Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan

by Lonely Planet, John Noble, Michael Kohn

Includes increased coverage of local beverages, delicacies and outdoor activities, and interviews with locals, particularly those with typical Caucasian pastimes or employment.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, History, Academic

364 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

OUR STORY
A beat-up old car, a few dollars in the pocket and a sense of adventure. In 1972 that’s all Tony and Maureen Wheeler needed for the trip of a lifetime – across Europe and Asia overland to Australia. It took several months, and at the end – broke but inspired – they sat at their kitchen table writing and stapling together their first travel guide, Across Asia on the Cheap. Within a week they’d sold 1500 copies and Lonely Planet was born. One hundred million guidebooks later, Lonely Planet is the world’s leading travel guide publisher with content to almost every destination on the planet.

Reviews

[Ferio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voy a repetir lo que he dicho en otras guías, porque la reflexión es la misma y la estructura también:

Las guías de viaje de este estilo ya solo tienen sentido en el siglo XXI por la conveniencia de tener casi toda la información necesaria en un único sitio porque, por lo demás, carecen de la fluidez y la velocidad de actualización (particularmente en lo hostelero) que nos pueden ofrecer nuestro portal favorito de hoteles o TripAdvisor; como ejemplo, los horarios para algunos museos de Ereván están obsoletos y no vienen los de algunas iglesias y monasterios cuando Google los encuentra rápidamente. Evidentemente, el modelo está cambiando y, por muy actualizada que esté una guía, las ciudades son conjuntos que evolucionan cada día más y lo que ayer molaba puede que hoy no: la única forma de saberlo es a través de Internet.

Pero a mí me gustan mucho las guías Lonely Planet porque te dejan bien claro cuáles son las cosas que no debes perderte a nivel cultural en cada sitio y, siendo cosas que muchas veces tienen siglos, es difícil que su importancia cambie de un día para otro; también me gusta mucho que te dicen en qué atracciones compensa comprar la entrada previamente para evitar horas de cola, los trasfondos artístico-históricos de todas y cada una de ellas, sus precios... De otra manera, es muy complicado que todo estos datos se ofrezcan en una única página.

También hay que tener en cuenta que una guía de estas características no se lee de cabo a rabo como un libro cualquiera, sino que se usa para organizar un viaje pero no para aprenderlo y, llegado el momento de estar allí, leer con mucho más detenimiento las descripciones de cada lugar. Lo bueno que tienen estas es que también tienen un acercamiento histórico y artístico completo de cada región que sirve como introducción a todas las especificidades que se desarrollan. ¡Es material valioso!

Supongo que, con el paso del tiempo, este tipo de guías desaparecerán completamente en beneficio de páginas web que ofrecerán lo mismo a través de GPS, incluyendo audioguías y otra serie de cosas muy beneficiosas. El progreso es imparable pero, mientras tanto, cada vez que salgo de viaje me llevo mi Lonely Planet, que tampoco está de más.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating is for 2008 edition. I only have this book for the Georgia section, as LP don't have a stand alone Georgia guide. Interesting but misses out a lot of places (like Tsaghveri, where we spent the summer a place, popular with many Georgian tourists, if not on the international tourist's map).

[Jessica Whittemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as Lonely Planets go, this is pretty barebones. I used it while in Armenia, and it was sort of helpful as a list of greatest hits, but it doesn't provide choices or a good idea for specific itineraries. It did lead us to a truly bizarre and great restaurant in Gyumri called the Fish Farm, which has Ren Faire vibes but only if a fish-based Ren Faire was in the bottom of a moat within sight of a Russian Army base.

[Iolo Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good introduction to three fascinating but lesser known countries, with their sights, useful recommendations for sleeping, eating and transport. Inevitably due to the difficult relations between these countries and their neighbours, visitors need to take this into consideration

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that they combined the three countries here; I'm hoping to organize a trip to primarily Georgia that's centered around wine, and there is an itinerary included. Helpful tips, photos, and maps, as always from Lonely Planet.

[Booth Babcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to go to Georgia now.

[David Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This travel guide was not up to the Lonely Planet standard I expect. I needed to go to Google to find information. There must be a lot better available.

[Sarah]

Armenia only.

[Ragnar Bang Moe · Rating 3 out of 5]

E-bok. Kindle. Nyttig, informativ, selvom det var en 2016-utgave. Bra reiseforberedelse!

E-book. Kindle. Helpful, informative, though it was a 2016 edition. Good travel preparation!

[Nickolai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Самый толковый из имеющихся на английском языке комплексных путеводителей по Закавказью. Акцент сделан только на самых основных достопримечательностях.

[Isabel Lopes]

Emprestado à Luisa

[Ján Sokoly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievably accurate when it comes to public transport options and schedules.

