Alaska 10 (inglés) (LONELY PLANET) Paperback – March 1, 2012

The travel guide market is crowded and competitive. To stand out from the crowd, a guide must be something the other guides aren't. All guides need at least be directories of sights, lodgings and meals, framed by cultural and historical contexts and travel practicalities. But truly excellent guides, the ones that are worth the full five stars, have something extra.Sometimes that extra thing is a particular theme, or perhaps it's a specifically insightful analysis of something culturally unique (such as the pre-Columbian ruins in Mexico, for example or, perhaps, architecture in Rome). Maybe there's an in-depth appreciation of the geography and corresponding opportunities for ecotourism. A guide can stand out for a simple format device, as many of the DK Eyewitness guides do for their many color photographs. You get the idea. It seems to me, however, that the guide that really has staying power is the one written in that engaging and insightful style that is immediately recognizable as genuine. It's that style that makes you WANT to visit the place being described. It's the style you get with this book.Just as Jim Morekis has done with his Moon guides to South Carolina and Georgia, or Christina Tree has done with her Everyman's guides to New England states, or Joe Cummings has done with his now classic Moon guide to Northern Mexico, the writers of this book have constructed a guide that oozes authenticity. This is no rush job, and it's in a well-refined tenth edition. Keep in mind that authenticity is not necessarily the same thing as an insider's view. While this book is long on being REAL, it's not particularly focussed on being a companion. Enthusiastic, but not neighborly.There is a perfect blend of cultural and natural focus in the book. Obviously, Alaska offers a lot in terms of wilderness adventure, and that notion is not lost in the guide, but cultural tourists aren't left hanging either. There's history here, and cultural sights are well covered. Better yet, the authors are skilled in illustrating to us how the cultural and natural are intertwined in Alaska. That makes the place, and the book, unique.For me, the best part of the book is the unique section on "best hikes and paddles" for those of us who like to get off the train, ship or bus. The "survival guide" section is a bit thin, and is really intended as contextual information rather than as a true survival tool. If you're looking for a guide about how to survive in the bush, you need a different book. Cruisers take note! This is not a guide to cruise ships and cruise tours, so don't buy this book looking for that. While it's a fantastic guide for what to do when you are OFF the ship, it won't help you much with your sailing essentials.So there you have it. Here's a superb guide for those looking for an enthusiastic presentation of what Alaska has to offer the traveler. Listings of lodgings and restaurants are nearly comprehensive, but are getting a bit dated now. Things don't change very quickly in Alaska, so this book's age isn't too much of a liability.

I used this guide in planning a trip to Alaska last month and also while I was there. I appreciated it most in decided where to go and how much time to dedicate to different locations and activities, and also while I was there for restaurant recommendations. It did not steer me wrong. I found it fairly easy to navigate, although when I was actually in Alaska, the arrangement of the book, particularly the Anchorage section, was a little less than helpful - dividing Anchorage up into sections is only useful if you know which section you're in when you're trying to use it - I would have preferred one larger map to several smaller maps. But overall, I thought this book was great. It definitely alerted me to some activities and stops that I probably wouldn't have found on my own. And I think the restaurant recommendations were very good - I chose most of my dinners from the book and didn't have a single bad meal while I was in Alaska (well, at least not that I chose).

Having this guide in your hands is like having a native guide showing you around 24/7..!I can tell that my overall Alaskan experience was increased and improved thanks to this book,. This is not the first time that I use a Lonely Planet guide.This one was definitely vivid and very informative to the point where I was able to make decisions during legs of the trip based on information and advice contained in this guide..The historic facts anx other background information bring more context and interest and I will absolutely recommend this book to anyone planning to visit the last frontier..!!

The information provided in the book was great, if you could find it. The kindle edition was difficult to work with and while traveling in Alaska I finally gave up trying to locate the information I wanted as I traveled within the state. The travel and tourism offices became my friends. Perhaps the problem was with the Kindle Fire, don't know, but the table of contents never displayed making the efficient use of the book impossible.

I have been to Alaska many times; for both pleasure and business. This is the only guidebook I take with me. Other books focus in on the usual tourista venues and add a little history here and there; not Lonely Planet. The Lonely Planet guides are packed with useful info about the tucked away spots that few folks from Outside venture, as well as trivia and historical tidbits. I highly recommend this and all the Lonely Planet series to my students! Take care, Jerry [...]

We are on our way for a trip to Alaska in July, and so far this guide book has helped us to decide to stay in the Hotel Seward in Seward, Alaska, and to decide on some of our day activities while in Seward. We had most of our trip planned when we ordered the book, but it seems to be a great place to start. I like the pull out map very much, and enjoy the fact that the guide breaks down things to do, places to eat, and places to stay. It has also given us a good understanding that some activites, such as glacier kayaking, are not at all for beginners. Without this guide we might not have known to bring water proof clothing for our boat trips into see the glaciers. Likewise, I believe it has given us a lowered expectation for actually seeing any whales, so now if we do, we will be elated!