I have just perused my newly purchased LP Cuba & Jamaica guides. What a complete waste of time, effort and money! Gone are the practical suggestions of places to base yourself for exploring, eateries, bars etc, replaced by generic gushing over major sights which might easily have been drawn from any number of tourist brochures. I have previously been a devoted LP buyer and user. I have quite a nice collection of them from many trips over the years. Nowhere in these book is there any practical information as per earlier publications. Accommodation is reduced to a single page of "throw away" commentary about different types of accommodation...as if the reader had not ascertained this from even the most basic research. Where is the information about eateries tried and reviewed by the writers? Non-existent. Where are the suggested "highlights" itineraries as per other publications? totally absent. In short, this is little more than I had already found out through rudimentary internet searches. Foolishly, I had believed that LP was a quality brand that would maintain its standard. Wrong. I mistakenly purchased two "Guides" at the same time. I am kicking myself now but pleased that both were on special price offer. However, even at a substantial discount, they aren't worth the money or the time to read over them in detail. A little time spent reading over blogs and websites will give anyone about the same level of information that these inappropriately named "Guides" will do. They are no longer guides, rather they are glossy tourist brochures with lots of 'filler' describing "essential experiences". Nothing like the old reliable LP quality. Do yourself a favour and look out old format guides from the local library rather than spend money on trumped-up travel brochures.
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