[Louise Leijon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A broad coverage of Armenia, a great start to learn about this country for the first time. It would be nice to know more about the local customs, how to act etc but maybe it's not that different from Western Europe?

[Simon Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once upon a time there lived a man in Scandinavia who sought adventure in far flung lands. Lo, he did find himself on a plane to the former Soviet Union and on arrival in the Georgian capital, Tblisi, didst find himself in deep and dangerous waters. Fortunate was he for this book was a loyal and protective companion.

I know this story well for it was my story. Georgia and Azerbaijan are certainly exciting destinations and should be high on the destination list for anyone interested in weapons-grade plutonium smuggling, simmering war zones and, in the case of Azerbaijan at least, rampant kidnapping. Take great care if you visit these places!!

This book will remind you of the importance of crossing the roads carefully in Georgia where traffic lights and pedestrian crossings are few and far between but perilous driving is the norm. Heed its wise advice and do not drinking the tap water in Baku as it’s close to one of the one of the most polluted places in the whole world. But be equally sure to behold the beauty of the Black Sea, enjoy Soviet-style border crossings and catch some of the traditional dancing which is punctuated by sharp daggers thrown emphatically into the dance floor.

It’s true some places in this guide book no longer existed, including the shipboard hostel in Baku that had reportedly sunk into the Caspian Sea harbor briefly before I arrived, but this book saved my life several times I wager. What more can you ask for? Thanks, Lonely Planet!!

SIMON

[Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I am solidly in the Lonely Planet camp. I think they have helpful and straightforward information. It's always better to have an insider/local, but we definitely gleaned some helpful information from this book, coupled along with some internet research.

To be fair, I only really tested the book in Georgia (and Tblisi and the Telavi wine region)

I did think Betsy's was a good hotel in Tblisi. I would definitely recommend taking in a play at the puppet theater, watch the tower puppet clocktower display and wander around the cobbled streets nearby and perhaps as important stopping in the cafe next door for some of the fabulous lemonade and kachapuri (it was the best we had and we made sure to sample a fair amount). :) Also the Bread Cafe was a great restaurant.

Definitely drink Georgian wine, but take them seriously if they say it is sweet or semi-sweet. Holy cow.

Enjoy this highly underrated region! I'll still have to test out Armenia or new parts of Georgia next time.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really only read the Azerbaijan part of the book.

It seems that Azerbaijan has not put a lot of effort into developing tourism which makes it tricky for a tourist book to come up with things to explore. Azerbaijan sounds like a place to enjoy nature and the bits of history you find you may need to dig a little to find out its past.

However the book did give me some ideas on things I'd like to see and things I should probably avoid. As there are very few books for travelers to Azerbaijan I am very grateful that this one is available.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read most of this (skipped the Azerbaijan section because I'm not as interested to go there yet), and thought it was informative and very helpful for planning a possible trip to the Caucasus region. Normally when I look at Lonely Planet guides, I don't read the "history" or "Georgia today..." stuff that is inevitably in every guide, but this time I did and I felt like I learned a bit more about the region. Stupid me for not reading this before. I'm going to go back to my SE Asia guide and read those sections now!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book badly needs an update. Using the LP's tiny map and directions for an walking tour of Tbilisi, I managed to get lost in my own neighborhood. Perhaps that reflects more on me than on the LP... I'll add more responses to this book as it meets, or sadly falls short of, my needs as I try to use it to navigate the Caucasus.

[Isabella · Rating 3 out of 5]

The organization frequently was confusing and references would be made to locations without stating which of the three countries these locations were in. Would also love more images in a future version.

[Konstantinos · Rating 1 out of 5]

very poor and limited information on Azerbaijan and Baku in particular

[Hattivat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Often grossly exaggerates the state of affairs (both on positive and negative side of things) and overall leaves a lot to be desired. Still useful though.

[Theut · Rating 2 out of 5]

Edizione incompleta e con molti errori. Non particolarmente utile per pianificare il viaggio.

[Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Using this book , I visited one of the most fascinating and unknown crossing point in this planet! Visit the Caucasus!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coverage of Nagorno Karabakh is pretty laughable, everything else is solid and reliable.

[Tim Verstraete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent guide to visit those countries.

[MeryPains · Rating 3 out of 5]

El país que me interesaba de los tres de la lista, era Azerbaiyán. Me parece escasa la información que se facilita del país.

[Pedro Bello · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 Jul/Agosto
Uma grande ajuda nesta passeata pelo caucaso

[Lisbeth Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelent book

A+ finally got to know more about Armenia I had friends from Yerevan Armenia I love there food and coffee unfortunately I lost contact with them

[Tessa]

Perfectly adequate travel guide