Travel Guides.

Travel Guides , an overview by Victor K. Pryles.

You can get reliable, useful information fromguidebooks. Yet, some are better than othersand often, it's important to know what you'relooking for when you travel, what your goalsare and what your pocketbook can handle.

As I often tell my fellow Travelling Paupers,a travel guide is just that— a guide. Not a setof rules that are fixed in stone. Never let anyguidebook chain you down to a fixed itinerary.Be adventurous, add your own mix of wonderand discovery to the trip you plan, and use yourguidebook as an introduction to the locale,not the final arbiter of what is valuable.

That being said, I'd like to explore some ofthe travel guides I've found useful in makingtrips around the world. It is, by no means, acomprehensive listing of all the books available to you. But this sampling shouldgive you a very good starting point to discoverwhat travel books can offer.

The Michelin Red Guides

Provide detailed information about Europeanhotels and restaurants, while the Green Guidesfocus on European art, history, and places ofinterest. They tend to be best suited to travelthat isn't too budget conscious. Upscale.

The Fielding Travel Guides

Provide a candid, well written guide especiallygood at finding off-beat, unusual destinations.I recommend them to Paupers that wish to traveloff the beaten track. Unique.

Fodor's Travel Guides

Recently celebrating their 60th birthday with almost100 titles in the Gold Line series. They emphasize theWest, but the Fodor's Guides cover countries though-out the world. They provide good historical andcultural information as well as practical recommendations.I like it for those who wish to stay on the middleof the road. Perennial Bestseller.

The Frommer Series

The old $5. A Day series has become the $40 a Dayseries. They offer touring guides, city guides, and specialeditions. While emphasizing Europe and the United Statesthey take pains to describe restaurants, hotels andnightlife as well. Budget. The Lonely Planet Series

Called, simply enough, the LP, they have earned a greatreputation for worldwide budget and independent travel.There are five series offered, but my favorite is theOn A Shoestring guide, coving everything from a specific country, to a region or continent for the lowbudget traveler. Eclectic.

The Travel Handbook Series

This series contains more than 50 books from MoonPublications and are updated annually. That's theirgreatest value in my judgment. Contemporary.

Europe Through The Back Door

Authored by Rick Steves. You get an itineraryand "must see" list of sights for limited Europeantrips. A no brainer.

The Rough Travel Guides

Focuses on college-age travelers in Europe. Muchthe same flavor as you will find in the LP series;irreverent and directed to the budget conscious.Street smart.

A good guidebook makes travel vastly easier. Use themeven when you're only traveling in your arm chair.The best spark your imagination and lead you tounknown discoveries and adventure.

Victor K. Pryles is the author of: "Travel Cheap- Travel Well!"-Confessions Of A Traveling Pauper. His website offers a free e-course:"The Top 100 Travel Planning Websites" and a complete forum, articlesand more. Http://www.paupertravel.com

Visit Amazon.com for a good selection of Travel Guides

or click on any of the links below.

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