Book Description
Thailand was once an enigmatic paradise of pristine beaches, hidden temples and remote mountain refuges. Here's the secret: it can still be that way. Let Lonely Planet guide you past the world of the tourist brochures and into the true heart of the this glorious land.
• AUTHORITATIVE OPINION - incisive, candid reviews let you travel your way
• INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE - from traveling with children to visiting tsunami-affected regions, our expert authors provide the definitive word
• THE WORLD'S BEST TRAVEL MAPS - meticulously checked and fully cross-referenced
• ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL BUDGETS - from sumptuous palace hotels to breezy beach bungalows
• EXTENSIVE LANGUAGE CHAPTER - you'll be ordering Singhas and chatting with locals in no time
Customer Reviews:
Generally good, but could be better.......2007-03-29
I've used a lot of lonely planet guides in my travels, but I found this one a bit less useful than other LP country guides. It just seemed like the detail was missing, especially in regards to beaches and water activities. It almost seems like you need to buy this guide for 'most of Thailand' and then the seperate guide for beaches which is just asking too much. Could have more detail on major attractions like the Grand palace (how about a map?) and more detail on things like snorkelling / diving / surf spots on maps like they do for the Hawaii guide
Great Guide Book.......2007-01-24
I have read this booking and really love it, I am Thai citizen, but some part which Joe has written in the book is reflect the real thing, something which I never look down and realize (I think insider might see different from outsider). That's really true.
Excellent book - best Lonely Planet guide I ever had.......2006-12-23
I travel a lot and, as a consequence, i do purchase a lot of the guides by Lonely planet. That Thailand guide is an excellent guide that gives you info you are looking for, historical highlights, maps and short stories, and, is not 'dry' as other guides.
If you never had it and you are going to Thailand - get it - it is a must.
Outstanding for the first time visitor.......2006-11-28
I just returned from a month in Thailand and found the Lonely Planet Guide to be very impressive. Several things to remember is that:
a) if the publishing date is 2005 the content is probably several months to a year older.
b) if you have local friends and/or family the guide will still be useful but not nearly so compared to a traveler who is on their own. You might keep thinking why the guide doesn't cover something that your in country friend gives you great info or insight into. Relax, the LP guide, despite its heft can only provide so much info.
Comments on LPs logistics and highlights...
1) Logistics.
Negative. There wasn't a lot of coverage given on the new low fare airlines that are now available but this might be because these airlines did not exist in force when the research was done.
Positive. I traveled on local bus, long distance bus, train, taxi, moto-taxi, sky train, subway, regional airplane and even tuk-tuk. The guild had very precise information on how to get around locally and through out the country. This was probably the most helpful part of the book with information I was not able to find easily elsewhere. (Always keep in mind that prices and times will change though.)
Highlights.
Negatives. I could tell that the writers have a particular perspective on what is a highlight and what is not. They love the Wats or temples. I admit that many are incredible and worth the journey. But there are many, many, many of them. After seeing a few Wats, Wat fatigue set. The point is to keep your own interests in mind and not let the guide pick too much of what you decide to do.
Positives. I enjoyed many of the suggestions in the book including the cooking school in Kanchanaburi, walking the alleys of Chinatown in Bangkok, a particularly spectacular guest house in Koa Tao, etc.. My highlights were definitely not the guide's highlights but were found in the guide.
Thailand has a lot to see and the LP guide does an admirable job within the limits of the print format. Now get out there!
Good Guide!.......2006-09-29
Normally, I look at tour books for the following things:
1. If mentions restaurants then its touristized and Americanized food.
2. They steer you to expensive hotels and over prices places.
3. They are rarely updated.
Not this guide! This was really really helpful. I read most of the background and history. It was nice that they had Thai people on writing staff giving a local perspective. The recommendations were dead on for most part.
I liked the fact that they covered all of the regions of Thailand - its a huge, beautiful country.
Their helpful tips to avoid problems were dead on. I confirmed it with the locals while there. Khup un khap (Thanks in Thai)
Book Description
There's never been a better time to experience Thailand's world-class islands and beaches, pristine sands and crystal clear waters await. Expanded coverage on remote islands; new diving & other activities special chapter; indepth history, culture and food & drink chapters; more than 85 easy to use maps.
o EXPERT AUTHORS - providing the best insider tips and tricks
o UNBEATABLE ACCURACY - updated on the road, in person by regional experts
o THE WORLD'S BEST TRAVEL MAPS - more then 80 detailed maps inside
o NO GUESSWORK - opinionated reviews and inspiring highlights sections
Customer Reviews:
Awful.......2007-04-08
One of the worst guide books I have ever read Sparse inaccurate information. Even though published March 2004 tells readers a Tuk Tuk in Patong Beach costs 10 baht (it costs 150 baht!)Full of broad information obviously culled from other (older) guides, not learned by personal experience. Garbage. Don't waste your money.
