The Rough Guide to Argentina (Rough Guide Travel Guides) |
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Andrew Benson, Rosalba O'Brien, Danny Aeberhard, Lucy Phillips, Rough Guides
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Pages: 864 (Paperback)
ISBN: 184353844X
Pub: Rough Guides
Pub date: 2008-01-10
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 24566
Editorial Review:
When you first arrive in Argentina, it is difficult to believe that you are in a different continent, since Buenos Aires is reminiscent of Paris and most people are of European origin. But although it is the least foreign South American destination to many visitors, this vast country is one of the most intriguing. Geographically, it ranges from the Patagonian ice-fields to the tropics. Argentine culture is also rich: the writers Borgés, Cortazar and Juan Filloy--one of the world's greatest ever creators of palindromes--all graced Argentina in the 20th century, as did the tango, Evita and Maradona. This is the world's eighth largest country, one behind India--but whereas India's population is 1 billion, the Argentines number only 35 million.
Because of its immensity, it is probably impossible to write the perfect guide to Argentina, but this Rough Guide is an admirable attempt. The Lonely Planet book is good on the south but its coverage of the western and northern regions (among the most interesting parts of the country) is patchy. This new book has superb coverage of Buenos Aires, the Pampas, the west, the north and the Andean side of Patagonia--although along the bleak (but not uninteresting) Patagonian coast it is a little less strong. Perhaps the authors were tired out by the time they reached this part of the country and if so this minor flaw should certainly not detract from a book that is excellent on many practical details and on culture, with first-rate sections on history, the gaucho and mat´ written by people who know their stuff. --Toby Green
Reader Reviews:
cancellation (0/2 people found this helpful)
my order was taken one day only to be cancelled the next.
i'm afraid not good enough, so one star only !!!
An extremely useful travel companion in Argentina (8/8 people found this helpful)
This is a very well-researched and thoroughly useful book with an excellent range of recommendations for accomodation and eating/drinking. In addition to providing in-depth information on the usual tourist sights it recommends quite a few exciting spots off the beaten track that helps you make your trip more special.
The two shortcomings that i came across were (i) the lack of description of getting TO airports and (ii) fairly poor section on the Bariloche region.
One of the best guidebooks that I have used. (29/29 people found this helpful)
I must have been reading a different guide to your last reviewer! We came back recently from four weeks travelling in Buenos Aires and the south. I've done a lot of independent travelling in South America (almost every country), and I can honestly say this is one of the best guides I've come across. It's enthusiastic and amazingly well-researched, and I found it objective and honest. We always got the impression that the authors were trying to depict the real, modern Argentina -- so much so that several English-speaking Argentinians we showed it to asked us where they could buy a copy. It definitely doesn't repeat the mulch some tourist offices spew out, and we always felt we had a good idea of when the tourist hype exceeds reality: we'd heard a lot about the Welsh community in Patagonia before we went, but this guidebook was the first thing we'd read that actually gave us a realistic expectation of what to expect. My wife and I enjoyed the treks (AMAzing scenery).... If I've got a criticism, I'd say it could do with a few more maps and we came across one or two typos, but, to be honest, I'd ditch my rucksac before I ditched this. Well done!
NB. If you haven't been to Argentina, it must be one of the most spectacular scenaries around especially the Patagonia. Perito Moreno is a MUST.
A good start, but a long way short of a good guide! (7/15 people found this helpful)
It seems that a decent guide for Argentina is hard to come by at the moment. I had much hope for this one, especially given that all of the other guides I have seen are either woefully out of date (prime example being Lonely Planet's) or just not catered to independent travel.
Given that this was published in November 2000, you can rely on it for accuracy of information as far as phone numbers, addresses etc. This said, there were one or two typos with street addresses that caused a bit of confusion.
This is where the good stuff ends though - the book is loaded with judgement and 'opinion' which just seems way off the mark. You know going in that you are buying someone's opinion of a location, service, mode of transport or whatever else, but most of the time I felt that it was not at all objective. On numerous occasions, I was left wondering whether the author(s) had a vested interest in whatever they were pitching! Of course I know that this is not the case, but the question goes begging whether some parts of the text were lifted directly from the local tourist office's blurb!
In short, there is little comptetion at the moment so at least you are somewhat safe with contact information, price guides etc., but treat the write-ups with some caution.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Countries & Regions -> Central & South America -> Argentina
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Countries & Regions -> Central & South America -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Travel & Holiday -> Guidebook Series -> Rough Guide
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size