Reviewers' corner: The latest travel-book reviews - Lets Go: Central America - Book Review

Here is one of the latest travel-book reviews written by ITN readers.

"Lets Go: Central America," edited by Susan C. Frauenhoffer (2002, Let's Go Travel Publications, 67 Mount Auburn St., Cambridge, MA 02138; visit www.letsgo.com. ISBN 031227033X -- 623 pp., $19.99).

"Let's Go: Central America" covers seven countries, so the budget traveler can carry only one book in his backpack rather than one for each country. This series for budget travelers is designed to assist on-the-road young people, but the information is helpful to any road traveler.

Bold print highlighting important places is used on every page, so you don't have to read everything to find out what you need.

Each country has an overall map with each region marked with the pertinent pages later in that section. For example, Nicaragua is divided into five regions (such as the Central Highlands, Lago de Nicaragua, etc.).

The maps of cities and towns, though small, show recommended accommodations, food and sights, but too many of each are marked so that the map is obscured with numbers or letters.

The countries are arranged alphabetically in the book and information is given for a section or city. For example, the section on San Jose, Costa Rica, has maps, transportation, practical tourist information, food and sights, so the reader doesn't have to flip to other pages to get all the information. You can literally read this book using one hand while holding onto your belongings with the other hand.

I have visited all seven countries by car and find the book mostly accurate. Some inaccuracies are probably due to not checking on the most recent developments. For example, the road from Guatemala to Copan, Honduras, is now a beautiful paved highway almost all the way, no longer a dirt road as described. In Tikal, the Jaguar Inn has added hot showers (electric units attached to the shower), but the electricity is cut off at 9 p.m.

Finca Ixtobel, the backpacker's heaven in the northeastern part of Guatemala, is just as described -- with comfortable rooms (for those not inclined to hammocks) and lovely home-cooked meals with lots of vegetables.

Border crossings are listed in the front matter on each country, with page numbers for more information. Since border crossings are a big deal in Central America (as opposed to Europe, where one is waved through the border crossing), all the details are necessary. Information is given for the traveler using public transportation but does not deal with taking a car through a border crossing, which requires infinitely more paperwork and expense.

The guidebook is accurate in its description of Belize and Belize City as being full of hustlers and self-appointed guides. In fact, I feel the wary traveler should proceed with even more caution than advised. Also, having stayed at the Hotel Belmopan in Belmopan, Belize, I can say that "Let's Go" is charitable in its description of this hotel.

I was surprised that the "Keeping in Touch" sections for each country didn't mention e-mail and Internet stores and cafes. I seriously doubt any backpacker has relied on snail mail in Central America in the last few years. ATMs are probably also more readily available than the book indicated. I found them in almost every town.

The descriptions of Some of my favorite places like Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango in Guatemala as well as Leon, Masaya market and Granada in Nicaragua are lilting and accurate places you shouldn't miss.

Although this is primarily a young persons' guidebook, its excellent organization makes it useful for older travelers.

COPYRIGHT 2003 Martin Publications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group