1. ISBN13: 9781400008292
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Ancient temple ruins, lush rolling hillsides, deserted-island beaches, and mouthwatering cuisine–it all shines with new vitality in this full-color guide to Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destination. Fodor’s Thailand covers top sights, Thai festivals, the best beach bungalows, how to negotiate a great deal at the market, and more.
• More than 250 color photographs illustrate Thailand’s natural beauty and vibrant culture and help readers choose sights that will make their trip unforgettable
• An all-new, “Experience Thailand” chapter gives readers a peek into Thai culture and features on classic Thai massage, beach-side lodging, local transportation, and eco-travel
• All-new magazine-style features illustrate Thailand’s top sights and attractions, including the Grand Palace, Bangkok street food, Buddhist statuary, southern beaches, and traditional arts and crafts
• Side-trip chapters cover top destinations in Laos and Cambodia
• New dining features and photos provide in-depth introductions to Thailand’s four delectable and unique regional cuisines

Customer Review :

Ready for Thailand!

Thailand has long been identified with Southeast Asia's uniqueness and has also been a powerful magnet for travelers, explorers, and entrepreneurs. Its abundant resources, striking architecture, natural beauty, fascinating people and amazing cuisine have continually proved irresistible. On my latest reading episode, I discovered to my delight, that all of this and more have been included in Fodor's Thailand, 11th Edition Full Color Guide. [...]

The book has been neatly divided into nine major sections which allow the reader to quickly focus on their primary area of interest. As a wiki review, the book covered Bangkok, the Central Plains, the Southern Beaches, Northern Thailand, Isan, and a brief overview of Cambodia along with Laos. In addition, they have thoughtfully included 65 maps, illustrated features and 170 color photos. The amount of detail, information and easy to read style was greatly appreciated. These critical points are not a given when purchasing guide books. Just spend some time in the travel section of your neighborhood bookstore. You will quickly see that all guide books are not created equal!

In my opinion, the mark of an excellent guide book is that it becomes much more than a book. Amazingly, it can become a personal friend. It literally takes on a life of its own. I'm sure some of you can relate. This friend does that plus more by providing "Insider Tips" and directs you to some "Great Finds" that only a savvy local would be capable of sharing. Just like the commercial says, "Don't leave home without it."

Frequently, many guide books do a poor job of bringing a country or city alive in print. Not this one! The writers enable you to experience the energy and pulse of the people, infact the entire nation from the get-go. You can almost taste the spicy hot Thai cusine and smell it being prepared in a back alley kitchen in Bangkok. They even take you for a tour of the Thai markets for an authentic Thai shopping experience. As the writers say, "Take a deep breath and prepare for an intoxicating medley of colors, sounds, smells and tastes." Have you ever tried to bargain in a foreign market? Sound intimidating? Not to worry! Your new friend will share with you a list of Do's and Don'ts when it comes to haggling.

This guide book went well beyond my expectations. If you're considering a visit to Thailand soon or just want a fascinating read, pick up a copy and you'll be smiling before you know it.


Rating :

Excellent in general

Fodor's has done an excellent job with this book. It is clear and well-organized (as compared to Lonely Planet which was a bit overwhelming with information). We stayed at several of the Fodor's Choice hotels (although we used TripAdvisor because of their recent reviews and ranking system), and they were truly amazing choices. On the other hand, given the vast number of restaurants in various cities in Thailand, the Fodor's Choice restaurants were decent but certainly not the most tasty.

Fodor's also gave good information about the Similan Islands, a great place to go scuba diving. We also went to the Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga bay because of friend's recommendations and Fodor's concurrence.

We stayed in Thailand for two weeks and absolutely loved it! Fodor's helped us with accurate information about the markets, hotels, and maps. A separate map for the Skytrain/Metro in Bangkok would have been helpful. Still, a travel guide like this shows why Fodor's has been successful in the guidebook business for decades.

Rating :

Great book, but not itself travel friendly

I'm planning a trip to Thailand and Cambodia so this book seemed the perfect fit. The descriptions are generally good for hotels/restaurants/attractions. I would like a more graded rating system for attractions so I can budget my time properly. The articles featuring the Grand Palace and Angkor Wat are very good, as are the features on the food. I also appreciate the tidbits on the pictures because it gives more information and makes the pictures even more interesting. The major complaint I have is that the book is heavy due to the full color and high quality paper, but that's because I personally like to carry books with me.

