By: Danny Palmerlee Publisher: Lonely Planet Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Lonely Planet Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 668 Publication Date: August 01, 2008
Product Description: Better and cheaper than ever, Argentina beckons. Grab this top-selling guide and tackle the tango, gallop with gauchos, and prepare for a thrill ride across enchanting cities, lush jungles, windswept plains, and over Patagonian glaciers to the tip of the world.
Useful & Practical, but Flawed I used to swear by Lonely Planet (LP) Travel Guides, but this one has too many flaws for a solid rating. Yes, the book is nicely compact and practical, with useful information on lodging, local flavor, and getting around - particularly to and from airports and bus stations. I just returned from a month's solo travel in Argentina and LP was helpful, as it doubtless was for many travelers I met holding this guide.
But: Too much information in this guide (printed in 2005) is out-dated, and at this writing prices are often 30-40% higher than stated. Also, the guide misses many hostals and other lodgings. For example, LP lists just three places to stay in LaFalda (p. 276) and in Villa del Belgrano (p. 280), but these charming towns both have about a dozen. Why not list them, or at least insert a short sentence saying about how many inns a town has? Also, gringos currently wanting to see Iguazu Falls from Brazil's side need a Visa.
This guide has enough strengths to be quite practical, but enough flaws to mark it a clear step down from LP's often-stellar efforts. LP should correct this with more frequent updates and more exact information.
Not worth the paper it is printed on. Lonely Planet misses the mark so badly on Argentina that there is no way anyone should give it a good review. The section on Buenos Aires is absolutely terrible. The free literature that our hotel left in our room was far superior to Lonely Planet's research. As a whole this guide book is geared towards homeless people that are for some reason traveling around South America. So many of the hotels that the book describes as "clean" are absolute dumps. If you do not book one of the "high-end" suggestions in Buenos Aires, I guarantee that you will not be staying in a nice hotel. Restaraunt and sight-seeing recommendations barely scratch the surface of what there is to eat and see in Argentina. In total, it appears that no work or thought was put into creating this guide book. Definitely not worth the money.
Good travel guide This is probably the best travel guide out there for Argentina. However, I wish it had more information for Uruguay and more details about other areas besides Buenos Aires. I also recommend Time out Buenos Aires to help keep up with the new restuarants.
A must for travel in Argentina Excellent guide for someone taking a trip to Argentina. It was supplemented with Time Out Patagonia. Precise in the level of information provided. It was used extensively during the 8 thousand mile trip by car.
COMPLETELY USELESS If you are a student, make less than $25K a year, and enjoy staying in rudown versions of Motel 6, then this book might be for you.
First, Argentina is no longer the bargain the authors claim it is. Outside of BA, you can get a decent meal on the cheap, but other than that, expect to pay $90 and up for a decent hotel. Many of the references in the book come from online entries and clearly have not been checked for quality, cleanliness, etc.
Second, per the review(s) below, many of the recommended restaurants have closed - in BA, you are better off going to Puerto Madero and picking a reataurant at random - they are all good.
Third, keep in mind that AR got hammered by the peso devaluation and many cities are still recovering. Cordoba and others can be less than an idyllic vacation spot.
Conclusion - if you are seeking a quality vacation, you are better off using a good travel agancy. You get what you pay for in AR, notwithstanding the claims of the authors.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
