Customer Reviews

Let's Go 2003: Peru, Ecuador & Bolivia

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I recently traveled to Chile and Peru. I used this book as my guide for my Peruvian adventure. I found it to be very helpful and accurate. As an example when visiting Cusco, the information contained in this book allowed me to have an idea of what to expect before my arrival. The book has a map of the city and its down town area with hotels and tourist attractions clearly marked. It also has a lot of information regarding the city, its attractions and neighborhoods. The tips contained in the book made my life easier (for example, the book recommended to buy a "tourist pass", this "pass" pays for the entrance fee to places including almost every city attraction at a reasonable price. In Cusco there are many churches and museums you can visit, but while some charge you a fee, others don't allow you entrance if you don't have the tourist pass. This simple tip allowed me to save money, time and hassle while visiting the city). I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to travel to Peru.

I found it very useful. Lets Go guidebooks are not in general as thorough as Lonely Planet but give more information of why to go to a destination rather than just about transport connections, hotels, and restuarants. The dangers of thievery now in Bolivia needed to stressed more!

These are not my words (Bill Bryson takes the credit), and it is sad to see that the series has hardly improved in the past 10 years.

Let's Go might have had some audience (it is written by students, for students) at the time when shoestring travel literature was not as developed as it is now. Today, however, the guide inaccuracy, unprofessional writing and overall feeling of amateurish outfit is hard to excuse (do not be fooled by professionally-looking cover).

Travel writing is a serious business: you would not board a plane piloted by an amateur pilot "who is keen to have a go", why would you pay good money for something obviously not put together by professionals? You may do so out of solidarity with fellow students, but will this improve your travel experience? I very much doubt this. The students, after all, need correct addresses and opening times as much as any traveller.

Try Rough Guide or Lonely Planet instead.