Two weeks from today we land in Athens so I am looking through the various travel guides for Greece (including Cyprus) to see which one best suits our peculiar needs. The Let's Go Travel Guides are designed for independent travelers, which basically means young and on a budget. Now, clearly that is not going to be us, sitting on on nice little tour bus traveling around Greece, but that does mean I cannot appreciate the practicality of this volume. You are not going to find pictures in this book but you will find detailed city and regional maps along with in-depth cultural information that provides the insider's look at life in Greece. For the budget traveler there are entries at all price levels for lodging, food, and attractions, which includes bars, clubs, local festivals, and island scenes. Each section is usually covered in terms of transportation, orientation and practical information, accommodations and camping, food and nightlife, sights and beaches, hikes and the outdoors, and daytime trips you can take from each locale. The book divides the country into Athens, Peloponnese, Central Greece, and Northern Greece, Ionian Islands, Saronic Gulf Islands, the Sporades and Evia, Northeast Aegean Islands, Cyclades, Dodecanese, Crete, and Cyprus. This regional approach is very helpful for knowing what is available in the neighborhood.

The idea is that when you finish this book you can make cultural connections by pondering the classic Greek tragedies at the Epidavros Theater Festival, make great deals when haggling at the Monastiraki flea market in Athens, and get off the beaten path to dine with Orthodox monks on secluded Mount Athos. There are also tips for planning a trip, getting around, and staying safe, along with alternatives to tourism such as studying abroad, working, and volunteering. The bottom line is that this "Let's Go Travel Guide 2003: Greece including Cyprus" should give young, independent, budget travelers the confidence to go abroad. For the rest of us it still has an abundance of useful, practical information; the section on Essentials is a must read even if you are flipping through this in a bookstore.

The "Let's Go" series has been indispensible to me as a poor student and now as a frugal university lecturer. It has the best information for the budget tourist, and the new, slim volume is easy to carry--I won't have to tear out the pages and carry them around with me as I have with the fatter, thicker "Let's Go: Greece" volumes from the past. The new cover is also much more attractive than the old yellow and even older blue ones. As usual, this book offers historical explanations, tips, and practical information. It includes concrete information about ground transport (bus and ferries) and affordable places to stay and dine. The volume has useful maps and updated addresses for Internet cafes and English-language bookstores. The descriptions of cultural sights are somewhat uneven (the book gives a paragraph on Rhodes' Italianate Palace of the Masters but only four lines on the comparatively more important Archaeology Museum), but it lists the cultural highlights most visitors are looking for.

If you are planning to gaze upon the Pyramids, climb Mount Sinai, sail the Nile or explore the catacombs of Alexandria your first step is to pick up a copy of "Let's Go Egypt". If you go by yourself or better still treat yourself to a package tour complete with a Nile cruise you will find this volume helpful and insightful. Egypt is a amazing destination and on every trip there I have experienced a warm welcome from the people. While bustling Cairo is what most tourists first see don't miss the smaller towns along the Nile in the "Upper Kingdom" between Aswan and Luxor. The sprawling temple of Karnak and the smaller but still impressive temple of Luxor are situated at Luxor, Egypt. The Temple of the Sun at Abu Simbel is a very short plane ride from Aswan, Egypt. At Aswan don't miss the Temple of Isis on Philae and do return some evening for the Sound and Light show. Let's Go will serve as a detailed guide to these and many other wonders. I was amazed at the level of detail and how up to date the book was. I believe Egypt is still a safe destination and found security for tourists to be a top priority. Following the common sense advice found in Let's Go will ensure a safe, happy and memorable trip. Don't miss it!

