Thorn Tree travel forum

Guidebook Updates PDFs

Bad experience with Abu Assan Alternative tours in Jerusalem

Hello,

I had a very bad experience with the tour ageny Abu Asan alternative tours in Jerusalem. The agency is recommended by the Israel and the Palestine territories guidebook in the page 410.

I wanted to do my myseld the dead sea tour of the agency that normally costs 190 shekels ( divide by four for USD) as the agency did not gather enought people to do the tour. The owner of the agency Mr. Hassan was absolutey not clear about the final price of the tour as he said to me by phone the price was 190 shekels. Furthermore I only had a driver to accompany me and no tour guide whatsoever.

At tht time of paying Abu Assan argued that he needed 5 persons to fill the van and charged me 190x 5 !!!! 760 shekels. Firts of all maybe a misunderstading can be argued on this case however if for thîs price the tourists get a GUIDE and not just a driver in the package, I do not see why I... more »

next LP PNG guidebook?

Just wondering if anyone knows if there's a new LP PNG book coming out in the new future (I don't want to buy one now if a new one is out in a couple months). Looks like they may be due for a new one, since the current edition is around 1.5 years old.

In general, is there any way to find out what LP's schedule is for releasing guidebooks for different countries?

Thanks!

Crossing from China to Pakistan on the KKH

Dateline Gilgit!

There seems to be a good deal of confusion and misinformation about this route floating around the internet at the moment. As I am now sitting in the Madina Guesthouse in Gilgit having arrived from China yesterday I thought it would be helpful to clear things up.

Firstly, the rumour that "foreigners aren't allowed on public transport on the Chinese side of the KKH" is totally, entirely false, and after talking to people in Kashgar, and people who have made the trip in recent months I can assure all that this has NEVER been the case. Throughout this summer a modest trickle of foreign tourists have been taking the bus from Kashgar to Pakistan without difficulties.
The source of this rumour, which is being bandied about by some people as "fact", may be a garbled third-hand report about some people having trouble getting through Chinese customs without a Pakistan v... more »

Peru guidebook

I found a nice little hostal in a charming and safe neighborhood . I bought the Foot Print book, 2008 version and i found it. Barranco is very nice, you can walk at night without problems. The hostel name is La Casa Barranco , and have big rooms with comfty beds. Basics as coffee, tea and oil are provided for your use in the kitchen and there is a well-provided supermarket nearby. Bathroom shared but very clean and with real hot water. If you wanna contact you can find it in the last version of foot print book, or in hostelworld too. the email is lacasabarranco@yahoo.es or visit this web( is a good one) www.lacasabarranco.com
hope you can add this hostel in your book, thanks
nancy

Road trip in Australia - first steps for the backpacker arriving in Perth

Hi
this is from our travel blog http://www.ze-big-trip.com/2009/09/11/road-trip-first-steps-in-australia
hope it helps!
byz++
k&r

This is our feedback about our first days in Australia, and it may be used as a practical guide to backpackers who arrive in Perth on a working-holiday visa

The working holiday visa

Australia makes it possible for young people from most western countries to apply for a 12-month visa (instead of the usual 90 days tourist visa), allowing them to work while travelling.

Of course, there are some eligibility criteria and it costs around $100, but basically you simply apply online before you turn 31 (no appointment at the embassy, no document to send, just an online questionnaire), and you got an email a few hours later confirming you’ve been granted. Just make sure you apply early in the year, as the quotas are usually used up by the end... more »

Correction to Western Europe edition 2009, Netherlands chapter

As I was leafing through the PDF version of the Netherlands chapter of the Western Europe guide coming up next September, I noticed a few small points that need to be updated concerning the town of Leiden (where I live):

• the tourist information office (#2 on the map) has moved to a building on the corner of Stationsplein and Stationsweg. For some reason it's not called VVV any more, but rather "Leiden Visitor Centre".
• Joho (great place to stock up on travel-related stuff, by the way) will move sometime around now to the building that used to house the tourist information office

Russian Altay Republic: Border Zone and Visa Registration Updates

Some of the info on border zones and where you need permits is out of date (example: the border crossing between Tashanta in Russia and Tsaaganuur in Mongolia no longer requires any border permit)

The guidebook is also vague on how to register in the Altay Republic, especially if the agency providing your letter of invitation for your Russian Visa doesn't know anything about an additional visa registration required in this region (quite common for internet/Moscow-based letter of invitation providers).

Please see the following post on our blog for some info that might be helpful to add to the guidebook updates. (It is our experience, cannot guarantee that it will always be the case, but seems to be more accurate and recent than what's currently in the guidebook.)

Cheers,

Jen

Edited ... more »

Shanghai Museum

We have the latest addition of LP China (May 2009). The Shanghai Museum is open everyday from 9-5. LP say it is open til 8pm on Saturdays but this is not the case. The last admissions to the museum are at 4pm. Plan accordingly.