Thailand Islands & Beaches.......2007-01-31
This book is particularly helpful as it contains many detailed maps. As well, the accomodation section is very useful for the traveler who does not have any set plans as it helps to show several different price ranges from budget to high end & includes phone numbers & websites of them frequently.
there are also tips for every type of traveler here in very detailed sections on every province in thailand. although it says islands & beaches there is a very good section on Bangkok city itself which is good as most people start & end up their Thailand vacation there anyway & spend some time in the city.
Lonely Planet is the best choice........2006-08-28
The Lonely Planet travel books are really the very best choice. This new edition of "Thailands Islands and Beaches" covers areas up to date after the tsunami. It is complete and informitive. I go to Thailand every year and always bring my Lonely Planet.
Book Description
Want more bang for your baht? This city won't disappoint. Forget the tourist-brochure Bangkok of sedate floating markets and sterile shopping malls - you're in for a wild ride. Bangkok is bursting at the seams with cosmopolitan cool and cultural prosperity: think uber-hip bars, scrumptious Thai cuisine, international fashion houses and stunning wats. This insider's guide is your ticket to the best that Bangkok has to offer.
LET THE EXPERTS DO THE WORK, with tips on the best shopping deals, hotels, and guesthouses and city tours.
BE TEMPTED by the world's tastiest food; we show you Bangkok's finest eating, from streetside stalls to top-class restaurants.
BEAT YOUR OWN PATH using our detailed maps and walking tours.
GET OUT OF TOWN and explore nearby beaches, a Unesco World Heritage site and glorious national parks.
SPEAK UP using our handy language guide, packed with useful phrases.
Customer Reviews:
Helped a lot during my trip to Bangkok.......2007-09-17
I took this book everywhere I went. It gives you a great perspective on the things you will find, things to look out for, and a great guide on how to get to the places you want to go.
I went on business to Bangkok, and during the 3 days that I had to go around, this book helped me find those things that mattered most.
I think it is a great read for anyone who is planning to go to amazing Bangkok and it is a must when travelling around in the city. Lonely Planet books are seriously great!
Still perhaps the best basic guidebook...........2007-01-18
As a frequent visitor to Thailand I recently used this latest guide for Bangkok from Joe Cummings (plus his assistants) and found it to be more than adequate. If anything, I would personally like more hotel recommendations for each area of this city, those one could call "a find". I found some on my own by walking the area I stayed in and moved to one of them as Joe was too kind in the description of hotel I first stayed in.
Be sure to call about open times for restaurants as two I went to were closed earlier than was given in the guide (no fault of Joe's I'm sure).
Good, but second best.......2005-03-18
I was fortunate enough to spend a month in Bangkok and bought both the Lonely Planet and the Moon Guides. I generally read both books before I went anywhere, so I can fairly compare them.
The Lonely Planet guide was always worth reading -- it often added something I didn't find in the Moon guide. The highly detailed map in the back of the book was also quite worthwhile. However, if I had to have just one book, it would have been the Moon guide by Carl Parkes.
Carl's explanations always seemed a little bit richer, and a little bit more in touch. His introduction to the Thai language left me much better equipped to try my hand, and his culture and language sections also stood out. The overall impression, true or not, is that Carl has a deeper understanding and familiarlity with the Thais and Bangkok than Joe. But to be fair, I was happy with both books, and happier still that I had brought both with me.
Its too bad that the Moon guide is harder to find than Lonely Planet's .... but I definitely recommend it.
Where would you buy it?.......2004-10-13
Amazon.com says this book will be published on March 2005. But try to go to Lonely Planet's online shop, then you can see that it has been published on Sep. 2004. Next, bn.com says it's been publised on March 2004. I don't know which is right. But I'm sure that this book came out already.
I gave 5 stars, however, because I knows LP is a great series at least.
A bit disappointing.......2003-09-11
Compared to LP London and LP Paris I read and have been early this year, I'm a bit disppointed with LP Bangkok. Although it has an amazing section on food/noodles, I'm rather disappointed that the book does not clearly direct and describe to readers how to get to the places/famous spots it suggested!!!! Also the book does not include a map on the Bangkok transit system - making public transit commuting difficult!!!