I enjoyed "Let's go Egypt" and found it to be an invaluable guide. This is the second edition I have owned, which I received as a gift for my lastest jaunt to Egypt during March-April 2002. If you are taking a guided tour as I did complete with Nile Cruise or simply going it on your own the book is a tremendous resource. The National Museum of Antiquities in Cairo is probably the most famous museum on Earth. It has a far greater collection than any other museum I have ever seen in the United States or Europe. The book breaks down each room and serves as an accurate guide. "Lets go" is extremely up to date and they send their observers in every year to accurately judge hotels, restaurants, resorts you name it. From flea-bag to modest to Five Star and Ultra deluxe many hotels and restaurants and stores are described and rated fairly. Every major tourist spot and attraction, from the fabulous Sound and Light show in Cairo to the Valley of the Kings at Luxor and the Temple of Rameses at Abu Simbel, are described and the book tells you how to get there, what to expect and pay and how to find your way around. Having been to Egypt numerous times now I would continue to recommend it as a memorable and amazing vacation. I continue to feel that Egypt is a safe and welcoming place, something I and my fellow travelers cannot say of every country. I would, however, recommend a guided tour with Nile Cruise (I have done three) especially for the first timer and even for seasoned travelers. You get a great deal on wonderful accomodations often with meals, helpful escorts and transportation that save you lots of hassle, knowlegable guides that illuminate the past and, most of the time, new friends to share it with. On my most recent trip I found the locals over-joyed to see us and bending over backwards to make sure we had a good time. Nearly one fourth of the Egyptian economy is supported by the tourist trade and they need jobs and work just like we do here. The "Let's go guide" is filled with information on staying healthy and safe and helpful in having a good time whatever traveling option you choose. Thanks and Best Wishes, CAL

Seattle is well known for it's contributions to the performing arts in many genres. Arguably, the biggest contributors is the Pacific Northwest Ballet which is among the best in the world. One gets a sense of the difficulty and trail of establishing this fine organization.

The book not only the story of the Pacific Northwest Ballet from it's meager beginnings to the internationally reknown company that it is today, but also a sketch of biography on Kent and Francia Stowell who influenced this wonderful organization to what it is today. Ardent fans of the PNB will relive the many name changes and stages of growth through the pages of this excellent book. There is brief coverage of some of the names of those who affected the PNB early on such as Glynn Ross (Former general director of the Seattle Opera), Janet Reed (instructor and former dancer New York City Ballet) to name a couple. Though the book isn't heavy in detail, there is just enough to tell the PNB story in an enjoyable manner.

One aspect of the PNB which is covered (though lightly), is how the organization reaches out to the community. Perhaps the most visible way is educationally by the establishment of Pacific Northwest Ballet School. In addition to the impressive growth, the book details some of the challenges such as funding and lack of boys enrolled in the school reflecting the homophobic attitude of some people concerning ballet here in the states. Another way the organization is involved community wide is reflected by the number of adults enrolled in the school and the regional classes offered by the school.

Within you will find fabulous photography of both the careers of Kent and Francia Stowell as well as the defining and key moments of the company over the years; truly memory lane for followers and fans of the PNB and their wonderful school. Included in the pictures are the well known staples of the PNB; Swan Lake and The Nutcraker. It is a wonderful, charming and interesting book on one of the truly great attractions in the culture rich city of Seattle. If you enjoy ballet and dance or a fan or the Seattle area, this will be a great addition to your library.

this book is *well* worth the money, i received it as a christmas gift this year and i've been reading it over and over. if you are interested in learning about PNB or just looking at some fabulous shots of their company i highly recommend purchasing this book. it is a gorgeous hardcover with an in-depth history of the company past to present.

This is a beautifully-written book with illustration that perfectly accompany the story. It's a great way to get children interested in nature, but adults will enjoy it too.

This book is beautifully written, but easy for young readers to follow. The descriptions are enough to make any child want to learn more about marine biology and nature. Also the illustrations are wonderful and add so much to the story. I would recommend this book as a bedtime story or a good read for nature enthusiasts of all ages.

It's hard to believe that San Francisco could be the origin of a majority of the important literary developments of the modern age-yet Mr. Herron has rolled out that ball of yarn for for the interest of tourist AND native to the City."Maltese Falcon" for instance; if you really trek down to the alley you'll be across the street from where Stevenson had his coffee. I freely engineered my ephemeral 1987 "CALIFORNIA STAR" against the template of the book-shoring up perfectly my thesis...Twain and the others were treasure hunters, and recorded the flotsam of their adventuring into Bohemia for the "big" story, as "detective novels." How many know the connections between the women writers and our modern civil liberties? Science fiction or facts? It's all there, and as good a way of seeing this magnificent state as pilgrimaging to the Missions once was popular-take the time to see where our most gifted writers had taken up residence-or went to carouse- and you can "Bogart" some atmosphere!

This book was THE great book for self-guided walking tours of San Francisco. Lost a copy of it myself and would love to find or buy another. This was a wonderful book that always led one to adventures. Why is this out of print?

