42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The only Philippine guide to take on your trip, January 29, 2003
By A Customer
This is the only guide you need to buy when you are planning a trip to the Philippines. The author is the same person who wrote the first 6 editions of Lonely Planet Philippines, which used to be the best guide on the Philippines, but if you are like so many people who are disillusioned by the 7th edition, buy this book. The book is well researched and not as biased as other guide books.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
37 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
it's incomplete, but the best there is, as of today., May 14, 2005
This review is from: Philippines Travel Guide (Paperback)
before i criticize, let me say that this book is crammed with great info--much more info than any other (up to date) book in existance on this country. i would say it is worth taking, and i will use it next week on my return to the islands. my suggestion to jens is to beef up some sections in the next edition.
for example, bataan province--jens has about 4 or 5 paragraphs on the entire province! totally inadequate for anyone traveling there. he mentions a new road has been completed to reach the subic area but has no specifics.
the index in the back does not cross-reference any place names or geographic areas (ex: manila, cebu, mactan, etc.). these have to be looked up using the front of the book. this is awkward.
there are advertisements in the book. this is ok, maybe... however in searching for some resorts that are pretty well known, there is no mention of them in this book-- contact numbers, accommodations, etc. i wonder if this is retaliation for these places refusing to advertise? i don't know if this is true, but by accepting advertisements it creates an appearence.
jens advertises he has a lot of maps, and he does, but again many provinces are all but ignored. i will still bring an out of date moon guide, and the latest lonely planet also, and use both of them to augment jens' guide. i just wish i didn't feel the need to pack 3 or 4 guides. i was hoping jens' guide was complete to do it all for me. it's really going to be helpful, certainly, but also frustrating to use.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
39 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is the best!, August 6, 2003
By A Customer
I have many books & guides on the Philippines but this is the best written and most accurate I have ever seen. While there are many good guides not to be missed out there like Evelyn Peplow's "The Philippines" and Jill & Rebecca Gale De Villa's "Philippines Guide", this one definately surpasses them all, it's the guide I pack on my Philippine trips now. It doesn't deal with as much history as some of the others, but remember, this is a guide and not a history book. The info is exactly what a traveler needs to know. For example, let's say your in Manila and want to visit Naga City,it will tell you how much it will cost, how long it will take to get there by plane,train and bus. It also tells you hotels & resturants in the area & how much everything cost.It tells you of any festivals in that area,stores,churches,banks and other misc places in the area, also has a street map with all the points of interest pointed out for you. There's over 170 maps in this book. There is so much more this book offers that no other does, but it would take too long to long to list them all.So to sum it up, if your looking for the best actual travel guide then this is it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No