Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Cape Town

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

 

 

SUMMARY OF MY REVIEW: Save your money and get free guides at the Cape Town tourism office instead!!!

Lonely Planet guides usually rate pretty good in my view, but this guide to Cape Town has made me re-think my devotion to Lonely Planet books. The one positive thing I have to say about this book is that it is small and packs easily, and that is why I think this guide deserves even one star.

The book is a very disorganized rambling description of Cape Town and neighboring communities. The guidebook begins with a historical overview, which is appreciated, but then is divided into sections that defy logical order. One of the first sections in the book, for example, is about wineries. Why is this section near the front of the book? Shouldn't more essential Cape Town items like lodging and dining come before wineries? Some destinations, such as the wine country, have different descriptions in more than one section of the book, making this book even more frustrating to use.

Additionally, there are very detailed descriptions for things like how to buy a car in Cape Town (how many vacationers are actually going to buy a car and then resell it while on their vacation???), but descriptions of more touristy things like Table Mountain or the Kirstenbosch Gardens are lacking.

Speaking of lacking, when you're in a new city, good maps are essential. So why are the maps in this guide so lacking in detail? The free maps at the Cape Town tourist office are ten times better.

It would be a much more effective guidebook if (1) it were organized in a more logical fashion, and (2) gave readers a clearer picture of what is a "must see" versus something not so good. Frommer's has a pretty good guide to South Africa in general, but I bought this one because it was specific to Cape Town and because it was small and portable.

Bottom line is that if you go to Cape Town, avoid using this as a guide. I'm sure there are better guides out there. If not, the tourist offices in Cape Town are EXCELLENT resources.

This book deals with a complex city in an understandable manner, and was very helpful in the planning of our trip. I would recommend it, though get the latest edition