best travel guide book series?

[nageov3t]

as I toy with the idea of moving to hong kong, it seems like if I'm really going to get serious about it (and convince my employers that I'm serious about it), I should go over to HK on vacation in the fall (I'm thinking early november, after the summer and before thanksgiving / the holiday rush). but I can't decide on which guide book to buy.

also, semi-related question... what would be more comfortable for such a long flight: 1 business-class seat or 2 coach seats to stretch out on?

 

[Farang]

Lonely Planet, no question.

edit: as far as your second question, I don't see two coach seats as being much better than one coach seat. There is a big dent in the middle.

 

[I4AT]

I have a Lonely Planet phrasebook and it's pretty good, never seen any of their guide books. One thing that pissed me off though is the entire book I bought is on Google Books, although I suppose the $8 I spent on mine was sort of worth the portability?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Farang

as far as your second question, I don't see two coach seats as being much better than one coach seat. There is a big dent in the middle.

I was thinking more to the point that it'd be like 8K cheaper and I wouldn't be cramped in some middle seat for however many hours that long-ass flight is.

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: Farang
Lonely Planet, no question.

edit: as far as your second question, I don't see two coach seats as being much better than one coach seat. There is a big dent in the middle.

I hated Lonely Planet.. I preferred Rough Guides.

A few guesthouse owners that I stayed with also had poor opinions of LP. They felt the LP writers wouldn't actually spend enough time in the area they were writing about to make accurate recommendations... And there were a couple times where the LP was flat out wrong about visa/entry procedures. That's unacceptable, in my opinion.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: loki8481

also, semi-related question... what would be more comfortable for such a long flight: 1 business-class seat or 2 coach seats to stretch out on?

business. seats are wide enough for lateral comfort. you get good leg room (which you cant get in coach) unless u contort crookedly. and better food and more attentive service and free booze.

(but none of the above is enough to justify price. i only fly first when upgraded for free)

 

[LS21]

also, i think guidebooks are kinda useless.. its too "pre-packaged" and takes excitement out of the research of a on-the-spot hunt.

read some stuff on lonely planet FORUM if you want some basics on where to go, what to do, etc.. when im in new city go to the tourist center, pick up a city map, and just go from there

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: LS21
also, i think guidebooks are kinda useless.. its too "pre-packaged" and takes excitement out of the research of a on-the-spot hunt.

read some stuff on lonely planet FORUM if you want some basics on where to go, what to do, etc.. when im in new city go to the tourist center, pick up a city map, and just go from there

I'm thinking of going to HK more as an exploratory thing rather than actually doing any of the site seeing stuff.

I'm seriously considering moving over there next year (I'm figuring August-Sept '09 would be my ideal target date), but if I really want to make it happen, I'd take a week off just to fly out there and check out residential areas and such to see if I could really see myself living there for 3-5 years (my long-term thoughts being that with half a decade of professional working experience overseas and at least a working knowledge of Cantonese (which I'd assume would develop after immersion) under my belt, I might reapply to the foreign services again)