Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide to Laos 2nd edition (Rough Guide Travel Guides)

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

 

 

I'm not quite sure how the previous reviewer can rate this book as being simultaneously 'Pro American'and written by 'socialists and communists'. The book is graded as much inferior to the LP guide, but then the Rough Guide is accused of just being a copy of the former! Not quite joined up thinking there. Interestingly, there is no comment on the historical/cultural stuff that I, speaking only for myself, value highly in guide books, and for me, the RG is excellent in that area, without the superficial and often patronising tone i have detected in a number of LP guides. The RG is not uniformly accurate, but the Laos tourist set up is changing very quickly and I think you won't go far wrong with the RG. However, MY top recommendation for Laos would be the footprint guide: excellent in all respects.

While the geographic areas are for the most part well detailed. The lists for eating and accom are primarily geared for the Khao San road genre. If your desire in Laos is more than the nation's cheapest noodle carts and dollar a day accom, avoid this publication. In addition, what was rather shocking to me was the authors' evident precept that: east is east and west is west and niether the tween shall meet attitude. This xenophobic theme was articulated by the authors recommending that foreign tourists should not travel mixed race. IE, whites and Asians, as the "Lao people do not like to see prostitutes brought into their country." This in my opinion says that only white/white tourists are acceptable there. Here the jingoistic Khao san road attitude exemplifies these two backbacker authors and their narrow minded view of the "sinister Orient" I can assure all travellers that this was indeed not the attitude of the "real Lao people" (read: those who not earn an exclusive living only touting to backpackers cravings, as it seems is the extent of authors' knowledge of Lao citizenry). When travelling with a Thai or other, SE Asian, you will be shown a respect, openness, and a gregariousness that is invisible to the shallow mentality of the backpack crowd looking upon the locals only as their personal serfs and lackeys (yes, this western superiority complex is embarrassing to true Asiaphiles). In fact if one of your party is a Thai (non-BKK person that is) you may have a difficult time breaking away from your Lao aquaintences as they look upon their long lost brothers and sisters (Laos was stolen from Thai in 1893 and bled to dire poverty for over a century) as a valuable sourse of juicy gossip, folklore and interesting superstition exchange(yes, I sat for hours listening to perfect strangers go on like immediate family) So disregard the racist Khao san innuendos in the guide and bring your SE Asian partner as you will both have an incredibly much better time, better varieties/quality of food, and more amicable hotel/tour service in Laos, than the soap-and-water-adverse, empty pocket KSR crowd that can spend a month there and really know nothing of the people outside of the generic noodle carts, ganja yaa-baa and hammocks. Well off my soapbox for now). Enjoy Laos but try another guide book that is less shallow and cliche than the material in this guide. If you are reading this in the dingy little farangville of KSR, buy it by all means. This is YOUR book folks !!

This book gives ou a nice overview of the region, and incredible specific tips for visiting Laos.

This is the worst book about Laos. The information is incorrect and the writers has their personal views and opinions. Really, its like reading a book by Hitler, they really has strong views and fools you if you believe them.
Let me take me and my girlfriend for example: I came to Laos with this book in my hand. I checked us into this Guesthouse that the writers of this book hails as one of the best in town. First off, the rooms smell, the service is poor and the price is to high. Everything opposite from what the Rough Guide says.
Then we decide to go to one of the coffeeshops (canadian owned) that Rough Guide says has the fastest service in town and the best breakfast. I wait for 30 minutes and get a overcooked egg with awful tasting overpriced coffee. I take an extra look in the Rough Guide just to make sure that I didnt mistake myself about what they had written.
In the evening me and my girlfriend decides to go eat at one of the restaurants that, once again, the Rough Guide higly recommends. Once again Im hughely dissapointed.
The next day we decide to go to another french/italian restaurant that Rough guide says is not that good. It turns out to be our favorite place and we go there to eat at several more occasions.
This goes on for 3 more days until I decide to stop using the guide.
The writers are probably socialists or communists. Something is wrong anyway! The only good thing about this guide is the history and culture sections.
I see that many american people give this book five stars. I dont know why!
But for us Europeans and Asians (my girlfriend is from Japan), this boook is awful.The thing that bugs us the most is the inobjectivity! Go for LONELY PLANET instead! LONELY PLANET are more professional and are far more objective in their writing. If you wanna know about Laos history then you should buy a good history book instead.
This guide book is nothing more than a copy of Lonely Planet and Lonely Planet is far superior, serious and professional in their work. However, Lonely Planets Lao guide is also quite poor!
If you wanna get lost, get sick, waste money and have a bad time then this book (Rough Guide to Laos) is for you.