What company/brand makes the best travel guidebooks? I'm looking to pick some up for a few cities.
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What are the best guidebooks?
- Thread starter TimmyBoston
- Start date
Travel guide books?
I'm partial to Frommers.
+1 My wife and I have used Frommers for out last 5 vacations and we were very happy. Everything from NYC to Caribbean cruises.
Lonely Planet can be an excellent alternative to Frommer's. A lot depends on where you're going and how recently the book was written. For nightlife in a city, go for recent. For Third World, go for Lonely Planet or a company that specializes in the region. I've had good and bad experiences with all of them over the years, so my best advice would be to leaf through the books while you're in a real bookstore (not online), and see what feels comfortable--which book answers your questions without having to search for them?
You might want to splurge and get both. Their focus is different, and in my experience, which is sadly a little dated, you can get much more complete info on a destination by using both.
The "Let's Go" series is my favorite. They are written by and updated by students every year. It's nice to have the perspective of someone on a limited budget. Great info on out of the way places not found in other travel guides. Some of the others are the equivalent of a tour bus.
- Thread starter
- #8
Yes, sorry for not being more clear.
Lonely Planet and the Rough Guide get most of my business.
We travel quite a bit and I've used all of the brands mentioned.
I find that which book I like best varies with the destination. If you can go to a large bookstore and see whats available for your destination. I'll just look thru the various books and see which one I like best.
Fodors and Frommers are favorites, but sometimes we will prefer one of the others.
I find that which book I like best varies with the destination. If you can go to a large bookstore and see whats available for your destination. I'll just look thru the various books and see which one I like best.
Fodors and Frommers are favorites, but sometimes we will prefer one of the others.
+2
That's my preference. Lots of good pics, street level maps, and unusual tidbits of info, and not so much stuff that it gets boring and a pain to read.
I like eye witness.
One of the best things I have found espically if you are going to a large city is popout maps. They are a litle bogger than a business card, and when you open they show the entire city, POI, etc. best part is no folding back up they refold themselves. Amazon sells them cmuch cheaper than you can get one on location. I believe Barnes and Noble also sell them
One of the best things I have found espically if you are going to a large city is popout maps. They are a litle bogger than a business card, and when you open they show the entire city, POI, etc. best part is no folding back up they refold themselves. Amazon sells them cmuch cheaper than you can get one on location. I believe Barnes and Noble also sell them
I still reach for Lonely Planet. Not perfect by any means but I guess I'm just used to their format and they've always gotten me by. 
Travel Yay! 
I'll take Rough Guides over Lonely Planet..
The Rough Guides are pretty good.
Moon Handbooks; Micronesia
Surfing Indonesia
Eyewitness Travel Guides; Bali & Lombok
The Rough Guide to Indonesia
The Peoples Guide to Mexico.
I'll take Rough Guides over Lonely Planet..
The Rough Guides are pretty good.
Moon Handbooks; Micronesia
Surfing Indonesia
Eyewitness Travel Guides; Bali & Lombok
The Rough Guide to Indonesia
The Peoples Guide to Mexico.
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Always been a Rough Guide fan myself. Sensible information and not all churches!
Gareth
Gareth
+1 for Lonely Planet. They also have their guides broken up into more specific PDFs which can be purchased for less than the price of the full guide. This lets you "roll your own" guidebook, also you can load them onto a smartphone. (I loaded my UK guides on my iPod Touch.)
I had Lonely Planet in London this summer. Loved it.
I've really enjoyed Rick Steves, both his books and PBS series.
