1. ISBN13: 9783923821327
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

Phillipines Travel Guide

Overall a pretty good guidebook with plenty of good information on lodging and lots of good, easy to read maps. I would suggest there is a little too much emphasis on the "where to eat" section, and not enough emphasis on the other daily basic needs most travelers have. We don't really need to know where the McDonalds, KFCs and Jollibees are as one can usually spot these places a mile away. We always want to know where are good internet cafes, where to take laundry, and where is the best coffee in town.

Rating :

Awesome travel guide

For planning a trip to the Philippines, one would be hard pressed to find a more complete book. It does a very thorough job of covering the entire country. What is most appreciated, is the detail provided about transportation. You don't really need to rely on taxis and private tour guides to criss-cross the country. The detail about buses in Manila is incredible. In addition, the book is loaded with maps -- although, I recommend purchasing a separate map of Manila itself. If the book has any shortcoming, it would be in covering the hotels within each city. Not enough of them get included. But then, that would require another 300 pages or the complexity and sole-purpose dedication of a Michelin Guide.

Rating :

Philippines Travel Guide

We are departing for the Philippines the end of August 2009 and needed some comprehensive guides since we are staying at Timeshare resort and booking all my travel accomodations myself. This is a very good guide, however, very disappointed because I thought I was ordering the 2009 edition. It was cataloged in the 2009 section and although the seller did NOT disclose the publication year, I assumed since they were a seasoned, reputible seller on Amazon that they would have cataloged it correctly. BUYER BEWARE, to my dismay, I received the 2005 edition. I immediately sent an email to complain or to obtain the 2009, I received no response back. This is why I am only rating it a 3, because of the seller's negligence. The book is good, however, outdated!

Rating :

Comparing Four Books About the Philippines

I hope to visit the Philippines in the near future with an eye towards possible retirement in the Philippines. To educate myself I have ordered and read four books about the Philippines, namely:

Philippines Travel Guide - by Jen Peters
Culture Shock Philippines - by Alfredo Roces
A Long Way to go for a Date - By Henry Makow
A Man's Guide to Life and Love in the Philippines - By Larry Elterman

"Philippines Travel Guide" is just that, a Travel Guide, pure and simple, and an excellent one at that. It will tell you about all the places to go, where to eat, where to stay, where to have fun. However it does not offer a lot of insight or practical information about what it would be like to live or retire in the Philippines.

"Culture Shock Philippines" is a book written by a Filipino, from a Filipino's point of view, describing Filipino culture, customs and history. If this is what you are looking for it is an excellent book. However, it is written from a Filipino's point of view, not a Westerner's point of view. It does not offer a lot of practical advice about what it would be like to live or retire in the Philippines.

"A Long Way to go for a Date" is a short and light weight book about a man's quest to find the perfect Filipina bride to bring back to his home country of Canada. It describes his visit to the Philippines to meet and date his potential bride and his experiences in bringing back and living with his Filipina wife in Canada. Ultimately it describes how it all went wrong and turned into a nightmare. This book is written in the first person by the author, Henry Makow, and although Henry sometimes comes across a bit pompous and selfish, I never-the-less like what he did, which was to "put himself out there". It is a very personal account in which Henry is not afraid to say who he is and what he wants, even if you don't agree with it. This book is very light on practical information, but it will give you some nice insight into the process of finding a Filipina wife. However, it was Henry's goal to find a wife to bring back to Canada, not to live in the Philippines, so it did not correlate perfectly with what I was looking for.

"A Man's Guide to Life and Love in the Philippines" like "A Long Way to go for a Date" is also written in the first person, but unlike "A long Way" the author does not "put himself out there". He describes things from more of a distance, so that you never really get to know who the author is. This is my only criticism of the book. Perhaps it would have been a bit more entertaining if it was a bit more personal. That being said, the book never advertises itself to be a book about the experiences of the author, it claims to be a "Guide" about life and love in the Philippines, and on that level I think it succeeds very well. It contains a great amount of information both about what it's like to live in the Philippines and about the practical side of making a life for yourself in the Philippines. It also describes in much detail the process of how to go about finding a Filipina girl friend or wife. In this regard it is interesting how he doesn't just lump all Filipina together as homogenous. He describes a number of different types of Filipina women and what each of them is like and what they are looking for. In terms of my goal of possibly living and retiring in the Philippines this book was by far the best match.





