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Title: Frommer's Hong Kong (Frommer's Complete)
ISBN: 0470078332
Author:
Beth Reiber
Publicate Date: 2007-02-27
Publish: 2007-02-27
List Price: $16.99
Average Customer Rating: 3.5
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $4.50
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $3.58
Amazon Merchant Price: $11.55
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Macau is out of date
In October, 2008, the head of valet/taxi assignments at the enormous new Venetian in Macau did not know a recommended restaurant, the Cozinha Pinocchio, p. 277. We were put in a taxi and then showed the driver the address in Frommer's Guide. Alas, he dumped us in the middle of a neighborhood that was approximately 2 miles from the listed street address, Rua do Sol. The taxi driver obviously did not know the address either. After quite a walk, we finally located a very detailed map and the street as listed in the Guide. There was no restaurant at that address and no sign of there ever having been one. Frankly, the Rua resembled an alley.
After 30 more minutes of wandering, we finally happened upon the restaurant. Yes, it was completely shut down for remodeling and the new address and entrance are at a different address.
Frommer's simply did not check their information. As veteran travelers we were not distressed but we will never trust a Frommer's Guide again.
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2: Defending this guide and a call to be nice
One of the reviews below declares that the author of the Frommer's guide to Hong Kong should burn in a hell for guidebook writers. I don't find this funny. In fact, I find this to be a pretty mean thing to say, and I doubt the author of that review would say such a thing to Ms. Reiber in person. The author of that review should be ashamed of himself, and apologize here in a follow-up to his original review.
I am very familiar with the guidebook scene to Hong Kong, though I've never met Ms. Reiber, and I happen to think that her guide is one of the better ones out there. Her book has an honest and thoughtful tone; it also offers some of the more astute observations about Hong Kong to be found in the current crop of guidebooks. If there is a weakness to her guidebook, it is that it does not cover the more far-flung regions of Hong Kong--Tap Mun, Tai Mo Shan, and so on. But in a way this omission reflects well on Reiber and her book. Most guides to Hong Kong cover places like Tap Mun or Tung Lung Chau, but they provide such sketchy information that I doubt the author ever went there. Of course, authors never admit this. Reiber, on the other hand, has the integrity to only include in her guidebooks the places in Hong Kong that she has actually visited. In any case, Reiber's book covers all the locations that 99% of all visitors to Hong Kong go to. If you are that 1% of travelers who want to hike in the more remote areas of the New Territories or explore some of the more hard to get to islands, this is not the book for you. Otherwise, I can certainly recommend this guide.
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3: Good book for first-time visitor
I just returned from a March 2008 week-long visit to Hong Kong. I used the 2007 Frommer's Hong Kong and found it worked out just fine. Good descriptions of sites, handy public transit tips (especially of how to purchase/use/return the essential Octopus card), reasonable reviews of hotels and restaurants, and decent Macau information. The book is easy (and enjoyable) to read; I feel it prepared me well for my first trip to Hong Kong. Combined with pamphlets and maps from the Hong Kong and Macau tourists boards I picked up at the airport and ferry terminal, I had all the information I needed for a great trip!
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4: Excellent contents but no photos
Loved this guide, excellent contents, great walks and suggested itineraries. It's a pitty it doesn't have pictures. It will be the ideal travel guide.
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5: Accurate but Ugly
Just back from Hong Kong and of the three guide books I took, Frommer's was the most helpful. The restaurant suggestions were great. The maps accurate. The walking tours terrific. The only downside is that the design of the book is ugly. Really ugly. Also wish that it included information about the two closest cities in China - Guangzhou and Shenzhen so I could have left one of the guides home.
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