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 Product Description
The South American Handbook was first produced in the 1920s, and has been an essential part of travellers' luggage almost ever since. For the 2000 edition, the old hardback format has been replaced by a less weighty soft-cover version, and for the first time there is a range of superb photographs showing off South America at its best, together with all the old features which make The Handbook so special. Perhaps because of its history, The Handbook manages to do justice to the complexities of history, economics and politics of a region, while at the same time providing the essentials which are the staple of most of its competitors. Most guidebooks trying to cover a land-mass as vast and varied as South America end up as garbled and piecemeal editions which totally fail to do justice to the area and are completely inadequate when it comes to any attraction which is off the beaten track. The Handbook, however, manages to provide crucial information listings and a broader range of accommodation and entertainment options than other guides possess, without losing its knack for leading you away from the favourite haunts of travellers to places which are genuinely remote. This is far and away the leader for guides on the region, and has a position which will be very hard to challenge. If you are packing only one guidebook for your trip to South America, this is the one to take. --Toby Green
Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far., 29 Oct 2008
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does come in handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times and transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid and outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some places in Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak and biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, and it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers and one for holiday-makers and armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages and pages of information about luxury hotels and pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date, 20 Apr 2008
We purchased this book after reading other reviews and were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel and restaurant recommendations and often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places and throughout south america these books could be found in any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quoted in USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing! The Best Travel Guide to South America, 22 Sep 2007
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodation in advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history and cultural commentaries are always well written and informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errors in 190 days - a business had closed down and a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on and in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's and LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly useful in getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world. Comprehensive and easy to use - good value, 26 Jun 2000
This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture and history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it? Indestructable, indespencible, informative, 28 Mar 2000
This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me and has helped in the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, and constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss. The new style paperback actually works and I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
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Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far., 29 Oct 2008
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does come in handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times and transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid and outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some places in Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak and biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, and it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers and one for holiday-makers and armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages and pages of information about luxury hotels and pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date, 20 Apr 2008
We purchased this book after reading other reviews and were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel and restaurant recommendations and often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places and throughout south america these books could be found in any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quoted in USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing! The Best Travel Guide to South America, 22 Sep 2007
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodation in advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history and cultural commentaries are always well written and informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errors in 190 days - a business had closed down and a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on and in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's and LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly useful in getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world. Comprehensive and easy to use - good value, 26 Jun 2000
This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture and history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it? Indestructable, indespencible, informative, 28 Mar 2000
This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me and has helped in the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, and constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss. The new style paperback actually works and I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
The answer to my prayers?, 16 May 2008
Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we've been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I've picked up a few of these books and they've never really got the balance right, they're either not practical enough, or they're so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It's beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that's meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.
I've just booked a two week holiday for our family on the back of this book - so they'd better be right!
A lovely, useful book, 28 Mar 2008
Having bought most of the books about travelling with children, I like this one the most. It is colourful, useful and interesting, providing a good mix of locations from the more local to the far flung, whilst accepting that it can't cover everything.I love the pages of kids stuff, and there's a good balance of the useful and fun. It's so colourful and exciting I get enthusiastic about the travel possibilities for my family every time I open it. It's definitely destined to be one of the books on my shelf that is slightly grubby and falling apart through so much use!!
Read this book before you plan your holiday, 24 Jan 2008
If you want some new ideas about where to go and what to do on a family holiday this is the book for you. It is a fantastic reference book to the world and you are guaranteed to find some new ideas no matter how much you've travelled and whether you're planning to stay in the UK or Europe or to venture further.
The book looks great, is wonderfully designed and easy to dip in to. It is packed with practical information making it easy to organise a holiday yourself and gives loads of top tips about places to visit and things to do. There's also some great ideas about books to read, games to play and things that you can do with your kids to get them in the mood for your chosen destination.
I have always enjoyed travelling but since having children have sometimes felt stuck for ideas. Having bought this book I feel the world has opened up again!
Brilliant, 12 Jan 2008
What a Great book!
Hugely informative, extremely comprehensive with fantastic illustrations.
Great as a guide, reassuring for parents but also a wondefully fun book to share with your children.
What family with kids would not have this book in their house to keep with your passports as a critical holiday item?. Well done to the author!
beautiful and informative, 15 Dec 2007
This weighty reference is an inspirational guide, and I can see it empowering parents to travel further and more intrepidly with the little'uns. It is brim-full of ideas for the whole family and I love the suggested reads for the kids, as well as projects for the brood. The photos are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to simply leaf through and imagine....sunshine, kids contentedly gathering shells or frollicking. 'Your Child Abroad: a travel health guide' would be its perfect partner.
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Travel Photography
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Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far., 29 Oct 2008
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does come in handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times and transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid and outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some places in Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak and biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, and it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers and one for holiday-makers and armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages and pages of information about luxury hotels and pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date, 20 Apr 2008
We purchased this book after reading other reviews and were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel and restaurant recommendations and often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places and throughout south america these books could be found in any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quoted in USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing! The Best Travel Guide to South America, 22 Sep 2007
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodation in advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history and cultural commentaries are always well written and informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errors in 190 days - a business had closed down and a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on and in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's and LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly useful in getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world. Comprehensive and easy to use - good value, 26 Jun 2000
This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture and history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it? Indestructable, indespencible, informative, 28 Mar 2000
This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me and has helped in the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, and constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss. The new style paperback actually works and I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
The answer to my prayers?, 16 May 2008
Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we've been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I've picked up a few of these books and they've never really got the balance right, they're either not practical enough, or they're so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It's beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that's meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.
I've just booked a two week holiday for our family on the back of this book - so they'd better be right!
A lovely, useful book, 28 Mar 2008
Having bought most of the books about travelling with children, I like this one the most. It is colourful, useful and interesting, providing a good mix of locations from the more local to the far flung, whilst accepting that it can't cover everything.I love the pages of kids stuff, and there's a good balance of the useful and fun. It's so colourful and exciting I get enthusiastic about the travel possibilities for my family every time I open it. It's definitely destined to be one of the books on my shelf that is slightly grubby and falling apart through so much use!!
Read this book before you plan your holiday, 24 Jan 2008
If you want some new ideas about where to go and what to do on a family holiday this is the book for you. It is a fantastic reference book to the world and you are guaranteed to find some new ideas no matter how much you've travelled and whether you're planning to stay in the UK or Europe or to venture further.
