I have never before in my life complained formally about anything. I would, however, like to complain your Rough Guide to Dublin. After traveling all around Europe with my trusty Let’s Go Europe, I lost this God-like guidebook just before my trip to Dublin. I tried to replace it with another Let’s Go, but could not find one, even at Tottenham Court. I foolishly thought that your Rough Guide could provide similar quality guidance.
At the end of our nearly-blind tour of Dublin, we burned the majority of your book and danced around it like savages. We can only hope that the writers and publishers of such an abomination will some day burn in hell with equal ferocity.
We were also considering enclosing with this letter a few pages we ripped out and wiped our asses with. We then thought better of it, and decided not to stoop to the level of people who would publish such paper-product and pedal it as anything but Charmin.

I thought the Dublin guide was fantastic. Let's Go Europe is perfect if you're blowing though 16 countries in three weeks, but real travellers can appreciate a Rough Guide.

I haven't used the Dublin book (although I've been there), but I have used guides from all of these publishers before : Lets Go, Lonely Planet, Frommers and Rough Guides. After some years of travelling to North America, Western and Eastern Europe, South-East Asia and Australia I can say without hesitation that the Rough Guides are far and away the best. Don't misunderstand me - Lets Go is pretty good as well, and I have no doubt I'll use them again, but the Rough Guides are geared towards REAL travelers and, in my opinion, have got the formula spot-on.

For example : when I was in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) I compared Lets Go, Lonely Planet and Rough Guide to see which of them listed how to get to the airport if you decide not to take the overpriced pick-up-at-your-hotel tourist bus. The airport is a LONG way from KL and it's tough to get there using public transport (until the high-speed rail link is completed, that is) but it can be done. Of the 3 guide books only the Rough Guide listed this alternative method, and it was correct.

I used the Rough Guide to Dublin this time last year (pink cover) and found it really informative. I didn't rely on it totally as it is only a guidebook and I know Dublin fairly well but I think your suggestion that the authors and publisher burn in hell is a bit over the top.

I have just returned from 5 weeks in Brazil and the Rough Guide was exceptional - opinionated and thoughtful background information, good hotel recommendations and accurate maps.

I haven't used the Rough Guide to Dublin myself, but I have used many. As with many guide books, it has the difficult to overcome flaw that ti's information becomes outdated. The lonely planet has updates to its guidebooks free on its website - i think this is a great idea (as will anyone whose spent time searching for a restaurant that isn't there anymore). The best guide books I have ever used are the Time Out guides. They, unlike many guide books, are unafraid to dissaprove. The guides really do carry on the brilliant journalism of the London listings magazine. Unfortunatly, they are available for only a few places. Often I find I find the best experiences come when I ignore the guide books (except for general information on the area I am in) and wonder around and look for myself. In an english speaking city like Dublin any english speaker shouldn't find this a particularly taxing way of traveling! My main complaint about the Rough Guide (although it is my choice of guide book, where Time Out doesn't provide!) is that it is not evaluative enough. I agree with whoever it was who said the Lets Go guide to europe is too wide ranging: all continent wide guides must suffer from this - it's bad enough trying to condense one country into a book, let alone so many different countries.

...I would treat it with the contempt it probably deserves.

Paul

AardvarkTravel.net
The world's leading travel search engine
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Ademots you have got to be kidding. LP and RG are 2 quality books written by travelers. RG is packed with useful info. I used it in India and it was well researched. Let's Go is written by a bunch of snotty Harvard kids, not travellers and they have some stupid advice. I remember once reading their guide to Amsterdam. When talking about the coffee shops and Red light area the author adopted this 'not worth mentioning its so tacky' attitude. When I want a sermon I'll go to church. When I want street wise travel info I'll go first to other travelrs, then to RG and LP.

I consider LP & RG of similar quality though RG packs in more info in place of the photos.

Nick O'Neill
TravelNutter/Community Manager
http://www.BootsnAll.com
The Ultimate Resource For The Independent Traveller

I live in Dublin, and personnally think that no guide book - RG LP LG - actually covers what I would like to see about Dublin.
Having said that, I use guide books when I travel to places that I'm not familiar with, so maybe it's just 'cos I live here?

ademots,
You get up on the wrong side of the tent today? I think you are entitled to dislike the guide if you want to but isn't it enough just to say that? About stooping to a lower level - is that possible? Your tone and choice of words would lead any thinking, intelligent being to the conclusion that you cannot. Mentioning body parts and bodily functions in a travel forum is SO declasse.

Karen Copeland

Give yourself the ultimate golfing challenge - Golf South Africa

I havent used any LG guides only LP and RG. Originally I always thought that RG were the best at Uk and Europe and Lg were best for long haul destinations (speaking as an Englishman) however I think the gap between the two is closing and I now personally prefer RG.

When I have travelled I have seen people from other nationalities using both even if English isnt there first language but I cant say the same for LG which only seem to be read by Americans.

Secondly Ademots comments come close to contravening the behaviour rules he agreed to abide by in signing up to this site. Perhaps it wasnt meant in the way it has been taken but a little more thought before posting the entry wouldnt have been amiss

for me Rough guide is the #1 and lonely Planet #2
i think everthing depends which one you used in your first experience.

I could be wide of the mark here but RG (an American publication) seems to be geared more towards the American style of travel while LP (a mostly Australian Publication) seems to be geared more towards the down under style of travel - a little more 'rough and ready' shall we say.

I prefer LP but find that what one guidebook misses the others tend to make up so it's always worth browsing all of them before a trip even if you only take your favourite on the road.