Rating :

1. ISBN13: 9781741791747
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Nobody knows the Greater Mekong like Lonely Planet. Our 2nd edition will take you on a boat down the mighty Mekong, visiting hill-tribes in Thailand, trekking Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan, exploring Angkor's temples in Cambodia, whizzing through the jungle canopy in Laos and kicking back on palm-fringed beaches in Vietnam.

Lonely Planet guides are written by experts who get to the heart of every destination they visit. This fully updated edition is packed with accurate, practical and honest advice, designed to give you the information you need to make the most of your trip.

In This Guide:

Detailed advice on a everything from food and drink to transport and health
Full-color chapter on the Ancient Wonders of the Greater Mekong
Unique Green Index to help make your travels eco-friendly

Customer Review :

Perfectly adequate for a short Southeast Asia tour

We just returned from a three week trip to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. We spent about 10 days in Thailand, one week in Laos, and only four days in Cambodia at Siem Reap visiting the Angkor Wat complex. As we only had time on this trip to hit the highlights, this book was just fine. We actually brought along the Lonely Planet Thailand book and for such a short trip, it was too big and definitely in the way. If you're really backpacking and traveling for many weeks or months through Southeast Asia, I wouldn't recommend this book (buy the individual country books), but for a standard vacation it was a great resource.

Rating :

The Worst LP I've used

First off, I almost always stick with Lonely Planet, been through 25 countries with them. now:

No info at all about Bangkok's domestic airport, other than one line about "domestic flights fly from, Don Mueng." As a book for backpackers and by backpackers shouldn't it at least give a little transit info about the hub of all the budget airlines in Thailand?!!?

And that was just my first day...

I struggled for three weeks trying to find info I needed (even the basics) which seem to be omitted for no reason other than replacing it with useless info.

I know the editor just combined small snippets of the single country books to make something sorta useful, but he succeeded at creating a pointless book which I lugged around in my bag and kept having to ask other travelers to borrow their LP Laos or LP Thailand.

My recommendation, by the single country guidebooks

Rating :

Disappointing

A guide book should be updated at least annually to ensure accuracy of it's information. Lonely planet has failed this task.
I just traveled (2009) to South East Asia, using this guide book. The prices in the book were outdated (double now), some restaurants are not there anymore, and many of the reviews are inaccurate now.
For such a famous brand, they should pay attention to their core concept..provide accurate up to date travel information.

Rating :

Good guide but bit disjointed

Lonely Planet guides are very good but this one is a bit disjointed. Information on visas is located in a few different areas for the same country & is not very clear. Otherwise it is a very good guide.

Rating :

A decent starting point

I spent six weeks in May and June 2008 backpacking around Southeast Asia, and this was my primary guidebook. Overall, I found it to be helpful for the macro-level stuff: planning my itinerary, getting a general overview of each country's history, and budgeting.

I give it three stars, however, because although it's unreasonable to expect it to be as in-depth as the individual guidebooks for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, I often found that the authors omitted useful listings for lodging, places to eat, and sites that were included in other books.

If you plan on taking only one guidebook for VN, KH, and LA, this is a good choice. (Another option is Moon, but at the time of my trip it was even more out-of-date than the LP guide.) Just keep in mind that you'll want to refer to other guidebooks, which I found to be readily available from hostels, cafes, and other travelers in this well-traveled region.

Rating :

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1. ISBN13: 9781741043174
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Discover Cambodia

Sunrise or sunset? Discover the perfect light to greet the 216 faces of Angkor's Bayon temple
Pound, whisk and sizzle your way through a cooking course in Siem Reap (and don't skimp on the fermented fish paste)
Detour off the temple trail for snorkelling and sunset cocktails on Serendipity Beach
Feel the buzz in Phnom Penh: from bustling backstreets to relaxed riverside bars

In This Guide:

Unmatched off-the-beaten-track coverage: from jungles in the southwest to remote mountains in the north
Includes information on the best ecotourism and community-run projects in the country
Visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveller insights

Customer Review :

This is a good guide that still needs tweaking.

