Lonely Planet Thailand (Paperback)

~ Joe Cummings (Author), Morgan Konn (Author), China Williams (Author), Becca Blond (Author), Matt Warren (Author)
Key Phrases: khâo sawy, khlong taxi, upper southern gulf, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nong Khai (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

As usual the guidebook standard is set by Lonely Planet

-- Outside --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Thailand was once an enigmatic paradise of pristine beaches, hidden temples and remote mountain refuges. Here's the secret: it can still be that way. Let Lonely Planet guide you past the world of the tourist brochures and into the true heart of the this glorious land.

• AUTHORITATIVE OPINION - incisive, candid reviews let you travel your way

• INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE - from traveling with children to visiting tsunami-affected regions, our expert authors provide the definitive word

• THE WORLD'S BEST TRAVEL MAPS - meticulously checked and fully cross-referenced

• ACCOMMODATION FOR ALL BUDGETS - from sumptuous palace hotels to breezy beach bungalows

• EXTENSIVE LANGUAGE CHAPTER - you'll be ordering Singhas and chatting with locals in no time

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Product Details

• Paperback: 808 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 11 edition (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740596978
• ISBN-13: 978-1740596978
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #391,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 106 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a guide for ALL of Thailand, December 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lonely Planet Thailand (8th ed) (Paperback)

This guide--like previous Lonely Planet guides to Thailand--offers the full range of Thailand to the potential tourist. Indeed the famous R&R resort city of Pattaya receives only 12 pages, but the fact that one-third of visitors to Thailand go there anyway means that the glitzy notoriety of Pattaya's "entertainments" are probably already well-known enough abroad.

Cummings' book is directed to a different audience. For those who do not wish to read about the political or social problems involved with certain kinds of (shall I say "predatory"?) tourism, there are other guides to Thailand. But for those who have traveled to Thailand and elsewhere before with Lonely Planet guide in hand and have appreciated the careful attention these book pay to parts of the country and aspects of the culture that might otherwise be missed, we can rejoice that Cummings has spent many, many pages turning our eyes toward the beautiful yet neglected or underappreciated parts of Thailand, all the while reminding us of the potential for abuse that is may be latent in even the gentlest of tourists.

Cummings book is simply not designed for the tourist who deplanes in Bangkok already drooling after the "delights" available in some neon-illuminated corners of this othewise beautiful, hospitable country filled with many, many thoughtful, kind, and decent people. Those tourists who would dismiss Cummings' commentary generally don't need a guidebook anyway. For them, everything they want out of Thailand will be offered in all its sleazy glory as soon as the touts see the glint in their eyes and their tongues hanging out.

The third copy I have purchased of Cummings' thoughtful book will be in my hand this January when I get to Thailand. Previous editions have guided me and my family on the most memorable (and inexpensive) trips we have ever taken. This book makes it possible to enjoy Thailand with a fullness and richness that other guides can't match.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lonely Planet fan, April 5, 2000

By	DarPo1 (Midwest - USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Thailand (8th ed) (Paperback)

Re: other reviewers' comments on Pattaya: Thanks, Joe, for NOT dwelling on that tourist trap. ANY OTHER brochure, website, or travel agent offers equal information. Lonely Planet's info given is more than plenty to fully enjoy R&R in Pattaya.

If you want to venture to the true beauty of Thailand, true land of smiles, than use LP as a terrific reference. If you want someone else to plan your whole trip and be part of a tour group, then call a travel agent or buy the "other" books.

Re: 7th edition: "Loi Krathong" (Festival of Lights - last full moon in November) needs more detailed information for more cities in Thailand and the festival itself. For me, this was THE festival of the year - great to observe pre-celebration, too. The flowers, floats, parades, food, atmosphere... This was one of my highlights of the trip. (We spent pre-festivities in Bangkok; actual festival in Ayuthaya). Joe only briefly mentions that it's "best to celebrate in the North." Don't let this discourage you from celebrating it elsewhere in Thailand.

Having traveled with various guide books, nothing so far beats the Lonely Planet guide books. But you must keep in mind as a user - all recommendations are merely recommendations. Investigate comments, take in the facts. (The comments are usually funny and helpful anyway). The cultural background information, history, and other side notes help make the difference to buy Lonely Planet instead of the others. Joe Cummings' LP books on Thailand, Bangkok & the phrasebook were superb. I liked his insight. LP helps you be a traveler, not just a tourist. (Other LP books used: Israel, Turkey, Greece, Western Europe, Baltics, Asia, and Hong Kong. They've all been worth their weight and size). If you can take your own luggage off the baggage carousel, you must use Lonely Planet.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good but Lonely Planet is capable of doing better, July 13, 2006

By	AP - See all my reviews

UPDATE:
The book turned out to be decent background reading, but nothing one would take as a first choice everywhere. Many restaurant recommendations were good, some not so. But to be fair, the opinions were honest. And I am not sure what else I would take for a trip to Thailand. Its not a very difficult country to navigate with English spoken well and everywhere. Warning though on the prices, they were most inaccurate.

ORIGINAL:
We've been to Thailand before and covered a fair amount of the country. So purchasing the updated edition we were expecting to see a lot of the highlights of our previous visit, covered extensively. In this regard, Lonely Planet was a mixed bag. Some of the highlights from our visit to southern Thailand including details in and around Krabi were just not there. Also, visitors tend to use guidebooks and lean upon them for detailed recommendations of hotels. This book sets up brief and basic introductions, hoping instead that you use the internet instead to follow up on more details. Same for restaurants. If this was the true intention, websites and internet links would have been most helpful.

Its obvious that the book is not a complete overhaul from the pervious editions. A lot of the material is identical, word for word. Details of new hotels, ferry schedules, or the new low cost airlines flying internally in Thailand or within S.E. Asia are just not mentioned.

Still, its a reasonably exhaustive first step towards getting to know Thailand. And helping you plan your itinerary. Be warned though that you'll still want to use the internet a lot, to complement the information here.

Finally, I was contempleting getting the Lonely Planet Thailand's Beaches (including Bangkok) but that's not been updated at all in a long time (I intend to primarily spend time in the southern coast) and this book would be fine for most people especially if you are not anticipating the northern areas like Chiang Mai. Because this full LP version is rather heavy... and you are likely to not carry it with you everywhere you go. Still, overall-- a 4 star effort.

We are off to Thailand in August 2006. Stay tuned for updates to this review, the following month...