Lonely Planet Phrasebooks (Lonely Planet Phrasebooks)

Member Name: cezzybunny

Product:	Lonely Planet Phrasebooks
Date:	31/05/09 (31 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good size, cheap, words spelt phonetically

Disadvantages: None

When I go travelling, at the very least I try to learn the basics of the language of that country - please, thank you, sorry. Most other things can be covered by pointing at things on menus or getting someone to write down questions/instructions for you (e.g. please can I have a train ticket to....) However the more language you learn, the more locals will appreciate it. If you're in some countries, being able to barter in the local lingo will save you money as people realise you haven't just stepped off the plane!

I used the Swahili phrasebook last year when I went to east Africa and found it invaluable. It's usefully divided up into sections such as shopping, dining out etc.... and words are spelt phonetically so it's pretty easy to practise on unsuspecting locals! There is also a grammar section so if you want to get a more in depth knowledge of a language then you can start there.

I think each phrasebook contains pretty much the same phrases, with exceptions made for cultural differences. The books are a good pocket size so you can carry them around and not mind too much - unlike carrying round a full lonely planet guidebook! The swahili phrasebook has 260 pages and covers almost all eventualities you could imagine, including dating locals and chat up lines... They are a good price as well, with the swahili phrasebook currently retailing on amazon at £3.99

Summary: Really handy to help you speak to the locals