Moon Handbooks: South Korea (2nd Ed.) [Paperback]

Robert Nilsen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Moon Handbooks South Korea | Publication Date: January 1997

A second revised edition of the guide to the paradoxically ancient and modern country of South Korea. Providing historical and cultural background information, accommodation, restaurant and attractions information and maps along with a phrase-book with pronunciation charts and Han'gul renderings of place names.

Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; 2nd edition (January 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566910749
• ISBN-13: 978-1566910743
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,390,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly wonderful guidebook, July 8, 2000

By 

Jacquelyn Pursel (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: South Korea (2nd Ed.) (Paperback)

Last year, I lived in Korea for 10 months. I took two guidebooks with me, Lonely Planet and Moon Handbooks. Moon handbooks was by far the superior book. It has everything in it. The first two hundred pages give an introduction to the history, culture, and important travel tips. This was very useful if you're going to the country to learn about the culture as well as see the sights. This book gives a lot of history and even myths and stories about the sites around Korea. Lonely Planet didn't give much information on the cities and sites(Kyoungju, one of the cultural sites of the world, had only a couple of pages on it, whereas the Moon guide had 50); many of the places I went weren't even in Lonely Planet. It tended to focus on hotels and places to eat. I didn't stay in a lot of hotels while I was there, but the ones I did stay at were in the Moon Handbook and were everything they said they'd be. If you're going to Korea and want to learn about the places you're going to, take the Moon Handbook. I never used my Lonely Planet handbook, and left it there when I came home. I still have my Moon Handbook and hope to use it if I get the chance to return.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As essential as a travel visa, January 1, 2001

By 

Tim Ciccone (Charlottesville, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: South Korea (2nd Ed.) (Paperback)

I have visited South Korea several times and have always been disappointed by the paltry selection of guidebooks. That all changed when I found this little jewel. Nilsen's "South Korea Handbook" captured my heart because it describes the things that really matter about a country--its cultural treasures, architectural wonders, scenic sights, and natural history. It skips the usual fluff about hotels and restaurants that bogs down other guidebooks. Nilsen covers only the things that are permanent about Korea, and I thank him for it.

The Handbook was so useful that I found myself carrying it in lieu of a map. As a student of architectural history, I was pleased to be able to locate so many out-of-the-way treasures using Nilsen's detailed and useful maps.

If you absolutely need hotel and restaurant information, buy a guidebook like Fodor's, but take along a copy of this as well. You'll sure to be well pleased.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too many pages, yet missing details you'll need, May 22, 2006

By 

Stockstradr "Stockstradr" (Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon Handbooks: South Korea (2nd Ed.) (Paperback)

I travel to Korea on business trips lasting 2-3 weeks, and the many sightseeing days mixed into those frequent trips has allowed me to evaluate this and several other Korea guides. While Lonely Planet's guide covers Korea efficiently, in 400 pages, by including details you'll need, and leaving out details on obscure cities rarely visited, I found that Handbooks' South Korea includes too many sections of rambling historical notes, and coverage of rarely visited cities. For example, Lonely Planet covers Busan's Geumgang Fortress in less than half the text used by Moon Handbooks; however, Moon Handbooks fails to provide adequate directions on getting there, and forgets to warn of the maddening crowds found on holidays, and weekends - important info included in Lonely Planet Korea. Faced with the challenge of Busan's tens of thousands of restaurants, Moon Handbooks chooses to review NONE and only suggests city areas to look for them, while Lonely Planet Korea gives us helpful reviews of specific restaurants. If like me you plan on spending more than a few days in Seoul, you'll find it useful to combine Lonely Planet Korea with Lonely Planet Seoul, because the latter includes far more detail for your Seoul visit. Be sure to visit the tourist information centers (found in major airports) upon your arrival and get the free city maps. I suggest you withdraw extra Won from the ATM's in Seoul (or Busan's Gimhae airport) because you'll find ATM's that accept international cards very difficult to find in cities outside Seoul. Don't buy Moon Handbooks' South Korea unless you're planning a Korea trip length of over a month and need details on obscure cities, and want pages of historical info on every city.