Estonia, 3rd: The Bradt Travel Guide

Rating:
Summary: An Intelligent Guide
Review: Although a previous review criticised this book for not helping with the shopping, there are those of us who can negotiate these things on our own, or who went to Estonia armed also with more touristy guides for those matters (such as the fine "In Your Pocket" series). The Bradt Guide to Estonia, however, is for those of us who wish to know more about the history, culture, and especially the natural history of a place before we travel, that we may arrive informed. Indeed, not many travel guides even touch on a region's natural history, but this one does more than that, and also has some good stories that prepare the traveler. It's good reading.

Rating:
Summary: Bradts : The Intelligent Person's Guide to Estonia
Review: I live in Estonia and am now on my indispensable third edition of Bradts guide by Neil Taylor.

This is very much a book for the discerning traveller. The 40-odd pages about the general history, economy, geography and culture of Estonia are excellent. No other guide covers these subjects so extensively. The practical information is always up to date (important in a country where so much is changing so fast) as Neil Taylor visits regularly and has good networks `on site'. The travel information is scattered with interesting texts and quotes from such Estonian luminaries as Ants Oras and Lennart Meri, the Welsh/Estonian MP Lembit Opik (who gives an apt 1-page guide to Dos and Don'ts) and British travellers of the 1930's. In addition I can recommend the well planned suggested tours.

This is the only guidebook in English that concentrates on Estonia without lumping it together with the other two Baltic States. This is very much to Bradts credit as the States are far from homogenous and deserve a volume all to themselves. Bradt's Latvia and Lithuania are also recommended.

Bradt's is always growing and changing so, if you're heading for Estonia and want reliable information about the country's natural beauty, turbulent history, what to see, what to do and how much it will cost, don't go without it!

Hilary Bird, Vanemuise, Tartu, Estonia

Rating:
Summary: Bradt Guide to Estonia, 2nd edition
Review: This book was neither a satisfactory travel guide nor history/cultural guide to Estonia. While trying to be both, it was neither. I was looking for more specific information that a tourist would need for visiting Tallinn and the countryside, ie ferry information, shopping, more on accommodation.Also the quality of the publication (paper & graphics) was very disappointing. I found the Lonely Planet Guide to Scandinavia & the Baltic States to be more helpful and certainly of a much better quality

Rating:
Summary: Bradt Guide to Estonia, 2nd edition
Review: This book was neither a satisfactory travel guide nor history/cultural guide to Estonia. While trying to be both, it was neither. I was looking for more specific information that a tourist would need for visiting Tallinn and the countryside, ie ferry information, shopping, more on accommodation.Also the quality of the publication (paper & graphics) was very disappointing. I found the Lonely Planet Guide to Scandinavia & the Baltic States to be more helpful and certainly of a much better quality

Rating:
Summary: bradt's guide to estonia
Review: This excellent guide is one of the best. Even the very fine guides from the 90s have out of date infomation that this volume rectifies. I appreciate the book's scope and practicality. The new color photos add a great deal. Next time in Estonia this one is coming along.