Home :: Books :: Travel  

Arts & Photography
Audio CDs
Audiocassettes
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Investing
Children's Books
Christianity
Comics & Graphic Novels
Computers & Internet
Cooking, Food & Wine
Entertainment
Gay & Lesbian
Health, Mind & Body
History
Home & Garden
Horror
Literature & Fiction
Mystery & Thrillers
Nonfiction
Outdoors & Nature
Parenting & Families
Professional & Technical
Reference
Religion & Spirituality
Romance
Science
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sports
Teens
Travel

Women's Fiction
Lonely Planet Iran (Iran, 2nd ed)

Lonely Planet Iran (Iran, 2nd ed)

List Price: $17.95
Your Price:
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 >>

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Too negative
Review: A waste of time! The authors far too negative about everything and doesn't show Iran for what it really is. I travelled to practically every corner of Iran over the course of two and a half months: Alot of the things that were worth checking out hardly even got a mention in the guide!

I ended up binning the lonely planet guide and bought a better guide book in Tehran.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I thought this book was great...
Review: Even I'm Iranian and familiar with the country, but once I read the book I found it informative.
During some of my local trips, especially to smaller cities in Iran, the book provides good information on finding proper accommodation.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful (and only) guide to Iran
Review: I don't know what book some of these people were reading, as this book is in no way biased against Iran. It is quite the opposite. Covers main cities like Tehran and goes way off the beaten track to little villages near the Afghani border. Gives great info on Iranian culture and shows that Iran is really no where near as intimidating to westerners as many think.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: this is the best guide book
Review: It started with Mr. St. Vincent, contiued with Mr Greenway and now a new gentleman has continued this trend in travel writing. This third edition to Iran is simply a mere augmentation of the second. After traveling Iran on the Second edition, a few years after its publication, its comforting that future travelers can budget and plan with up to date prices and information. However, one can travel Iran and write a new book with updated practical information, however its another thing to give an update a new outlook on the slowly changing Iran. Some places in Iran are not worth going to while some are hidden treasure troves of spectacular people and undending fulfilment. Its understandable that the author of a lonely planet guide can not give too much personal credence to places. Paul loved Kermanshaw, I hated it. Paul said a thing or two about Hamadan, he should have said a hundred, and the update doesnt change this form of writers liberty. Tehran is a fantastic city well worth spending time, as with many places, which is something I believe the authors miss. With this kind of coverage of places, a traveler has to let their intuition get the best of them. One must use the guide as what the word implies, guidence. In general it is a good book, and since it is the only proper guide available in the West, it is essential. However it misses the essence of Iran in the new mellenium. There is too much personal opinion. As well, it would be useful if information was provided for upscale travelers as well, who are merely visitng on business. Hopefuly the next edition will not only include the updated prices, but also include the updated Iran.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Racist Commentary But with Good Maps
Review: Racist commentary presented in backhanded journo-speak that is unfortunately typical of english language books on Iran. Example of tactics employed - if you want to say something particularly offensive/outrageous/demeaning, deflect blame by attributing the comment to a "source" or a "reader". Hopefully actual readers with the gumption to travel to the Middle East are intelligent enough to sift through Yale's antipathetic commentary and put the book to its best use - a compact set of maps, place names and telephone numbers.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Racist Commentary But with Good Maps
Review: Racist commentary presented in backhanded journo-speak that is unfortunately typical of english language books on Iran. Example of tactics employed - if you want to say something particularly offensive/outrageous/demeaning, deflect blame by attributing the comment to a "source" or a "reader". Hopefully actual readers with the gumption to travel to the Middle East are intelligent enough to sift through Yale's antipathetic commentary and put the book to its best use - a compact set of maps, place names and telephone numbers.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: get this book and get the ticket to Tehran
Review: This book is the best guidebook ever written for travelling to Iran. I recomend this book to anyone who wishes to explore the magnificent land of persia. First get this book and then you only need to bye the ticket, whit this book you find your way perfectly through the glory of the Achamenids up to the contemporary Iran. All what you ever need to know for travelling to Iran is preapared in these page. Thank you Pat for all the hardwork and knowledge.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This Lonely Planet is not good
Review: While the guide is relatively useful for hotels (prices are outdated), it is not very interesting for the restaurants nor transport (many many obvious options aren't listed), nor for other practical information as many of Pat Yale's comments are negative, predicting hassle, bureaucracy or cheating when there is only friendlyness, smiles and enough english to handle the situation.
Her comments on wearing the Hedjab are displaced. If wearing a scarf ruins your holiday to that point, are you realy the right person to write a guide book ?
Pat Yale seems to have been afraid during her trip in Iran, and annoyed by iranians. They are the most friendly people I have encourtered on my many trips. I travelled on my own, and was not pinched in the back or molestated by anyone, never. The Lonely Planet, full of comments warning lone women travellers to better take a guided tour, made me hesitating unneccesarily before my departure.
I did not appreciate her comments on the american blocus, where she pretends that other countries, including Europe and Japan, are too eager to tap on Irans ressources.
Iran and the Iranians, and you as a tourist, definitely desserve a better guide, and Lonely Planet needs more competition.


<< 1 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates