| These days, you can get almost all the information you | | | | Lonely Planet. While Lonely Planet focus on pure |
| need from the internet. So why would you waste | | | | quality information, Rough Guides are heavier on |
| space carrying around a huge guide when you are | | | | readability and visual enjoyment. The positive sides |
| backpacking South America? First of all, a guide is | | | | with RG are the Top-todo lists for countries, inspiring |
| great resource to have even before you travel! Use it | | | | pictures and good detailed historical and guide |
| to plan your trip, and keep it on your nightboard to | | | | information to places. Negatives are that it lacks some |
| keep you motivated while you are saving up money | | | | on the resource side. Many of the listings seem to be |
| for your adventure. Second, the guide is always a | | | | outdated, and hostels/restaurants might be closed |
| great backup to have in situations where internet or | | | | down or moved. Rough Guides are a very good book |
| other resources aren't available. How much should you | | | | for those who prefer visual reading enjoyment and |
| pay for a taxi from the airport to the city? Where is | | | | good background and historical information. |
| there a hostel in this god-forsaken town where I am | | | | Footprint South America Guide: |
| the only English speaking person in miles range? It's | | | | Footprint is the old dog in this competition. Back in the |
| always a good thing to have a guide as backup, even | | | | 70s; Footprint were topping all the travel guide lists. |
| though you might not use it every day! | | | | After a few years in the dark, they are now fighting to |
| There are loads upon loads of guides for backpacking | | | | regain their position as top dog. And the new 2010 |
| in South America. Some cover the whole continent, | | | | edition surely is a new good breeze, however it still has |
| others cover only countries, cities or islands in greater | | | | a few important flaws. Footprints new book is heavy |
| detail. What kind of book you should buy depends on | | | | on good detailed information on all the major places |
| how your trip is laid out. Are you planning to stay in | | | | and in many cases it also covers the minor cities in |
| only one country? Or only one city? Or are you | | | | much greater detail then the other two. Footprints |
| planning to do the whole caboodle? If you are planning | | | | major drawbacks are some unnecessary mistakes |
| to do a large trip covering more than one country. I | | | | that should have been fixed before publication. Many |
| would advise you to only bring a "bible" guide that | | | | of the maps are incorrect and some of the basic |
| covers it all. Carrying around too many books will take | | | | resource sections are outdated. They have done a |
| up to match space and bring a heavy load on your | | | | good job fixing up many of the mistakes in the new |
| back. There are mainly 3 Guides that are recognized | | | | 2010 edition. This book is in many cases better than |
| as backpack south America bibles. | | | | the two others, especially on information on places and |
| Lonely planet - South America on a Shoestring: | | | | attractions, however the book still has some flaws, |
| South America on a shoestring is definitely the most | | | | especially on maps and locations that need to be fixed |
| popular book to bring to South America, and also that | | | | for this book to be top notch again. |
| book that goes as "the bible". The book covers the | | | | When you are going to pick out the book that fits you |
| whole South America with information on everything | | | | the best, you should really consider what you will be |
| from big attractions to restaurants in a small outback | | | | using the book for. Are you planning to only use it as |
| town. Lonely planet books are known to be very good | | | | resource for restaurants, hostels and directions? Or do |
| on accommodation, restaurants, things to do, and so | | | | you also like to read information about cities, countries |
| forth. Drawbacks are that the book gets a bit dry with | | | | and so on. Figure out what you want and pick the |
| only text and no pictures, and also the historical and | | | | guide that fits you the best. And last, if you are planning |
| details on locations can be a bit thin. Still this Is one of | | | | to backpack South America in the near future, you |
| the better books on South America, and the book you | | | | can never buy your guide early enough. Once you buy |
| will see the majority of people are carrying around. | | | | it you are one step closer to your dream of |
| Rough Guide to South America on a Budget: | | | | backpacking around South America! |
| The rough guides are the new modernized version of | | | | |