Southeast Asia on a Shoestring

Lonely Planet: On a Shoestring

by China Williams, Dan Eldridge, Josh Krist

Trek deep into the jungles of Borneo or laze on stunning Bali beaches. Eat your way through Singapore or dance all night in buzzing Bangkok clubs. Discover ancient Angkor temples or go grass roots and volunteer in Hanoi. Whatever you seek, Lonely Planet's yellow bible has it covered. With more than 33 years of experience, and a team of backpacking authors, our guide helps you dig deeper, stay longer, and spend less. Get ready - your Southeast Asian adventure starts here.

Get The Lowdown on the environment, history, culture and current events in our Snapshots chapter

Eat Cheap and Sleep Easy with our fully updated coverage of the best street stalls, budget digs and places to party

Blaze Your Own Trail using our full-color regional map and detailed local maps

Talk The Talk with help from our Language chapter

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Asia, Reference, Adventure, Guidebook

988 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Kris D · Rating 2 out of 5]

The current version is so out of date that both Vietnam and Thailand were barely accurate. It's quite pointless to get this book because the development in Southeast Asia is so fast that everything changes right away. Use the internet to plan your vacations.

[Descatalogado · Rating 1 out of 5]

Es una guía de viajes. No debería ni estar en esta lista, pero con la de tiempo de lectura que me ha robado...

Se supone que es una guía orientada a mochileros. Cada país está redactado por un autor diferente, y se nota de lejos que no es más que un refrito de las guías individuales, donde más o menos han quitado el alojamiento caro, y a correr.

Es una p*ta mierda.

No me puedes poner en la guía que "los taxis aquí son tan baratos que no merece la pena molestarse en coger el autobús". Toma ya. Taxi en Yangón, 8€. Bus nº 43 que une la estación de autobuses con las dos pagodas principales y el centro de la ciudad, osá el único que necesitas decirme, cuesta 10 céntimos. Ole tus cojones, Mariloli. Y lo mismo en muchas otras partes. En Vietnam todos los alojamientos listados cuestan más de 10 euros, cuando nunca he pagado más de 5 dólares, y a veces han sido incluso sólo 3.

Está bien al principio para tener una idea de los lugares a visitar, pero la sección de restaurantes sobra por completo (¡los mochileros comen en los puestos de la calle!) y la de alojamiento es penosa. Y no da la información de los transportes baratos, que es la que sería necesaria.

El único sitio donde me ha servido un poco más es en Filipinas, porque la información que hay online de ese país es lamentable. Pero vamos, que es un peso inútil del que me alegro mucho de librarme por fin.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

It can't possibly contain as much information as an individual guide for each country would, but I could see this book being helpful for a backpacker traveling through Southeast Asia.

[Lana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay with a lot of useful stuff but I think it's overrated having such a travel guide with you nowadays. For starters it's to heavy to carry around and it takes to much time finding stuff if it's even in the book. I find Google more helpful tbh.

[Margot Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to take on your travels but some internet research is also needed

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Review of the 2016 edition. There's a TON of info in here, but on some places not enough. I get that it would need to be a massive book to give me everything I want, so for covering an entire region, it does a pretty good job of getting across the "need-to-know" information. Would probably buy my own copy.

[Nicolas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Handy enough during my trip to Thailand in 2011

[Jamesjohn Jamesjohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource - easy to use, consistent and accurate.

[Robert Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the better books in the series; very helpful for planning a multi-country trip, as well useful in country for places to go, stay, eat, etc.

[Christie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to even imagine this now, but in 1997 we took this book on a four month journey through Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Every day we found something wonderful to do, a place to eat, a place to sleep at night and a mode of transportation to get there. We had no other resource other than this book (no internet or pre-booked anything). That is a treasure.

[Oward Bodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this extensively while working in Southeast Asia from 2008 to 2011. Generally useful information about peninsular Southeast Asia and Indonesia, but its reportage on the Philippines leaves much to be desired. The traveling warnings/suggestions in the back section are a little rough and wanting, but the actual information for each location is generally sound and up-to-date (at that time anyway). On the whole, the "Yellow Bible" is a "must have" specifically for young backpackers and adventurous expat professionals in the region.

