Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Andalucia (Regional Guide)

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

 

 

I was traveling with three friends to Andalucia and we used the guide daily. The information that it gave on sites like the Alcazar in Seville or the Mezquita in Cordoba were invaluable in placing the monuments and cities in time, context, and importance. All of us, including the non-history-geeks of the group, loved the explanations and information on the sites, and someone was always asking "who had the book" at many points throughout the day.

The guide was very nice to have along when we were looking for places to eat. We ate at least once a day at restaurants that were recommended and we were not disappointed at any meal.

The map and distance guide at the beginning of the book were quite helpful in planning our trips as we stayed in the vicinity of Malaga and drove back and forth to Seville, Cordoba, and Gibraltar. They came in handy on the way back from Seville when we decided to detour to Ronda to see the Puente Nueve. The maps also helped us decide where to park once we got into a city or provide us with directions when we didn't have a larger, more detailed map available to us.

The only thing that we had a problem with was that the areas covered by the maps were too small for detailed driving instructions. However, it's a guide so that's to be expected. Pairing the guide and a GPS system would be ideal.

I used this book to plan my trip to Andalucia in March 2006. It helped me to budget for the trip, and to plan my iteniary effectively. I went to resturants mentioned in the book in Marbella, Malaga, Granada and Seville and they offered the service I expected. The maps were very helpful and informative.

I highly recommend.

We have been devoted purchasers of the Lonely Planet guidebooks since 1980. We have bought dozens of them since we are frequent long term budget travelers. We loved LP for that reason. Hence, the Andalucia book was a huge disappointment. It does little to suggest budget accommodation unless it is a dormitory. Further, the accommodation suggestions are all in the back of the book, not in the body as is the usual format for LP. We hated this, it was a complete nuisance as we constantly rummaged to find the accommodation associated with the city (only to learn it was unsuitable for our budget). This format also made it difficult to plan our itinerary as we traveled (we like to be spontaneous). In our month in Andalucia we managed to find good, reasonably priced accommodation via the internet but isn't that why we bought the guidebook? We cannot recommend this volume and hope it does not portend the future of Lonely Planet guides. If you are a budget traveler Rough Guides or Rick Steves would be better choices they recommend the areas to search out inexpensive accommodation). The emphasis on restaurants was a waste of paper since there is one on every corner. Nonetheless, we used the book extensively for the good job it does of telling you what there is to see and do (prices, hours, etc.).

I've been using LP guide books to Europe ever since it came out with the first edition about 20 years ago, whenever I traveled independently on Eurail Pass, because of the comprehensive information found in the chapter of every country for travellers on a shoestring budget, esp. when it came to finding value meals and places to stay. This edition somehow deviated from the earlier format by summarizing the recommended accommodations in places of interest all together on a separate section of the book. Most of the recommended places to stay, aside from the Youth Hostels, have also gone upscale with more EEE's price code than E's, which were not budget at all, esp. considering the current strength of the Euro vs. the US$. This 6th edition would be a helpful guide only to those who are not travelling on a shoestring budget. Considering this, Rick Steve's Spain 2011, which also included chapters on Southern Spain, is a good alternative.

Lonely Planet delivers on Southern Spain...a good guide for all ages,and most travelers (unless you're stinking rich or package tour fodder) I bought it in advance of trip for a bit of armchair preparation. This edition is not heavy ...it's a 488 page volume, weighing 10oz, packed with usual background, history, maps, and suggestions for accommodation, where to eat and drink, shopping, nightlife etc. Excellent buy.

I'm supposed to spend more than 6months in Andalucia, so I needed more than 'Lonely planet Spain'. The book is great.
The reason I gave 4 stars because it took a little bit longer than I expected, but it wasn't bad for oversea delivery.