http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7346101.stm
I love this! I don't see why an author of a travel book should necessarily go to the place they are writing about, though it would probably help. There is so much information available on the internet from people who DID go to places, what's wrong with researching it without leaving home? You can get photos of any holiday destination from Flickr and details of venues from holiday blogs. Then most tourist sites have official websites full of useful info. Who needs to go there to find out?
I think the point is that anyone can get hold of those things online - if you pay money for a travel guide, you probably have a right to expect it to be written by someone who has seen it for him-/herself. You wouldn't find me buying one though - internets is free!
Does it matter, so long as the information is correct? That seems to be Lonely Planet's defence.
It doesn't matter, as long as the information is correct - and as long as they do not make any claim (explicit or implicit) that the guides are written by someone who has been there. If, for instance, he described a restaurant in terms of a personal experience there which never happened, I'd call shenanigans.
Ah, the Daily Mash. Always ready to parody:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/index....=873&Itemid=59
BIRMINGHAM IS GHASTLY, SAYS TRAVEL WRITER WHO’S BEEN THERE
If he had actually been to Venice he'd know that it DOES smell a bit! It's all those virtually stagnant canals ...
An American journalist (someone well known, but I forget who) on an assignment in Venice, is supposed to have wired his office " Streets full of water - please advise."
Billy Wilder, on location in Paris, had been asked by his wife to buy a bidet to bring home. After a fruitless search he cabled home: " Unable to obtain bidet. Suggest handstand in shower."Originally Posted by SKIRRID5
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