The book looks great, is wonderfully designed and easy to dip in to. It is packed with practical information making it easy to organise a holiday yourself and gives loads of top tips about places to visit and things to do. There's also some great ideas about books to read, games to play and things that you can do with your kids to get them in the mood for your chosen destination.
I have always enjoyed travelling but since having children have sometimes felt stuck for ideas. Having bought this book I feel the world has opened up again!
Brilliant, 12 Jan 2008
What a Great book!
Hugely informative, extremely comprehensive with fantastic illustrations.
Great as a guide, reassuring for parents but also a wondefully fun book to share with your children.
What family with kids would not have this book in their house to keep with your passports as a critical holiday item?. Well done to the author!
beautiful and informative, 15 Dec 2007
This weighty reference is an inspirational guide, and I can see it empowering parents to travel further and more intrepidly with the little'uns. It is brim-full of ideas for the whole family and I love the suggested reads for the kids, as well as projects for the brood. The photos are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to simply leaf through and imagine....sunshine, kids contentedly gathering shells or frollicking. 'Your Child Abroad: a travel health guide' would be its perfect partner.
A diving guide book with a real difference!, 25 Sep 2008
Described as an Activity Guide book, Diving the World is much more than that. Yes, the facts are there; yes, all the information you could possibly want is there and, yes, its opened my eyes to diving destinations which I never ever knew existed. But here's the bonus ..... it's written with real style, the photographs are fabulous, the attention to detail is meticulous and its a joy to read. We're divers but so many of our non-diving friends are compelled to pick it up and browse through the pages that its now become part of the 'coffee table' reading. Its a great gift for divers and non divers alike.
Wrong title and not up to Footprint standards, 03 Mar 2008
Well, I have to disagree about this book.I was given it as a Christmas present by my son before a diving trip to Curacao...Footprint books are normally so thorough. Well, here the pictures are great but it is not "light" on the Caribbean so much as totally non-existant!So give it the title 'Long Haul Diving Destinations' and see if that gets more stars...
For Africa the Tierneys recommend Kenya but diving professionals I know recommend Mozambique,the Quirimbas;Medjumbe and Matemo.
The best way to judge a book like this is to look at areas you do know.
eg Here are their suggestions for Fiji; they recommend only the main islands where I found the diving varied between disappointing and downright dangerous, with the diving pros putting out food to attract sharks.Not my cup of tea.The diving in the outer islands, easily reached by high speed ferry, was however absolutely superb.Can particularly recommend Metamanoa and the Yasawas.
eg2; Western Australia, a wonderful unspoiled coast (10,000 people in 3000 miles of white sand coastline) with superb diving on the worlds longest single reef, the Ningaloo. The clue is that they say 'Some diving is said to be first rate'.This suggests they didnt even try it, but I can say that Coral Bay was a first class diving resort.In the end they say they can't recommend the value in travelling such long distances to get there from overseas ( though WA is closer to Singapore (and Europe) than to Sydney).Instead ,and obviously easier to get to, they recommend the Rowley Shoals a mere 260 km boats trip from WA (yes , the small matter of a "rough 12 hour crossing" just the sort of dive boat trip we like- much better than the 5 minutes to the Nigaloo!!)Also they then suggest the Cocos Islands which mean a flight back over half way towards Java!!
So how can I trust them with areas I don't know...
So , in short, nice photos, but way short of the standards set by Footprint guides.Sorry
Have all the dive books - this one is great, 23 Sep 2007
Amazing that after diving all over the world for 20 years, I still look at all the dive guides. I read all the reviews for this one and after buying it, have to say that it is the perfect guide to the best diving in the world - the coral seas. Just like it says in the title. If you are looking for a guide to beautiful diving, in great countries, most of which you can get to pretty easily, buy and read this book. If you want to travel for three days to go on dives in cold, murky water, in places without the incredible coral life described in this book, good luck to you.
Diving The Worlds a must have book, 19 Sep 2007
If I ever win the lottery, I know what I'm going to do, I'm going to use this book as a dive planner, pack up my dive kit & never come back! On a serious note this is a FANTASTIC BOOK, I'm lucky enough to have dived some of the worlds best dive sites, of which many are covered in the excellent text of this book, not by a researcher but by somebody who has been there, got wet & done the dive & believe me that makes a difference, the descriptions are spot on. The way the book is written makes you feel like it's a friend telling you about the experience, it's personal between the author & the reader, something you don't often experience in a dive guide & it's all the better for it. Some peoples reviews have said it's missed out some locations & sites, well of course it has, so has every other world dive guide that's ever been written but if I'm going to spend my hard earned cash on a dive trip, I think it's best to start at the top & work down & to do this, this is the book you want. The other thing that is amazing about this book is the photography, it's like a one man portfolio of truly awesome photographs & why Sean Tierney is not spoken about in the same context as David Doublet I'll never know. This book is great, it's the right size, with the right text, the right photo's & the right locations. When you go away make sure you take 3 things with you, your mask, your dive computer & this book, then you won't go far wrong.
Sue
Diving the Tropics, 22 Jul 2007
I was disappointed in this book. The authors have done a lot of diving, but world-class dives that they haven't visited or don't like are omitted and some of their comments, notably about Nitrox diving, are very controversial. I'm an underwater photographer and a medical doctor, so I have a little experience in these areas: a book that misses out the Sudanese Red Sea and Bikini Atoll and yet claims to be a guide to tropical diving is incomplete, at best. The authors say "if you really wanted to know about the English Channel, we didn't do it. It wasn't on anyone's list"; maybe, but the Californian Channel Islands, South Africa, New Zealand, Cocos and Malpelo are cool water locations on many divers' wish-lists (and there are some who are even interested in Scapa Flow!).
What's in the book is very good, but to go Diving the World you need to look elsewere. I recommend Monty Halls' "Dive" and Jack Jackson's "Diving with Sharks" as good places to start.
