#BOOK OF TRAVELS TIPS UPDATE#
#BOOK OF TRAVELS TIPS SERIES#

#BOOK OF TRAVELS TIPS SERIES#

To be honest, I never knew what the Rick Steves series was about, and then I learned I am not part of their target audience. Once I stepped out of the Vatican Museum, it was pretty much useless. Beautiful for places like Rome or London. Great for : visually inspiring your holidays. I use them for building my ideas before I travel. suggestions for food, parks to stop at, etc). They are very detailed in the visuals, but I personally find them lacking in the roadside information (e.g. When I was researching for our holiday in Italy, the DK Eyewitness Italy guide had the BEST maps and layouts for all the biggest establishments. This guide proudly stakes its brand on everything you want to SEE on a holiday-but not necessarily everything you want to DO. If you’re travelling for culture and museums and art galleries and architecture, then the DK Eyewitness brand is the first guide you should pick up. the Melbourne guide did little to entice me into exploring the city’s famous laneways of culture, coffee, and bookshops. Not so great: “One block over” travel, stepping away from the regular, e.g. Great for: Mainstream Travel with an upmarket touch, especially Western Europe (see Frommer’s Europe). Recently, they have been changed their focus to a more budget-friendly approach, but I don’t think it is coming through with their local writers. For example, Frommer’s includes excellent tips on the best days to visit the Vatican Museum but it doesn’t warn you about the line that continues three blocks down from the entry doors. However, they lack the insight of someone who has recently stood in line for many tourist attractions. They are brilliant for recommending and prioritising the highlights of any destination. Frommersįrommer’s guides are highly recommended by many travellers who are looking for a little more comfort. Not so great: Personal local touch, or if you plan to stay in one place for longer than a week at a time. Great for: The best highlights of any city, especially in Europe (e.g. This style works best with the European holidays and really seems to appeal to the Baby Boomers and older retiree generation. It’s the difference between seeing the Sydney Opera House and taking a walk around the corner to see Lady Macquarie’s Chair. On the other hand, I found the Fodor’s to be lacking in those little touches away from the main thoroughfare. If you are looking for the top 25 things to do in any given location, Fodor’s are brilliant for that. Fodor’s ‘Go List’ is one of the most eagerly anticipated travel lists each and every year. Fodor’sįodor’s guides are hugely popular.

Really felt like at least two of the white male writers phoned it in from their NY base. The most recent edition for Ecuador was lacking in detail and encouragement to try new things, especially for the Galapagos Islands.

#BOOK OF TRAVELS TIPS UPDATE#

Not so great : They need to update their South America collection. Great for: Big picture travel across a whole country for most regions but especially Oceania, Asia, and the “Shoestring” range. Bonus note: LP has a whole extra range of books like The Not-For-Parents Travel Book and The Solo Travel Handbook. For example, the LP guide for Italy is brilliant for travelling around the country-side on trains and buses but the specific details for Rome are limited with less detail and enticement. LP has a great understanding of distance, travel, and all the little mysteries you can find in between. I find the LP guides are best when you are travelling to a country or region, rather than a city or town. Maybe I’m biased for an Australian publishing company, but they are definitely one of the few travel guides that remember how absolutely RIDICULOUS it is to travel to ANYWHERE from Australia (or New Zealand, for that matter). Upfront honesty: Lonely Planet Guides are my go-to for travel. The Best Travel Guide Books Lonely Planet Guide By supporting publications with local writers, you are supporting responsible local tourism AND encouraging more #ownvoices in the publishing industry.

It is too easy to ‘phone it in’, without any first-hand experience from the streets they are talking about. Make sure at least half of them are local-based. Lonely Planet lists the contributors on the back page). Check the author bio on the book (e.g.Then head to the library and read a few pages of each. Some will try to spread that net to catch a few more readers, but they can’t escape their own character. Each publication has its target audience and style to go with it. Think about the character of the destination AND the character of your travel.Hard copy to take notes and e-format to use while on the road.

Consider buying both hard copy and e-format.

It is a depressing state of affairs, but plenty of establishments can close within a very short time, and public transport is an ever-changing beast.

Book of travels tips