The majority of the reviews listed for this guide are out-of-date - I am reviewing the updated 2008 edition. Lonely Planet has changed a lot over time and for the good.

For a month (Feb. 09) I stayed in Cambodia, extensively using Lonely Planet and Rough Guide. I traveled to Phnom Penh, the coastal areas of Sihanoukville, Kep (Kampot) and then up to Angor Wat (Siem Reap). Lonely Planet guides are known for their no-nonsense, off-the-beaten-path advice and this 2008 Cambodia guide continues that tradition.

The 'History' section of this guide is much improved but the `Cultural' section is not as informative or hard pressing as it is in Rough Guide. Nothing is written about the surge in political and police corruption, nothing about the tragic selling of ALL of Cambodia's islands to European & Russians speculators. Nor is anything said about the injustice to the Cambodia people who have been thrown off their land and watched their houses bulldozed down. Nothing is written about the rising crime that is surging through places like Phnom Penh. What you get is mainly tourist brochure pabulum. Rough Guide's take is more realistic and critical.

One of the strength of Lonely Planet is found in its "our picks" of places to stay and eat -- these always very good and reliable. Kudos. Caveat: in our changing world it is always best to check out tripadvisor.com to confirm the latest traveler's opinions. There are new places opening faster than any guide can cover. Check out the new, great bargain priced hostel in Kampot - `Mea Culpa'.

L.P. guides usually have great tidbits about a country buried in sidebars... this guide has none. Sad. Also, normally, LP has excellent, easy to use maps; this guide does not. Specifically, the map of Phnom Penh is crowded and hard to use. Sad. The health section is not Cambodia specific; rather it is a compilation of what you can find in any guide. Sad.

This is a good guide that still needs tweaking. If you are going off-the-beat-path then there is only Rough Guides and Lonely Planet. Of the two, my choice is Rough Guide. 3.5 Stars.

Rating :

Strangely Annoyed

I have lots of guidebooks - and lots of Lonely Planets, for that matter. But despite the fact that they say they are for "independent travellers", I keep finding ridiculous reviews on restaurants and hotels, to the point where I've stopped using them.

The History, Snapshot, and similar sections are great, but if you have a brain of your own - use it. Forget their restaurant and hotel recommendations, as I'm not even sure they visit the places. Sometimes they have history or comments on places that is worthwhile to read, though. All tourbooks may have these drawbacks, to be fair.

Finally, I think I'm going to stop buying Lonely Planet's, though. First, they always act like driving is so scary everywhere, when it's actually quite easy to anyone with a brain. They also forget to give worthwhile tips on getting a car, etc. I imagine that this is their way of "saving the Earth". To a person who does care about the Earth, but doesn't believe that being a dirty hippie is going to save anything, this - and all their other BS trying to coerce their opinions onto you as fact - gets really freakin' old. Yes, yes, I know, LP is founded by some hippie freak from AUS or something - whooptie doo. That doesn't mean I have to pay some jerk who's going to push his politics on me, whether I agree with them or not.

Rating :

Great Guide for Cambodia

We bought it for our trip to Angkor Wat in Nov. and we used it extensively for travels around Siem Reap and used it as a guide for the temples of Angkor Wat. It only lacked a few specifics on things to do other than Angkor Wat temples as we found out thru other visitors that visiting an orphanage and bringing them some gifts (such as tennis balls) will brighten their day. We also used it when we arrived at Phnom Penh and we visited the temples as stated in the Book. The 1-3 day itineraries were pretty useful. We saw many visitors and tourist using the Lonely Planet books. We hope you will find the book quite useful too.

