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Rating: 
Summary: Great guide, current info
Review: Even though the focus of our trip will be the Yucatan Peninsula, we ordered this book for two reasons: we've had good experiences with other "Let's Go" guides, and the summary on Amazon.com indicated that the Yucatan Peninsula had it's own section. In fact, it was listed first, before the individual Central American countries, in the list of topics covered. In fact, the Yucatan "sectionette" is less than minimal, it's truly pitiful. I finished the entire Yucatan section while standing in line for coffee at Peet's, and didn't not find a single item that would be of use on our trip.
Rating: 
Summary: Useful yet not without shortcomings
Review: I travelled Belize and Guatemala for 3 weeks using this book as the only source of guide. This book does not contain any pictures (unlike in Lonely Planet) of attractions so you have no idea what kind of place you are visiting until you actually go there. Unlike visiting Europe where many people have some idea of what they want to see in a country they plan to visit (e.g., Effle Tower in Paris) I believe most people visiting Guatemala have no idea where they want to visit and so having some pictures of major attractions would be very helpful in determining whether to make a trip to certain attraction or not. Everything is black and white in this book and the only color pages are ads!!!
Also, the format of the book has not been changed at all at least since 1994 (if not longer). One might argue that why mess with a successful product but I think the publisher could use a design update and still improve the layout of the book. The book uses soy ink and recycled paper. While that may be environmentally prudent thing to do, I sure didn't like ink left on my fingers and low quality of the book due to employment of such ink and paper.
One strong point of the book I found was its accuracy of listed various costs (hotels, fees and etc.)Overall, this book was satisfactory and provided the information I needed. If you are only interested in contents of the book, this will do fine but if you think how material is presented is also important then look at other books.
Rating:
Summary: Great guide, current info
Review: I used this guide in Nicaragua and in Costa Rica earlier this year... the maps needed some help but the info was all VERY up-to-date, and the directions were so good that it was easy enough to navigate with. Entertaining reading, as I got bored with the dry, bland writeups in other guides. Annual updating was a big help in Central America, as everything changed so much in the other guides I was using.
Rating:
Summary: Let's Go Central America
Review: Let's Go may not be as comprehensive as Lonely Planet but ATLEAST the info is up to date. The Phone numbers work 99% of the time and the prices etc are accurate. I've done Mexico, Central America and Europe with Let's go and it really the best one if you have to pick. If you are willing to lug it around, the ultimate is to take both Let's Go and Lonely Planet. Though a couple of pounds adds up on your back. Ultimately Let's Go is in my opinion the best choice!
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