In recent years, there have emerged a few new trends in travel guides as publishers aim their guidebooks at travelers who have less time but are willing to spend more money. As a result, there are now a growing number of guidebook series that have decided that less is more: they provide a more selective approach to their destinations. Such guidebooks often include suggested itineraries for vacations from one to three weeks, geared toward visitors with less time on their hands. Instead of exhaustive listings of sights, accommodation and restaurants, these guides offer fewer choices, only providing the top listings or "best of class" in the respective categories.
To get an idea of the types of travel guides that are available, go to a bookstore and browse the travel section. Read the introductory paragraphs of different travel guides to find out if you like the author’s voice and style. Look at the listings of hotels, restaurants, and sights. Are you overwhelmed by the number of suggestions, or would you rather have more listings? Are the selections suitable for your budget?
Do you like the size and layout of the travel guide? Some guides are printed in two columns and have a tiny font to cram a lot of information in one page, making it difficult to navigate through the pages and quickly find important information.
Do you prefer a well-illustrated guide with plenty of photos? Does the guide have plenty of detailed maps to help you get around? Does the guidebook contain information that is important to you such as an introduction to the local food, culture, customs, history, and festivals? All these are important considerations.
Ask yourself what your primary travel interests are and look for a guide that provides the information you need. Do you like background information on history and cultural sights, or would you rather prefer a guide that focuses on nightlife and entertainment? If you are interested in the outdoors, make sure your guide provides detailed information about hiking, treks, safaris and ecotourism. If you are looking for a special interest travel guide such as hiking, trekking, canoeing, bicycling or cultural guides, keep in mind that these guides don't sell as many copies as general travel guides, and they are not updated as regularly. But aside from this disadvantage, such travel guides are an indispensable companion for travelers who want to get more in-depth information about their main area of interest.
Also, keep in mind that regional and special interest guides are often available locally in English. This is always a great option in English-speaking countries. When I was in India last year, I bought several hiking and trekking guides for the Himalayas, written and published by knowledgeable local authors. If you speak the language of your travel destination, you can always count on finding informative guidebooks in the local language.
If you only visit one region of a country or just a major city you should look for a regional or city guide instead of buying a travel guide for the whole country. These guides provide much more in-depth information, as they specialize in one area. These guides also usually have a smaller format, making it easy to carry them in your pocket.
Below I have listed some of my favorite travel guidebook series.
Hotels in Jaipur :www.sunderpalace.com
To get an idea of the types of travel guides that are available, go to a bookstore and browse the travel section. Read the introductory paragraphs of different travel guides to find out if you like the author’s voice and style. Look at the listings of hotels, restaurants, and sights. Are you overwhelmed by the number of suggestions, or would you rather have more listings? Are the selections suitable for your budget?
Do you like the size and layout of the travel guide? Some guides are printed in two columns and have a tiny font to cram a lot of information in one page, making it difficult to navigate through the pages and quickly find important information.
Do you prefer a well-illustrated guide with plenty of photos? Does the guide have plenty of detailed maps to help you get around? Does the guidebook contain information that is important to you such as an introduction to the local food, culture, customs, history, and festivals? All these are important considerations.
Ask yourself what your primary travel interests are and look for a guide that provides the information you need. Do you like background information on history and cultural sights, or would you rather prefer a guide that focuses on nightlife and entertainment? If you are interested in the outdoors, make sure your guide provides detailed information about hiking, treks, safaris and ecotourism. If you are looking for a special interest travel guide such as hiking, trekking, canoeing, bicycling or cultural guides, keep in mind that these guides don't sell as many copies as general travel guides, and they are not updated as regularly. But aside from this disadvantage, such travel guides are an indispensable companion for travelers who want to get more in-depth information about their main area of interest.
Also, keep in mind that regional and special interest guides are often available locally in English. This is always a great option in English-speaking countries. When I was in India last year, I bought several hiking and trekking guides for the Himalayas, written and published by knowledgeable local authors. If you speak the language of your travel destination, you can always count on finding informative guidebooks in the local language.
If you only visit one region of a country or just a major city you should look for a regional or city guide instead of buying a travel guide for the whole country. These guides provide much more in-depth information, as they specialize in one area. These guides also usually have a smaller format, making it easy to carry them in your pocket.
Below I have listed some of my favorite travel guidebook series.
Hotels in Jaipur :www.sunderpalace.com