Average customer rating:
- very useful guide book but with some missunderstanding
- very useful guide to a unique Thailand experience
- Updated and convincing materials
- Fantastic guide to a wonderful cultural experience
- A sad peice of pretentious buffonery
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Lonely Planet Thailand: Travel Survival Kit (7th ed)
Joe Cummings
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Lonely Planet Thailand
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Lonely Planet Thailand
ASIN: 0864424116 |
Amazon.com
What makes Thailand so special? For one thing, it is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized by a foreign power. Though certainly influenced by the West, it has never had its culture or its political systems run over by outsiders--a fate suffered by all of its neighbors, from Vietnam to Indonesia. Thus Thailand is a curious mixture of Western entrepreneurial spirit, tough-minded Thai individualism, and a deep reverence for tradition. All this makes Thailand an ideal place to visit, a country bursting with natural beauty, famous for the hospitality of its people, and equipped with all the modern conveniences: a national transportation system, up-to-date urban centers, and an exciting cultural milieu, from historical sites to a booming nightlife. In fact, there's so much going on in Thailand that a good guidebook is absolutely essential, and Lonely Planet Thailand is one of the best.
Written by a former Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand who is deeply conversant in the country's language, culture, and history, Thailand offers travelers the most up-to-date information about which places to go and which to avoid, how to get there and get around once you're there, and how to keep yourself healthy and safe. Thailand tells you everything you need to know for a rewarding tour of a fascinating land.
Customer Reviews:
very useful guide book but with some missunderstanding.......1999-08-09
I'm a Thai who have read this guide book. I would like to inform that there is some missunderstanding on the article "The Monarchy" (page 31). His Majesty The King Rama IX has composed many pieces, including the "falling rain" of course, but he did not compose the royal anthem. The "falling rain" is NOT the royal anthem. The royal anthem was composed by someone else.
very useful guide to a unique Thailand experience.......1999-05-16
Thoroughly dissatisfied with our original travel guide we were lucky enough to get Joe Cumming's "travel-bible" as a present in the middle of our journey. It really made a huge difference and turned our holidays into a unique experience. The descriptions of accommodation facilities turned out to be amazingly accurate and the numerous tips regarding means of travel were extremely helpful indeed. This truly comprehensive and well written guide provided us with very useful recommendations regarding travel routes, accommodation, and sightseeing while at the same time offering a thorough insight into the country's political, socio-economic and cultural background. However, one should not mistake it for a scientific essay but take it for what it is: A practical travel guide. Going by "Tuk Tuk" in Bangkok is a great experience but take Cumming's warning seriously and beware of drivers trying to guide you to cheap "promotion outlets" since these are nothing but tourist traps! The LP is an essential guide to getting around and finding interesting spots in Thailand and leads you safely to cheap but decent accommodation in almost every part of the country.
Updated and convincing materials.......1999-04-25
As a frequent traveler to Thailand I read the book with a certain amount of hesitation, becase many "guide books" are out-of-date. However, this manuscript really informs the traveler/tourist about a wonderful culture and society. We should not try to change or modify the Thai human spirit! We, in many instances, can learn from it. In the future writings I hope more about Nan Province can be told. A beautiful area with friendly people, beautiful mountains, no polution or automobile congestion, and a place to relax for a few days from a long flight.
Fantastic guide to a wonderful cultural experience.......1999-04-18
We went to Thailand on honeymoon and were in no doubt that this would be a fantastic experience. This was made all the better having a copy of the LP guide. What a god send. We found it user friendly, a great read, thorough and useful for us as we went off the beaten track. Overall, we would recommend this to anyone who has a sense of adventure and wants to see and experience the real Thailand.
A sad peice of pretentious buffonery.......1999-03-11
In exhaustive travels to this region over the past 18 years, I find it unprecedented how much misinformation is presented in this "comic book." I would not recommend it, due to numerous misrepresentations, seedy lodging and narcotics procurement recommendations and an overall portrayal of the Thai people as deceitful and primitive. The writer obviously has great bias against this portion of the world and probably could use intense diversity training, regardless of claims to an understanding of the region. I strongly recommend ANY of the other top guide books to the region before you waste your funds on this drivel.
Book Description
Hotter than a 'rat-shit pepper', this best-selling guide gives you the goods on surviving crazy Bangkok, exploring exotic landscapes and discovering what lies behind that famous Thai smile.
