| When you start looking for a travel guide book, it | | | | There are lots of specialty guide books. These |
| can be a little bewildering. There really are as | | | | won\'t give you as much general information, but |
| many types of guide books as there are types | | | | if you have a special interest, it might be worth |
| of travelers. Where do you start to find the right | | | | carrying one along. You can find specialty books |
| one for you? | | | | for birdwatchers, or wine tasters. There are |
| Traditional guide books make up the largest chunk | | | | books that specialize in fancy restaurants. |
| of your selection... and there are plenty of these. | | | | There are whole books on castles to stay in or |
| They usually contain lots of good information, | | | | luxury spas. Guides to gardens or camping spots |
| some black and white maps, key areas to see, | | | | or great hiking trails. If you have a special interest, |
| and diagrams of significant buildings. You\'ll usually | | | | look online and visit travel bookstores... you\'ll |
| find a few color pictures and maps too. | | | | probably find a specialty guide in just the field |
| Think about where you\'re going.... | | | | you\'re interested in. |
| Are you doing the Grand Tour of several | | | | Digital guide books are coming... well, some are |
| European counties? There are travel guide books | | | | already here. The publishers are still trying to |
| that cover whole countries, and some that cover | | | | figure out the best way to handle this. Some |
| whole continents. | | | | guides can be downloaded and read on your |
| Are you going just to London and Paris? There | | | | mobile phone... but those little screens make for |
| are some books that cover just specific cities or | | | | eye strain when you\'re trying to read a map or |
| areas. | | | | the fine print in those descriptions. |
| Some will combine two or three neighboring | | | | You can down load some onto your laptop, but |
| countries like Southeast Asia with Thailand, Laos, | | | | carrying your laptop all day will be a drag. You can |
| Cambodia and Vietnam all in one book. | | | | download them and print them out, but then you |
| Choose the guide book that will suit your trip. No | | | | might as well take a published guide book. |
| need to carry that "continent-of-Europe" tome | | | | Keep your eyes open for digital guides in the |
| around if all you\'re seeing is a couple of cities. | | | | future though. Once some of these paperback |
| Two slim city guides will do and be so much | | | | sized reading devices become easier to carry |
| easier to pack and carry. | | | | around, you\'ll be able to download just the areas |
| Some guide books are far more visual than | | | | you want, the specialties you want, and link to |
| others. They tend to have lots of pictures and | | | | GPS technology. |
| less information. The information is good, just not | | | | Never get lost? I don\'t know. Sometimes part of |
| as in depth as other guides. If you\'re taking a | | | | the fun of travel is getting lost and having great |
| quick trip somewhere, those pictures can tell you | | | | experiences you didn\'t expect. |
| in an instant if something looks like what you | | | | So for now, choose the type of printed travel |
| want to see.... they\'re really enticing. And if it\'s a | | | | guide book that will work best for you, and enjoy |
| quick trip, you probably don\'t have time for long | | | | your trip. |
| detailed explanations anyway. | | | | |