Rating: 
Summary: Accomodation list great; spin above average
Review: Another Lonely Planet book, this listed enough hostel accomodation for me, and the maps, and background information were plenty of a base to begin a trip to Florida. Upon arriving to the Sunshine state, it is best to add onto this base of (LP) information by word-of-mouth from fellow travelers and locals. This addition provided me with enough information, and it certainly beats the AAA guidebooks, (and many other travel books), which are short, shallow, & designed for the exciting people that travel in RVs and those that mingle with the "Days Inn" crowd. Important to note: there was sarcasm and juvenile expressions in thie book, that appreared to be condescending. This is not the first time that writers for LP have done this. Often, the chirpy sarcasm, was indeed, incorrect. LP should make a note of it. Many-a-times, international backpakers/travelers think they "know" most everything, becuase the think they've "been there and done that." Usually it's quite the opposite. Bottom line: regardless of the impish tones, take this over most other travel books. Ken Johnson (still in Florida).
Rating:
Summary: Accomodation list great; spin above average
Review: Another Lonely Planet book, this listed enough hostel accomodation for me, and the maps, and background information were plenty of a base to begin a trip to Florida. Upon arriving to the Sunshine state, it is best to add onto this base of (LP) information by word-of-mouth from fellow travelers and locals. This addition provided me with enough information, and it certainly beats the AAA guidebooks, (and many other travel books), which are short, shallow, & designed for the exciting people that travel in RVs and those that mingle with the "Days Inn" crowd. Important to note: there was sarcasm and juvenile expressions in thie book, that appreared to be condescending. This is not the first time that writers for LP have done this. Often, the chirpy sarcasm, was indeed, incorrect. LP should make a note of it. Many-a-times, international backpakers/travelers think they "know" most everything, becuase the think they've "been there and done that." Usually it's quite the opposite. Bottom line: regardless of the impish tones, take this over most other travel books. Ken Johnson (still in Florida).
Rating: 
Summary: Good but inaccurate
Review: Good travel guide but inacurrate on phone numbers. The part on the Panhandle-area is just to small which shows that the writers had to much the traditional tourist in mind and not the travellers who try to go off the beaten track.
Rating:
Summary: Great maps! The rest is all a matter of opinion
Review: Great look. Great maps, organized but watch out for the assessment of hotels and restaurants. I drove around South Florida, making a circle from Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Myers, down to Key West, and back to Miami. The book was useful: the background and history information were interesting; one doesn't have to lean on AAA and can even use the maps when driving! But what you read and what you get was inconsistent. For example, to my pleasant surprise, I found many more worthwhile restaurants than what were listed. In Key West, the book mildly recommended The Curry House bed and breakfast, and I found it very, very charming, with an excellent breakfast! On the flip side, I was very disappointed when on the first night I had made a reservation at the St. Tropez hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. In the book it was favorably described as 'large rooms and clean.' The rooms were large, it was clean; but the walls were very thin, there were questionable other guests, and the whole place reeked of cigarette smoke. I came out of there smelling like a cigarette factory. It made me leery of any other recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: Great maps! The rest is all a matter of opinion
Review: Great look. Great maps, organized but watch out for the assessment of hotels and restaurants. I drove around South Florida, making a circle from Ft. Lauderdale to Ft. Myers, down to Key West, and back to Miami. The book was useful: the background and history information were interesting; one doesn't have to lean on AAA and can even use the maps when driving! But what you read and what you get was inconsistent. For example, to my pleasant surprise, I found many more worthwhile restaurants than what were listed. In Key West, the book mildly recommended The Curry House bed and breakfast, and I found it very, very charming, with an excellent breakfast! On the flip side, I was very disappointed when on the first night I had made a reservation at the St. Tropez hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. In the book it was favorably described as 'large rooms and clean.' The rooms were large, it was clean; but the walls were very thin, there were questionable other guests, and the whole place reeked of cigarette smoke. I came out of there smelling like a cigarette factory. It made me leery of any other recommendations.
Rating: 
Summary: Indeed - not proffessional book
Review: I had apprehensiveness when I bought this book since already in the tutorial, where the authors tell about them self it can be easily understood that the USA is not their specialty - actually, it is hardly mentioned they've been in the states at all! However, I needed guiding-book and was familiar the other Lonely Planet so I took the chance … about the book: while my trip I was disappointed again and again since I found the guidelines un careful or even wrong. Let's take for example the chapter deals with the Everglades Park. The book's hottest recommendation is to go to the 10,000 islands. (only) According to the book, this is area where there are a lot of small peaceful islands with white sand and dolphins around you… and you can hire your bout, have a private island for the day or even for the night. Well, let's start with the simple fact that those island haven't got any grain of sand! And you can hardly find an island in which you can park at all since the flora is so crowded..
Rating: 
Summary: Second Edition Is Simply Great
Review: I used this book for a trip to east coast and central Florida and thought it was the best Florida guide of all the ones I looked at. I stood in the book shop looking through all the guides, and checking chapters against each other, and found that this was the one to get. When I got to Florida, I found the information was right on target for all the sights, the restaurants and especially the history. The history of the Space program in this book was better than anything I saw, and even better than the information I got in the Kennedy space Center visitor center. I was surprised to see people claiming inaccuracy in the reviews here, but I looked at the dates and think they must have meant the old edition of the book. This one is tops, and kudos on Lonely Planet and the selbys for this great new edition.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best travel guides I've ever read
Review: Me an my wife traveld this year to Florida and discovered this travel guide in a german bookstore. While we flew to the states I read the whole book during the flight(never had such a nice and entertaining flight), because the book is so interesting and has so many litle nice storys (My favorite: Don't mess with the mouse or what happens if you are thinking about sex in Disneyland). The practical tips are suberb, the information was in Mai 98 always accurate, the prices correct and the tips of the authors were real tips. When we tried something which was written in the book we never got dissapointed. They really checked out almost everything whats written in the book. Real nice to read and really good tips and informations. Everything you need for a nice trip to Florida Frank (from Germany so excuse my English)
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: The best part of this book is that it takes you into areas and attractions "off the beaten path." The book is also an enjoyable read!
Rating:
Summary: Good overview but inaccurate information
Review: The book gives reader a good overview of places but contains inaccurate information especially phone numbers and addresses of restaurants. My family just completed trip to Miami area; Everglades, Key West, Coral Gables, etc. The book missed entire section of Coconut Grove area which was charming and worth wandering around. The reader should double check the accuracy of addresses and phone numbers of restaurants if he or she decided to pick one before going there. Listed restaurants are not for everyone; therefore, readers should look up in other sources as well.
|
