Central & South America

I'm going to buck the trend here and give this book a positive review. In the past 2 years I have been on the road for over 1 year. Most recently returning from a 7 month trip which included Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, India, Nepal, UAE, and Qatar among others. Prior to this recent trip I spent 6 weeks in Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina. I used the LP RTF series as a general planning tool - correlating the maps with the weather charts provided. As well as utilizing the regional travel tips provided. While certainly not a detailed guide it provided just the right level of information to help me determine where I wanted to go, how to get to and from those points (quick border info) and roughly how much time I wanted to spend there via the sample itineraries. The maps are colorful and excellent, they include different colors showing the sample itineraries which are based on trips of different time lengths (1 week, 2 weeks, etc...) and little flags indicating land border checkpoints. Paper quality is also nice and glossy. I am now planning another trip to Brazil, Colombia, and Panama. I am finding this guide to be useful once again in charting out an overall course. I have specific guidebooks for each of these countries (Not all LP I'll add), but as a "1 stop shop/read" in a compact format the LP RTF series is unbeatable in my opinion. Another useful feature of the book is the chart showing all the countries listed in the region and whether a visa is required. Although I did find one mistake in the chart, a visa is required for US Citizens visiting Brazil. Though I'm not sure if the latter is a result of this books April 2000 print date. For the real adventurous this might be the only guide one needs to bring to the region. (It wasn't my only guidebook, maybe someday) Strong language skills and confidence in travelling "lite" and/or picking up guidebooks / tourist pamphlets / searching out internet sites on the way would be recommended. Great book, if used the right way. If you are only planning on going to a single country, then I wouldn't bother with this book. But, if you are planning a multi-country trip, or just need a better idea of where to spend your time - this could be a book for you.

- (From Planeta Journal) Plan your trip. This is a terrific pre-departure tool to destinations in Latin America. This is the perfect book for readers who are interested in traveling in mainland Latin America, but lack a clear idea of where they want to go. You can plan the basic itinerary for trips to Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Colombia, Bolivia, Argentina and the rest of the gang. Missing are profiles of the Caribbean Islands, but perhaps the book will be expanded to include all of the Americas in the next edition.