Ghana (Bradt Travel Guide) Paperback – September 14, 2010

My family and I just returned from a five-week tour of natural areas in Ghana (read "remote, rural, inconvenient"). This guide was invaluable, providing practical information on lodging, transport, and destinations in every part of the country (e.g. "it's late in the evening - where can we find decent lodging near the bus station?" or "which guest house is going to be easier with the kids?"). Each section has a map of the region with enough detail to be genuinely useful - a real advantage since there are no good folding maps available. Early pages have helpful summaries of history, culture, and natural history. As some of the other reviewers have pointed out, the guide does contain occasional misinformation on prices, services, etc.. However, this is to be expected - businesses come and go, and the editorial team cannot keep tabs on every establishment in the whole country on a weekly basis. In the acid test, we found these inaccuracies to be infrequent and unimportant. When it counted, the guide was consistently reliable and accurate in its assessments (when we got into difficulty, re-reading the guide usually showed that we had been warned!).Previously we have relied on Lonely Planet, and we started with them in planning this trip. We quickly came to the conclusion, however, that Bradt Guides are the best bet in West Africa.

I'm rating this book five stars not because it is as comprehensive or accurate as most travel books for more developed countries, but because it is truly the best book available for Ghana. I recently traveled all around the country using the 4th edition and while the information offered was never as complete as I would have liked, traveling with this book was a fun adventure while traveling without it would have been an exercise in frustration. If you're headed to Ghana, there's no doubt that you need this book. Just be prepared to rely on fellow travelers and locals for up-to-date on-the-ground kind of updates and recommendations.A side note - Lonely Planet West Africa and Rough Guide West Africa both have a few tidbits here and there that are not in this book, but they have very thin, flimsy chapters on Ghana. The only other Ghana-specific guidebook out there is written in German, and if you can read German, I'd recommend buying both the Bradt book and the German guidebook. Just a suggestion based on traveling with a few Germans!

This book came in handy all the time when I spent a month in Ghana. It has information about every place you could possibly visit. It's current (last published in 2010) and when you are in a foreign town and need to find a place to eat or stay the night, this book is a life saver! The maps are also very accurate and can help you (and the taxi driver!) navigate your way around. There is also history and information about culture and customs in the beginning of this book, so it's very comprehensive for an obruni! Attractions and must see places and things are very well documented and can sometimes be more informative than a local! The only minor problem I had with this book was that the price estimation for lodging and/or admissions to attractions was not accurate. I realize that pricing can change a lot since I am a tourist and the economy can vary, but the differences were almost always double what was mentioned in the book.

On the whole I was underwhelmed by this guidebook (this was my first Bradt purchase, I usually stick to Lonely Planet or Rough Guides) It has some good basics and background information, and does cover much of the country. The first person writing style is a bit much but that is a personal preference.I think my main issue is that when there are hotels and restaurants listed in the guide (without addresses) not on the maps- which by the way don't even have the streets accurately labeled for the second largest town in Ghana (Kumasi)... you know you are in trouble. That kind of a let down is a bit much for me as I often rely on guides for logistics. And while many of my friends who were living in Ghana for 2-3 months bought it, they all seemed to think the same as me. Provides generals, fairly useful as a doorstop, but not so much on the other information.Honestly since I stuck to the main track (Accra, Cape Coast/Elmina, Kumasi) I probably would have been fine with the LP West Africa guide. I cant honestly suggest the guide (and personally am not likely to get another Bradt Guide), though despite sounding negative I wouldn't say you shouldn't get it... just be aware that it isn't exactly accurate or reliable.

Excellent resource. Worth noting that the restaurant and hotel scene in Ghana changes pretty quickly, as the country has a pretty dynamic, growing economy, so a guide like this really needs to be updated annually. But 99 times out of 100, the info is very accurate indeed, offering far more ideas than the average visitor will be able to use in a short visit.I've been coming to Ghana since the late 70s, and have most recently lived here for the past four years. I use the guide all the time, and was quick to buy the update as soon as it was published. Highly recommended.Don't forget to check out the highly helpful update website at [...]

The information in this book was helpful. However, I would have appreciated cross-references from one map to the map that showed adjacent areas. I saw this book in the hands of almost every tourist I saw there, and it is widely used by foreign volunteers in this country, including US Peace Corps volunteers.

My boss was traveling to Ghana so it was helpful. There was a lot of information in the book and I felt it wasn't formatted for "easy" reading.

Great book.More than just a travel guide, which is exactly what I was looking for!Great info on culture

I purchased this book for my second visit to Ghana and found it very useful. With details of hotels, restaurants and the many things to see in the country - it feels like an essential guide to the country.I found that every hotel I stayed at on my tour as well as the places I visited were reviewed in the book and the reviews were pretty much on the ball!The prices quoted are a little out of date but it is still a very useful resource none the less and I certainly recommend it. I wished I had a copy with me on my first visit!

As it is the only one at the moment it can't help but be good. At times I felt I was learning more about the author and his preferences than the place but that was quite enjoyable too. To be fair to him, he does give a fair review and when using the guide in Ghana it is consistent enough to be able to(after a few surprises)judge what a place is really like from his tone. He clearly really enjoys his time in Ghana and that alone is priceless wisdom. I'm looking forward to the next edition.

I'm going to Ghana later this year, could not find any up to date guide locally.Tried Amazon, as usual, good all round, quick delivery. The book, just what I needed,updated to 2010, good all round guide with sugessted web sites for more info.Would thoroughly recommend to any one thinking of going to Ghana.

Having never travelled to Ghana before I found this book indispensable.Complete with hotel addresses and area maps, it has been very influential in my decision making.Although sometimes innaccurate with regard to hotel fees because of normal price changes since it was published, I have found that largely it is reliable.The local detail is superb, which makes it easier to navigate for those unfamiliar with the territory.It even includes some regional history, which is a bonus.Money well spent.

This book is very well layed out and true to it's facts. We are off to Ghana again this year and will have this with us all the way. From places to stay, eat, enjoy and marvel at to money, medicines and toilets, its all here. A must for any traveler to Ghana, the most friendy place on the planet.