Rating: 
Summary: Too big, poor choices, for large guide
Review: Completely absent are good details about points of interest and restaurants, especially in sections for Florence, Venice, Oxford. Many authors means varied levels of expertise, so while the Barcelona section pointed us to some good, non-touristic restaurants, the Italy section was appalling.Example: The only restaurants Florence has to offer the independant traveller, per this guide, are a handful of places with Japanese on the menu (dead give-away locals aren't wasting their lira there), overpriced... I was glad to have my Europe by the Back Door with me, or I'd never have found the good authentic places in my brief stay there. In Rome, the restaurant choices are simply glossed over (oh, they do get specific about where to find McDonalds). Simply, the guide just wasn't enough for our five country, six week stay. Was so glad for the other guides I brought along. A waste & a shame. LP has spread itself too thin... they are great for Asian destinations (and I have blindly and happily used them for many Asian travels), only sporadically good for Europe. Paris LP is excellent, for example.
Rating:
Summary: Too big, poor choices, for large guide
Review: Completely absent are good details about points of interest and restaurants, especially in sections for Florence, Venice, Oxford. Many authors means varied levels of expertise, so while the Barcelona section pointed us to some good, non-touristic restaurants, the Italy section was appalling. Example: The only restaurants Florence has to offer the independant traveller, per this guide, are a handful of places with Japanese on the menu (dead give-away locals aren't wasting their lira there), overpriced... I was glad to have my Europe by the Back Door with me, or I'd never have found the good authentic places in my brief stay there. In Rome, the restaurant choices are simply glossed over (oh, they do get specific about where to find McDonalds). Simply, the guide just wasn't enough for our five country, six week stay. Was so glad for the other guides I brought along. A waste & a shame. LP has spread itself too thin... they are great for Asian destinations (and I have blindly and happily used them for many Asian travels), only sporadically good for Europe. Paris LP is excellent, for example.
Rating: 
Summary: Very useful!
Review: Extremely happy with Western Europe (from Lonely Planet). Glad my friend showed it & recommended it to me. I especially like the fact that it's very brief but includes many towns/cities. Not very comprehensive, but who wants to carry around a 5-volume of European cities? Sometimes, you happen to be in an area that you don't plan to visit, but would like to know if the area has anything to offer. And this book gives you such insight! Great in terms of having campsites of all the cities, as well as other reasonable accommodation. Highly recommend it to all. Wish I had found out about it sooner.
Rating: 
Summary: Always great for the beaten path.
Review: I have always been a Lonely Planet fan, and Western Europe is no exception, after reading this guide doesnt it inspire you to be a travel writer? Theese people though, know what they are doing. Europe is easy territory to cover. There are no tough issues to research nor would one have any trouble listing many a good hotels in First world Europe. The task is to remain fresh and inspiring, in a land that has been traveled and written on for centuries, and Lonely planet suceeds in Europe again and again. Each country has an introductory section that explains the history and cultural differences. Then each author goes onto cover the main cities and tiny towns in down to earth indepth coverage. They provide thorough updates and night life coverage, tour listings and landmark sights. It simply is a must for one who plans a cross country European trip.
Rating:
Summary: Just Great
Review: I have used the Lonely Planet two times in life now. Once in New Zealand and again in Europe. They are hands down the best for the information you need, and they provide some of the best information you don't need as well.
Rating: 
Summary: Good overview, but make sure it's what you need
Review: It is definitely a good overview, but I think it's understandable why you might wind up wishing you'd bought the individual countries instead. My previous experience with Lonely Planet publications has been excellent; therefore, I may have set my expectations a little too high. There were a lot of major cities of interest and note missing from the France section and corresponding maps. This book is best for anyone who tries the "21 countries in 30 days or less" style of travelling. Personally, I depend on the Lonely Planet guides to help me stay a little off the beaten track at a leisurely pace and within my budget. I certainly credit their Costa Rica guide with keeping me safe, well-fed, and satisfied for a month! Do note, that I've come across accomodations listed which are no longer in existence or closed for longterm renovations, so phone ahead!
Rating:
Summary: Best regional guide
Review: Lonely Planet is always distinguished for it's fine guides, always recognized as one of the best ones and the first choice for backpackers. If you are certain that you are traveling only to Western Europe you must consider this guide seriously. Being regional allows the authors to put more detail per country than a "all Europe guide". This guide has a great introduction of facts for the visitor, how to get there and how to move around. The "per country" information is extended (better than Let's go Europe), it first shows you the general look of the country and then explores city by city telling you what to see and do, budget places to stay and camping sites around. Even though the hostels listings are long, I'd recommend that you get an alternate source of hotels, since lot's of people traveling in Europe are carrying this guide and have the same listings as you do, when you arrive to Barcelona on Friday night you'll know what I mean, another guidebook or the internet always help. If you are looking for a guide that has a better coverage of European culture and history, you should consider Let's go Europe 2001.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, but a victim of its success
Review: Lonely Planet is definitely the guidebook to beat, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it ahead of the others. However, buyers should be aware of a few problems. The first is the popularity of the Lonely Planet guides...since they're so popular, following the guides too closely steers you entirely to the same well-recommended hostels, restaurants, and so forth, that every other LP reader goes to. These institutions start specifically aiming themselves at the LP crowd. Definitely loses some of the cultural experience, and well-reviewed hostels are something like an American/Australian frat party. I'd view the Lonely Planet guide as a necessary evil. It's very convenient, but their recommendations are self-defeating, especially in the more heavily-touristed areas. Secondly, most people visiting Europe seem to be doing massive every-big-city-in-three-week tours. This guide is suited for that, but for those spending more time in the indivisual countries, definitely buy the single-country guide.
Rating:
Summary: Un buen libro de referencia
Review: Recientemente hice mi primer viaje a 8 ciudades europeas (Londres, Bruselas, Berna, Roma, Florencia, Barcelona, Madrid y Paris) usando este libro, usando sus recomendaciones en hoteles, museos y otras atracciones, lo único que deberÃan mejorar son los mapas, pero se complementa bien con los mapas que regalan en las agencias de información turÃstica. Muy buen libro, muy actualizado.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as Lets Go Europe 2000
Review: The Lonely Planet guide book series is by far the best set of books I have found for travel. Let's Go, Rough Guide, Frommer's, etc do not live up to these books. LP offers a great blend of interesting facts (history, etc) with the travel information that we all really want. I am a student who spent the summer of 1999 traveling through Europe - poor, but free. I did read a number of other books before and durring the trip, and will always buy Lonely Planet as they have impressed me as being the best, hands down. If you want to go on a drunken tour, buy Let's Go and end up in the same run down American hostels and American bars as the rest of the American students, but take my word, you will have enough ability to do that with LP, but you will not be forced to either. LP will help you to actually experience the culture, and take in a more European version of Europe than Let's Go, and still give you the opportunity to party like a rock star when you want - its up to you. It is the most complete and most versitile book I have found. It will cater to budget and intermediate travelers of all ages and groups. I will buy the same series even when I can afford nice resturants and hotels, because LP tells it all. The same experience is true for my trip this last spring to Ireland. Lonely Planet Ireland is as good as Western Europe, but more detailed.
|
