The Rough Guide to the Philippines (Rough Guides) Paperback – September 29, 2014

I'll tell you my impressions after the trip.

Pros:It weighs lighter than LPIt is not condescending like LP. I felt that LP emphasizes that sex trade is rampant in the Philippines. May be it is, but LP is a travel guide not a newspaper or social commentary publishing.Cons:Fonts are smaller than LPIt does not give much detailed directions (on how to reach places) unlike LP (ride this etc).It does not indicate if the accommodations are budget, high end etc.

The maps, if they are accurate, are the best feature of the book. Online travel sites have made the hotel listings obsolete, as they have become in all travel books. This book concentrates on hotels that would appeal mostly to students and backpackers. The books spends too much space on mountain climbing and not enough on snorkeling, despite the turtle on the cover. Much of its coverage of sightseeing is of very mundane spots which it at least describes sufficiently so that the traveler can decide they are not worth visiting. Also, although it has large sections on gay and Lesbian nightlife, it tells little about nightlife for straight gentlemen and seems to make a moral condemnation of it, which is inappropriate for a travel book. Such condemnation, if it is going to be given, belongs in a political or sociological book. Some information, such as that the non-stop flight between Manila and San Francisco takes only 11 hours is totally inaccurate. I bought it only because I will be traveling before the new Lonely Planet Philippines book is published in June 2015.

Would have preferred a smooth one.

I founded it's tone less annoying than LP, with its constant focus on beaches, diving, etc. this one has a bit more coverage of tribal cultures and culture - but both are still lacking in this regard. LP has much more detailed information about all the beaches and islands and How to get around.In short, if your interest is more tribal, architectural or cultural, neither of these are great. Plan to do a lot of online research.