Travel Guide Books
Guidebooks are invaluable to the traveller - if used properly. They can give you a wealth of information covering history, places to see, transport and accommodation. But they should be used as a guide, not as a bible to be followed religiously. Some of the major guidebook series are:
Lonely Planet Lonely Planet Publications, PO Box 617' Hawthorn' Victoria 3122, Australia. Written by travellers for travellers. They produce two series of guides - On a Shoestring' which cover several countries, such as South-East Asia or Africa' and Travel Survival Kits' which cover individual countries. Over 100 titles cover most areas of the world, although the coverage of European countries is slightly less extensive. The guides are written in a down-to-earth, honest style and pull no punches. Updated every two to three years and one of the best investments for an independent traveller.
Rough Guides Rough Guides Ltd, 62-70 Shorts Gardens' London WC2H 9AB, Tel: (020) 7556 5000. Similar to Lonely Planet in style but with 47 titles their range is not yet as far-reaching. Good coverage of Europe and also parts of Africa, the USA and Central and South America. Introductory information covering the countries involved and recommendations for the low-priced choices in travel, accommodation and food. Updated every two years, competitively priced and gaining in popularity with travellers.
Cadogan Guides 3rd Floor, West End House, 11 Hills Place' London W1R 1AG' Tel: (020) 7287 6555. Strong coverage of European destinations. Stylishly written and presented, they are aimed at a wide range of travellers, from the independent to the lavish. Worth looking into at the library to see if it will be useful for your purposes.
Bradt Publications 41 Nortoft Road' Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 0LA. Tel: (01494) 873 478. A valuable Backpacking Guides series and now expanding into more general guidebooks for some of the more unusual destinations such as Madagascar and Vietnam. Written by experienced travellers who have been there, done it, and sometimes done it again.
Let's Go Guides Harvard Student Agencies Inc, 1 Story Street' Cambridge' Mass 02138, USA. Written by Harvard students and updated annually. Cover Europe and America and designed to show you how to get the most for your money.
Vacation Work 9 Park End Street' Oxford OX1 1HJ. Tel: (01865) 241978. Publishers of the invaluable Work Your Way Around the World and other useful titles for employment and study abroad. They are now branching out into Travel Survival Kits. Aimed at the budget traveller and written in the same entertaining, practical style as the rest of the Vacation Work titles.
