Moon Handbooks South Korea (Moon Handbooks) (Moon Handbooks)

I bought this book having already had the Lonely Planet Guide to Korea and found it so so I thought I'd try this other book as the above review put in a favourable light. I'm just gonna say I think the above review stinks and that anyone who thumbs through this book will see its just pages and pages and pages of writing, dull old fashioned not really so relevant anymore writing at that. It was written in 1986 or something, sure its been updated but the feeling of what is now such a lively an exciting country is lost in this book.

It features no colour pictures, no colour coded subway maps, infact maybe not any subwat maps at all? Nodecent road maps, no close up maps of citie cetres or shopping areas. None that would actually make you want to carry it around all day rather than leave it at home or in the hotel wastepaper basket or something like that.

No quick tips, or what to visit in a day/two/three day type guides, no usefull sidebars or shortcuts.

Its just page after page of text broken by nothing but a few headings. I cant remember how comprehensive the dictioanry it has is either. If it is any good I'll update this review to say so.

So buy this book after actually looking at it first rather than one fanboys review!

A well written guide book, with lots of history and details about what your seeing. Cetainly a far superior book to the souless lonely planet attempt. This book contains lots more usefull public transport details, hiking trails, unusual activities, and out of the way places to stay. It allows you to rrealy get as far off the beaten track as you can in korea, and the writing gives a much better feel of korean culture. Also on the upside it doesn't take up most of the book giving accomodation and restaurant listings in big citys and only suggests a choice few from the hundreds that are so easily found everywhere.