Rating :

Not a book for off-the-beaten-track temple nuts

I am quite certain now that none of the Lonely Planet staff have ever been to Bayong temple in Kirivong town which they say is located "on the nicely paved NH2, 50 km south of Takeo and 8 km north of the Phnom Den-Tinh border crossing." National Highway 2 is indeed a newly paved highway with broad shoulders, and is the only road connecting Takeo and Phnom Den, but Kirivong Town is not located on this highway--far from it--nor is the temple anywhere near this highway or town.
Lonely Planet also says that "it's cheaper to take a share taxi or a bus to Kirivong town and then hop a moto at the turn off" to the temple.
But there are no buses running to Kirivong town. Nor have there ever been any, according to the town's people, and there certainly aren't any paved roads within twenty kilometers of the place. Most of the people in the town have never heard of Bayong temple which the Lonely Planet says is "about 3 km west of the northern edge of Kirivong town; the turn-off is marked by a painted panel depicting the temple." The few people who did know where the temple was pointed me back east from where I came about ten kilometers--halfway back down the mud road that I took the night before from NH 2
I would like to thank Lonely Planet for my mosquito bitten night in a room with no fan in muddy Kirivong Town. What with no bus transportation out of the place I barely had enough money to get back to Phnom Penn. I knew I was in trouble at Takeo bus station when I was told that there was no bus to Kirivong Town, but I stupidly went ahead with this mistake and hired a moto, blindly trusting that Lonely Planet would somehow help me out of this mess.
I will agree with what Lonely Planet said about Bayong Temple in the 2005 edition: "The temple itself doesn't justify a visit." I trust implicitly in their wisdom as I have never seen the temple either.




Rating :

Cambodia Country Guide

This is a very well written book with excellent information. It has been very helpful in my preparation to go to Cambodia. I will take it with me to use as my guide when there.

Rating :

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1. ISBN13: 9789622177277
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
4. Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Editorial Review :

The great legacy of the ancient Khmer civilization, the temples of Angkor, cover an area of over 77 square miles in north west Cambodia. These monuments, built between the ninth and 15th centuries—the classic period of Khmer art—are unrivaled in architectural greatness. They are, undoubtedly, one of the wonders of the world, astounding in their splendor and evoking a real sense of awe.

Contains background information on Khmer history, religious beliefs and legends depicted on the bas-reliefs, as well as descriptions of the decorations and architectural features. Detailed, monument-by-monument guide to the sites, including detailed maps and plans, plus four newly accessible temple-complexes accessible by helicopter!

• Phnom Penh section profiles the National Museum, and highlights of Cambodia's capital
• Tongle Sap essay on flora and fauna around the great lake
• Comprehensive background information on Khmer art, religion and cultural traditions
• Detailed architectural descriptions and extensive accounts of all the temples as well as several pre-Angkor sites
• Written by an art historian steeped in the region's art and culture
• 92 color photographs
• 30 maps and plans

Customer Review :

Absulutely Fantastic

Excellent, up-to-date info. on all sites; very detailed and accurate text on history and culture. Very informative for architects, historians, and other people interested in more profund knowledge/ facts. Far better than the other guides I've read!

Rating :

Angkor Reference

This book has every possible detail you need to make your experience better. I got this book because I was impressed on the information it contained for each temple, and especially as a photograph enthusiast, this book gives plenty of hints where to be to get the best pictures.



Rating :

THE Must-have Guide to Angkor

This is, without doubt, THE must-have guide to the Angkor area. Dawn Rooney writes with clarity, thoroughness and a balanced view of the monuments without talking down to (or over the head of) the reader. Some books on this area read like travel brochures, others like snobby scholarly textbooks. Ms. Rooney's book strikes the perfect balance between the two.

I'm a research-aholic about my travel, and collect guide books by the dozens. This is one of the best I've read anywhere, about any area.

This revised edition features tons of full-color photographs, good maps and many, many touring tips. I especially liked the fact that she talks about when to visit certain areas, where the best photography opportunities are, along with what makes each temple/monument unique.

The first portion of this book gives a "just-the-right-depth" overview of the history of the area, plus overviews of the artistic styles, royal lineages, construction methods, restoration efforts, etc. Then the second portion goes into detail about each monument - grouped into logical touring sequences.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you've been searching for a guide book to the Angkor area - end your search now. This is the one.

Rating :

Worth its weight

I just returned from Cambodia and am very glad I had the guidebook with me. Yes, it is heavy, but well worth the extra space and weight in your tote or backpack. There isn't a local guide who will tell you more. Even if he could, his broken English will make the delivery less than fluid. The only annoying thing in the book were a number of pictures not matched up with the temples being described on the adjacent page. There are many such instances. One learns to read the picture captions carefully.