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Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far., 29 Oct 2008
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does come in handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times and transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid and outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some places in Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak and biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, and it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers and one for holiday-makers and armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages and pages of information about luxury hotels and pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date, 20 Apr 2008
We purchased this book after reading other reviews and were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel and restaurant recommendations and often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places and throughout south america these books could be found in any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quoted in USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing! The Best Travel Guide to South America, 22 Sep 2007
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodation in advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history and cultural commentaries are always well written and informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errors in 190 days - a business had closed down and a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on and in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's and LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly useful in getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world. Comprehensive and easy to use - good value, 26 Jun 2000
This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture and history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it? Indestructable, indespencible, informative, 28 Mar 2000
This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me and has helped in the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, and constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss. The new style paperback actually works and I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
The answer to my prayers?, 16 May 2008
Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we've been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I've picked up a few of these books and they've never really got the balance right, they're either not practical enough, or they're so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It's beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that's meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.
I've just booked a two week holiday for our family on the back of this book - so they'd better be right!
A lovely, useful book, 28 Mar 2008
Having bought most of the books about travelling with children, I like this one the most. It is colourful, useful and interesting, providing a good mix of locations from the more local to the far flung, whilst accepting that it can't cover everything.I love the pages of kids stuff, and there's a good balance of the useful and fun. It's so colourful and exciting I get enthusiastic about the travel possibilities for my family every time I open it. It's definitely destined to be one of the books on my shelf that is slightly grubby and falling apart through so much use!!
Read this book before you plan your holiday, 24 Jan 2008
If you want some new ideas about where to go and what to do on a family holiday this is the book for you. It is a fantastic reference book to the world and you are guaranteed to find some new ideas no matter how much you've travelled and whether you're planning to stay in the UK or Europe or to venture further.
The book looks great, is wonderfully designed and easy to dip in to. It is packed with practical information making it easy to organise a holiday yourself and gives loads of top tips about places to visit and things to do. There's also some great ideas about books to read, games to play and things that you can do with your kids to get them in the mood for your chosen destination.
I have always enjoyed travelling but since having children have sometimes felt stuck for ideas. Having bought this book I feel the world has opened up again!
Brilliant, 12 Jan 2008
What a Great book!
Hugely informative, extremely comprehensive with fantastic illustrations.
Great as a guide, reassuring for parents but also a wondefully fun book to share with your children.
What family with kids would not have this book in their house to keep with your passports as a critical holiday item?. Well done to the author!
beautiful and informative, 15 Dec 2007
This weighty reference is an inspirational guide, and I can see it empowering parents to travel further and more intrepidly with the little'uns. It is brim-full of ideas for the whole family and I love the suggested reads for the kids, as well as projects for the brood. The photos are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to simply leaf through and imagine....sunshine, kids contentedly gathering shells or frollicking. 'Your Child Abroad: a travel health guide' would be its perfect partner.
A diving guide book with a real difference!, 25 Sep 2008
Described as an Activity Guide book, Diving the World is much more than that. Yes, the facts are there; yes, all the information you could possibly want is there and, yes, its opened my eyes to diving destinations which I never ever knew existed. But here's the bonus ..... it's written with real style, the photographs are fabulous, the attention to detail is meticulous and its a joy to read. We're divers but so many of our non-diving friends are compelled to pick it up and browse through the pages that its now become part of the 'coffee table' reading. Its a great gift for divers and non divers alike.
Wrong title and not up to Footprint standards, 03 Mar 2008
Well, I have to disagree about this book.I was given it as a Christmas present by my son before a diving trip to Curacao...Footprint books are normally so thorough. Well, here the pictures are great but it is not "light" on the Caribbean so much as totally non-existant!So give it the title 'Long Haul Diving Destinations' and see if that gets more stars...
For Africa the Tierneys recommend Kenya but diving professionals I know recommend Mozambique,the Quirimbas;Medjumbe and Matemo.
The best way to judge a book like this is to look at areas you do know.
eg Here are their suggestions for Fiji; they recommend only the main islands where I found the diving varied between disappointing and downright dangerous, with the diving pros putting out food to attract sharks.Not my cup of tea.The diving in the outer islands, easily reached by high speed ferry, was however absolutely superb.Can particularly recommend Metamanoa and the Yasawas.
eg2; Western Australia, a wonderful unspoiled coast (10,000 people in 3000 miles of white sand coastline) with superb diving on the worlds longest single reef, the Ningaloo. The clue is that they say 'Some diving is said to be first rate'.This suggests they didnt even try it, but I can say that Coral Bay was a first class diving resort.In the end they say they can't recommend the value in travelling such long distances to get there from overseas ( though WA is closer to Singapore (and Europe) than to Sydney).Instead ,and obviously easier to get to, they recommend the Rowley Shoals a mere 260 km boats trip from WA (yes , the small matter of a "rough 12 hour crossing" just the sort of dive boat trip we like- much better than the 5 minutes to the Nigaloo!!)Also they then suggest the Cocos Islands which mean a flight back over half way towards Java!!
So how can I trust them with areas I don't know...
So , in short, nice photos, but way short of the standards set by Footprint guides.Sorry
Have all the dive books - this one is great, 23 Sep 2007
Amazing that after diving all over the world for 20 years, I still look at all the dive guides. I read all the reviews for this one and after buying it, have to say that it is the perfect guide to the best diving in the world - the coral seas. Just like it says in the title. If you are looking for a guide to beautiful diving, in great countries, most of which you can get to pretty easily, buy and read this book. If you want to travel for three days to go on dives in cold, murky water, in places without the incredible coral life described in this book, good luck to you.
Diving The Worlds a must have book, 19 Sep 2007
If I ever win the lottery, I know what I'm going to do, I'm going to use this book as a dive planner, pack up my dive kit & never come back! On a serious note this is a FANTASTIC BOOK, I'm lucky enough to have dived some of the worlds best dive sites, of which many are covered in the excellent text of this book, not by a researcher but by somebody who has been there, got wet & done the dive & believe me that makes a difference, the descriptions are spot on. The way the book is written makes you feel like it's a friend telling you about the experience, it's personal between the author & the reader, something you don't often experience in a dive guide & it's all the better for it. Some peoples reviews have said it's missed out some locations & sites, well of course it has, so has every other world dive guide that's ever been written but if I'm going to spend my hard earned cash on a dive trip, I think it's best to start at the top & work down & to do this, this is the book you want. The other thing that is amazing about this book is the photography, it's like a one man portfolio of truly awesome photographs & why Sean Tierney is not spoken about in the same context as David Doublet I'll never know. This book is great, it's the right size, with the right text, the right photo's & the right locations. When you go away make sure you take 3 things with you, your mask, your dive computer & this book, then you won't go far wrong.
