Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Los Angeles (Lonely Planet City Guide)

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

 

 

I've lived in LA for 5 years and the 1st edition of this book is how I truly got to discover this city. I own around a dozen LA guide books - some general, some specific to topics like food or architecture. If there ever was an all-in-one guide book for LA it tis he LP LA book. Far more detailed than the LA section of the LP California guide, it's full of maps, historical & architecure walking tours, restaurant recommendations, local history, and wacky places of the beaten path.
My only complaint is that future additions weren't as user friendly as the 1st edition. This is basically due to switching from color pages (and color maps) to black and white. The initial "best" of LA list changed, as well. I gave away my new edition and just held onto my old worn copy from '99.

I bought this book when I was in Spain to learn a bit about Los Angeles, the Metro System, the people, the places, and what to expect as a whole. I am like many others who REALLY ENJOY Lonely Planet books and make them my first choice when selecting a guide book. But, this edition needs to be redone.

My boyfriend (who has lived here for 10 years, and is a native Californian) was really disappointed in this book. He mentioned how Ms. Schulte-Peevers has completely missed the target audience, people who are coming to Los Angeles to soak up sun, expose themselves to other cultures and learn about the Los Angeles not seen by most. I mean, come on, "from collegen to celluloid" (see cover). How cliché can one be?

There is another layer to Los Angeles. A layer that envolves hard working people and a mind-blowing diversity of cultures, the likes of which is to be found nowhere else in the world.
Most of her comments are only related to where the hip and trendy (I swear to gawd, she actually uses the word "grungster")people are eating, sun-bathing and shopping. She leaves out most of the ethnic culture and cuisine that is here and waiting to be experienced by travellers. She also implies that Compton and Inglewood (South Central) are completely unsafe to visit. This could not be farther from the truth. As with every city in the world, they have places that are thriving and safe and areas that are dangerous.

Her areas visited seem only to be around the Venice Beach area and Santa Monica, not any place north, south, or east of the center of Los Angeles.

The only stars given for this book is the durability. Props to the publisher. The book is stitched to the spine with silk thread. Other guides are only glued.

If you want to know the real Los Angeles, check out the Fodors Gold Guide to Los Angeles and find a local person to show you around. In Fodors, things are organized by catagories and they tell you all kinds of useful stuff, like how to buy the tickets to an Angeles baseball game, eat at a decent restaurant and find the best and least crowded beaches. Admitedly, it is not much more than a phone book, and completely lacks any narative. But, alas, untill there is better, untill there is a travel book that takes note of the incredible mix of peoples and of waiting experiences that are here, it will just have to do :-(

Sorry LP, your star has dimmed considerably over Los Angeles!

Well written, great maps, and excellent suggestions. This guide met every 'guide-need,' helped me appreciate LA and want to return asap.

When i got this book i immedeatly loved it, it is chock-full of info on L.A. and i whole-heartily reccomend it, ands there's some great color maps in the back.

I bought several other guide books to LA at the same time I got this one and I have to say, this one's definitely my favorite! It's smart, entertaining and really informative. I've lived here for 3 years & all of the stuff I was familiar with was described accurately, but most importantly, it introduced me to all sorts of great new stuff too. (Oh, I also recommend the book Counter Intelligence as a good guide to the restaurants of LA.)

Los Angeles is a tough place to see if you aren't with a local but the top 10 guide offers some great suggestions. The restaurants and museums recommend are all top notch. It is clearly laid out and the freeway map is wonderful. Highly recommend in conjunction with the Eyewitness California book.

I've lived in LA for nearly 5 years and let me tell you, I've never held in my hand one light weight book that covers so much. Even if you've lived here for years, you'll find photos of things you've never seen before!

They know every historic home, mansion, gallery, you name it, it's in this book.

DK (Dorling Kindersley) books are top notch especially when it comes to illustration, maps and photos. This guide doesn't disappoint whatsoever.

The only minor issue is that because the size of the book is relatively small and compact, the images are likewise pretty small. I still wouldn't trade it for any other guide!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO GET LA IN YOUR FINGERTIPS, no website is going to jam this much information about LA in one place. Well worth the price and then some.

This book far outshines the competition. The authors really know their stuff and offer so much more insight than the other glossed-over guides. If you really want the straight dope and have all your stereotypes smashed about Hollywood and Los Angeles, this is the book to use. Great restaurant recommendations, too.