Let's Go 2003: New Zealand [Paperback]

Let's Go Inc. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Let's Go: New Zealand | Publication Date: December 1, 2002

The Resource for the Independent Traveler

For over forty years Let's Go Travel Guides have brought budget savvy travelers closer to the world and its diverse cultures by providing the most up-to-date information.

Includes:

· Over 6,000 entries at all price levels for lodging, food, attractions, and more
· Must-have tips for planning your trip, getting around, and staying safe
· Coverage of tramping, skydiving, water sports, and other outdoor activities
· In-depth cultural information that offers an insiders' look at life in the region
· Hundreds of opportunities to make a difference-study, work, and volunteer in the community
· Complete coverage of Fiji, from the rural fields of Vanua Levu to the waters off Kadavu

Featuring not-to-be-missed Experiences

Connecting to the Culture: Help pick grapes in Hawke's Bay during the annual wine harvest
Hidden Deals: Sample every beer at the award-winning Monteith's Brewing Company for $2
Off-the-beaten Path: Spy on the endangered yellow-eyed penguins at Southlight Beach

Contains Dozens of Detailed Maps

Get advice, read up, and book tickets at www.letsgo.com

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The grand-daddy of budget guides"
--The New York Times

"Guides that penetrate the veneer of holiday brochures and mine the grit of real life"
--The Economist

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Let's Go Publications; 6 edition (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312305869
• ISBN-13: 978-0312305864
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,574,988 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's go to New Zealand but you don't really need this book, May 23, 2003

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Let's Go 2003: New Zealand (Paperback)

This book would be one of the only country editions where I would say it isn't vastly superior to it's Lonely Planet competitor. It is thinner than Lonely Planet which is great if you're backpacking as it's less weight. If one company's version is a lot cheaper I'd say buy it.

The main difference between this and Let's Go is that this Lonely Planet is written for a North American audience whereas Let's Go is more for your British, European, Australian, South African and the like markets. This means those not from North America may find a lot of the information contained in Lonely Planet as common knowledge, especially historic things and would prefer to have less weight by not having this common knowledge space and weight creating information. Assuming you already know the common stuff Let's Go actually gives you more information as it has stuff Lonely Planet has left out for their space reasons. Since the American education system doesn't teach the basics about the world, American audiences may prefer Lonely Planet but others I would think would get more out of Let's Go. Lonely Planet does have a few colour photographs which Let's Go doesn't but you're going to take your own anyway.

A fair amount of the hostels in New Zealand actually do appear in this book with around the same number in Lonely Planet. Be aware that there are other hostels out there though, so don't completely rely on the book and use the best method word of mouth from other backpackers as well. Of course the price information is out of date as usual.

Actually I'd say don't bother with either as you're just reliving someone else's experiences and it's better to explore for yourself but for hostel listings and background info if you don't know much about New Zealand then this is useful. There is heaps of information in every New Zealand hostel on every part of New Zealand so you don't really need it.