The World Traveler

Planning a trip? How to choose travel guide books that are a good investment? If you’re going far a field from your home base, you know that travel guide books are a requirement . You need as a minimum one common travel guide book which covers the basics. Sightseeing must-do’s, getting around, some restaurant and hotel recommendations, and a brief recap of museum attractions are all you need, right? Not so fast! If your itinerary involves traveling from city to city, your hotel accommodations become more important.

You’ve been saving up all year long for your dream vacation. You go to sleep with visions of adventure, sightseeing and a fresh viewpoint of the world at large. You’ve taken care of your airfare, transportation, insurance and a general route. If you’re not a seasoned traveler, you might be shortchanging yourself with the basic, all-around travel guide book. Let’s take a look at some of the common travel guide books that can make all the difference between a ho-hum experience and a truly enchanting and unforgettable trip.

make sure your bookstore for travel books that review hundreds of hotels, residencies and B&B accommodations. Such books are written by dedicated and frequent travelers who search out those inexpensive sleeps and out of the way hotels, with an eye to value, charm and amenities. Such a travel guide is value its weight in gold. Wouldn’t you love to stay in a medieval castle with modern plumbing, for the same price as a plain-Jane chain hotel? If your stay is comprehensive , wouldn’t you like to know where you can stay in a fully-furnished apartment for the same price as a hotel? Take advantage of this type of travel guide book.

If you’re into museum hopping, make the most of your trip with a travel guide devoted to museums. Your trip time is limited . A museum guide can help you zero in on the ones you’d kick yourself for missing. If you love shopping, or are on a business buying trip, investing in a shopping travel guide book pays you ten times over. This diversity of travel guide book is written by a shopaholic, well versed in those little out of the way shops you’d never find on your own, except for perhaps by accident. Comprehensive descriptions of the type and quality of goods available in any given shop will save you lots of time and research, leading you by the hand to insider gems.

Come to think of it, perusing the travel part in your local book store just adds to the pleasure of your upcoming trip. A great way to stretch your travel dollar and your memories, once you’re back home. If you’re going to a non-English speaking country, a travel guide book of informal phrases can be very useful! Such books cover a lot of common foreign dilemmas. When are the banks and post offices open? What’s the present etiquette on tipping? How about ordering at a restaurant? Where do you do your laundry? This type of travel guide keeps you on the planet, so to speak, in a foreign country.