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Rating: 
Summary: For People With More Brains Than Money
Review: About 5 years ago, practically on a whim, I traveled to Australia. I was able to stay for 6 weeks and spent only about 600 US dollars for housing. In some cases, the backpackers hostels had increased their rates, but honored the price printed in the Lonely Planet guide. I wasn't interested in luxury accommodations and restaurants where I could rub elbows with fat American tourists and eat the same food offered in similiar establishments in America. I shared accommodations with fellow travelers from Europe and native Australians. I ate what they ate, I drank their bitter beer with them, and had the time of my life. I enjoyed free buffets and pitchers that local restaurants and pubs supplied to the backpackers hostels and enjoyed bargain priced tours and excursions with the real people I like to associate with. Thanks to the guide, I knew just what I wanted to see and the best way to get there. I had never traveled abroad and had no idea what I was in for. This guide was a Godsend. If you have a bankroll, you don't need this book. If you lack a bankroll, all you need is a backpack and this book. Hey, you don't even have to have the backpack.
Rating: 
Summary: yeah....no
Review: I am Australian, this book is so.....WRONG!....we for one are not lonely and yeah...the list goes on, if you are buying this book for "learning" purposes, you are learning the WRONG things, if you want to hear a lot of fake things about Australia go for it, me as an Australian did NOT appreciate this book...thank you
Rating: 
Summary: Solid Job - Lots to See and Do With Good Photos and Maps
Review: I prefer the better graphics of the Eyewitness Travel books. But having said that this book is a solid effort over 1000 pages with lots of local detail, good quality photos and maps. It contains sections on things to see and do, history and native art. It has a lot of nature photographs. There are lots of things to see in the book including hiking, caving, camping, hostels, shopping, art, water sports, performing arts, nature reserves and parks, and good details and maps on all the major cities. In this market there are three or four similar books. Plus there are other books just on the Outback and the cities. Australia is a big place and 1000 pages covers everything just at the surface level and just briefly, so I would recommend more than one book and possibly some maps to supplement the other books. Also read Bill Bryson's book "Down Under" for lots of local color and tips. Again Australia is a big place and 1000 pages does not do the country justice. It is what you would expect from Lonely Planet - and it is a good reference book to plan the trip. Jack in Toronto
Rating: 
Summary: senile ramblings... again
Review: I think it's time that the message come through: Lonely Planet is one of the most outdated sources you can you. Simply because, for hotels and how to get there, you can now just scour the Net for the best deals nad reviews. As for food, I usually just eat wherever place that looks good for me- no picking beforehand. So there you have it; take away all these practical components, and this book becomes quite crappy. The quality of the maps are mediocre; however, try something better, like Fodor's, Rough Guide (very user friendly) or DK Eyewitness (which has ex hotel and restaurant listings but lots of great graphics). In short, for me -> Lonely Planet = senile. Its time for the editors to update its format...
Rating:
Summary: senile ramblings... again
Review: Well, I got the last edition of the book when I was researching my honeymoon to Australia. I thought that with a book that encompassed the entire country it could help me narrow down where we wanted to travel. I found that this book is more geared to the backpackers or very cost-aware traveler. So, for our honeymoon, when we were looking for luxury and to splurge it wasn't the best. But, it may have what you are looking for. Also, the format of this book is divided into sections of the country and then the various lodging, restaurants etc.... but it has very long descriptions and small print and was too much information for us at the time. Actually, we did not take this book with us to Australia and we purchased a few other books instead (Fodors, Sydney Citiguide). I truly found that in the era of the internet, I could research most of the trip online and make a lot of the reservations. And as far as having a reference while you are away.... the more site specific the book the more useful I have found. (And my husband sold ours on e-bay before we even left for the trip!)
Rating:
Summary: I guess I am not a "lonely planet" traveler
Review: Well, I got the last edition of the book when I was researching my honeymoon to Australia. I thought that with a book that encompassed the entire country it could help me narrow down where we wanted to travel. I found that this book is more geared to the backpackers or very cost-aware traveler. So, for our honeymoon, when we were looking for luxury and to splurge it wasn't the best. But, it may have what you are looking for. Also, the format of this book is divided into sections of the country and then the various lodging, restaurants etc.... but it has very long descriptions and small print and was too much information for us at the time. Actually, we did not take this book with us to Australia and we purchased a few other books instead (Fodors, Sydney Citiguide). I truly found that in the era of the internet, I could research most of the trip online and make a lot of the reservations. And as far as having a reference while you are away.... the more site specific the book the more useful I have found. (And my husband sold ours on e-bay before we even left for the trip!)
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