Good atlas, no frills, concise and useful. It was flimsier than expected; within a week, one of the first pages already acquired a tear in it near the binding after only minimal use due to the thin paper and awkward staple. However, it was worth the price.



3. The content of the product is of course very good but the extra weight of the plastic cover on the Atlas immediately pulls the inside cover away from the staples they have used to bind this Atlas. You will lose the cover very quickly unless you rebind it.



4. After viewing a colleagues copy of this road atlas, it made sense to acquire one of my own seeing we were holidaying in the States and in particular the West Coast- California and Arizona. We found the map and information of significant help in planning our route and would definitely recommend this to anyone who is thinking of travelling to the States. You will not be disappointed.



5. I was loaned a previous copy of this atlas by my travel agent to help plan my upcoming US trip. Found it so easy to use that I decided to purchase my own. Would recommend to any visitor coming to the US.

2 comments about Rand Mcnally 2008 Road Atlas and Travel Guide: United States/Canada/mexico (Rand Mcnally Road Atlas and Travel Guide: United States, Canada, Mexico).

1. This Atlas is a great resource tool when planning long distance or short distance travel. Plus, it's great fun to just open up at random and follow the highway. Armchair traveling? You bet -- don't knock it till you try it!!



2. This atlas is very large and spiral bound for easy flip-through. I especially love the travel highlights by state at the back. I agree with the other reviewer that it is an ideal travel guide for the arm-chair traveler.

5 comments about Mexico (Country Guide).

1. While I like Lonely Planet because it lists budget hotel and restaurant locations, We found that every hotel we checked was about 10% higher than their listed rate even in the off season. There were other discrepancies as well which were frustrating at times.



2. I took this book and Frommer's Mexico 2007 with me to Oaxaca. The organization and readability (print size) was not as good as Frommer's, but the content (number of overall recommendations for places to eat, stay and see) seemed better, and it also appeared to have more information than Frommer's. Reading on the fly was a little harder, since I usually had to pull out my reading specs and had to rely heavily on bookmarks(dog ears). So I wound up relying it less in this regard, and read it more for study during the hotel stay in the morning and evening. I wound up taking Frommer's with me more, and leaving the Lonely Planet in my hotel room. I found that a synthesis of both books (readability and organization) would be the ideal book. Both books, however, should have an appendix for additional listings as I found that what there were frequently popular restaurant sites not listed in neither book. Places to visit seemed to be most reliable in both books. Hotel accommodation recommendations seemed the second most reliable source, followed by eateries. The maps also seemed about equal with better details (although Frommer's offered a free Map to Mexico, which could be could for traveling from state to state, but hot too helpful in the actual locales, for this I bought local maps at the "librearias.")in the Lonely Planet, although sometimes oddly placed.



3. Unlike any other guide books, LP Guide books are still better for budget travelers, and had more information than any other Mexico guide books. However, Since it had published in 2006, update is needed because the price aren't the same as book described.



4. as like any other lonely planet series, it's nice to have for journey.
   there are plenty of informations and nice maps in the book.
   but, in some parts, it's out of dated.
   For example, I planned to stay at Vallaloid, because book says there are very cheap nice hostel. but it was closed.. like 1 and half year ago.
   maybe all the fees should be changed (You should add money about 10 % more or more than 10%)
   but it's like another guidebook.
   you can meet lots of travellers who travel with lonely planet.
   you will enjoy this book for making your route for traveling.
   but don't rely on your book, too much.
   you can get good information in the information center,
   and from local people or even traveler.



5. The Lonely Planet was good to have along but shouldn't be used singularly. We were glad we had two other guides along. Some of the LP info was dated but in Mexico the pace was slow and we went with the flow.

5 comments about Costa Rica (Country Guide).

1. The Lonely Planet Costa Rica has a lot of great information on visiting Costa Rica along with history of the country. The only problem with this book is that the print is so small that sometimes I have to get out a magnifying glass to read the print without straining my eyes. I do wear corrective lenses and normally I do not have any trouble reading the type in books. I wish they Lonely Planet books would increase the print size. I may not buy another one of their books based on the small print that are currently in the books.