Interestingly, I actually got a chance to peruse a *second-edition* (early 80's) of the Yellow Bible at a friend's house in Malaysia. It's amazing at how completely different the book was, in terms of approach, design, and writing. In some ways the contemporary editions smack of the McDonaldisification and sterility of nearly every traveling guide out there: the writing is predictable, bland, unfunny, bluntly authoritative, and consistent. By contrast, the older edition had a lot of voice -- specifically Tony's -- and whimsical first-person narration. Observations are more candid, the context seems actually lived rather than merely witnessed, and the writing is much more entertaining. It's a shame that it had to change to fit the market, but still...

[Riona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm leaving for a big trip to Southeast Asia in less than a month, so I checked this (and several other guidebooks) out from the library to help me plan and decide which would be best to purchase and take along with me. Unfortunately, it won't be this one. At over 1,000 pages, the damn thing is like 2 full inches thick and weighs a significant amount -- I can't imagine lugging it around in my backpack. Since it also covers a huge amount of area -- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar/Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam -- each country only has 100 pages or so devoted to it, which I don't feel is sufficient for any of these places. The information that's contained here seems solid and like a good starting point, though. This might be a good choice of guide for a more far-reaching trip, but since I'm planning on only hitting the popular Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos circuit this time around, I'm continuing to look for a more focused guidebook.

[Kat A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This popular travel guide from the Lonely Planet really was the backbone of my trip. I used almost exclusively "our pick" recommended businesses and was rarely disappointed. I read up on all the places I went to, and when I needed something to read, I found myself reading the other sections too! I'm pretty sure they're putting out another one soon, but this 2009 edition was almost spot on. With the exception of the declining US dollar, most prices were within range. I'm looking forward to reading a borrowed 1989 copy, now that I've been, to see the changes. I've used LP guide books for most of my trips, and will continue to do so, especially because looking at my collection on my bookshelf will always prompt a quick visit to my new favorite travel booking site that searches thousands of airlines for your cheapest options. :D

[Pras · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book help my first journey through southeast asia. This is true a "yellow bible", the fact that this book very famous among traveller is proven. During my way back home, i held some conversation with french backpacker. She exchanged her lonely planet (thailand) with my rusty, wet and beaten book. Sounds like story from dee's second book? yeah but it was true. She did that because she want to travel across archipelago and she was thinking this book will be very best companion. Being nationalist and eager to share my country (Indonesia) I prefer this barter (though this book only cost me 10.000 rupiah or 1 dollar on flea market back home) . But after i know the history of this book, I still regret that day.

[Phong Pham · Rating 3 out of 5]

using this right now and it's pretty indispensable unless you're w/ a group when pretty much everyone has one and then so nobody wants to tote this tome around (but then again the pages of the countries you've already been to make for a decent ersatz toilet papier in uncompromising situations. not as detailed compared w/ the LP on each country (natch), but a great primer to give you a what's what's and pretty good inducer of FOMO (fear of missing out). mine's an UK version i got from another traveler so if all the extra o's and u's and random extra letters they throw into words annoy you i'd definitely make sure you get a US edition. i'm playin' i love their lilt.

[claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helpful for some basic content about getting around, but once you're there you need nothing more than word of mouth or a travel agent, of which there are thousands. Save your money and time and just take some chances. Rarely will you encounter better deals or secrets from anything lonely planet - at least in SE Asia. The real deals and secrets have to be found for yourself, on the outskirts of the tourist areas. Unless you really need to play it 1000% safe take some chances and a walk and you'll likely be safe and happier.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually enjoy reading these guidebooks and they truly are indispensable for the short term traveller! Hell I would even enjoy reading one about Atlanta / Athens GA, just so I don't miss some attraction or restaurant that locals don't talk about. I tried the first part of my trip without a guidebook, but once I had this in hand, thanks to a fellow departing traveller, the world really opened up as I could get an eagle eye view of many things to do and see, not to mention small towns en route to the popular destinations.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Kobo for offering this as a free ebook. This was a fascinating trip into a time that I can remember but a place I never went. Can you imagine any of today's travel books giving you the best places to buy the local drugs?

