Planning a half year trip through South America with my girl-friend. Wondering what travel guides others have used and whether you found them helpful or not. Also, will using a L.P. shoestring lead us to over crowded hotel/guesthouses like it did in S.E. Asia

Our trip wasn't as lengthy as yours, but I liked a guide called "Footprint South America". It included good information on distinctive local foods and libations; reasonable cautions and what seemed like practical advice for independent travellers.

I just checked Amazon and they list the name of the guide I am recommending as "South American Handbook 2009(85th): Tread Your Own Path (Footprint South American Handbook)"
Author shown as Ben Box.

i second the footprints guide, as it is vastly more up to date than LP. LP still has slightly better maps, but i would still go with footprints.

I'm bringing this post back up because I am hoping for some more opinions. I've used LP for SE Asia/Aus-NZ, and Let's Go for Europe and US/Canada. I have only looked at Footprints-S America in the store after reading this post a few months ago. Seems good, but I am hoping for comments into why you think one is better than another. Anyone know if there will be updated 2010 versions coming out in the first half of next year? The plan is to go next Sept for about a year, with a budget in the
1.5-2 star range Thanks in advance.

If you are looking for interesting places to stay in Brazil, check out http://www.hiddenpousadasbrazil.com Highly recommended by Los Angeles Times. Not an LP in sight!

Ok. You want specifics? I used the Footprints South America, and have seen the LP venezuela book.

The LP book had less detail than the Venezuela section of the South America Footprints book.

Now, if you want lengthy prose and judgemental descriptions, go with LP. They're also better at maps and directions. But I speak Spanish, so it was no issue for me. Footprint maps have improved by leaps and bounds, by the way. Still not as good as LP.So get hold of someones LP and copy they map.

If you want even more prose and judgemental descriptions, go with Let's Go.

LP has another problem in the Americas. It's not very good at updating. Years ago, I was in antiqua, and I showed them current LP. He laughed. He pointed out a restaurant that had moved 3 years ago, and another that went bankrupt. This seems common for the LP franchise in the Americas.

Still, I had to choose between Lets go and LP, its LP every time.

I really don't need cheeky and well, sophomoric commentary constantly, and even less accuracy.

I like my history and commentary to be objective, and both LP and Footprints at least try.