Lonely Planet Thailand's Islands & Beaches (Thailand's Islands and Beaches, 3rd Ed)

Rating:
Summary: If you want to go off of the beaten path, this is for you.
Review: I got a lot of use out of the book and made 2 trips to Thailand on it. I went to Koh Chang, and the information was a great help in helping me plan when to go, what to do, how to get there and everything. It especially helped in Bangkok, which is needed as this is a place where you don't want to seem lost, it is overwhelming. One thing that I would add to this book, When you come out of the last gate at the airport, there will be very many people standing there, waiting for the tourists. Don't look at them!!!! As soon as you make eye contact, they will be on you like white on rice ready to find anything that you might need, just to get some kind of commission. I did a lot of research about a month or two both with this book as well as the internet (check out lonely planet's site, as well as other web queries), so it helps to not get there and open the book for the first time. If you want to go to Phuket or Koh Samui or some other tourist trap, you don't really need a book, but this book might tell you some insider's tips that you might not find just by showing up and waiting to be ripped off. One other thing, about flights, join a courier orgnaization. It will save you A LOT of money and you will only have to sacrifice some baggage space. Another thing, if you decide to go to the tropical spots, best time is the 1st of October. This is the beginning of tourist season, although it doesn't pick up for another month, so you can still do everything without the crowds present yet. One last thing: GO TO KOH CHANG!! It is the best!! This book is to me considered to be a necessary item for travel (Lonely Planet always is!).

Rating:
Summary: Information covered in other travel guides
Review: I just returned from a trip to Thailand. I was in Bangkok, Phuket and some of the outlying islands. There is nothing in this book that is not covered in the other general Thailand Guides. I would even go so far to say the Rough Guides Thailand has more comprehensive information about places to stay and things to do near the beaches. Also, something I didn't know, Thailand has a great tourism service provided in the Airport in Bangkok that can book most anything you need for stay on the beaches (if you are going to Phuket). It was a great trip even if I did have to lug this junky book around with me the whole time!

Rating:
Summary: Poorly organized book with abundant misinformation
Review: I purchased this book thinking that it would be the definitive text on the islands of Thailand. I could not have been more wrong. Lonely Planet's misinformation on the weather patterns (specifically monsoons typical locations at different times of the year) resulted in my being stranded on an island in a monsoon. Other guide books including the rough guide to thailand as well as my German and Irish colleagues books provided accurate information which frequently disagreed with the information in this book. I also found that the rough guide to Thailand provided more complete and accurate information on the islands. Overall I would not recommend this book to anyone- better luck next time to the authors.

Rating:
Summary: Best guidebook for beaching in Thailand
Review: Just like its siblings this lonely planet book saved me over 100 times its cover price for my vacation. It does include an abbreviated Bangkok section as well as thorough, encyclopedic information about coastal Thailand. If you wish to plan a beach vacation in Thailand this is the best book you can buy. While it lacks unnecessary glossy photos a la Conde Nast, it is chock full of useful advice. My 1/2 star deduction is because I wish the authors would emphasize how incomplete your vacation will be if you eat every meal in the resort restaurants, and shop only in gift shops. That is a minor complaint, and I simply will not travel without a relevant lonely planet in my carry on bag.

Rating:
Summary: Marketed For Whom?
Review: This edition has plenty of information that is helpful. One can get enough information before going, upon arrival, or after arriving on where to explore without this book, however. The Lonely Planet Thailand guidebook (for the entire country and not just the islands and beaches) also has plenty of information on Thailand's islands and beaches.

With the inclusion of "luxury" accommodation and over-priced "tourist" restaurants and trinket shops, it appears this book is marketed towards a particular group: North Americans who only have two-weeks, and therefore need to "plan" ahead for their trip. This is a particular market and that is understandable, but it appears that LP is trying to get a piece of this market, and gear this guide-book towards these type of folks.

One thing to note: Ko Chang is not off the beaten track by any means. It's going to be the next place completely destroyed by the Tourist Authority of Thailand. They are working on it right now, evicting local Thais who've lived there for generations to build hotels.

There is no where in S.E. Asia that is "off the beaten" track, except perhaps, parts of Laos. The trail is crowded, and continues to get bigger. If you're a long-term visitor or a "two-week hoteller" then this book will due.