Comments on: Who produces the best travel guide books?

By: mike g

mike g — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 11:08:30 +0000

Just returned from London,Paris,Rome vacation. Rick Steves books were in the apartments I rented along with other travel books and he was the guy we turned to. Geared for the person who wants to truly site see with great tips for saving money and getting around on mass transit.

By: Karen S

Karen S — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:03:37 +0000

I always go through a two-stage process when planning a trip. First, I read the Insight Guide to wherever I’m going. These are short on specific information, but they provide extensive information on the history and culture of the country or city and detailed narrative tours of its major sights, all illustrated with stunning photographs. This gives me an idea of what I might want to see.

If I’m visiting an American city, then the Insight Guide is usually sufficient.

I haven’t traveled in Europe much, but I found Rick Steves’ guides to the UK to be great on the nitty-gritty details, such as what bus to take to get to such-and-such a sight.

Otherwise, I use the Lonely Planet or Rough Guide, especially for Asia.

But I always START with the Insight Guide if there’s even a possibility that I’ll be going somewhere. They’re just plain fun to read, even if I end up not going (as happened with a possible trip to Australia).

By: Zoelle & Robert

Zoelle & Robert — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:31:35 +0000

Rick Steves!!! The best. Helpful, easy to use (and preserve) maps. Wonderful guide books with extremely helpful and thoughtful details. For instance, who else would caution about the tricky driveway entrance and exit from a particular hotel in the Loire Valley. Easy to read and exciting to plan a trip with. And as an added bonus, language phrase books that contain language basics and “survival phrases”.

By: Diane Ponee

Diane Ponee — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:52:51 +0000

We are long-time travellers who often return to certain countries many times and need guides that delve deeper than what most books offer. Lonely Planet and Rough Guide are better at taking one off the beaten track. Also, they don’t gloss over; their unlaundered, sometimes cheeky comments are helpful and more truthful. If you read French, the Guides Routard is an excellent publisher. For first-time travellers under time pressures, the green Michelin guides’ star-system really helps priorize one’s choices. And of course, the red Michelin guides are the golden standard for finding the top restaurants, if money is no object.

By: Fran Roberts

Fran Roberts — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:26:05 +0000

Lonely Planet is the best for everyone, not simply for the younger travelers.

By: Brian Merget

Brian Merget — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:06:25 +0000

I always first look for a DK Eyewitness Guide. Give best overall coverage with good general background and then consise details presented in an orderly fashion. Good maps. Great pictures.

By: Cheri

Cheri — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:48:25 +0000

Rick Steves is the best! His recommrndations are always spot on, you can’t go wrong. He personally has been everywhere he writes about and he has a real knowledge of Europe.

By: CAROL

CAROL — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:03:46 +0000

KAREN BROWN GUIDES ARE THE BEST FOR CHARMING INNS AND B&B’S THROUGHOUT EUROPE. EACH ARE UNIQUE AND THE PRICE RANGES FROM MID TO DELUXE ACCOMMODATIONS.

By: Don Newcomb

Don Newcomb — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:59:12 +0000

I generally buy the DK books. The old expression is that a picture is worth a thousand words and DK has really good illustrations. The down-side is that coated paper they use to print these illustrations is quite heavy, so their guides seem to weigh more than other brands. I think the time has come for light-weight electronic guide books.

By: Dick

Dick — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:51:09 +0000

I have found that Lonely Planet guides and Rough guides are superior. They provide comprehensive, easy-to-understand information which is aimed at the typical traveler, not the tourist who requires first class accomodations, and hopes that things will not be too different from the good ole USA. I lean toward Rough Guides because quite often Lonely Planet guides have small errors.