I wanted to give a “shout out” to some travel guides that I’ve used recently that I think are really helpful. These are called Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides. My mom first introduced me to these when we were in Europe earlier this year. We used a couple of these - Top 10 Amsterdam, Top 10 Brussels Antwerp Bruges and Ghent, and Top 10 Paris (until I left it on the seat of the taxi…oops).
We recently used Top 10 Vancouver & Victoria. What I like about them is that they give just the information you need/want to know and some interesting information along the way. Topics include (from the Vancouver & Victoria book):
* Vancouver & Victoria Top 10 - lists the top 10 things to do when in the area…sounds obvious but it’s very helpful to have them ranked like this for you
* Around Town - breaks the city into smaller sections and gives information about that section
* Streetsmart - how to plan your trip, things to avoid, budget tips, accommodations and dining, excursions, etc.
They also include a couple maps and some local information…local food specialties, etc. And all of this is in a small (4″ x 8″), 130 page book. Fabulous…no lugging around a huge manual to the area that screams…”I’m a tourist!!!!”
I also want to acknowledge that there is a time and a place for the larger travel guides. For instance, my trip to Uruguay, I’m using the Frommer’s South America book and will soon be purchasing the Uruguay section of Lonely Planet (thanks to Ed Kohler from The Deets for this tip!).
In short - find a travel guide that works for you. It may not be the same as the next Joe’s favorite travel guide, so take your time browsing through travel guides for one that works best for you. I recommend looking at the lodging options and dining options… these will give you an idea of their target audience (I like to find those that give medium price range tips; some cater to higher end and others to backpackers). Another tip is to find a travel guide that you would use for the city you live in…you know that city - look at the restaurants, excursions, accommodations, etc. and then use that same brand for the city you want to visit.
Happy travels!
Posted on September 8th, 2007 by katiejocannon
Filed under: Travel
One problem with them being small is the tendency to misplace them and leave them at home…….no names…..Katie Cannon…..Vancouver.
Okay okay - I do tend to misplace the Top 10 books or leave them at home during “key” times…such as the actual vacation…BUT I do think they are great books and highly recommend them.