Engaging and authoritative. Originally started by Harvard University students, and they haven't strayed far from their roots, appealing mainly to American students and, surprisingly, their Australian counterparts. Now responsible for a mind-boggling range. Lonely Planet has done more than most to promote independent travel across the globe, and is now the major publisher of travel-guides in the world, with over 400 titles in print. As ever, Lonely Planet continue to produce some excellent general guidebooks, and are particularly strong on Asia, title covering Thailand, China and India being of particular note.
Every entry is quality graded and the details are represented by symbols rather than text.
Good maps, illustrations, clear format and reliable information make them the best guide for the general tourist. Look to the Red Guides for hotel and restaurant recommendations. Solid and reliable and particulary good on American states and South East Asia. A glossy mixture of history, culture and practical travel information, with lots of photographs. An interesting series, mixing the cultural information of a Blue Guide with the glossy photography of an Insight Guide.