Sue
Diving the Tropics, 22 Jul 2007
I was disappointed in this book. The authors have done a lot of diving, but world-class dives that they haven't visited or don't like are omitted and some of their comments, notably about Nitrox diving, are very controversial. I'm an underwater photographer and a medical doctor, so I have a little experience in these areas: a book that misses out the Sudanese Red Sea and Bikini Atoll and yet claims to be a guide to tropical diving is incomplete, at best. The authors say "if you really wanted to know about the English Channel, we didn't do it. It wasn't on anyone's list"; maybe, but the Californian Channel Islands, South Africa, New Zealand, Cocos and Malpelo are cool water locations on many divers' wish-lists (and there are some who are even interested in Scapa Flow!).
What's in the book is very good, but to go Diving the World you need to look elsewere. I recommend Monty Halls' "Dive" and Jack Jackson's "Diving with Sharks" as good places to start.
Fantastic guide not just for experts, 11 Apr 2007
Great guide that's useful for practical information as well as fun just to read. The fun formatt with lost of great photos, to the point fact boxes and casual text style make it not just a guide book but also a great read. Excellent for researching new destinations you haven't been to yet. As a beginner I was very happy to see that all levels of snowboarders are catered for in the guide. Highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in snowboarding!
Global guide, 19 Dec 2006
Very good layout, very good photos and very good text. The stats on the right hand side also add important information. The resorts are written by people who've been there - it shows. It won't fit in your pocket - I have one that does and it's rubbish. Many years of knowhow by people in the know. Highly recommended !!
great snowboarders guide, 14 Dec 2006
What a great resource this book is for beginners and experienced showboarders alike. It's packed with all the information you need to know, some that you don't (but might make you laugh), tips and suggestions, maps, graphs and easy to read ratings of facilities. Chuck in some great stories from some of the big names and some great photography and it's a pretty much indispensable guide to all the resorts you thought you knew, but will now know much better, and to all the resorts you never knew even existed, but can now visit with confidence.
Great Snowboarding Guide, 28 Nov 2006
Enjoyed Snowboarding the World. Very well laid out with great design. Easy to find all the top snowboarding resorts by region. Pictures are great, with some area maps. Area reviews have all the key information distilled into a brief essense, yet still keeps some inside local knowledge. Now to somehow figure out how to visit all the resort listed!
If "SNOW" is your pasion, then this guide is for YOU!, 28 Nov 2006
This guide is on equal par with its brother in the Footprint series "SURFING EUROPE"
If you like the snow and want to get the low down on what's hot and what's not, how to get there, what to do when you get there, what to expect when you go exploring, reference maps, hundreds of fantastic vibrant pictures, reference to the best accommodation options, weather graphs and statistics, an essencial clubs n pubs guide to each location, the best Internet cafes have been sniffed out for your convienence and even a spot of history thrown amongest the vast aray of easy to desifer bible of Snow!
In my eyes this is the best snow guide to ever hit our shelves!
If you don't own a copy go buy one now! You wont regret it!
If you one of those winter daydreamers who are forever wondering where to be at the right time and to score conditions you can only dream of. Well this is the book for you. It gives you the inside first hand experience that is invaluable to a traveller's itinerary plan. You know what location will suit you before you start booking.
If you are one of those people who insist on knowing what to expect before you get to your destination. Then this guide will open your eyes to all the secrets before you have left the comfort of your front room.
If you have no idea where you want to spend your winter holiday and you wanted to shred some of the most beautiful mountain ranges this planet has to offer, you would use this book as your reference to research all of your avenues! From one end of the earth to the other, they have it covered!
From my own personal experience:
They wrote about my local ski fields in NZ and basically hit the nail on the head with their descriptions, advice, culture, conditions and stories. I would say that it seems consistent through the entire guide.
To back up my review I have just bought 5 copies to pass onto my friends and family as an ideal Christmas gift.
Happy shopping
Peace
Chris Kirkham (NZ)
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Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far., 29 Oct 2008
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does come in handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times and transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid and outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some places in Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak and biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, and it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers and one for holiday-makers and armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages and pages of information about luxury hotels and pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date, 20 Apr 2008
We purchased this book after reading other reviews and were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel and restaurant recommendations and often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places and throughout south america these books could be found in any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quoted in USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing! The Best Travel Guide to South America, 22 Sep 2007
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodation in advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history and cultural commentaries are always well written and informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errors in 190 days - a business had closed down and a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on and in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's and LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly useful in getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world. Comprehensive and easy to use - good value, 26 Jun 2000
This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture and history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it? Indestructable, indespencible, informative, 28 Mar 2000
This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me and has helped in the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, and constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss. The new style paperback actually works and I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
The answer to my prayers?, 16 May 2008
Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we've been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I've picked up a few of these books and they've never really got the balance right, they're either not practical enough, or they're so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It's beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that's meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.
I've just booked a two week holiday for our family on the back of this book - so they'd better be right!
A lovely, useful book, 28 Mar 2008
Having bought most of the books about travelling with children, I like this one the most. It is colourful, useful and interesting, providing a good mix of locations from the more local to the far flung, whilst accepting that it can't cover everything.I love the pages of kids stuff, and there's a good balance of the useful and fun. It's so colourful and exciting I get enthusiastic about the travel possibilities for my family every time I open it. It's definitely destined to be one of the books on my shelf that is slightly grubby and falling apart through so much use!!
Read this book before you plan your holiday, 24 Jan 2008
If you want some new ideas about where to go and what to do on a family holiday this is the book for you. It is a fantastic reference book to the world and you are guaranteed to find some new ideas no matter how much you've travelled and whether you're planning to stay in the UK or Europe or to venture further.
The book looks great, is wonderfully designed and easy to dip in to. It is packed with practical information making it easy to organise a holiday yourself and gives loads of top tips about places to visit and things to do. There's also some great ideas about books to read, games to play and things that you can do with your kids to get them in the mood for your chosen destination.
I have always enjoyed travelling but since having children have sometimes felt stuck for ideas. Having bought this book I feel the world has opened up again!
Brilliant, 12 Jan 2008
What a Great book!
Hugely informative, extremely comprehensive with fantastic illustrations.
Great as a guide, reassuring for parents but also a wondefully fun book to share with your children.
