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Disappointing - I wanted to like itOctober 1, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'm sorry to write a less than glowing review of a Bradt guide, as I am a big supporter of independent travel guides which help you get off the Lonely Planet beaten track and give more detailed and comprehensive information about a country. I've also particularly enjoyed the excellent Montenegro and also good Namibia Bradt guides but this book did not live up to the same standards.
Per the Bradt ethos, their authors are given a lot more freedom in the books than with other guide book series. This can be interesting and refreshing but also leads to very differing styles and standards in the books.
This book is detailed and glowing about everywhere in BiH, which is frustrating, as then it is hard to judge where you'd like to go given limited time on a trip. On the plus side, the book is very thorough and we found some real gems of places to visit that I'm sure would never be in another guide book - Tim Clancy clearly knows the country very well. e.g. the Podvelezje plateau or the Prokoska glacier lake and shepherd village in central Bosnia. That said, we only found the lake using satnav and several wrong turns, as the book is often scant on directions. It was disappointing that the author notes that the tunnel museum in Sarajevo is very hard to find then proceeds to give no map or detailed directions to help you get there from central Sarajevo (head in the direction of X and ask directions...) - we spent ages hunting for it. And we don't all have months to explore the country. I would find comments such as "avid hikers with limited time will find the X region the most rewarding" useful, or "this town is fascinating but for those only able to visit one historic city in north-central Bosnia, X might be the most interesting".
There was particular praise for certain guides/guest houses where the author knew the proprietors - this is fine but could be pointed out in the book. The gushing frilly language and religious introduction to the book made me (stereotypically) assume the author was American (although I understand in fact he is Irish and now lives in the US), but didn't make for a page turner. The book is also very (overly) pro-Bosnian in looking at the conflicts, and given this viewpoint can be easily picked up from the people in the country, I would have liked to seen an opposing view put across in the book as well. (Try reading Fighting For Peace by Michael Rose to see a better full picture.) Some facts just seemed wrong and poorly researched (e.g. water in certain lakes having seemingly magical buoyancy properties - I'm sure this is what the locals claim but my scientist friends were sceptical of the explanation in the book). There was also a severe lack of travel information. Luckily we had hired a car but there was very little in the way of bus routes/timetables and so on. I know Bradt guides are not intended to be on-a-shoe-string Lonely Planet guides but we need to know how to get around.
In general the book seems to be 100% opinion and chit chat, on a crusade to endear the reader to Bosnia and the Bosnian people (which is preaching to the converted), and low on concise factual information and handy tips. I wanted a handy guide and not a heart-warming memoir.
Very thorough!!!August 5, 2008 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This guide is written by someone that has been in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a very long time. Even the new pyramids are covered in the book. recently tow identical shapes were discovered in Bosnia and upon inspection (digging,excavation etc) they discovered that they are in fact pyramids resembling that of Myan/Illyric design. They have only just started to enter the pyramids.
Included in the book are a bunch of useful phrases too. basic but the ones you need to get around and stay someplace.
the explanation of local customs, history and activities is incredible. You can learn a lot reading through this. It starts off with general information about the country, then practical information including al the public transport (train/bus/planes) and moves from Sarajevo to the South (Herzegovina), to the outermost parts and covers all major towns and cities/mountains/rivers.
Best guide (out of the very few there are) on Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Good advice concerning land mines, safety, local customs, what you should and shouldnt do, differences between western society and bosnian society, even specific names of locals who are useful or can be of some help to you. It is that thorough! You'll be happy with this purchase!