The health advice was incredible- hard to believe that only 40 years ago most of the vaccines we take for granted didn't exist. And that chloroquine was still an effective treatment for malaria.

As I plan my journey into southeast Asia, this book reminded me how the more things change, the more they stay the same.

[Polina · Rating 3 out of 5]

picked it up and perused it in one of the hotels, has some good tips on the various places to see but pretty bulky, you're better off grabbing a local country book in each country you visit. Good if you need someone to map out an overall itinerary for you and to read through the main highlights of each region but if you are a sporadic spontaneous traveler like us - stick to local smaller books and free guidebooks of each country.

[Tito Quiling, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting hold of this right out of college fueled by desire to learn more about our neighbors more than the proverbial textbook information, and for the more adventurous type, reading through potential choices in accommodations, cuisine, cultural areas, and other recommended activities only elevates the images that one might have of countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia, Indonesia--all of which have ties that bind, eschewing all the differences.

[Chinook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this to visit Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Singapore, Brunei, and Vietnam (and previously used it for Cambodia and Thailand and The Philippines.)

The "our pick" hotels proved to be fabulous. The only place I felt LP failed me was the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia - that tiny map and the descriptions led me to expect a much smaller, less touristy place than it turns out to be. Otherwise, it was a good guide as I moved around.

[Benji Rouse · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're interested in visiting SE Asia for cheap alcohol, places where you don't need to interact with people from the country you're visiting, all the best places to get pizza and those gross hippie earth-mama puffy pants, look no further. If you want to visit places in SE Asia and be a respectful traveler and not just hide in your rooftop backpacker bar with all the sunburnt white kids, 95% of this will be a waste of your money.

[Febry Fawzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I found this book and chose to buy while I was in Phnom Penh. This book is a complete one for your guide through south east asia. by only one book, you'll get full of information about things to do and stuff about history and many things to discover 11 countries. It has more than thousand pages so it may be thick and very heavy to take on the road, but it helps much if you lack of Internet access.

[Alyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only problem with this book is that it's about an area with an unstable economy, so a lot of the places were gone by the time we got there. Additionally, fails to adequately cover the scams. That's why it got 4 stars instead of 5. For a shoestring guide, they use a lot of page space to review "ritzy" places.

[This Is Not The Michael You're Looking For · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with any other book which covers such a large area, much of the coverage of any given area is sparse, but unlike many other travel guides it covers many areas which are otherwise completely ignored. A big bulky for convenient travel (again because it covers so much) but a good reference to some of the more out-of-the-way destinations.

[Agostina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente guía para poder recorrer el sudeste asiático conociendo las mejores actividades para hacer en cada lugar, es demasiado comercial para mi gusto, pero tiene tips intersantes; el libro combinado con la experiencia de otros viajeros permite tener un buen pantallazo para hacer una guía de viaje útil.

[Esti · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's a good way to learn about other culture and people eventhough you're not planning to travel. reviews are entertaining and independent and inciting curiosity to know more about other culture. If you want peace, don't prepare for war, start travelling instead.

[Sab1tha · Rating 5 out of 5]

my bible when i'm going as a backpacker. the best guide book about travelling i ever read. i can find where's the cheapest hostel, the places i should go, how to get there, the best places for shopping and hang out...etc. really helpful.

[Nanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is horrible. Hopefully they come out with a newer edition soon. The hostel reviews are quite unhelpful. It needs more helpful facts and less unbased opinion. We had several conversations in several different countries with other travelers about how much they hated this travel guide.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful.

Just took this on my own trip through Southeast Asia and found this to be quite helpful. Some of the places in it were no longer around and there were some price differences but overall it was great.