The Rough Guide to Central America On a Budget
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Product Description
Product Description
The Rough Guide to Central America on a Budget is the definitive guide to making the most of this exotic region without breaking the bank. Backpackers, career-breakers, gap year travellers and those who want more bang for their buck, will find in depth budget information for all seven Central American countries and every aspect of travel. From accommodation and restaurants to special events, festivals and adrenalin-pumping outdoor activities, this guide is packed with the best budget information. This guide is packed with the best budget information for night-life, shopping, markets and entertainment, as well as “Treat Yourself” boxes that highlight great places and things worth splashing out on. There is a full-colour introduction with highlights for every country. You’ll also find useful words and phrases in every language and detailed maps for hundreds of locations.
Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Central America on a Budget.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book as it was newer than the Lonley Plant version and so hopefully more helpful. In a way it was as it was indeed more up to date, had better info on hostels and restaurants etc... However, given the choice again i would choose the lonely planet for the following reasons.
1. the maps in the rough guide are sparse and fairly unhelpful. lonely planets versions are a lot clearer and easier to work with.
2. inaccurate information is littered through the book, more so in my opinion than the lp versions. things from buses, opening times, terrible reviews of hostels and even things like typos and incorrect page numbering.
3. the layout of the book is confusing and inconsistent. in one section you will have travel info at the start of the town and in the next it will be at the back.
Given all this, its still not a terrible book and we managed to travel around the area with no problems. It does lay out the highlights of each country, give a good synopsis and provide enough info to say hello (hola). On a side note, in the end we gave up on hostels in the book altogether and just used the internet as its more upto date, less biased and generally more helpful.
1. the maps in the rough guide are sparse and fairly unhelpful. lonely planets versions are a lot clearer and easier to work with.
2. inaccurate information is littered through the book, more so in my opinion than the lp versions. things from buses, opening times, terrible reviews of hostels and even things like typos and incorrect page numbering.
3. the layout of the book is confusing and inconsistent. in one section you will have travel info at the start of the town and in the next it will be at the back.
Given all this, its still not a terrible book and we managed to travel around the area with no problems. It does lay out the highlights of each country, give a good synopsis and provide enough info to say hello (hola). On a side note, in the end we gave up on hostels in the book altogether and just used the internet as its more upto date, less biased and generally more helpful.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been travelling South and Central America for 5 months, and have found The Rough Guide frankly disappointing. Lonely planet, despite being slightly outdated, is still the backpackers' bible over here, with better accommodation and restaurant listings, more out-of-the-way areas detailed, and far more insightful suggestions and descriptions. I have met many travellers who have thrown this book away and gone and bought a Lonely Planet. I think LP have just released an updated version anyway, so do yourself a favour and get it instead.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Missing important details; otherwise OK.
29 Aug 2009
Format:Paperback
Just returned from a 2-week trip to Central America. I previously used Lovely Planet guides in a number of countries, but this time Lonely Planet did not have an exact analog, so I decided to try the Rough Guide.
My main complaint is that the book misses very important details that Lonely Planet usually provides. For example, departure times of most buses are not listed. Where Lonely Planet would say something like "Departures at noon and 8pm", Rough Guide says "2 departures daily". This is not really helpful!
Also accommodation prices are not quoted, instead they provide the number-coded price category. Why generalize, when you can provide actual prices? Lonely Planet gives actual prices and even though they sometimes go up between the moment of publication and your check-in, it is still more informative than a number-coded category (which is by the way also off in about 1/3 of the cases).
Other than that, the book is usable. So you might want to opt for it, rather than buy separate Lonely Planet guides for all the countries covered here.
My main complaint is that the book misses very important details that Lonely Planet usually provides. For example, departure times of most buses are not listed. Where Lonely Planet would say something like "Departures at noon and 8pm", Rough Guide says "2 departures daily". This is not really helpful!
Also accommodation prices are not quoted, instead they provide the number-coded price category. Why generalize, when you can provide actual prices? Lonely Planet gives actual prices and even though they sometimes go up between the moment of publication and your check-in, it is still more informative than a number-coded category (which is by the way also off in about 1/3 of the cases).
Other than that, the book is usable. So you might want to opt for it, rather than buy separate Lonely Planet guides for all the countries covered here.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
solid choice for the budget traveler
6 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
With Lonely Planet in corporate ownership and skewing upmarket, budget travelers need alternatives. Rough Guides' "On a Budget" series meets that need. I used their Central America guidebook on a month's travel through northern Central America. Overall, the guidebook served well. Written clearly and with humor (but blissfully free of LP's jaded attitude), it covers all the high points as well as more off-the-beaten-trail adventures.
This is the first edition, so there are a few kinks: maps with places shown out of place; some awkward phrasing (e.g. describing Copan as "infamous"); listing only high-end places when budget options are available. I also have a beef with the two-tone (black/orange) text; in low light (i.e. most budget places), the tiny white/orange price circles become illegible.
One thing I miss from Lonely Planet is the info on population and altitude given with each town's listing. This gives an immediate snapshot of likely climate and level of services, and Rough Guide does not include it.
Most guidebook reviewers complain about the gap between a guide's stated prices and real-world prices. I was happy to find the situation reversed: traveling in low season at the recession's end meant prices were often lower than listed. Most guidebooks list high-season prices, so that was part of it; but shop and hotel owners did tell me business had been dead and prices lower as a result.
Slip Rough Guides' Central America On a Budget in your pack and you're in good hands. Happy trails!
This is the first edition, so there are a few kinks: maps with places shown out of place; some awkward phrasing (e.g. describing Copan as "infamous"); listing only high-end places when budget options are available. I also have a beef with the two-tone (black/orange) text; in low light (i.e. most budget places), the tiny white/orange price circles become illegible.
One thing I miss from Lonely Planet is the info on population and altitude given with each town's listing. This gives an immediate snapshot of likely climate and level of services, and Rough Guide does not include it.
Most guidebook reviewers complain about the gap between a guide's stated prices and real-world prices. I was happy to find the situation reversed: traveling in low season at the recession's end meant prices were often lower than listed. Most guidebooks list high-season prices, so that was part of it; but shop and hotel owners did tell me business had been dead and prices lower as a result.
Slip Rough Guides' Central America On a Budget in your pack and you're in good hands. Happy trails!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
OMG!! I would have died without this guide!
3 Jan 2011
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Guatemala experience was crazy!! This book was very accurate in Hostels and attractions to visit. I went in 2009. So make sure u buy the most updated version. But I will definitely buy this brand for the next trip I go on.
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