Rating :

Hawaiian Jewelry and Gifts says it is good travel resource

We are use to the Lonely Planet guide but since the new guide was not coming out for another month we picked up this one as Jen is the true
travel writer for PI...remember he is the one who put little Boracay on the map.

Good basic information but missing details related to information needed
for todays tech traveler...he has a whole section in the back with email
contact address but no websites? He need to let readers know if Internet
is available in the rooms or at least a place in each town you can check
your email. Also I just like one A -Z index in the back for quick find
of a location or subject but he has a location index, email index, subject index and it takes a little time to search what I am looking for.

My Loney Planet arrives in a few day so looking forward to comparing the two.

Rating :

More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9780761456711
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

CultureShock! Philippines is a survival guide for anyone living, working, or wanting to discover life in the Philippines. Settling into a foreign land is never easy but with this book, you will learn to understand the importance of amor-propio, appreciate the Filipino ways, and learn about the history and culture of this diverse country. Find out the importance of family to the FIlipinos, how to communicate with the locals, and learn the appropriate business etiquette. Packed with a resource guide, glossary, contact numbers, and useful advice, CultureShock! Philippines is essential for anyone wanting to fit in and enjoy life in the Philippines.

Customer Review :

Culture Shock- Philippines

This book provides a great insight into the history and particular customs and traditions of the region in an easy to follow way full of useful insights. I am embarking on living in Manilla for 5 months and wanted to know a little cultural background information and am finding this very helpful. Only a small book but so far very helpful and easy to read.

Rating :

Culture Shock! Philippines: A Survival Guide...

A very good book for people who would like to know more about Filipinos and/or for Filipinos who have been away from the Philippines for a long time.

Rating :

Weak on Practical Advice for the typical Westerner

I give this book only 3 stars because I think it sort of false advertises itself. It is a great book for the right person, but not for the Westerner looking for some practical advice.

The trouble with this book is that it is written by a Filipino from a Filipino point of view. It is very strong on the nuances of Philippine culture, on Philippine History, and how it's history has affected current day Philippines, but very weak on practical advice for the typical Western Expat.

This book is sort of an academic treatise, G rated. For example, if you are a Westerner looking for advice on how to meet and date Filipina women you will find this book to be of little value.

Rating :

Well written and with useful background information (4 1/2 stars)

Knowing some Filipinos, I think that this book helped me getting closer to understand some differences in the cultural backgrounds, which was why I got this book in the first place. Whether or not it is so much of a "guide" for people trying to live in the Philippines I cannot say (as I haven't tried that).

Rating :

Comparing Four Books About the Philippines

I hope to visit the Philippines in the near future with an eye towards possible retirement in the Philippines. To educate myself I have ordered and read four books about the Philippines, namely:

Philippines Travel Guide - by Jen Peters
Culture Shock Philippines - by Alfredo Roces
A Long Way to go for a Date - By Henry Makow
A Man's Guide to Life and Love in the Philippines - By Larry Elterman

"Philippines Travel Guide" is just that, a Travel Guide, pure and simple, and an excellent one at that. It will tell you about all the places to go, where to eat, where to stay, where to have fun. However it does not offer a lot of insight or practical information about what it would be like to live or retire in the Philippines.

"Culture Shock Philippines" is a book written by a Filipino, from a Filipino's point of view, describing Filipino culture, customs and history. If this is what you are looking for it is an excellent book. However, it is written from a Filipino's point of view, not a Westerner's point of view. It does not offer a lot of practical advice about what it would be like to live or retire in the Philippines.

"A Long Way to go for a Date" is a short and light weight book about a man's quest to find the perfect Filipina bride to bring back to his home country of Canada. It describes his visit to the Philippines to meet and date his potential bride and his experiences in bringing back and living with his Filipina wife in Canada. Ultimately it describes how it all went wrong and turned into a nightmare. This book is written in the first person by the author, Henry Makow, and although Henry sometimes comes across a bit pompous and selfish, I never-the-less like what he did, which was to "put himself out there". It is a very personal account in which Henry is not afraid to say who he is and what he wants, even if you don't agree with it. This book is very light on practical information, but it will give you some nice insight into the process of finding a Filipina wife. However, it was Henry's goal to find a wife to bring back to Canada, not to live in the Philippines, so it did not correlate perfectly with what I was looking for.