What family with kids would not have this book in their house to keep with your passports as a critical holiday item?. Well done to the author!
beautiful and informative, 15 Dec 2007
This weighty reference is an inspirational guide, and I can see it empowering parents to travel further and more intrepidly with the little'uns. It is brim-full of ideas for the whole family and I love the suggested reads for the kids, as well as projects for the brood. The photos are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to simply leaf through and imagine....sunshine, kids contentedly gathering shells or frollicking. 'Your Child Abroad: a travel health guide' would be its perfect partner.
A diving guide book with a real difference!, 25 Sep 2008
Described as an Activity Guide book, Diving the World is much more than that. Yes, the facts are there; yes, all the information you could possibly want is there and, yes, its opened my eyes to diving destinations which I never ever knew existed. But here's the bonus ..... it's written with real style, the photographs are fabulous, the attention to detail is meticulous and its a joy to read. We're divers but so many of our non-diving friends are compelled to pick it up and browse through the pages that its now become part of the 'coffee table' reading. Its a great gift for divers and non divers alike.
Wrong title and not up to Footprint standards, 03 Mar 2008
Well, I have to disagree about this book.I was given it as a Christmas present by my son before a diving trip to Curacao...Footprint books are normally so thorough. Well, here the pictures are great but it is not "light" on the Caribbean so much as totally non-existant!So give it the title 'Long Haul Diving Destinations' and see if that gets more stars...
For Africa the Tierneys recommend Kenya but diving professionals I know recommend Mozambique,the Quirimbas;Medjumbe and Matemo.
The best way to judge a book like this is to look at areas you do know.
eg Here are their suggestions for Fiji; they recommend only the main islands where I found the diving varied between disappointing and downright dangerous, with the diving pros putting out food to attract sharks.Not my cup of tea.The diving in the outer islands, easily reached by high speed ferry, was however absolutely superb.Can particularly recommend Metamanoa and the Yasawas.
eg2; Western Australia, a wonderful unspoiled coast (10,000 people in 3000 miles of white sand coastline) with superb diving on the worlds longest single reef, the Ningaloo. The clue is that they say 'Some diving is said to be first rate'.This suggests they didnt even try it, but I can say that Coral Bay was a first class diving resort.In the end they say they can't recommend the value in travelling such long distances to get there from overseas ( though WA is closer to Singapore (and Europe) than to Sydney).Instead ,and obviously easier to get to, they recommend the Rowley Shoals a mere 260 km boats trip from WA (yes , the small matter of a "rough 12 hour crossing" just the sort of dive boat trip we like- much better than the 5 minutes to the Nigaloo!!)Also they then suggest the Cocos Islands which mean a flight back over half way towards Java!!
So how can I trust them with areas I don't know...
So , in short, nice photos, but way short of the standards set by Footprint guides.Sorry
Have all the dive books - this one is great, 23 Sep 2007
Amazing that after diving all over the world for 20 years, I still look at all the dive guides. I read all the reviews for this one and after buying it, have to say that it is the perfect guide to the best diving in the world - the coral seas. Just like it says in the title. If you are looking for a guide to beautiful diving, in great countries, most of which you can get to pretty easily, buy and read this book. If you want to travel for three days to go on dives in cold, murky water, in places without the incredible coral life described in this book, good luck to you.
Diving The Worlds a must have book, 19 Sep 2007
If I ever win the lottery, I know what I'm going to do, I'm going to use this book as a dive planner, pack up my dive kit & never come back! On a serious note this is a FANTASTIC BOOK, I'm lucky enough to have dived some of the worlds best dive sites, of which many are covered in the excellent text of this book, not by a researcher but by somebody who has been there, got wet & done the dive & believe me that makes a difference, the descriptions are spot on. The way the book is written makes you feel like it's a friend telling you about the experience, it's personal between the author & the reader, something you don't often experience in a dive guide & it's all the better for it. Some peoples reviews have said it's missed out some locations & sites, well of course it has, so has every other world dive guide that's ever been written but if I'm going to spend my hard earned cash on a dive trip, I think it's best to start at the top & work down & to do this, this is the book you want. The other thing that is amazing about this book is the photography, it's like a one man portfolio of truly awesome photographs & why Sean Tierney is not spoken about in the same context as David Doublet I'll never know. This book is great, it's the right size, with the right text, the right photo's & the right locations. When you go away make sure you take 3 things with you, your mask, your dive computer & this book, then you won't go far wrong.
Sue
Diving the Tropics, 22 Jul 2007
I was disappointed in this book. The authors have done a lot of diving, but world-class dives that they haven't visited or don't like are omitted and some of their comments, notably about Nitrox diving, are very controversial. I'm an underwater photographer and a medical doctor, so I have a little experience in these areas: a book that misses out the Sudanese Red Sea and Bikini Atoll and yet claims to be a guide to tropical diving is incomplete, at best. The authors say "if you really wanted to know about the English Channel, we didn't do it. It wasn't on anyone's list"; maybe, but the Californian Channel Islands, South Africa, New Zealand, Cocos and Malpelo are cool water locations on many divers' wish-lists (and there are some who are even interested in Scapa Flow!).
What's in the book is very good, but to go Diving the World you need to look elsewere. I recommend Monty Halls' "Dive" and Jack Jackson's "Diving with Sharks" as good places to start.
Fantastic guide not just for experts, 11 Apr 2007
Great guide that's useful for practical information as well as fun just to read. The fun formatt with lost of great photos, to the point fact boxes and casual text style make it not just a guide book but also a great read. Excellent for researching new destinations you haven't been to yet. As a beginner I was very happy to see that all levels of snowboarders are catered for in the guide. Highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in snowboarding!
Global guide, 19 Dec 2006
Very good layout, very good photos and very good text. The stats on the right hand side also add important information. The resorts are written by people who've been there - it shows. It won't fit in your pocket - I have one that does and it's rubbish. Many years of knowhow by people in the know. Highly recommended !!
great snowboarders guide, 14 Dec 2006
What a great resource this book is for beginners and experienced showboarders alike. It's packed with all the information you need to know, some that you don't (but might make you laugh), tips and suggestions, maps, graphs and easy to read ratings of facilities. Chuck in some great stories from some of the big names and some great photography and it's a pretty much indispensable guide to all the resorts you thought you knew, but will now know much better, and to all the resorts you never knew even existed, but can now visit with confidence.
Great Snowboarding Guide, 28 Nov 2006
Enjoyed Snowboarding the World. Very well laid out with great design. Easy to find all the top snowboarding resorts by region. Pictures are great, with some area maps. Area reviews have all the key information distilled into a brief essense, yet still keeps some inside local knowledge. Now to somehow figure out how to visit all the resort listed!
