Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Turkey, 6th Edition

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

 

 

Even for one who has travelled and worked in Turkey off and on for the past 29 years, this volume is an indispensable resource for both practical information and its brief but almost always interesting historical highlights. As an historian and archaeologist who has excavated in Turkey and has led a dozen university-sponsored study-tours through the country, I too have noticed some of the errors and omissions that have caused earlier reviewers distress; but such mistakes are few, are inevitable in a book with such a broad chronological and geographical scope, and are easily outweighed by Tom Brosnahan's obvious knowledge of and affection for the country's past and present. It's worth remembering that this volume does not claim to be an exhaustive historical guide to the country, but rather a handy and portable reference to all aspects of touring in Turkey. For me, it is second only to my wife as my favourite travelling companion in Anatolia.

Just a very useful guide, with basically everything the visitor to Turkey will need, a useful historical overview, travel tips, tourist sites, and suggested itineraries. Turkey is a great travel destination, with so much to see and so many different regions that it is difficult for one travel guide to do it all justice. This guide does a pretty good job. Those wanting a bit more on Istanbul would do well to check out the Eyewitness Guide or John Freely's book, especially for more historical depth and more detailed coverage of restaurants and hotels. But this Lonely Planet guide crams in an impressive amount of useful information. The chapters on the Adriatic coast sites (Ephesus, Kusadasi, etc.) are brief but comprehensive. The only suggestions I would have for the next edition of this guide would be a better section on buying carpets - there are four pages here, but frankly they aren't that helpful, and most visitors to Turkey could use some do's and don'ts on the subject. Also, many of the country maps are too small-gauge to be useful, dark and difficult to read. The maps should be greatly expanded, both in size and number, and made brighter and easier to read. But overall, the Lonely Planet guide is thorough and will likely be more than enough for most travelers.

I just returned from travelling through Turkey with a Turkish friend who lives in Germany, and despite his familiarity with the country and cities, we both heavily relied upon the LP guide for information on lodging, historical sites, off-the-beaten-track towns, and other fun and interesting places to visit. It is a fabulous book, and the only one worth paying for to use for such a trip. All other travellers I encountered (who weren't on pre-planned tours or paying $200/night at the Hilton) were using the LP guide, whether from North America, Australia, or Europe. Great information, very comprehensive, aimed at budget travellers! Enjoy!

Of the five tour guides we own about Turkey, this one is by far the most complete. Well indexed and with the detail travelers need. Routes to points of interest, descriptions of restaurants, and historical cultural information was all meticulously prepared. As we have traveled through the country, we have relied on this guide in preference to all others.

I wish those who complain that the Turkey Survival Guide has wrong information would give some examples, especially trenchant ones. As for myself, I find Tom's book to be on the same excellent par of the dozen or more Lonely Planet guides I've used for my travels to almost 40 countries.

when I went to Turkey last year this book appeared to be owned by every other traveller we met. It is a very useful guide - particularly for travel links. My only complaint is that it fails to ever go beyond being a typical tourist sightseeing guide. If you can, take the excellent Rough Guide to Turkey as well. It is much better on the history, culture and food of Turkey.

Pat Yale gives false information on women in Turkey. As a Westener living in Turkey I can say that one really does not have to "cover up" or wear black glasses "to avoid eye contact with males". The peasants do harrass you if you do not seem self confident enough - this is the same anywhere in world. This is the same even in America, go to New York and wonder around showing that you are lost and you will get harrassed. I think Pat traveled with uneducated religious fundamentalists, because at least I have had more problems when wearing conservative dress than when wearing shorts and t-shirts like most educated women in Turkey do. All one needs is self confidence to not be harrassed. That is what most Meditarrenean women have much more than Anglo-Saxon blodes who *DO* get harrassed much more -- not for their beautiful looks but for their submissive behaviour.

Disgrace, poor, lonely and isolate. How did you travel in Turkey? Was it a private investigation or a public inquiry? You might have fooled some people for some time. Be aware, you cannot fool all the people for all the time. No more try your chance for new flowers. You are a wasp, not a honey bee.