Lonely Planet Peru Review
>> Friday, May 15, 2009
As unoriginal is it is sometimes, Lonely Planet is an essential travel buddy. Especially in places you've never been before, Lonely Planet offers clean and safe hostels, restaurants, and tours. It's good for travelers who want to do their own thing but also want some suggestions. You can stick by Lonely Planet as strictly or loosely as you like. My only warning is that you don't let it be your only reference.
In Chile, I heard of a hostel that was reviewed by Lonely Planet as "unfriendly." The hostel lost almost all of its business because of it. The owner had to change the hostel's name and is now almost overly-friendly to travelers.
The moral: use Lonely Planet as a reference, but don't let it run your trip. Be conscious of how influential Lonely Planet is in the travel world and don't be afraid to try new things.
