Venezuela

My wife and I have retired in Venezuela for two years. The Insight Guide has beautiful pictures and is great to read, like a paperback coffee table book. The Footprint guide is fair, but not always well organized. So when we really want information about something specific, we go to our Bradt guide.

I usually travel with Lonely Planet. This was the first time that I bought another book for my travel. But after reading the reviews on this site I decided to try. I have to admit that I was very sceptical, but.... the purchase was worth the money. I am very happy that I did't bought LP... I had the opportunity to compare the two books in Venezuela and I can say that this is deffinitly a better gude to Venezuela. For example LP doesn't even mention the port La Guaira. I usually travel with Lonely Planet. This was the first time that I bought another book for my travel. But after reading the reviews on this site I decided to try. I have to admit that I was very sceptical, but.... the purchase was worth the money. I am very happy that I did't bought LP... I had the opportunity to compare the two books in Venezuela and I can say that this is deffinitly a better guide to Venezuela than Lonely Planet. For example LP doesn't even mention the port La Guaira. Which is near the international airport. I suggest to buy it.

The guide contains a lot of details on where to go and how to find things. Opening hours are not always as given in the guide. You might find places open at other times and closed at the times indicated. Not many pictures but very good information on sites i.e. historical background, ...

Hilary Dunsterville Branch's guide to Venezuela is the best guide out there in the market. I've just got back from a month backpacking around the country and I wish I'd bought it before I left the States. As it was I was lucky enough to bump into a French couple that gave me their copy in Merida in the Venezuelan Andes. After three days traveling with Branch's book I dumped my Lonely Planet Guide in the trash. Not only does she give you the practical details on off the beaten track beaches like Choroni, Santa Fe and Morrocoy but she gives you the run down on the cheapest places backpackers can stay. The history was good and easy to read. She got me up to the top of Mount Roraima and her section on the Rio Caura is excellent. What can I say. Thanks to this guide I now know that a month isn't long enough to spend in this incredible tropical country. I'm going back again next year and I'll be taking Branch with me.