- 148 easy-to-read maps
- hundreds of places to stay, from squat-toilet guesthouses to luxe spa resorts
- indepth analysis of the intricacies of Thai culture
- where to learn Thai massage and master meditation
- special sections covering Thai art, music, theatre and religion
- Thai script throughout for easy reference, and handy language chapter with essential Thai words and phrases
Customer Reviews:
Awful, plain awful.......2006-10-23
They say the way to judge a travel guide is to use one in a city you are very familiar with. I have been to Bangkok countless times in the past 2 years and am thoroughly familiar with the city and have a strong understanding of the language. My friend visited Bangkok and I left my travel guide (Let's Go) behind in my village to lessen my load. I figured I did not need much, just a few maps and the background of the areas we would be visiting.
This book could not have been more useless. In the Army I taught map reading and land navigation and was able to get even the most directionless soldiers to pass the tests in this area. I could not make head or tails from the maps provided, in a city were I generally know the layout. The maps were either too large to provide any useful detail or too small to provide for any frame of reference. It was either getting a broad shot of the galaxy or a microscopic view of a gnat.
After the first day we left the guidebook behind and went on my knowledge of the city and my Thai language skills. For those of you who do not have either I would suggest the Let's Go Thailand book. The maps are useful and the information is laid out in a way that is easily understandable.
Don't Leave Home Without it!.......2005-09-23
I have used this series on Thailand 5 times over the last seven years for extended trips and schooling in Thailand. I found my sons Kickboxing camp through Lonely Planets and sent him of to live in Chiang Mai with a copy of his own when he turned 17. One time I lost my copy at LAX and replaces it with the competition. It was an insufferable step downward. I spent ½ a day scouring Bangkok for a new Lonley Planet. Things change often in the travel industry and I always buy the latest addition before I depart, but these guides are as dead on accurate as can be! I have also used them in Africa and the Middle East. They never disappointed!
informative but outdated.......2005-08-09
i was disappointed as much information was two-three years old.
i should have checked the date of edition more carefully before purchase. i have gotten a lot of useful information and the book has been helpful but i am staying at a hotel in bangkok that has changed names and eating at a place in chiang dao that has changed ownership. i have used the internet to update information before making decisions.
Next edition perhaps is the 'optimal guide'.......2005-06-27
I found that this guide is in its way to be a really good guide.
But I've found some mistakes and omissions that could make it better. (ie: prices, locations)
Next edition is about to come, so I would recommend give it a glance.
Though Lonely Planet claims to have excelent maps, I think they could really be better.
Good but could have been better.......2005-05-25
Its a good book and a worth while read but the flow of the book is different to other lonely planet books I have had.
Book Description
Discover Thailand
Uncover Bangkok's best street stalls or enjoy skyscraping gourmet dinners.
Climb aboard a long-tail boat and island hop to your own isolated beach paradise.
Get soaked at Songkran, the Thai celebration that becomes the world's biggest water fight.
Trek off the beaten path in remote Isan to watch a rare solar alignment at an ancient Angkor temple.
In This Guide:
Ten authors, 259 days of in-country research and 150 maps.
Trek, dive or monkey-watch with our detailed coverage of national parks and natural wonders.
Visit
lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler suggestions.
Customer Reviews:
Organized and informative.......2007-10-10
Very useful for new tourists. Book is organized by location and subdivided by events, sights, restaurants, hotels and more. It has a detailed map and lots of pictures too. It gives a good honest summary about different locations, what's worth your time, and what to be careful about as well. Very useful- highly recommended.
Don't plan your Thailand trip without this book.......2007-10-04
For my first trip to Thailand 10 years ago, I purchased just about every guide book available. Only one book has stood the test of time - Lonely Planet Thailand. Over the years, I have picked up new editions as they have become available. From personal experience, I would argue that the quality of my trips has increased along with the quality each subsequent edition. As tourism, culture and economics in Thailand evolves, so too does Lonely Planet Thailand, keeping pace with changing social trends, places of interest, as well as places to avoid. All this, of course, in addition to the vast body of information critical to planning where to stay, what to eat and what to do while in-country. More than a strong recommendation, this book is a must-have for any traveller to Thailand.
The best all-country Thailand guidebook.......2007-09-24
Beating up on whatever LP guidebook applies to wherever you find yourself is a favorite pass-time of the road-weary or the jaded ex-pat. You instantly become a cool-guy for bashing the guidebooks. Yawn. Then you try to offer (or sell) you own advice! Let's back up for a second and review this guidebook for what it is: a guidebook.
About me, I'm a perpetual farang (Thai for westerner). I've used at least 4 of LP's Thailand books, a handful of competitor's Thailand books, and at least a dozen regional guides and city guides that overlap with this most rececent LP Thailand. I've been making trips to Thailand for more than a decade. I've worked there, taught there, and been a student there. I love Bangkok. I love it when a guidebook can tell me something new about BKK or Thailand. And ust when I think I knew it all, this one manages to show me a thing or two!
