Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala and Yucatan (LONELY PLANET BELIZE, GUATEMALA AND YUCATAN)

Rating:
Summary: I Wouldn't Even Give it ONE Star...
Review: This book is more than disappointing...
I used to have a lot of respect for Lonely Planet, as they took pride in sharing information for the average traveler about places that were usually off the beaten path.

However, I did not realize that they have stopped actually visiting these destinations.

I live on Caye Caulker, Belize.

The NEW book, which is their first reprint in over 4 years...has not been updated. They mention a grocery store that has been closed since 1999. They mention a deli that has been closed since 2000. The do NOT mention one new business....besides one restaurant. It is obvious Lonely Planet did not send one writer to Caye Caulker, Belize.

If they didn't take time to visit Caye Caulker ONCE in over 4 years, I can only assume the rest of the book is absolute garbage as well.

For a real Travel Book for Belize, check out Rough Guide by Peter Eltringham. He actually sends scouts out to every location before he visits. He does this to ensure that every place has a fair shot...and that they write about a real experience, not one based on a hotel or restaurant putting on a show for a known writer. Peter's writers do not announce they are writers.

That is what a real travel book should be.

Lonely Planet needs to quit relying on their name to sell books. Their information is completely outdated, and not worth your money.

Wendy Casson
www.belizecayecaulker.net


Rating:
Summary: very poor for belize and Peten
Review: This is possibly the worst Lonely Planet guide I have encountered in 20 years of global travels, mainly using LPs. I bought this guide expecting it to deal with Belize thoroughly, as the title of the guide was "Belize, G and Y..."; however if you look at the actual Belize contect it just amounts to a hundred pages or so out of 600. Vast parts of the country were absent, and though northern Guatemala was a little better there were several ruins missing compared to my partner's Rough Guide to the Maya World. I have always wanted to visit the Peten ruins of Piedras Negras on the Usumacinta river, but the LP did not even cover the site. All in all I have this book was weak, certainly compared to other LP titles I have used over the years.