Central America: On a Shoestring

Lonely Planet: On a Shoestring

by Lonely Planet, Robert Reid, Gary Chandler Prado

Provides information for the budget traveller on getting around Central America and recommends places to see, accomodations, and restaurants.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference

816 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2004

About the author

OUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.

Reviews

[Roopika Risam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Central America on a Shoestring has tons of great information that has helped me plan a trip to Belize and Guatemala this summer. But I'm struck by the fact that I am not a Lonely Planet type traveler. This book has a lot of good tips, and I'd do a lot of what it suggests, but I wouldn't quite do them the way it suggests.

For example, the book explains that it's really easy to get to Tikal, Guatemala from Cayo, a part of Belize west of Belomopan where they have some cool jungle lodges. All one must do is get a bus to the border, take a cab to the actual border, get out of the cab and walk across the border, and then take some cockamamie combo of buses and taxis to Tikal. No way on earth am I going to WALK across the Guatemala-Belize border. I'm sorry. No. I know it would only cost $50 but come on now. How about I go with a tour group, Fodors style, pay $100 and not get kidnapped by some angry Guatemalan border guard who think I'm Guatemalan and is mad that I'm with a gringo? Or better yet decides to snatch me for the harem of Guatemala's Evangelical Christian dictator?

Yes, so not a Lonely Planet traveler. I maintain, however, that Central America on a Shoestring is essential for anyone considering travel in Central America.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "shoestring" editions of Lonely Planet are awesome. It is true that about 1/2 the time we found a better option by asking around than we did from Lonely Planet, but that means that the other 1/2 the time Lonely Planet made our trip better than it would have been otherwise! That's a pretty major boost.

[Lianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good tips, like where to find that car in Tamarindo that served food out of the trunk.

[Booth Babcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, a little light on each country...you'd be better off getting the best guidebooks for each place you're visiting.

[martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressive for managing to fit every country in one volume, but frustratingly abridged if you're in one country for more than a couple of days, or want, say, a hotel option or two instead of just hostels. Also a lot of the info is out-of-date. Also because it was made up of abridged versions of longer books, it would sometimes suggest a trip or destination but not include any information about it.

If you're going to be somewhere for more than a few days, do yourself a favor and invest in the country-specific Lonely Planet guide. You'll get so much more out of it.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my bible when I was backpacking around Central America ( : Just a word to the wise - the places to stay are not always very accurate - some of them either don't exist anymore or the prices are drastically different or the quality is drastically different from what the book says (so if you use this to plan your trip just be flexible!!)

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

It got the job done and was good. But it never provided any "Yes!" moments in which I was filled with joy for having it. But usefull...also, it can honestly be a little weird seeing almost every other person traveling in the region with this book. Oh well.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book's gotten me through a few countries already and is helping me figure out Honduras and Guatemala this summer. What travel books do other people like?

[laura smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book became my bible as I traveled through Central America for three months. It enlightened me, kept me safe and helped me get from one place to another.

[Liliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is awesome and highly recommended to anyone visiting Central America!

[Mindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Lonely Planet but I don't like this edition. All informations to each country are too short. I'll get my self a Lonely Planet Costa Rica and Panama for sure.

[Knichole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book defiantly needs updated. Some of the lodging recommendations where very shady. I had much better luck getting advice from the locals and other travelers on where to stay.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A- Another classic LP book. I so badly want to go to Central America, esp. Guatemala, but no money…I do have dreams though...

[Shawn Minihan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bible for backpacking Central America.

[M. Wehm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential for getting around Central America.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't wait for Central America <3

[Kevin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

It looks like it's survived a war

[Violeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very useful!

[Sandro Helmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Guia básico que contempla todos os países da América Central. Poucas fotos e mapas, no entanto.