Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet South America on a Shoestring

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

 

 

Used this book for a three month trip through Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. A friend who travelled with me had Footprint's guide to South America. While Lonely Planet had far and away the better maps, everything else about the Footprint book was better -- more information, more current information, and most importantly, broader coverage! There were many small towns that were not even included in the LP book. Even in the major cities, Footprint covered more sights and did so with more detail. If you are picking up a second book for a trip, by all means get the LP. But if you are only buying one, go with Footprint until LP seriously expands this edition.

A travelers life support system. The consistency of the LP series across various continets is amazing. Some information in the SA edition is a little dated, but the locals indicated that small hostels and food places go in and out of business faster than the book can keep up. I particularly liked Argentina section (I just came back from a wonderful trip), the information was very correct and some of the prices accurate to the decimal. Needless to say, the maps and orientation information was extremly helpful.

Some readers have indicated that it is for gringos and doesn't cover small cities at all. I think a 700 odd page book devoted to a massive diverse continet can only cover so much. Books dedicated to a specific country are very very detailed and should be be able to satiate anybody's wanderlust. This book is supposed to help you with a basic map, transport information and budget accomodations. Once you've arrived and have sorted out the bearings, the book should rest in the backpack.

Eat with the crowd, follow the young locals for the best watering holes after dark and catch the morning bus back to the hostel.

Must have for people with itchy feet ...

This is a useful if flawed guide for backpackers and other budget travelers. This thick book (1,150 Pages) covers lodging, conditions, airports, regulations, and other vital information for 13 countries. The information is practical, useful, and substantial, and one can travel South America with this guide. But in trying to cover 13 countries the book is unavoidably limited on information for any one nation, city, or place, and the maps are at times less than adequate. There is also some out-of-date information (Argentina's Peso is NOT equal to one U.S. dollar) so travelers are advised to check other sources.

If you will be traveling to only a couple nations in South America you would be better advised to buy a travel guide for each country. However, if you will traverse through many countries in this fascinating continent, this book is still a valuable reference tool.

this book was extremely helpful and informative. its history and description of the culture and landscape was a great precursor to my visit. my only complaint is that "shoestring" can be so objective. i didn't want to stay in hostels but still was interested in budget options. unfortunately, there just weren't many good suggestions for this level of travel. i think i'll need to write that book . . . "South America on a Cheap but Classy Budget!"

Maps are good, that's all. After 1 year in south america with both Footprint SA and South america on a shoestring, I can say the first one in much better (exept the maps).
Not updated, the informations are not really useful...If you want to travel and to be just with gringos, buy this guide.

Just traveled South America solo, glad I had it for those times I arrived at 3AM to a strange town and didn't know where to stay or how to get there. Other times, I just met people who told me where to stay or went with me as a guide. Overall I used the book about 15 times in 60 days but was glad to have it at those times. Not very detailed but overall enough to help. Of course, since 80% of backapckers use LP, you will constantly be around other people traveling which can be a good or bad thing depending on your goals. Fellow travelers call it the Lonely Planet route. I liked the route and felt safe the whole time.

I've been always very happy with the advices i ger from lonely planets books because they really get you the right places and very helpful tips to save and be able to go to deferent countries while saving money.

The book wasn't updated, the bridge over Suriname river in the capital Paramaribo of Suriname wasn't mentioned instead they recommend the ferry! Good for the beginner to find a place to
stay but otherwise not so good....

A must have four the traveler people! The go to South America

I traveled around the world on backpack, and LP is the most comprehensive and user friendly guids for all the regions around the world.!! Well written, and eazy to navigate throughout the book.