If "SNOW" is your pasion, then this guide is for YOU!, 28 Nov 2006
This guide is on equal par with its brother in the Footprint series "SURFING EUROPE"
If you like the snow and want to get the low down on what's hot and what's not, how to get there, what to do when you get there, what to expect when you go exploring, reference maps, hundreds of fantastic vibrant pictures, reference to the best accommodation options, weather graphs and statistics, an essencial clubs n pubs guide to each location, the best Internet cafes have been sniffed out for your convienence and even a spot of history thrown amongest the vast aray of easy to desifer bible of Snow!
In my eyes this is the best snow guide to ever hit our shelves!
If you don't own a copy go buy one now! You wont regret it!
If you one of those winter daydreamers who are forever wondering where to be at the right time and to score conditions you can only dream of. Well this is the book for you. It gives you the inside first hand experience that is invaluable to a traveller's itinerary plan. You know what location will suit you before you start booking.
If you are one of those people who insist on knowing what to expect before you get to your destination. Then this guide will open your eyes to all the secrets before you have left the comfort of your front room.
If you have no idea where you want to spend your winter holiday and you wanted to shred some of the most beautiful mountain ranges this planet has to offer, you would use this book as your reference to research all of your avenues! From one end of the earth to the other, they have it covered!
From my own personal experience:
They wrote about my local ski fields in NZ and basically hit the nail on the head with their descriptions, advice, culture, conditions and stories. I would say that it seems consistent through the entire guide.
To back up my review I have just bought 5 copies to pass onto my friends and family as an ideal Christmas gift.
Happy shopping
Peace
Chris Kirkham (NZ)
Footprint Surfing Europe, 14 Dec 2005
I've been waiting for a book like this to come along for years and I'm not disappointed by this one. On the contrary, it's got all the best surf spots throughout Europe and Morocco and would be a valuable companion on any trip. It also includes listings for where to stay and eat and even what to do when there's no surf. Highly recommended.
Outstanding, 09 Dec 2004
It sits on the parcel shelf everywhere I go, mates are always picking it up then they go out and get their own. A thoroughly well-thumbed guide. Great stuff!
The new surfers bible!, 14 Oct 2004
Wow! This book is an amazing piece of work. It has all the surf breaks, accurate maps that actually get you to the breaks, cool stories and board advice. But it wasn't until I hit the road this Autumn that I realised just how much info is in this book. It has cool surfer friendly places to sleep, great value places to eat and great bars to drink in at every stop along the way. It meant I didn't need to waste money on a travel guide or waste time searching for decent places to stay. It's also a neat size to travel with and has loads of great photos.
I scored some amazing waves that I'd never even heard of before. It has made me realise the true surfing potential of Europe.
Stormrider taken by storm... Footprint are here..., 23 Aug 2004
Even if you have the Stormrider, you need to get your hands on this brilliant surf guide. It not only covers over 600 spots, but highlights where to stay, eat, drink, what to do on flat days etc. It has brilliant maps. Crisp and clear. I would call it "the bible to Surfing Europe". Check it out. Patrick
awesome, 03 Aug 2004
I've just bought this book and I have to say it's the best surf guide out there. Its got more spots than my Stormrider but it also has info on places to stay, surf shops, tips from top surfers, stuff to actually read - I don't know why no one's done this before. I'm off to France next week and this will definately be on my dashboard. Nice one.
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Customer Reviews
The best guide book to this continent by far., 29 Oct 2008
I travelled extensively throughout South America for almost a year with the 2008 version. While not essential, it does come in handy from time to time.
Strengths:
- Far, far better than the ubiquitous Lonely Planet (all South American editions), which is a complete waste of space for all but the most nauseatingly banal style of travelling.
- Introduces some places a little off the beaten track.
- Gives approximate journey times and transport-company names between many locations.
- Rugged construction.
Weaknesses:
- Tries to do too much (see suggestion below).
- Could be more concise. For example, too much space is wasted waffling on about 'pleasant' (reality: dull) cathedrals.
- A little paranoid and outdated sometimes, especially with regard to some places in Colombia.
- The Galapagos section is weak and biased towards frilly cruises (it's very easy to do almost everything by oneself, and it can be cheaper).
A suggestion:
Why not have two editions - one for real backpackers and one for holiday-makers and armchair travellers? A real backpacker does not need to lug around pages and pages of information about luxury hotels and pretentious restaurants. In fact, the backpacker edition could exclude restaurant recommendations altogether - they're virtually pointless.
Summary:
Despite its shortcomings, it's currently the only worthwhile guidebook to South America published on paper. But it needs work.
Factually incorrect, out of date, 20 Apr 2008
We purchased this book after reading other reviews and were very disappointed. Much of the information was factually incorrect, we disagreed with hotel and restaurant recommendations and often found them to be closed down or some of the worst places we stayed or ate if we did use them. In many cases we wondered if the guide writers had even been to the places and throughout south america these books could be found in any secondhand shop that sold english books!
Also, prices are quoted in USD not local currency which makes it virtually impossible to use them as a reference. Overall very disappointing! The Best Travel Guide to South America, 22 Sep 2007
I used the 2006 edition last year for six months of travelling the continent. Most of my travelling was done overland, without booking accommodation in advance. If you're thinking of doing the same then this is the guidebook for you. Its accommodation listings are more comprehensive than any other guide to the region. Importantly, it tells you clearly how long journeys are likely to take. The history and cultural commentaries are always well written and informative. Recommendations are usually reliable. I only encountered two errors in 190 days - a business had closed down and a border post had changed its policy. Other than that everything was spot on and in my opinion, its maps were more accurate than RG's and LP's. The large area, colour maps were particularly useful in getting an overview of your journey ahead. You only have to compare Footprint's page count with its competitors to realise it'll be the best thing you pack before flying off to this amazing part of the world. Comprehensive and easy to use - good value, 26 Jun 2000
This guide isn't produced by one of the more obvious travel publishers (naming no names!) but that shouldn't put you off as it's just the best guidebook on South America there is. It's accurate, as up to date as it's possible to be with a print edition, the sections on culture and history help pass the time on buses, what more can you ask for? Not as many pretty pictures as some other guidebooks, but then that's not what you buy it for, is it? Indestructable, indespencible, informative, 28 Mar 2000
This Footprint has helped me travel from Caracas to Lima. It has guided, not led me and has helped in the occasional sticky situation. It has never left my side, and constatly provides me with information I may otherwise miss. The new style paperback actually works and I have had to do very little "patching up", odd for a paperback. Must dash, I'm off to Arequipa.