I've read them all - Polancy, Benham, Smith, Thomsen, and they all have something to offer the wannabe resident of Hawaii. The Smiths' book, though, has a different slant, obviously geared more to the retiree, but this book also deals with some sociological issues that the other books didn't touch on at all. Smith raises some very interesting questions, such as, "What will Hawaii be like if/when so many baby boomers relocate there? Will the local population be able/willing to assist and support these aging immigrants? Who will control the government? How will escalating real estate prices affect the local population?" Many of these issues are at the heart of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement, and may well affect how newcomers are greeted and treated in the future. This looming question is certainly not the only focus of the Smiths' book - it is highly readable, and contains a wealth of information for the prospective newcomer. But I found the thought provoking issues a very valuable addition to suggestions of locations, advice on moving, and many suggestions for further reading and web sites to explore. All in all, a very excellent resource - one that should not be missed by anyone interested in moving to Hawaii.

for anyone considering living and/or retiring in Hawai. I only wish this book had been around three years ago to asist us with our "hellish" move to paradise.

The Smiths provide timely assistance to Hawaii newcomers as they plan their sojourn to paradise. They teach all you need to know to make an easy move and transition to a whole new world. Their book provides in depth information on everything from affordable housing, jobs and entrepreneur opportunities to dining, entertainment, local customs, language and romantic side trips.

A book that will hopefully wake people up who live here in the NW and make them realize that we are at just as much risk for earthquakes as california. I was a 1 year old and my parents recall their terror of ensuring my safety as well as their own during the 1965 quake that hit Wa state measuring over a 7. We should all take heed to the words written and secure ourselves by having a 3 day supply of food and water, knowing what the energency response of our childrens's schools are. Because the quake that hit this summer is just a prelude to the massive one that will hit.

The book is great for getting people aware that the PNW also has a fault line. And Mt. Rainier is more than a mountain. But he says it not to scare you. It educates you in a relaxing manner. This should be mandatory reading for grades 9-12. Highly recommend it!!!

3 mos. in Alaska and I used this book extensively! I plotted numerous trips from multi-day trips to long "all day" hikes with the aid of this book. I did about a 3rd of the trails in this book (maybe more) and the trail descriptions are accurate. Additional information regarding lodging was extremely useful....... If you are planning a backpacking trip in Alaska, buy this book! It would have been difficult finding backpacking information without it.

Jim Dufresne does a great job in outlining excellent hikes to take throughout Alaska. We used this book in a number of areas. He gives the backpacker's view of things, not the typical tourist's. Mr. Dufresne also wrote a great book on Glacier Bay. The only guidebook we used to kayak the area. We would have never done that area had we not come acrossed his book in Michigan where he is from.

Before my vacation to Oahu, I researched the various guides to the island. Lonely Planet won over the rest!

Now, after my wonderful trip, I can say that L.P. really knows its stuff! You really get the nitty-gritty on traveling the island, not the typical tourist spots. The guide gave me info on lots of great out of the way locations that made this trip a gem. More importantly, it was very honest about certain locales that should be skipped (they were tour bus mecca though).

With the pronounciation key, I didn't sound like too much of a mainlander. The restaurants recommended were superb and easy to find as well as the shops.

The maps inside the book were essential to driving around the island although to this day I cannot figure out how to get to the Punchbowl Crater (Diamond Head was fab though). I even invested in a large fold-out version of the L.P. map.

The first few chapters give lots of interesting history and pertinent info on Hawaiian life. Throughout the book you will find great little nuggets on various spots and background. This really brings everything to life.

The L.P. guide is not your grandma's idea of a trip to Hawaii! I loved it and so will you (but you can't have mine because I am going back).

I really enjoyed the style of writing the books author employs. It all sounds decidedly British, but without being too stale.

There really is a lot of information in this book. It is well worth the small price.

I spent 10 days diving Palau in June 2001 and this book was incredibly helpful. There are so many dive sites to choose from in this region, and this book did an excellent job detailing each and every one. Since most dive operators in this region take "requests" rather than dictate where you're going, it's nice to have some information to make an informed decision, depending upon whether you want to focus on macro, big animal enounters, drift dives, wrecks, etc. Going to dive Palau without this book is simply a bad idea.

I used by no means to be a fan of diving and snorkeling. Yet, the beautiful seas of the Pacific, combined with this wonderful excellently written guidebook, introduced me to the wonderful world of this activity. The guidebook provides excellent and invaluable information and advice for divers and snorkelers - beginners and experts alike - with special focus on how great this can be in Palau. Meanwhile, the guidebook is also a wonderful travel tool for visiting Palau, whether or not you are primarily there for snorkeling and diving. All in all, it is surely a worthwhile, if not crucial, purchase, before you set off to the Pacific.