This LP Thailand is moving in the right direction. From the first few pages you can tell that LP has cut and cleared some dead wood from the old editions and has freshened things up significantly. The voice is new and lively, not like some loudspeaker at a bus terminal calling out bays and destinations. Production value is up. Content is fresh but still reliable. Hello LP: The key to being a good guidebook is to avoid what's ultra-new and trendy and instead give the reader dependability. When I want to know about the hot new club or the latest border-crossing info I go to the web or I talk to other travellers. Those things change weekly. It seems like LP has figured this out with this volume. When others say that it's missing from this book I wonder if they really know what they're asking for.
Looking back, the older LP Thailand books listed a bunch of places to stay in the main tourist spots like Khao Sarn. I always thought that was a silly waste of space. By and large those backpacker boxes are all the same. And as soon as one of them gets in the LP, the price goes up and they stop changing the sheets. It's that simple. Ever go to one of the listed spots and look around (look up from your LP book) and see everyone else there with their LP book? Please folks: do yourself a favor and use this book as a guide --it's not the phonebook. There are hundreds of excellent places to stay in BKK and in Thailand that aren't listed in this book or in any other book. Use this book to get a feel for types of accomodation being offered and corresponding prices. Then make your own choices. This book will help you make choices; it won't choose for you.
I applaud LP for thinning some of its listings and focusing more on important attractions and providing valuable and interesting cultural insights. Going forward, with message boards and emails flying around the world in a blink, listing-type info (just bare facts about place and price) really isn't what I need from a guidebook. LP seems to be keen to this idea and appears to be working hard at giving me more than that.
Finally, let me say that this latest LP Thailand is really fun to read. It makes me want to go there right now! Some guidebooks read like a laundry list. Not this one. Read the book before you go...use it while you're there. Then give it to someone who's coming in as you head for the airport to go home --that's if you can find someone who doesn't already have it.
And when someone bashes a guidebook or suggests you do something in particular, always ask yourself: "what's this guy trying to sell me?"
Chok dee. (Good luck.)
Lonely Planet Thailand 12: Stick with the old edition.......2007-09-16
You've just finished your final morning of two weeks basking on the Perhentian Islands in northeast peninsular Malaysia, and you're ready for Thailand. You'll get to the border late afternoon, giving yourself enough time to cross at Sungai Kolok and get to the first provincial capital of Narathiwat before nightfall. You've heard the BBC, CNN and your Mum talk about the troubles in Thailand's far south, but you're confident that as long as you travel in daylight and sleep in the major centres you'll be fine. After all, you've got the latest edition (August 2007) of Lonely Planet's Thailand guidebook stuffed in your pack -- what could go wrong?
Well, unfortunately a lot.
Despite having a swack of extra pages, overall Lonely Planet's 12th edition of its Thailand title succeeds only in delivering less than previous editions. While some sections, notably Chiang Mai province, have improved, other coverage drags down what should have been a far better title.
For starters, coverage of Thailand's strife-torn far south has been largely gutted. Maps of the provincial capitals have all been deleted and accommodation listings drastically cut, border-crossings are either vaguely treated or simply not mentioned. So there you are, in the very situation when you really need a guidebook -- crossing a border into an area known to have security concerns -- and the book is close to worthless. The coverage of this unstable region is far superior in Lonely Planet's previous edition, so if you're heading that way, be sure to pop into the library and photocopy the relevant sections, or refer to www.travelfish.org for maps and more detailed information. Of course it could be worse -- the recently released (June 2007) Footprint title, doesn't cover the region at all -- not even Songkhla province.
Compare this to Thailand 12's west coast border-crossing coverage: there's timetable information, costs and trip durations -- even notes on how many people a chartered boat will hold. Comparing these two sections, it's very difficult to take Lonely Planet's claim that "when we update our guidebooks, we check every listing, in person, every time" at face value.
Listings
Lonely Planet has a number of overlapping books, including "Bangkok" and "Thailand's Islands and Beaches". Both of these, will probably, I'd hope, have more comprehensive coverage than the respective sections in this new edition.
Bangkok's Khao San area has just six budget guesthouses -- all of which were in the previous edition. Other examples: Mae Nam beach, Ko Samui (three listings), Ban Tai and Ban Khai, Ko Pha Ngan (one listing). On the other hand, Chiang Mai (which unlike Bangkok and Southern Thailand doesn't have it's own title) has two dozen budget listings (admittedly for the entire city rather than just one area).
