Author Description

You'll never fall into the tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. It's like having a friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. Our expert authors have already gone everywhere you might go they've done the legwork for you, and they're not afraid to tell it like it is, saving you time and money. No other series offers candid reviews of so many hotels and restaurants in all price ranges. Every Frommer's Travel Guide is up-to-date, with exact prices for everything, dozens of color maps, and exciting coverage of sports, shopping, and nightlife. You'd be lost without us! This amazingly detailed guide, assembled by an intrepid and tireless team of writers, takes you through the best of 10 countries with all the practical information, late-breaking bargains, cultural insights, and user-friendly maps that have long been hallmarks of our series. In Singapore and Malaysia, we'll show you monks, mosques, and a multicultural nightlife, even stopping in Borneo for spectacular wildlife viewing in its jungle preserves. In Thailand, we'll pull back the curtain on Bangkok's notorious (and fascinating) underbelly; visit Phuket's decadent beach resorts; and explore the north's traditional tribal areas. In Brunei, we'll follow the trail of the Sultan, one of the world's richest men. In Bali, we'll check out the island's world-class resorts and introduce you to the stellar arts scene from shadow puppet performances to the famed "monkey dance." In Vietnam, we'll explore the thriving expat nightlife in Ho Chi Minh City (once Saigon), and journey by boat into the Mekong Delta, past rice paddies and riverside pagodas. In rugged Laos, we'll travel to the ancient capital of Luang Prabang, as well as the sacred limestone caves of Pak Ou, studded with thousands of ancient Buddha statues. We'll recommend the best Philippine beaches, dive sites, and rainforest treks. Finally, in Hong Kong, we'll tell you where to find the best shopping streets, dim sum palaces, and