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Lonely Planet Costa Rica (Travel Guide) Paperback – October 1, 2012
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"The book's photos make me drool with desire to get out to the jungles, eco-lodges, mountains, volcanoes, beaches, rivers and national parks right now. They make me want to pick up surfing and live in Playa Grande." (BellaOnline 2013-05-00)
"From hostels and local transportation to sights and activities, this is packed with destination-oriented travel plans perfect for any journeying to Costa Rica." (Midwest Book Review 2013-01-00)
"From hostels and local transportation to sights and activities, this is packed with destination-oriented travel plans perfect for any journeying to Costa Rica." (Midwest Book Review 2013-01-00)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
By
Hartley
on February 23, 2013
Format: Paperback
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In 2013, with a family of 3 and a rental car, the book was not useful. We spent more time flipping through the book looking for information than we did reading the information available. (I used the then-current Lonely Planet guide heavily during a 3-month long trip to Costa Rica in 1998, and it was great then. I think that both the book and my needs have changed in the last 15 years.) A complete lack of road maps made this guide useless for navigation. The index doesn't allow you to look up sites of interest by topic (say "butterflies" or even the name of a city). The restaurants that were recommended by the Lonely Planet guide were uniformly mediocre, compared with the restaurants we happened upon without the guide (most of which we loved). Unfortunately, I don't have a good recommendation of a better guide, but this one wasn't for us.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By
Jeniferkate
on January 19, 2013
Format: Paperback
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I have really enjoyed Lonely Planet's books in the past. This one was disjointed, poorly edited, and most concerning seems to have eliminated many of the best features of the previous editions. It seems geared to relatively well off travelers, not those on a budget, and they have eliminated many of the useful sidebars from previous editions. Nowhere is it mentioned that hotels and hostels in Costa Rica often require reservations, and that these are non-refundable. This is hugely important, and was mentioned in previous copies. The author's earlier concerns with the environmental impact of canopy tours and the mistreatment of horses used for trekking are nowhere to be found. This is the kind of information that has set LP apart in the past. Now it reads like an ad for the country, not an unbiased and savvy guide. What happened??? Next time I'm getting the "Rough Guide" or the "Moon" books.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
C. Klaassen
TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on April 5, 2013
Format: Paperback
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We are planning a return visit to Costa Rica this summer. We first visited the country in 2010 and used the Fodor's Costa Rica 2010 (Full-color Travel Guide) and Frommer's Costa Rica 2010 (Frommer's Color Complete) guide books. We wanted an updated guidebook with perhaps a little different perspective for this trip and this book certainly fits the bill!
After an introduction and activity guide, the book is divided into 9 different sections based on regions of the country. (Since our travels will be limited to the northwestern and nicoya peninsula regions my review is largely focused on those areas.) As with most guidebooks, we are given a good overview of regional activities and sites and also offered some choice accommodations and good eats. Where this guidebook stands out is the focus on the budget minded traveler who is looking for more than a tour bus vacation experience. The book reads like the authors genuinely know the area and are giving readers the "low down" on each town within each region
Having spent time in Monteverde and the Arenal regions, I was interested to read the author's take on the locations. I thought they gave a very good overview of the areas, gave some tips I wish I had known before our last trip, and pretty much guided travelers of all budgets in a comprehensive way. The book is particularly great for the cost conscious traveler. (Quite logical because those with unlimited resources likely work with a travel agent and have a personal driver.)
I thought the authors outdid themselves in the Nicoya section of the guidebook.Read more ›
After an introduction and activity guide, the book is divided into 9 different sections based on regions of the country. (Since our travels will be limited to the northwestern and nicoya peninsula regions my review is largely focused on those areas.) As with most guidebooks, we are given a good overview of regional activities and sites and also offered some choice accommodations and good eats. Where this guidebook stands out is the focus on the budget minded traveler who is looking for more than a tour bus vacation experience. The book reads like the authors genuinely know the area and are giving readers the "low down" on each town within each region
Having spent time in Monteverde and the Arenal regions, I was interested to read the author's take on the locations. I thought they gave a very good overview of the areas, gave some tips I wish I had known before our last trip, and pretty much guided travelers of all budgets in a comprehensive way. The book is particularly great for the cost conscious traveler. (Quite logical because those with unlimited resources likely work with a travel agent and have a personal driver.)
I thought the authors outdid themselves in the Nicoya section of the guidebook.Read more ›
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By
korova
on April 18, 2013
Format: Paperback
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The 2012 edition of Lonely Planet's Costa Rica guide mostly lives up to LP's usual standards. The guide contains a blend of practical advice, historical facts, travelers' stories, and inspiring photographs. It is the sort of guide that can be used both for trip planning and for taking along on the trip itself.
Long-time LP readers will quickly see the format and organization of this guide has been substantially changed from previous years. Most of the information you've relied upon in the past is still there but there are several new features as well. One of the best is a FAQ of sorts near the beginning of the book called "Need to Know." It gathers together critical information that is frequently needed both pre-trip and intra-trip. Also, LP has done away with the glossy-paper photo sections and now uses color throughout the entire book. This change has especially improved the local maps by making them immensely easier to read.
Those who are unfamiliar with Lonely Planet should know a few things before purchasing this book:
* LP targets independent, do-it-yourself types of travelers (who often have backpacks, railpasses, and youth hostel cards).
* Travelers who are focused on staying in top-ranked hotels and eating at expensive restaurants probably won't find LP's sleeping and eating recommendations to be extensive enough. While there is some coverage of high-end, trendy, and luxurious places in this guide, it is not LP's strength.
* Most LP guides that cover large regions, including this one, are written by a team of contributors.
* New editions of a guide usually are updates of previous versions and are not entirely rewritten from scratch.
So, how useful is this guide to Costa Rica? As with most things, it depends.Read more ›
Long-time LP readers will quickly see the format and organization of this guide has been substantially changed from previous years. Most of the information you've relied upon in the past is still there but there are several new features as well. One of the best is a FAQ of sorts near the beginning of the book called "Need to Know." It gathers together critical information that is frequently needed both pre-trip and intra-trip. Also, LP has done away with the glossy-paper photo sections and now uses color throughout the entire book. This change has especially improved the local maps by making them immensely easier to read.
Those who are unfamiliar with Lonely Planet should know a few things before purchasing this book:
* LP targets independent, do-it-yourself types of travelers (who often have backpacks, railpasses, and youth hostel cards).
* Travelers who are focused on staying in top-ranked hotels and eating at expensive restaurants probably won't find LP's sleeping and eating recommendations to be extensive enough. While there is some coverage of high-end, trendy, and luxurious places in this guide, it is not LP's strength.
* Most LP guides that cover large regions, including this one, are written by a team of contributors.
* New editions of a guide usually are updates of previous versions and are not entirely rewritten from scratch.
So, how useful is this guide to Costa Rica? As with most things, it depends.Read more ›
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