Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, Practical and Extremely Useful, 14 Jun 2000
By A Customer
This was the first time I went for a Lonely Planet guide, and so my remarks might seam very obvious for those who are use to them. For the sort of trip that takes you to a big number of places in a few days it is the best reference to take in your pocket. Just the right amount of information on each place, each city, each route, etc. etc. etc. Dozens of maps on even small towns we came accross in Eastern Europe, where to go if you have little time, and updated contact info on places to stay. The best thing was, the authors remarks on these places (which were cheap, big, far, friendly, etc.) we confirmed on most cases!Eastern Europe is a wonderful area to visit, but it is just the place where you want to use your time to the fullest. Thid book helps you do just that, planning each day what you will do (and where you'll be!) the next.
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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Better than most LPs, but still not great, 2 Dec 2001
I have to admit that I am no great fan of the Lonely Planet series. They are usually full of flaws, lack cultural insight, and the authors are masters of self-celebration. BUT their regional guides which cover several countries in one are indispensable reference books, as long as you don't regard them as travel guides.The LP Eastern Europe covers twelve countries on just over 800 pages, which doesn't leave space for lengthy travelogues. In this case, less is more. For they have left out all the blurb they usually write about pseudo insider tips and excursions "off the beaten track" which too often place you at the centre of a Japanese visitors group. What is left is a reference book with everything from detailed transport information to useful addresses for almost everything you can imagine. The major Eastern European cities are dedicated around a dozen pages each, and these read like the condensed version of the official Yellow Pages. Excellent public transport information, very good activity guides, all addresses and opening times, and a useful list of budget hotels. Just ignore everything they write about restaurants, pubs and nightlife. If you are over thirty and don't live on an LEA grant, then you will find the latter section pretty much useless. For places such as Macedonia or Albania, this may be the only up-to-date English guide you can find, but for other countries in Eastern Europe I would recommend better informed (and culturally sensible) guides.
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