"A Man's Guide to Life and Love in the Philippines" like "A Long Way to go for a Date" is also written in the first person, but unlike "A long Way" the author does not "put himself out there". He describes things from more of a distance, so that you never really get to know who the author is. This is my only criticism of the book. Perhaps it would have been a bit more entertaining if it was a bit more personal. That being said, the book never advertises itself to be a book about the experiences of the author, it claims to be a "Guide" about life and love in the Philippines, and on that level I think it succeeds very well. It contains a great amount of information both about what it's like to live in the Philippines and about the practical side of making a life for yourself in the Philippines. It also describes in much detail the process of how to go about finding a Filipina girl friend or wife. In this regard it is interesting how he doesn't just lump all Filipina together as homogenous. He describes a number of different types of Filipina women and what each of them is like and what they are looking for. In terms of my goal of possibly living and retiring in the Philippines this book was by far the best match.





Rating :

More reviews...

1. ISBN13: 9781741047219
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Experience the best of the Philippines with Lonely Planet. With our 10th edition you'll discover the dramatic beauty and unique culture of these Asian islands - careen through Manila in a jeepney, swim with the whale sharks off Bicol, hike inland for jaw-dropping scenery or unwind on idyllic white-sand beaches.

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:

Essential safety information for Mindanao
Relax with our pick of the best islands and beaches
Ecofriendly tips to make your travels green

Customer Review :

Philippines (Country Guide)

This is one of the best guide on Philippines I have encountered; it has also been live tested on my first visit to Manila and it proved to be accurate as well as good value for money. Highly recommended.

Rating :

good info

So far this book has been a great source of quality information on culture and history. I don't usually use these books for the places to stay because my arrangements are made privately. I do feel this book is a great resource and is a good deal for the money. I will have to see how it measures up when I am in country.

Rating :

the 2009 10th edition

The 10th edition was well researched and updated .... at last...it is a vast improvement over the 8th and 9th edition which were rehashed versions of the old Jens Peter written versions from 2003 and before - with information from 2003 and before... The info I have first hand knowledge about is accurate for the first time since 2003 (I spend 2 months a year in the Philippines) The 8th and 9th editions that most of the reviews refer to here would get 1 or 2 stars from me.
The Jens Peters book Philippine Guide has also been updated , raising it from 3 to 4 stars IMO

Rating :

The best option for those planning a first trip to the Philippines

I have read lots of criticism of the Lonely Planet Philippines guidebook but I feel much of it should be disregarded by the first-time visitor to the Philippines. When one is planning a trip to the Philippines, especially if the traveler has not been there before, what one needs is qualitative advice, help in figuring out where it's worth going and where not to bother with. In this, Lonely Planet is excellent, perhaps the best of all the guidebooks. It will give you good advice about which places are worth visiting and which are not of much interest. If you've never been to the Philippines, you need frank advice about these things. As you spend time in the Philippines (I live there full-time) you may make your own judgments, but I have found Lonely Planet's advice to be quite good.

There is no question that Jens Peters' Philippines Travel Guide offers far, far more detail than does Lonely Planet; many more detailed maps, more complete listings of accommodations, transportation details and so forth. No other guidebook comes close.

I live in Iloilo City. I believe Lonely Planet's well-written Iloilo City narrative conveys the spirit, paints a true picture of the place in a way that allows the trip planner to decide if he or she should even include a visit to Iloilo City. For the trip planner this is more important content than extensive details about bus terminals, ferry links and so forth. Once you're here you may wish for the detailed information that Jens Peters' book gives.

That's why, in my opinion, there really is no single best Philippine guidebook. For the person on their first trip, Lonely Planet offers plenty of information and advice in a compact format. It is in need of an update.

I'm an American and have read complaints of my fellow citizens that the Lonely Planet guide is "anti-American". I suspect it may seem so only to those who are not familiar with some of the sadder episodes in the history of American involvement in the Philippines; the brutal crushing of Philippine independence, imposition of decades of unfair trade rules, our unwavering support for the Marcos regime so we could keep our Philippine bases and so forth. It would be better if the Lonely Planet's jabs should inspire some reading and soul searching rather than flag-waving. Stanley Karnow's "In our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines" would be a good start.



