Lonely Planet in retreat - the new 6th Edition
By Stephen
January 2010

It's not just the same repackaged content, the new Lonely Planet Vanuatu and New Caledonia 6th edition is surprising. Just examine the table of contents on their website. A whole province, the Torres and Banks, has been left out. Ambae, Maewo, Erromango and Aneityum have been dropped. I do not recommend the Lonely Planet Vanuatu and New Caledonia 6th edition because it is incomplete.

The demise of Lonely Planet started perhaps 10 years ago. The last Lonely Planet guidebook I bought was in 2001 or 2002 and I feel no urgency to upgrade. Travellers have changed and Lonely Planet is trying to catch up, moving closer to mainstream tourism, where the money is. BBC Worldwide bought out 75% of Lonely Planet Publications in 2007. Lonely Planet can no longer claim to be truly independent.

For Vanuatu, the 5th edition Lonely Planet Vanuatu and New Caledonia is a better buy for adventurous travellers. Read my review. And you're free to print out pages from our website Vanuatu Aelan Walkabaot.