The first thing you notice about this book is the extensive contact information for every single hotel and restaurant listed, and there are lots of them in every location reported. All guidebooks on Thailand cover Bangkok according to the sections of the city. This book adds a section that other books do not have:"Near the Airport," for those jaundiced travelers who wish to "skip Bangkok" other than using the airport.

Lou is frequently engaged to review hotels and cover trade fairs in Asia, so he knows what he is looking for and expecting, both in service and cost. As a travel journalist, he often gets the VIP treatment, but he thinks you should not pay more than necessary to have a good time. Often he just tells the reader, "This is what you should do."

You can read other books on Thailand with all the glossy pictures, to decide where you want to go. Once you have an idea what you would like to do and where you would like to go, this is the book to plan your itinerary.