Do people still use paperback travel guides in the age of Google? Of course! Some of us still enjoy the feel of actual books in our hands.
The Unconventional Route explained the benefits of travel guide books. The first concerns the time and energy that goes into writing them, versus a blog or article.
“Guidebook writers do the hard, unglamorous work of researching the history, cultural facts, and practical information about the places they write about,” the publication explained. “Travel bloggers pull a cursory tidbit or two from Wikipedia and spend more time researching the most Insta-worthy photo spots. It’s not worth bloggers’ time to do any more than that. They can’t beat more academic sites in the search rankings and even if they could that traffic isn’t easily monetized.”
Here are some travel guidebooks to add to your library, courtesy of Amazon.
1. USA State By State
Some might say the US is really a bunch of countries fused together, and that isn’t too far off.
Each state is unique, and if you’re going to visit one or several of them, it helps to have a game plan.
Enter: USA State by State, one of the trustworthy, highly-rated books by Moon Travel Guides.
According to Amazon, the book “lists the top 3 experiences in every state. Whether it’s a bucket-list national park, a famous festival, or an unbeatable beach, you’ll find out what makes each state special.”
The states are neatly divided by region, making it easy to quickly find what you’re looking for.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico are also included.
2. Fodor's Travel Guides
Fodor’s has been in the game for 80 years, and they are still going strong.
They feature specific cities such as Paris, London and Rome. They’ve also published books about certain countries, including Argentina, New Zealand and Costa Rica.
The Essential Caribbean guide has a five star rating, and there are plenty of pictures to really give you a sense of the islands.
Amazon writes, “whether you want to stay at an all-inclusive resort, find the best beach, or snorkel around some of the world’s best coral reefs, the local Fodor’s travel experts in the Caribbean are here to help!”
“Fodor’s Essential Caribbean guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time. This new edition has been fully-redesigned with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.”
3. Lonely Planet- West Africa
Heading to The Motherland? Check out this guide by Lonely Planet.
What’s inside? Valuable information about “Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.”
If you’re looking for ways to not look like a hopeless tourist, you’ll find tips for that. There are also recommendations for all budgets.
4. DK Eyewitness Australia
Australia is a treasure trove of adventure, and goodness, is it beautiful!
Look no further than DK Eyewitness Guide for all the scoop on life “Down Under.”
Amazon writes, “new itineraries based on length of stay, regional destinations, and themes. Redesigned and refreshed interiors make the guides even easier to read.”
Images include maps, drawings and color photographs.
One user said, “informative book that tackles things that you need before you travel, as well as information about where you are visiting. Like the walks in the book for self guided sightseeing.”
5. Rick Steves Best Of England
Yes, London is great, but there’s so much more to England. Historic Oxford and York. Busy Manchester. The bucolic Cotswolds. Shall we continue?
This guide has 400 pages of information about pubs, local culture and tourist spots. There are also suggestions about how to navigate long lines for major attractions like the Tower of London. .
David In Denver considers the book a travel essential.
“Great advice and suggestions, well written and well organized,” he said. “Hits all the important points for either a first visit or a tenth. Wouldn’t think of travelling without a copy of Rick Steves’ book in the backpack!”
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