While you could argue that somewhere like Khao San Rd is self-explanatory, I think a few more recommendations -- especially from among the bevy of places that have opened since the last edition -- would have been good. Bangkok does do better on its flashpacker and mid-range scene and a new section for Ko Rattanakosin, including little-known gems like Ibrik, Chakrabongse Villas and Arun Residence stands out.
Likewise when you're talking about beach bungalows you could argue "they're all the same" but the fact is they're not, and you may find yourself more than a little disappointed being supplied with a single listing for Ban Tai and Ban Kai on Ko Pha Ngan -- an area with well over 50 places to choose from. Entire beaches, including one of the best on the island, entirely escape mention. On Thailand's west coast, Ko Phi Phi's coverage pointedly avoids mentioning any of the budget haunts on the east coast of the island and instead steers budgeteers to Ton Sai village and it's immediate surrounds -- arguably the least attractive part of the entire island and certainly not the place to go if you're looking for a quality budget bungalow. Many of Phi Phi's luxury places though -- including Zeavola (16,000 - 37,000B a night) -- do get a mention, which leads to my next point.
There is a detectable shift in the focus of the book, at least regarding accommodation, with more space seemingly given over to flashpacker and mid-range places. Seeing over half a page dedicated to "Samui's top five top-end resorts" may have the old backpacker stalwarts rolling over in their hammocks, but it's a valid reflection of a tourist scene that is attracting travellers, backpackers, flashpackers and top-end-resort layabouts -- unfortunately this title will struggle to satisfy them all.
It's not all bad though.
The coverage of Chiang Mai is about as comprehensive as a guide can be.
The accommodation listings are thorough and numerous. Likewise the food, entertainment and shopping sections are all done well. Filling out the package nicely are cut-out sections for pummeling and pampering, quirky sights and markets -- should keep the flashpackers and shoppers happy.
The northeast section is also very good. Big-ticket destinations here are covered just as well as the more obscure, lesser known haunts, there's plenty of maps and some encouraging pointers to homestays dotted through the region. A long, informative, boxed text detailing the Phi Ta Khon festival is included. If you're planning significant time in Isan with this title, you'll be well served.
Maps
Thailand 12 carries 150 maps -- including 17 pages dedicated to Bangkok.
Aside from the above mentioned shortcomings in the far south, the majority of spots you're likely to need a map for are covered. The colour, countrywide map is easy to read though oddly doesn't mark the border crossings.
Photos
Thailand's a photogenic country and the selection of photos does a good job of selling the Kingdom. A 16-page full colour insert on "Thailand's Natural Wonders" succinctly covers Thailand's environmental state of affairs.
I was surprised though to see a photo of the Tiger Temple placed atop a list of environmental volunteering opportunities -- while I assume the placement is incidental, it's unfortunate given the ongoing controversy regarding the conservation "value" of breeding tigers in a stone quarry as the Tiger Temple does.
Conclusion
So if you're going to Thailand, are not going to the far south and don't plan to cross any borders, how is the book? Well it depends.
If this is your first time to the Kingdom and you don't consider yourself to be too demanding when it comes to guidebooks, then you'll find Thailand 12 to be just a satisfactory buy. Likewise, if you're happy just to be pointed in the right direction, you'll probably find it to be ok.
On the other hand, if you're a bit more demanding and you like to have a good range of accommodation recommendations to choose from, then you'd be well advised to either stick with the previous edition or consider an alternative guidebook.
I'd like to thank Lonely Planet for their complimentary copy of the Thailand 12th edition and co-ordinating author China Williams who generously spent time answering questions about the title via email.
This is the best book I've ever seen on Thailand........2007-09-14
If you plan to head to Thailand, just bring this book, some money, and some clothes and you'll be set. This book changed and saved my life. Thank you, China Williams! Words fail me when I think of all this book has been done for me, but I'm glad they never fail China and her crew. Imagine mixing Paul Theroux with the Upanishads and you have this latest edition of LP Thailand! Each page is infused with wisdom, wit, and humor.
Book Description
Rich in history, Chiang Mai is the vibrant, cosmopolitan gateway to the majestic mountains, cool waterfalls and fascinating people of Thailand's North. Explore it all with this ground-breaking guidebook.
