Customer Reviews

The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei 6 (Rough Guides)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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I bought this book for a week of travel within Singapore and Kuala Lumpur and wasn't disappointed. Rough Guides aren't the most easiest books to read (Lonely Planet is better in this category) but has more timely and accurate information. I used DK's Top Ten Singapore as the primary Singapore book to get around, but soon found it pretty worthless for help in getting from A to B (especially in Singapore, where half of the attractions lacked information on what buses to get there.)

As for Kuala Lumpur, this book was invaluable. I purchased another book whose map was pretty inaccurate and was useless when walking around. Even though this book doesn't make it easy to keep in a pocket, I had it in my hand most of the time I walked around KL.

I wholeheartedly endorse this book if you plan on spending time in Malaysia and Singapore, two really cool places that shouldn't be avoided.

The title of the book I'm reviewing is called "The Rough Guide to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei." I have used the Rough Guides series before for traveling in other countries and in the United States and overall, have found them to be fun and informative travel guides and resources - so I am comfortable using the guides to travel with and have found them very reliable as far as generalized information is concerned. I'm traveling for business and will be studying the business practices in Asia through other resources - so this guide, for my purposes, is a generalized overview.

I found this particular book to be helpful, easy to read and readily accessible (size, easy to pack, comprehend, page structure, etc) to find references in. The book is organized with brightly colored pages and great pictures to get you excited and started in reviewing travel throughout Asia. I was enticed to continue reading after the first few pages.
It has engaging facts about the different geographical areas in the beginning pages and includes an introduction, fact file, where to go, when to go, and a "26 things not to miss" section. Following this section is a basic set of pages which covers topics such as getting there, health facts, getting around, accommodations, food and drink, the media, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture, etiquette, shopping and souvenirs as well as travel essentials. All the information included is basic and worthwhile for most travelers so overall, its practical advice is useful.

Due to the generalized information of the guide I would suggest using it in tandem to at least two more resources that look at the country's culture, economics, business culture and history in depth. I find that studying a country's economic resources, culture and history give you a sense of where the country has been and where it is going in the future, or at least a theory. You can also use this information to compare and contrast your own culture and business practices and that of the country that you are visiting, in this case - Asia. The light-hearted and conversational style of the guide is very appealing and makes it easy to follow and understand for almost all audiences. I recommend it as a general, fun guide.

I tried Rough Guide as an alternative to Lonely Planet. So far, I wasn't as impressed. It seems Rough Guide has a far more limited selection of restaurants and hotels than LP. Also, the organization isn't quite as good. That being said, it's certainly not a bad guide - I just wish I had stuck to LP.