Travel Guidebooks - Do You Use Them?
I love reading about travel almost as much as I love taking trips. I have a huge inventory of travel guidebooks, and I am famous for lending them out and quoting from them in conversations. I routinely check travel books out from my local library. I subscribe to weekly emails from travel sites and newspapers.
When it comes down to actual trip planning, though, I tend to stick with my favorite series. My parents introduced us to Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door in the late 1980's, and I've considered myself a "friend of Rick" ever since. Later, we discovered the Rough Guide series, which includes the type of off-the-beaten-path destinations we find so appealing, but isn't limited to one continent. In fact, we're using the Rough Guide to Canada to plan our upcoming vacation.
Some writers publish just one or two niche books, aimed at a particular audience. I'd put Randolph Hock's The Traveler's Web into this category. Hock tells you how to use travel websites to your advantage and offers website reviews to help you plan your trip. (Yes, he reviews About.com sites.)
Which guidebooks have helped you plan truly memorable trips? Please tell us about your favorite guidebooks; leave a comment or take our poll to share your opinion.
Comments
Great blog! To be honest, with the rise of the Internet, I have not been turning to travel books as much as I once did. I tend to surf the Web for information about places I plan to visit.
I like researching online, too, but you can’t get online everywhere you go, and books are definitely lighter than my laptop. I find that a combination of online research and travel guidebook reading works well for me. I’d love to hear how other travelers research and plan their trips.
I can’t imagine a major trip without a guidebook in my purse! I love reading about where I am going, and later the book helps me remember details of what I have seen. The book also helps you pick your personal “must see” places, and then your list of “if there is time” spots.