Let's Go 2004: Spain & Portugal (Let's Go: Spain & Portugal) [Paperback]

Let's Go Inc. (Author)

Book Description

Series: Let's Go: Spain & Portugal | Publication Date: December 1, 2003

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:

· Entries at all price levels for lodging, food, attractions, and more
· Must-have tips for planning your trip, getting around, and staying safe
· Expanded coverage of national parks and outdoor activities
· In-depth regional information, including a scholar's take on Basque identity
· What you should know about traveling in Morocco after the Casablanca attacks
· Detailed city and regional maps

Featuring not-to-be-missed Experiences

Cultural Connections: Hit fellow travelers over the head at the festival of São João

Inside Scoops & Hidden Deals: Soar above a Portuguese national park in a hot air balloon

Off the Beaten Path: Visit with Berbers in the Moroccan desert


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

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The granddaddy 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: 848 pages
• Publisher: Let's Go Publications (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312319991
• ISBN-13: 978-0312319991
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,009,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's Go a Must Have!, January 29, 2004

By 

J. Vicki (Jessup, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let's Go 2004: Spain & Portugal (Let's Go: Spain & Portugal) (Paperback)

Last semester I went abroad and found my travel guides essential to navigating around Europe. Let's Go is an amazing series that will help you with everything from bus times to zoo times and you will definitely be glad you bought this in advance (as it is also more expensive to buy this in a European bookstore).

"Let's Go Spain and Portugal" is perfect for anyone spending a while in this region. The problem with "Let's Go Europe", for example, is that after only a month I found myself buying "Let's Go: Spain and Portugal" because some of the best spots just weren't listed. The information on the Rock of Gibralter was brief to say the least but in "Let's Go: Spain and Portugal" there was more than enough information on the Rock.

Definitely buy wisely, but overall you can't be too wrong by purchasing something from Let's Go.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for Students Living Abroad, February 11, 2004

By 

Felicia Little (Houston, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Let's Go 2004: Spain & Portugal (Let's Go: Spain & Portugal) (Paperback)

I received this book as a going to Spain gift and it was the most useful thing I received for my trip abroad. It revealed spots less travelled by tourists thus giving me, a university student, the opportunity to really emerse myself in the culture. It also gave pretty good directions to out of the way treasures--the Carboneria, for one, a great bar and hangout for the locals. And for another, a little mom and pop restaurant in Valencia that has the best paella on earth. In Lagos Portugal, it directed my compatriots and I to a beautiful and quaint Bed and Breakfast. This book gave great advice and suggestions that led to some of my most treasured memories of Spain and Portugal. I recommend it without reservation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good within Limits, May 4, 2004

By 

Justin Reynolds (Madrid) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Let's Go 2004: Spain & Portugal (Let's Go: Spain & Portugal) (Paperback)

Seldom can you go wrong with Let's Go, however this is far from their best effort.
If you are planning on hitting the major tourist destinations and want to stay on budget, I can whole heartidly recommened this book. The details for Granada, Barcelona, Madrid, etc were great. The contact info for hostal's was valuable because contacting them directly (their phone number's are supplied) saves a lot of money compared to booking through STA or another agency, but still lets you arrive in a city with a place to stay all ready lined up.

The two weaknesses I've noticed so far are the coverage of Morrocco and secondary towns in Spain.

If you want to go to Morrocco you will need an additional guide, this information was not revised and is very thin (40 pages mostly of general warnings of the dangers and historical info)

Secondary towns in Spain such as Huesca are not even touched in this book. If you are straying from the coast to somewhere other than Madrid, Seville, or Granada in Spain you will probably have to rely on something else.

I haven't made it to Portugal yet but the book has been useful in getting my planning for a trip to Porto and Lisboa started.