I have had the opportunity to review a good number of travel guides over the years but this is the first time I will be reviewing Lonely Planet’s Ireland travel guide.
For those not familiar with Lonely Planet, for the last few years it was owned by BBC Worldwide until it was sold to NC2 Media in 2013. The Lonely Planet Ireland guide is over 700 pages of information of areas throughout Ireland including a city map of Dublin.
The first 53-pages deal with planning your trip to Ireland, things you need to know, the great outdoors, eat and drink like a local, wild Atlantic way, and more.
The the guide goes into traveling to Dublin, Counties Wicklow & Kildare, Counties Wexford, Waterford, Carlow and Kilkenny, County Cork, County Kerry, County Clare, Counties Limerick and Tipperary, County Galway, Counties Mayo & Sligo, County Donegal, The Midlands, Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan, Belfast, Counties Down & Armagh, Counties Londonderry & Antrim, Countries Fermanagh & Tyrone and more.
This latest guide features writings from various writers of what they love about Ireland, and I noticed that special features incorporate 3D illustrations of Trinity College, Glendalough, The Cuisine of County Cork, Wildlife in Killarney National Park, Rock of Cashel, Aran Islands scenery, Yeats Country, The Shannon-Erne Waterway, Down & Armagh Walking & Wildlife, Londonderry & Antrim: The Causeway Coast.
JUDGMENT CALL:
What I look for in a travel guide with up-to-date information, maps and as much detail for the region as possible. Some tend to skimp on smaller regions but this Lonely Planet guide really does a good job of giving coverage for locations throughout Ireland. While I do enjoy the Fodor’s travel guides for its use of color throughout, while photography of a region is nice to have, for travel guides, it all comes down to detailed information and I will can easily say that “Lonely Planet Ireland” is well-researched, informative and a travel guide worth using and help in planning and preparing for your trip to Ireland.
“Lonely Planet Ireland” is recommended!
