The destination becoming road less traveled by guide writers

Lukasz Kowolik, an active traveler, loves the Lonely Planet guidebook series. But he didn't so much when he visited Liverpool, England, last April, starry-eyed from what he'd read about the home of the Beatles.

[Susan Kelly]

This expose is overdue. I've been to places that have no resemblence to what the guide book wrote. It would be better if they didn't cover a town rather than praise one that no one actually visited.

[super-pete]

Im from Liverpool and agree its not as exciting as a lot of capital cities.

But to say its dull, or an industrial city with nothing going on is a gross over-exageration.

Without immersing yourself in the culture of a place even cities like Barcelona & Manchester would seem boring.

Football, shady little dives with live music and religion (not just the cathedrals, but synagogues & buddhist centers) make up the holy trinity of Liverpool culture.

I went to New York last year and was bored silly because i couldnt find anything to do. But im fully aware that it was down to my own ineptness as opposed to anything lacking in the city!

[Lonely Planet Employee]

Sorry, Charlie-- The LP writer is correct-- we were recently in China and tried to use the LP Guide to Beijing-- the maps were so amateurish that we had locals laughing in our faces explaining the various maps' discrepancies from the geographic realities! Ditto, the information about hotels, restaurants and shops. Either someone really hadn't BEEN to China who wrote it, or they were extremely inexperienced/naive--whichever , NOT what one looks for in a travel writer. Further, Lonely Planet is a company whose reputation was built decades ago when the founders, Tony & Maureen Wheeler, were actually still involved with the business. Since Lonely Planet was sold earlier this year to the BBC, we can expect things to go downhill, and more corporate, even faster.

[lollypop]

maybe he should come again and open his eyes this time,,,,,,

if a 25 year old yank cant find anything to do in liverpool he's either stupid or dead!!!!!

give me a knock lad,,,,,,, i'll show ya where to go!!!!!

[sam]

liverpool is a vibrant lively city,

where scoucers have a unique language and a fantastic culture,,,,,

i agree with lollypop,,,, if he thought the city industrial then maybe he went to elsmere port and miss took it for merseyside!!!

the guy does need to come back and if he gives lollypop a knock they can knock for me to,,,,, i'm sure we'd give him a time he'll never forget!!!