Rating :

book review lonely planet guide to phillipines

I read this book cover to cover anticipating my trip so far it has given me a good geographical and planning ideas I can not say how it would turn out once Iam there.It appears though the authors are mostly europeans and canadians intent on giving their point of view rather than an american point of view.

Rating :

More reviews...

Editorial Review :

A practical guide about life and love in the Philippines; a no holds barred, no subjects avoided, non sugar coated look at all aspects of Expat life, love and sex in the Philippines. Are you a middle aged man not ready to give up on fun? Are you divorced and alone? Do you crave a younger sexy woman but don’t have any hope in your own country? If so, this book can help you in two ways; it can help you to find a Filipina wife to bring back to your country or it can help you to start a new life and adventure in the Philippines! This book is chockfull of practical information such as: The best places for Expats to live; How to find women while in the Philippines; The culture and psychology of Filipina women; The legal system and it’s dangers; Prostitution, entertainers and massage; Buying property and building a house; Immigration/ Visa laws; How to handle your money; About medical facilities; Estimated living expenses; Culture and history; and much more!

Customer Review :

A Man's Guide to Life and Love in the Philippines

I have been going to the Philippines for many years, as I own a house there now, and plan to retire there. While I'm not into getting a new love -- my wife is a filipina, there is much informatin here about living in the Phiilippines. I know the Philippines very well, and I found much that I know to be true. And much that I still didn't know, but needed to. I can certainly recommend this book.

Rating :

FAKE REVIEW: DEXTERHORN is SEX TOURING company

The one star review next to this one is a fake review designed to promote DEXTERHORN which is a sex touring company. If they are so unscrupulous as to slam other peoples procucts just to promote their own sex touring company, you can just imagine what they will do with your hard earned money.

Rating :

A good informative Read

I bought this book because of my interest in possibly retiring to the Philippines at least part time .The book was very informative and helpful in understanding the customs and personality of the people of the Philippines.I have now found my wife to be after three visits to the Philippines.In an addition ,I found my new mission of helping the school children of the Philippines with books and supplies. Thank you Larry Elterman for helping me with this new adventure in my life.

Rating :

An excellent read

I've traveled to many of the places that the author writes about, so it was easy to relate to the areas. This is an excellent book that goes into just enough detail. I think it is a must read for folks considering becoming an expat in the PI.

Rating :

"A Man's Guide to...." is the indespensible guide

I am recently retired and widowed and started planning to visit the Philippines in Fall, 2009. Like the first reviewer in this section I bought four books on the Philippines: a good guide book (Lonely Planet); Culture Shock, by A. Roces; A Long Way to Go for a Date; and Elterman's singularly unique guide book. I agree with Howp's views on the first three. But I am even more bullish on Elterman's book than Howp was...and I have now been in the Philippines for 6 weeks of a 12 week stay. I have three goals in being here. I want a warm place to winter every year, Jan to May; a good place for diving, snorkeling and sailing; and, hopefully to find a long term partner or wife. Any good guide book will get you around in the Philippines because the people are very friendly and helpful and most speak English. But Eltermans's book is indispensible. It contains practical information on almost every important aspect for someone with interests similar to mine. I am pretty tech savy but I found the section on cell phones and texting saved me time and frustration. And his explanation of the importance of texting and how to use it is helpful for anyone of any age wanting to meet and date Filipinas. Other sections on housing,transportation, getting an extended visa are also useful, going beyond a standard guidebook.

But the book's really strong suit is providing information on how to meet and date Filipina women. Elterman creates a typology of types of Filipina women who may be willing to date foreigners that has helped me manage a confusing situation. And he managed to do so while describing Filipino people in a positive and respectful manner which they certainly deserve. Any typology is just that, an abstraction and all real people are more complex than any description. But the guide provides rich and accurate description (in my limited experience) and subtle suggestions that are helpful to any foreigner who is seeking to date a Filipina or find a wife or companion regardless of age or how long they have been here. And Elterman does so in a fun and readable manner. I find myself consulting this unique book on a weekly basis.



Rating :

More reviews...

Editorial Review :

Customer Review :

No review yet