Customer Reviews

Let's Go 2001: Spain & Portugal Incl Morocco: The World's Bestselling Budget Travel Series

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I am currently studying in Spain for the semester. Everywhere I go I bring my Let's Go guide; it is the most dog-earred book I own. My friend and fellow traveler owns both Let's Go Spain and the Lonely Planet Guide to Spain - the Lonely Planet guide sits on her shelf, unused and abandoned.

The format of Let's Go is very logical - the book is organized into countries (Spain, Portugal, and Morrocco), and within countries there are regions, within regions provinces, within provinces cities, within cities the towns surrounding them. Many of the larger cities listed have basic maps as well. Each place listed has a brief introduction/history, and information on transportation, orientation and practical information, accomodations, food, sights, entertainment, and daytrips. The authors attempt to list schedules and such for attractions and buses and trains, but as one will find out, the Spanish are constantly changing their schedules due to some religious holiday or the siesta. It is best to check the schedule of each place yourself, which is suggested in the book. You must take into account that it was written in 2000 for 2001 - that also accounts for discrepencies in times and prices. Despite this unavoidable issue, I have found that Let's Go provides an honest, down to earth, mostly accurate, and cheap guide to getting around Spain. I would really be literally lost without it! The accommations info is particularily useful; there are only about a million pensiones in each pueblo in Spain. Let's Go helps narrow the list down, and guarantee that you get your money's worth. Even if you don't need to travel on a small budget, I would recommend this guide because of the wealth of information.

One of my favorite features of the book is the part that lists daytrips. Sometimes you need to, and want to, get out of the city and explore things that are a little off the beaten track. The daytrip section is perfect for this! Sad to say, I didn't have a Let's Go book for my recent travels across eastern Europe (i had an old copy of a Lonely Planet Central Europe on a shoestring). My friends and I missed Let's Go's commentary and easy to use format. If the guide to Spain is anything to go by, I know I will buy Let's Go guides for my travels across the world!

I used Let's Go Europe a couple years ago and am going back to Spain next year. I just bought this guide and it's great! I especially like how they rate the accommodations - very helpful. Let's Go guides are definitely the most helpful for students and low budget travel.

The 1993 and 1999 editions have gotten me though Spain with maximum fun and minimal money. The 2001 edition is helping me plan my third trip. Sure, there are other good guides out there, but Let's Go is written by real travelers, passing on their knowledge and experience to the reader. Each section also comes with a brief, yet detailed history and list of suggested stops along your way. Even if you are not going anywhere, Let's Go is a great read. After you are done, you will want to travel.

This book made traveling very easy and inexpensive. The restaurants they mentioned were the best ones that we tried and really helped us find vegetarian cuisine in such a pork-obsessed country. The maps and information were accurate. The writing style was witty and to the point. I recommend this book to any student or budget traveler who is thinking about going to Spain. They (the book and the country) are an adventurer's delight!

It was my first time alone in a foreign land. My Spanish was rough, and my brain was working about half as fast as my tongue. The street names were barely visible on the sides of buildings. When I thought all was lost, I reached in my backpack and pulled out my Let's Go. I'll tell you, from that point on, I always knew where I was going, where to sleep and eat, and finally, what to expect at all times. Let's Go Spain and Portugal helped me get around both countries with ease and delight. With handy maps of cities of all sizes and helpful commentaries on popular tourist sites, I had a most splendid vacation on the Iberian Peninsula. I highly recommend it. It's accurate and a breeze to follow.

The info in this book is 10 years old. Unless you are researching background for a novel set in the late 20th century, there is no use for this book.