- 48 east-to-read maps of Chiang Mai and major places of interest, including a colour map
- the lowdown on arranging hill treks, choosing guides and staying safe on the trail
- insightful special section on the North's colourful hill tribes
- sought-after recommendations on where to stay and eat for all budgets
- full details on regional travel, including trips to Laos and Myanmar
Average customer rating:
- Useless
- Nice Water-Proof Map
- Cruel Joke
- Helpful, Compact, and Lamenated
- Excellent pocket guide to Bangkok
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Lonely Planet Bangkok City Map
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
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Lonely Planet Bangkok
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Thai: Lonely Planet Phrasebook
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Lonely Planet Bangkok Encounter
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Lonely Planet Thailand
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Nancy Chandler's Map of Bangkok
ASIN: 174059634X |
Book Description
Lonely Planet's city maps present the travelers' city in one easy view
• Complete street and sight index makes navigating the city a breeze for walkers and drivers alike
• All new, improved mapping styles and fully updated
• Sturdy, laminated, easy-fold format
• Quick-find highlights and reviews of the top city sights
• Includes up-to-date transit maps and essential practical information
• Full color throughout with gorgeous photographs
Customer Reviews:
Useless.......2007-10-03
If you are hoping to get a superficial look at the layout of Bangkok--this map is for you. If you hope to navigate by it--don't bother. Only the major streets are labeled, it doesn't extend beyond the center of the city, and because of the lamination (which I thought would be a plus) it doesn't fold well. I read another review which complained about the lack of detail but I went ahead and bought this thinking they couldn't possibly print a map without including adequate detail--I was very wrong. Buy a different map!
Nice Water-Proof Map.......2007-04-02
My only criticism of this map is that it doesn't extend north enough to include the airport. I'm trying to gauge how far central Bangkok is from the airport and can't do it with this map. Other than that, it's nice....and since I'll be walking a lot, the water-proof factor is key.
Cruel Joke.......2006-09-30
This map is a cruel $9 joke by Lonely Planet: central area only, major streets only, selected hotels only. Maps in their guidebook are superior, or simply use Google Earth.
Helpful, Compact, and Lamenated.......2002-08-08
Easy to carry around and sturdy for it's lamenated. For it's size it can fit in one's small bag. The index of places of interest such as palaces, parks, Wats, bus stations, and other venues are listed. Necessity places such as embassies are very useful as well, especially as one is doing visa work to travel to neighboring countries. If you're a tourist and your survival Thai isn't very developed, this map will help you when taking taxis. Choa Praya River express stops are also included
Excellent pocket guide to Bangkok.......2002-01-09
Highly recommend. We used it for 4 days to get around this fantastic city.
Amazon.com
If you've already been to Thailand, you may doubt that any book, even a Lonely Planet guide, could do justice to the bounty of wonderful food to be found there. With recipes for favorite dishes, mouthwatering photos, and excellent commentary, World Food Thailand will make a believer out of you. You'll learn basic phrases (for instance, if you want something hot and spicy, simply say: "châwp phèt"), the names of every delicious edible item seen at the market, and how to read menus. It's a great tool for preparing for a trip--with hints on what dishes not to miss in each region, from Muslim Curry in the south to Tôm Khaà Kài in Bangkok to Burmese-style curry in the north, as well as cultural pointers to help you avoid social gaffes. World Food Thailand also reflects the cultural and ethnic infusions that have added to Thai cuisine over that centuries, ranging from Chinese, Laotian, Malaysian, and even New World ingredients. Can you imagine Thai food without chilies and peanuts? Even if the only journey this book inspires is one to the grocery store, you'll be entering an exciting new era in your kitchen. --Jhana Bach
Book Description
From pulse-pounding Bangkok to tranquil villages moored along the Mekong River, Thai cuisine is as rich and diverse as the culture it sustains. This unique culinary guide takes you to the heart of the kingdom's food culture. Here you will discover what Thais mean by im jai (full heart), and expression that fuses culinary satisfaction with contentment in life.
- the essential guide to the culture of food & drink in Thailand
- an exploration of the regional influences that make up Thai cuisine
- descriptions of utensils required for authentic Thai cooking
- the definitive culinary dictionary, a quick-reference glossary and useful phrases for every food & drink occasion
- tantalising photography & recipes
Customer Reviews:
More than a Cookbook.......2002-01-31
I bought this book thinking it was just a cookbook, and was surprised to find much more. Eating is an essential part of life in Thailand, and Joe Cummings gives deep insight into Thai culture -- specifically how "being Thai" comes out in the preparation and enjoyment of food.
If you're buying the LP guide to Thailand and are going there for the first time, also buy this book. You'll get a much more in depth description of the Thai way of life, as well manners & etiquette for a foreigner. And you'll want the recipes when you return!!
