South-East Asia: The Graphic Guide

Having spent 3 months in SE Asia the last part of 2005, this was the only book we really needed. It is so much easier to navigate than a more traditional guide book. Though some of the information was a tad dated, especially travel times(it was published in 2003), it was our bible as we traveled. We met a few others who also had it (as opposed to the throngs who had Lonely Planet) and who were equally impressed. Long-timer travelers we met who we showed the book to were amazed to see so much accurate, easy-to-access information (ie to get to Burma cheaply from Bagkok, take a Bangladesh airline flight that stops in Yangon on the way to Bangladesh). The maps take a little time to understand, but once you do, everything is laid out for you in one concise picture. It's like a friend drew you map showing the highlights and inside scoop. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words--what his maps say on one page, it would take LP 6-7pages.

This is easily the most engaging and useful travel guide I have bought. I love the "treasure map" style and it is a perfect fit for Southeast Asia. This book was very helpful in getting around Southeast Asia and made me excited to go. The where's nice section is better than the highlights section in other travel books. I especially liked language sections as it included very information transliteration guides.

I say "ultimate" guide insomuch as I found myself using it, and nothing else, on a 5-month sojourn through Southeast Asia. Although I purchased a number of other guides, I ended up leaving them with other travelers because this one is just so darn handy. It's small enough to fit in a cargo pocket, so it accompanied me everywhere. What makes Mark Elliott's guide so great is that it gives me just enough knowledge to be dangerous. His schematic maps orient me and highlight the sites worth seeing and the places worth visiting. I don't need to do a lot of research, just grab the book and get going! What it does NOT have is detailed histories and background information on the many locals. That's OK by me because I can pick that up from locals or other travelers hauling their heavy guidebooks everywhere! I lost count of how many times people offered to buy my copy once they'd seen the practicality of the design. Note that there is a slight learning curve in understanding the schematic maps. Elliott does a great job introducing them and provides opportunity to learn. Once you've understood the design, you're a master of your own destiny. ***** Highly Recommended!

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, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, India, Nepal, UAE, and Qatar among others. I took this guidebook with me (No chance of finding it in bookstores I suspected correctly). The author uses a very innovative map system with symbols to quickly show the traveler what is worth visiting, what is not, and how to get there - by bus, air, or train. The symbols and limited text also show where to stay. Train schedules in small tables too. The author provides just the right amount of descriptive text about the various countries to keep yourself out of trouble and/or pique your interest. What this map system does is help eliminate the "Head stuck in guidebook" that can befall any traveler - experienced or not. Many guidebooks like to "hand-hold" travelers almost to the point where some of the fun of traveling is removed. This book gets rid of alot of that feeling. It is also very quick to use once understood (Which doesn't take long). Don't expect long winded descriptions - that is often best saved for discovering for yourself when you travel. The main caveat is that this book is aimed at low budget and "harder" traveling folks. If you enjoy/desire to go up market once in a while (Mostly with lodging I suspect) another guidebook to supplement this one might be advisable. (Or maybe you can just use the Internet for that "every now and then treat/respite") The author does provide links for numerous useful websites that I didn't know about prior too. While I was in Thailand (Supplemented by a LP) I was using this book to plan an overland route through Cambodia (Originally Vietnam too). Unfortunately time constraints did not allow me to travel that plan. But when I return to the region I will most certainly use this book - perhaps exclusively. If anything, it allows VERY FAST trip planning. I also used this book exclusively for Singapore. Singapore tourism authority/offices/website have plenty of info and Singapore is super safe and easy to get around. But, this book led me to one stellar attraction which I might not have gone to otherwise - the Singapore Night Safari/Zoo. It is indicated with a STAR on the map as a worthy attraction. While not a fan of zoos, the concept intrigued me. The Singapore night safari is unique and could be the best zoo in the world in terms of presentation (At least from those I've visited and others I've read about). Kudos to the author for noting it. NOTE: Only limited coverage is provided for Indonesia - where I traveled on Java and Bali. I used an excellent Michelin NEOS guide for that country (Another non-Lonely Planet that is recommended). Book description above lists the primary countries and those with just nutshell info. I have used dozens of travel guidebooks in my life. I only wish more of them would be written like this.

This is a pretty unique travel book for low budget travelers. It takes all the practical information that you need to survive but then throws you in to explore for yourself showing you where to get free information rather than regurgitating the standard stuff that you get free anyway, yet taking great pains to show you money saving details like where the bus stop into town is when you arrive at any of Bangkok's bus stations. There are so many maps that it can actually be better (as well as much cheaper and lighter to carry) than a series of one country guides. One thing that takes a while to get used to is the icons which make the maps look wild the first time you look at them, but when you get used to them means you get info packed in a small space. In cities where there are loads of guest houses just a "traveler area" is marked which seems like a good idea. Transport is summarized not in words but in sort of spider-like schematic maps which show times, prices, etc and diagrammatically give a good idea of where in a town to find the bus in the first place. On the other hand if you want accommodation much above the budget level this is not the book for you. By the way with all the SARS paranoia it is a great time to be out here in SE Asia!