Customer Reviews

Let's Go 2004: Spain & Portugal (Let's Go: Spain & Portugal)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Let's Go is an extremely reputable series of guide books, and are among the best in large city coverage. That being said, Let's Go 2004: Spain and Portugal falls flat ina few key areas. Foremost in this regard is covergae outside of the larger cities. Unlike The Rough Guide to Spain, the main competitor with this book, let's go seems to almost gloss over several rural areas well worth visiting. In several parts, especially cultural background and dining, the information seems too generalized to be of any use to anyone other than the standard day-tripper from one of the larger cities. By no means do I mean this is not a well-written and informative book. It is simply that it is a notch below what we have come to expect from these excellent guides.

Great purchase from a wonderful seller!! Excellent service for an excellent product!! Thanks!!