Read, Learn, Eat, and Enjoy.......2002-01-30
You will enjoy & learn a lot from this book. One of the most pleasurable experiences I've ever had in Thailand is eating the food. There is such a wide variety food you can eat in Thailand. As you begin to fall in love with this cuisine, you will want to eat new and more varied dishes. Ordering can be challenging as you evolve into more advanced Thai foods. Yes, you can point and gesture, but if you want to more fully enjoy the culinary delights of real Thai food, you need to know what it's called, and say how you want it cooked or mixed to your spice preferences. There is a lot of important etiquette tips, that will help you if you're invited to eat in a home of a family in a village, or with associates in the city. The regional, colloquial, and relevant slang is included. This means, the author has been there and done it, having lived in Thailand for for the most of 25 years, along with superb homework & research. The photographer, Jerry Alexander helps the reader identify visually with some of the foods that are described. The dictionary at the end included many useful phrases in addition to the food vocabulary. One error though, is that the letter "G" in Thai is listed as a "K" which is only the case when it is a stop final, at the end of a word, or syllable cluster. Read, learn, eat, and enjoy.
Essential reading for Thai food lovers.......2001-06-25
The Lonely Planet Guides are justly regarded as bibles by backpackers the world over. They are exhaustively researched and very reliable. I backpacked through Thailand last year and relied heavily on Joe Cummings brilliant LP guide for advice, inspiration and tips on what to eat. When I heard that Joe Cummings had written the LP World Food Guide to Thailand I knew it would be as meticulously researched and filled with the same infectious enthusiasm as his guide to the country itself. I was not disappointed. Though this is not the only Thai cookbook you will ever need - there are only twenty or so recipes - the book rightly sets Thai cuisine in its rich context, building the case that Thai food - real Thai food - is one of the world's most exciting cuisines. The story of Thai food - it's distinctive ingredients, the way it is eaten by Thais, the many regional variations, how to shop for Thai ingredients, street food, etc - is studded with relevant recipes made all the more appealing by what you have just learned. Buy it - you won't be disappointed.
Food the necesity of life.......2001-06-10
I went out on a limb and picked this little treasure up with out even looking at any of the recipies. Glad I did. I spent years as a cook and found that most ethnic dishes are a product of the environment and what the people have at their disposal. And that most methods of cooking are the same with just different spices. These cook books have picked up on that and give you the basics. Every Thai Grandma has her own special recipie for curry but the core recipies are all here. Along with, and this is why I'm so impressed with these books, a history of the culture and it's evolution, common customes at the dinner table, how to shop in the markets, what to order when and where, a great map of the country specifying each regions specialties and (these guy's are great) a little dictionary of the Thai language and their pronunciations. These books would not only make a great gift but a perfect addition to a collection of cook books. I only wanted to buy one Thai cook book and I'm glad I found this one first. It's got evey thing you need to learn and creat great Thai food.
A Bestseller on Thai Food.......2000-04-14
I thought I was an expert on Thai food as I have been living in Thailand for 6 years. However, Joe's easy to read book taught me many a new thing. This is not your average cook book. It is really a cross between a travel guide and a recipe book with a sprinkling of cultural information. I would say that it is the definitive book on eating Thai food - whether that be in Thailand or abroad. Highly recommended for anyone who has visited Thailand and has fallen in love with the food or the armchair traveler who is eating Thai food at home.
Product Description
Lonely Planets new "Diving & Snorkeling Thailand" is the most up-to-date underwater guide, covering Thailand from the Andaman Sea in the west, to the Gulf of Thailand in the southeast. This book documents and maps more than 75 of the best, and not so well known, dive sites accessed from Thailand. Filled with brilliant photographs, it offers information about the climate, language and culture, as well as how to dive responsibly. There is also a special marine life section which includes commonly seen creatures from the delicate sea whip (Junceella fragilis) to the fried egg nudibranch (Chromodoris annulata).
Customer Reviews:
Lonely Planet Diving Thailand.......2007-01-23
As always Lonely Planet Snorkeling and Diving guides are the best.
Only reason I didn't give it a 5 was the fact it was a little outdated.
I think they will be making a new one soon, since this one is no longer in print.
Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Thailand (Diving & Snorkeling).......2005-10-11
Good book,
clear info as needed.
info corresponds to reality
just the facts.......2005-08-28
I was hoping that this book would be like the travel books that lonely planet puts out with opinions on dive operators, places to stay etc.....but the book is a run down of dive sites more than anything else....It helps with dive site selection but it just isn't what a lonely planet book is for me.
The best dive site book for Thailand.......2004-06-29
This book is the only one we recommend to all our customers. The authors live and work here and the information is accurate. Great photos of the marine life.
Even though we work here, we still use the book as a reference and it's always close at hand in our office.
Useful diving guide.......2001-11-24
Used this diving guide when I was in Koh Samui in July this year, very informative and all the info was up to date
Scotty Mackenzie
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