Rating :

distant temples, history, Preak Toal Bird Sanctuary info

After 6 days in Siem Reap with a licensed guide, this book is 'Cliff Notes' to what the guide tells you. I don't recommend touring the temples without a licensed guide, unless you want a quick, superficial tour. The only book that contains info on the temple Koh Ker (3 hours from Siem Reap, built in 900 AD) & the Preak Toal Bird Sanctuary (2.5 hours by boat across Tonle Sap Lake). If you want to truly enjoy & understand the carvings, the history (Buddhist & Hindu) & culture of what you seeing, read this book before you depart (it's too heavy to take), hire a licensed guide (not a driver who cannot legally take you inside the temples) who is trained to explain how the temples were built (different materials & methods) & what the carvings depict (Hindu mythology, Buddhist kings). Then when you return, reread the sections on the temples you visited... and it will bring back a flood of images & memories. Floor plans are confusing, pictures scant, but her historical descriptions & distances are accurate, lesser known, less touristy temples are included for the adventurous or art lover.

Rating :

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1. ISBN13: 9780743470230
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Three years ago, award-winning actress Angelina Jolie took on a radically different role as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Here are her memoirs from her journeys to Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Ecuador, where she lived and worked and gave her heart to those who suffer the world's most shattering violence and victimization. Here are her revelations of joy and warmth amid utter destitution?compelling snapshots of courageous and inspiring people for whom survival is their daily work?and candid notes from a unique pilgrimage that completely changed the actress's worldview -- and the world within herself.

Customer Review :

AN AMAZING READ...

Everyone should read this book. It promotes understanding, empathy, humbleness...I did not feel preached to just present as if I was right next to Jolie and sharing in the experience(s). This is a book every High Schooler and Adult in the US should read, I hope she keeps sharing her diaries!

Rating :

Good cause but...

I support her cause but as a read, the book is far from being a great work.

Rating :

Simply Inspirational

Raw, sincere, honest, deep from her heart, this book reveals that Angelina is truly a unique human being amidst the superficial world of Hollywood. This book was written to raise awareness of the plight of refugees in conflict-torn countries - it is not Angelina's propaganda to enhance her career. In fact, it exposes her vulnerable side beneath her strong facade. It's simply a journal of her heartfelt experiences while on her UNHCR - sometimes dangerous - missions. This book reminds us -fortunate ones, that we should count our blessings and share those with people who are not as fortunate as us. In her travels, Angelina also marvels at & highlights how the human spirit perseveres in times of difficulties and distress. A shallow & insensitive celebrity would have missed this human characteristic.

My admiration for Angelina has gone beyond her talents as an actress; she is truly inspirational in her real but 'quiet' humanitarian endeavors. There's nothing Hollywood about that. Isn't it strange that no paparazzi cover her UNHCR missions?

I bought 2 copies of this book - one for my elder sister who simply adores Angelina & one for my teen-age daughter, also an Angelina Jolie admirer & whose heart is also into (school) charity programs. I am hoping that Angelina's story will strengthen my daughter's passion in helping people in need - especially poor & sick children.

I hope Angelina writes another book on her recent UNHCR missions.

In hindsight : because of its message, make this a 5 star! :)

Rating :

Inspiring, but not a literary great....

Angelina Jolie's Notes from My Travels, was very inspiring. I now feel so much like I need to make more of a difference in the world. I admire Ms. Jolie for her bravery and stepping outside of her comfort zone and journeying to these countries to find out what she can do to make the world a better place. The book is written very factually and is not entertaining, though I don't think it was meant to be. I think it was written to inspire others to explore what we can do to improve the world and that is what it did to me...

Rating :

Angelina Jolie Shines!!!!!

I didn't know Angelina Jolie had written a book, and incredibly a book about her experiences in refugee camps. It is amazing what those people go through, and how she, being an artist, expresses her feelings of the situation. There is no acting here. I admire Angelina. She might have her issues. I knew she was a beautiful women in the outside, what I didn't know was how beautiful she was in the inside. Great Read Recommend It!!!!!

Rating :

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