The answer to my prayers?, 16 May 2008
Like a lot of people we used to travel a lot before having kids. Now with children aged one and three we've been trying to work out the best way to holiday as a family i.e. how the kids can be happy, we can get a well deserved relaxing break, and we can have fun as a family. Not an easy thing to do. I've picked up a few of these books and they've never really got the balance right, they're either not practical enough, or they're so practical they take the fun out of the idea travelling with young a family.
This book gets it just right. It's beautifully produced, which makes it a pleasure to read. The advice and guidance is full of practical stuff, but delivered in a way that's meant to give you the inspiration and confidence to get on and book that trip.
I've just booked a two week holiday for our family on the back of this book - so they'd better be right!
A lovely, useful book, 28 Mar 2008
Having bought most of the books about travelling with children, I like this one the most. It is colourful, useful and interesting, providing a good mix of locations from the more local to the far flung, whilst accepting that it can't cover everything.I love the pages of kids stuff, and there's a good balance of the useful and fun. It's so colourful and exciting I get enthusiastic about the travel possibilities for my family every time I open it. It's definitely destined to be one of the books on my shelf that is slightly grubby and falling apart through so much use!!
Read this book before you plan your holiday, 24 Jan 2008
If you want some new ideas about where to go and what to do on a family holiday this is the book for you. It is a fantastic reference book to the world and you are guaranteed to find some new ideas no matter how much you've travelled and whether you're planning to stay in the UK or Europe or to venture further.
The book looks great, is wonderfully designed and easy to dip in to. It is packed with practical information making it easy to organise a holiday yourself and gives loads of top tips about places to visit and things to do. There's also some great ideas about books to read, games to play and things that you can do with your kids to get them in the mood for your chosen destination.
I have always enjoyed travelling but since having children have sometimes felt stuck for ideas. Having bought this book I feel the world has opened up again!
Brilliant, 12 Jan 2008
What a Great book!
Hugely informative, extremely comprehensive with fantastic illustrations.
Great as a guide, reassuring for parents but also a wondefully fun book to share with your children.
What family with kids would not have this book in their house to keep with your passports as a critical holiday item?. Well done to the author!
beautiful and informative, 15 Dec 2007
This weighty reference is an inspirational guide, and I can see it empowering parents to travel further and more intrepidly with the little'uns. It is brim-full of ideas for the whole family and I love the suggested reads for the kids, as well as projects for the brood. The photos are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to simply leaf through and imagine....sunshine, kids contentedly gathering shells or frollicking. 'Your Child Abroad: a travel health guide' would be its perfect partner.
A diving guide book with a real difference!, 25 Sep 2008
Described as an Activity Guide book, Diving the World is much more than that. Yes, the facts are there; yes, all the information you could possibly want is there and, yes, its opened my eyes to diving destinations which I never ever knew existed. But here's the bonus ..... it's written with real style, the photographs are fabulous, the attention to detail is meticulous and its a joy to read. We're divers but so many of our non-diving friends are compelled to pick it up and browse through the pages that its now become part of the 'coffee table' reading. Its a great gift for divers and non divers alike.
Wrong title and not up to Footprint standards, 03 Mar 2008
Well, I have to disagree about this book.I was given it as a Christmas present by my son before a diving trip to Curacao...Footprint books are normally so thorough. Well, here the pictures are great but it is not "light" on the Caribbean so much as totally non-existant!So give it the title 'Long Haul Diving Destinations' and see if that gets more stars...
For Africa the Tierneys recommend Kenya but diving professionals I know recommend Mozambique,the Quirimbas;Medjumbe and Matemo.
The best way to judge a book like this is to look at areas you do know.
eg Here are their suggestions for Fiji; they recommend only the main islands where I found the diving varied between disappointing and downright dangerous, with the diving pros putting out food to attract sharks.Not my cup of tea.The diving in the outer islands, easily reached by high speed ferry, was however absolutely superb.Can particularly recommend Metamanoa and the Yasawas.
eg2; Western Australia, a wonderful unspoiled coast (10,000 people in 3000 miles of white sand coastline) with superb diving on the worlds longest single reef, the Ningaloo. The clue is that they say 'Some diving is said to be first rate'.This suggests they didnt even try it, but I can say that Coral Bay was a first class diving resort.In the end they say they can't recommend the value in travelling such long distances to get there from overseas ( though WA is closer to Singapore (and Europe) than to Sydney).Instead ,and obviously easier to get to, they recommend the Rowley Shoals a mere 260 km boats trip from WA (yes , the small matter of a "rough 12 hour crossing" just the sort of dive boat trip we like- much better than the 5 minutes to the Nigaloo!!)Also they then suggest the Cocos Islands which mean a flight back over half way towards Java!!
So how can I trust them with areas I don't know...
So , in short, nice photos, but way short of the standards set by Footprint guides.Sorry
Have all the dive books - this one is great, 23 Sep 2007
Amazing that after diving all over the world for 20 years, I still look at all the dive guides. I read all the reviews for this one and after buying it, have to say that it is the perfect guide to the best diving in the world - the coral seas. Just like it says in the title. If you are looking for a guide to beautiful diving, in great countries, most of which you can get to pretty easily, buy and read this book. If you want to travel for three days to go on dives in cold, murky water, in places without the incredible coral life described in this book, good luck to you.
Diving The Worlds a must have book, 19 Sep 2007
If I ever win the lottery, I know what I'm going to do, I'm going to use this book as a dive planner, pack up my dive kit & never come back! On a serious note this is a FANTASTIC BOOK, I'm lucky enough to have dived some of the worlds best dive sites, of which many are covered in the excellent text of this book, not by a researcher but by somebody who has been there, got wet & done the dive & believe me that makes a difference, the descriptions are spot on. The way the book is written makes you feel like it's a friend telling you about the experience, it's personal between the author & the reader, something you don't often experience in a dive guide & it's all the better for it. Some peoples reviews have said it's missed out some locations & sites, well of course it has, so has every other world dive guide that's ever been written but if I'm going to spend my hard earned cash on a dive trip, I think it's best to start at the top & work down & to do this, this is the book you want. The other thing that is amazing about this book is the photography, it's like a one man portfolio of truly awesome photographs & why Sean Tierney is not spoken about in the same context as David Doublet I'll never know. This book is great, it's the right size, with the right text, the right photo's & the right locations. When you go away make sure you take 3 things with you, your mask, your dive computer & this book, then you won't go far wrong.