2. I'm an LP loyalist for all my travels, but of all the countries I've visited before, this LP guide seems to have the least accurate information. I only traveled to a small section of CR, flying into Liberia and staying in Playa Grande. Even in that narrow scope, I found listed restaurants that no longer existed and hotel descriptions that were quite off the mark. For example, I chose Hotel El Punto in Liberia as a staging place before flying out on my final night based on this description:
   
   s/d/tr/q US$21/41/48/53 This converted elementary school is now one of the chicest hotels in Liberia, though it would definitely feel more at home in NYC than humble Guanacaste. Rooms here are ultramodern loft apartments with private showers, small kitchens, Japanese minimalist accents and plenty of MOMA worthy art. This spot is recommended as the rooms are severely underpriced.
   
   The decor is more IKEA than Japanese or MOMA, but the room is decent and one of the nicer places in town. It cost $90 per night for 2 people, however. In Liberia, that is far from "severely underpriced" and more than double what was noted in LP. The staff said that they have been trying to tell LP for a long time that the prices are incorrect, as it doesn't suit them to have travelers becoming immediately disappointed upon their arrival.
   
   LP was right in recommending Hotel Las Tortugas in Playa Grande, however. The value for what you get is incredible - right on the beach, great food, great staff, great price.
   
   I did notice the negative tone that other reviewers mentioned, but being a person that typically wants to avoid tourist traps and exploitation of land or locals, it did not bother me that much.



3. If you want to enjoy traveling to Costa Rica I would recommend another book. If you want to spend your time lamenting about how Costa Rica has changed, how Americans are annoying, and be afraid to take your valuables out of your hotel safe than I recommend you check this book out. I would often read passages out loud to different people I was traveling with. You would think that Jaco is similar to Jersey but with more crack and lots of prostitutes from reading this book. In fact, when I went it was mostly families, a little sketch, but man get a grip. I read the chapter on San Jose and was to afraid to take my camera to the central market and downtown. What a regret! The people everywhere in Costa Rica were so nice. Downtown was crawling with tourists with their cameras and police. It wasn't even remotely sketchy. We could only get reservations in Tamarindo for Christmas day and I was terrified that it was going to be like Myrtle Beach on Spring Break. Yes there were lots of condos but it was still Costa Rica! Dirt Roads. you could walk from one end of town to the other in less then 10 minutes, everyone was nice, the beach was pretty. I just couldn't understand why the authors seemed to hate travel so much and be so hateful towards places where we were going.
   
   Also, the book didn't give a lot of key information about how to get around without a car. We wasted so much time in La Fortuna trying to figure out how to get to the different places we wanted to go. It turns out there isn't a bus, there are only guided tours. They are all expensive. We finally hitchhiked which worked out well but I never go to go on the hanging bridges. I loved Cahuita (it wasn't dangerous) and Dominical. I loved Costa Rica. I am ready to go back.
   
   I just wanted to warn people to stay away from this book. I love guidebooks. I am the kind of psycho that gets them from the library and reads through them even when I am not going anywhere. This one was the worst.



4. The detailed city maps are not very good, outdated with businesses that have gone away, etc. Moon guide books have way better maps than Lonely Planet. The hotel reviews I thought were way off base, and don't include some major hotels. All in all, let me just say this: Lonely Planet isn't the Bible. Check out other guide books and go with any of the major ones. If you buy Lonely Planet, also buy a map, because their city maps are wrong!



5. I generally find Lonely Planet Guides quite helpful. This volume, sadly, was written by a couple of Ugly American Backpackers.
   
   Their coverage of San Jose was positively absurd. The author's overstate crime dangers by a comical margin, and come off sounding like the snide "Ugly American" of bygone decades, looking down their noses at the sad, dirty third world. They also fail to comprehend the obvious: if you want to see what life is like for Costa Rica's citizens, you might want to spend some time in the city where most of them actually live.
   
   If nothing else, Lonely Planet would do well to hire a third author that isn't allergic to cities; especially third world cities.
   
   The editors might also simply practice the lost art of editing. Much good information is lost here, in a sea of snide.