What is the best travel guide book for thailand?

Hi there,

Hard to make a choice when people give controversial opinions about Lonely planet. Perso i find the rough guide too much like a novel. the lonely planet is better but don't get the best votes, especially the last one. I was thinking of AA spiral which is smaller but more clear even if less info. Anybody used the Baedeker one?
thanks

i use the aa or berlitz pocket guide and a little phrase book which is bloody useless.

Get the rough guide to thailand - great book!

Lonely Planet

In my view Lonely Planet Guide Book wins hands down especially for the Thailand edition . The other books you mention have no detail and does not cover this country evenly enough . I have travelled many provinces in Thailand and always found Lonely Planet the most informative and easy to understand . It tells you about air travel options and hotels / guesthouses are covered in amazing detailed . Any room i chose based on their advise has yet to disappoint . I was once in a Yala a couple of years ago and showed the reception their hotel and they were surprised that the hotel rate ( 496 B ) was correct right to the last Baht !

I used it in planning holidays there meeting ICQ freinds i never met before and the book was great even telling me the local attractions of a particular town i went that was often not touristy

Invest in the Lonely Planet and you wont regret it !

Cheers

Ask what you want here, you can get answers not found in the books.

lonely planet is good:)

for online information source, try http://www.discovery-thailand, they offer online hotel booking with discount up to 75% discount. You can use the hotel search box on the right side of the main page to book worldwide hotels. You will be able to see hotel rates in your currency by using the drop down menu on the search result page. Their maps are also very convenient http://www.discovery-thailand.com/Hotels%20Map%20Pages/Airport%20Suvarnabhumi%20Hotels%20Map.html , and easy to choose the hotel you like. Have a nice trip!

In my personal opinion I think that people place too much emphasis on the guide books that you use.

Rough guides/ Lonely Planet/ AA guides are all great books for reference and I can advise them all. Lonely Planet is a more widely accepted guidebook accross the world. Rough Guides are a far off second in terms of recognising the brand and the AA seem to be very useful for major city information but all three are very useful.

I will say that I have used the Lonely Planet Series for Thailand (Thailand 2006 / South East Asia on a Shoestring 2006/ Thailand's Islands and Beaches) and have had great pleasure with them but I find just as relevant information in the other two series'.

The main uses of the guidebooks once travelling is; finding a bed, get to know a little about the area and a rough idea how to leave when you are ready. All the in between pieces are what makes travelling fun.

Hope I can be of help.

i would have to say lonely planet good reading but sometimes its good to explore the area you find yourself in and find some hidden gems on your own back