Once you’ve booked your vacation, it’s time to start planning! OF course you have access to one of our amazing travel professionals. To compliment their amazing work, one of my favorite travel resources is still an old fashioned travel guide! What makes a travel guide good? There are several types of travel guides available for almost any destination on earth!
Thick, and full of details:
These are the books you’re going to read at home. Typically they will break your destination into segments either by type of activity, or by area, and sometimes a little of both! If you’re heading somewhere like Maui you’ll tend to find the guides broken down by categories like beaches, water activities, land activities, dining, and cities. When you’re heading to a city like Paris, the books tend to be broken down by area. These are the books I read at home to find cool spots I want to see, unique museums or cultural activities I want to go to, and to get a feel for the destination I’m heading to.
Pocket-sized guides:
These are the books you take with you! I like to shop for these at a bookstore where I can see them in person. I like to pick a book that is small enough to fit in the purse I plan to travel with so I can have it with me when I’m out and about. I also like to open them up to look at the maps they include. My favorite of these guide books have several maps- a full city map that can be unfolded or fully removed, and smaller, more detailed maps for each area of the city, as well as a subway map if the city has a subway system. When heading to a country that speaks another language, I also look for a common phrases guide, common menu terms guide, and any other useful tips that might make my trip easier- like how to make phone calls home, or temperature conversion.
Finding the perfect travel guide is mostly based on personal preference. While overall book size is a huge factor for me, you’ll want to make sure that the books you choose include information that interests you. If you pick up a small guide book that includes all of the most popular attractions for a city, but none of the off-the-beaten-path information you’re most interested in, it’s not the right book for you.
Why a travel guide at all?
With the amount of information available online, many rely heavily on the information available instantly- including me! I spend lots of time online looking up my vacation destinations, and making sure I don’t miss anything- and then I buy a travel guide. Guide books are updated annually to ensure that the information included is valid, and that prices, transportation options, and current policies and procedures are up to date. It will also include updated maps, subway and bus information, and more! The biggest bonus- my map doesn’t depend on my phone working correctly.
Don’t forget- in addition to any travel guide or online resource you find, you have your Travel Advisor as well! We love helping you not only find the right destination, but planning out a trip that meets all of your expectations!