Sue
Diving the Tropics, 22 Jul 2007
I was disappointed in this book. The authors have done a lot of diving, but world-class dives that they haven't visited or don't like are omitted and some of their comments, notably about Nitrox diving, are very controversial. I'm an underwater photographer and a medical doctor, so I have a little experience in these areas: a book that misses out the Sudanese Red Sea and Bikini Atoll and yet claims to be a guide to tropical diving is incomplete, at best. The authors say "if you really wanted to know about the English Channel, we didn't do it. It wasn't on anyone's list"; maybe, but the Californian Channel Islands, South Africa, New Zealand, Cocos and Malpelo are cool water locations on many divers' wish-lists (and there are some who are even interested in Scapa Flow!).
What's in the book is very good, but to go Diving the World you need to look elsewere. I recommend Monty Halls' "Dive" and Jack Jackson's "Diving with Sharks" as good places to start.
Fantastic guide not just for experts, 11 Apr 2007
Great guide that's useful for practical information as well as fun just to read. The fun formatt with lost of great photos, to the point fact boxes and casual text style make it not just a guide book but also a great read. Excellent for researching new destinations you haven't been to yet. As a beginner I was very happy to see that all levels of snowboarders are catered for in the guide. Highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in snowboarding!
Global guide, 19 Dec 2006
Very good layout, very good photos and very good text. The stats on the right hand side also add important information. The resorts are written by people who've been there - it shows. It won't fit in your pocket - I have one that does and it's rubbish. Many years of knowhow by people in the know. Highly recommended !!
great snowboarders guide, 14 Dec 2006
What a great resource this book is for beginners and experienced showboarders alike. It's packed with all the information you need to know, some that you don't (but might make you laugh), tips and suggestions, maps, graphs and easy to read ratings of facilities. Chuck in some great stories from some of the big names and some great photography and it's a pretty much indispensable guide to all the resorts you thought you knew, but will now know much better, and to all the resorts you never knew even existed, but can now visit with confidence.
Great Snowboarding Guide, 28 Nov 2006
Enjoyed Snowboarding the World. Very well laid out with great design. Easy to find all the top snowboarding resorts by region. Pictures are great, with some area maps. Area reviews have all the key information distilled into a brief essense, yet still keeps some inside local knowledge. Now to somehow figure out how to visit all the resort listed!
If "SNOW" is your pasion, then this guide is for YOU!, 28 Nov 2006
This guide is on equal par with its brother in the Footprint series "SURFING EUROPE"
If you like the snow and want to get the low down on what's hot and what's not, how to get there, what to do when you get there, what to expect when you go exploring, reference maps, hundreds of fantastic vibrant pictures, reference to the best accommodation options, weather graphs and statistics, an essencial clubs n pubs guide to each location, the best Internet cafes have been sniffed out for your convienence and even a spot of history thrown amongest the vast aray of easy to desifer bible of Snow!
In my eyes this is the best snow guide to ever hit our shelves!
If you don't own a copy go buy one now! You wont regret it!
If you one of those winter daydreamers who are forever wondering where to be at the right time and to score conditions you can only dream of. Well this is the book for you. It gives you the inside first hand experience that is invaluable to a traveller's itinerary plan. You know what location will suit you before you start booking.
If you are one of those people who insist on knowing what to expect before you get to your destination. Then this guide will open your eyes to all the secrets before you have left the comfort of your front room.
If you have no idea where you want to spend your winter holiday and you wanted to shred some of the most beautiful mountain ranges this planet has to offer, you would use this book as your reference to research all of your avenues! From one end of the earth to the other, they have it covered!
From my own personal experience:
They wrote about my local ski fields in NZ and basically hit the nail on the head with their descriptions, advice, culture, conditions and stories. I would say that it seems consistent through the entire guide.
To back up my review I have just bought 5 copies to pass onto my friends and family as an ideal Christmas gift.
Happy shopping
Peace
Chris Kirkham (NZ)
Footprint Surfing Europe, 14 Dec 2005
I've been waiting for a book like this to come along for years and I'm not disappointed by this one. On the contrary, it's got all the best surf spots throughout Europe and Morocco and would be a valuable companion on any trip. It also includes listings for where to stay and eat and even what to do when there's no surf. Highly recommended.
Outstanding, 09 Dec 2004
It sits on the parcel shelf everywhere I go, mates are always picking it up then they go out and get their own. A thoroughly well-thumbed guide. Great stuff!
The new surfers bible!, 14 Oct 2004
Wow! This book is an amazing piece of work. It has all the surf breaks, accurate maps that actually get you to the breaks, cool stories and board advice. But it wasn't until I hit the road this Autumn that I realised just how much info is in this book. It has cool surfer friendly places to sleep, great value places to eat and great bars to drink in at every stop along the way. It meant I didn't need to waste money on a travel guide or waste time searching for decent places to stay. It's also a neat size to travel with and has loads of great photos.
I scored some amazing waves that I'd never even heard of before. It has made me realise the true surfing potential of Europe.
Stormrider taken by storm... Footprint are here..., 23 Aug 2004
Even if you have the Stormrider, you need to get your hands on this brilliant surf guide. It not only covers over 600 spots, but highlights where to stay, eat, drink, what to do on flat days etc. It has brilliant maps. Crisp and clear. I would call it "the bible to Surfing Europe". Check it out. Patrick
awesome, 03 Aug 2004
I've just bought this book and I have to say it's the best surf guide out there. Its got more spots than my Stormrider but it also has info on places to stay, surf shops, tips from top surfers, stuff to actually read - I don't know why no one's done this before. I'm off to France next week and this will definately be on my dashboard. Nice one.
Perfect guide to finding the perfect wave - and place to sleep!, 07 Dec 2007
Perfect companion to planning any surf trip. Well written and not dumbed down or pretentious (which is something a lot of surf books suffer from)
Awesome, 15 Nov 2006
A truly inspiring book. Each break is brought to life with the right balance of know-how, stories, history and beautiful photography. This is essential reading for anyone with more than a passing interest in the surf potential of the planet.
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