Travel Guidebook Reviews - Here's some of the best to help you plan, and enjoy your vacation.

There are many travel guidebook reviews out there on the "web". We hope to be your one-stop-shop on this subject, so if you would like us to add/modify/delete information in this regard, please drop us a note. We are as close as our "Contact Form".

So, back to our subject, in regards to travel guidebook reviews, here are some of our favorites...

Access
These guides are very useful for walking tours. They have reliable restaurant ratings, and include some good "non-tourist-type" restaurants. They are organized by city sections, and as such are good for an area of a city that you are already familiar with, and would like to investigate in greater depth. It has some great maps. One criticism is that it does not have a lot of details on specific tourist attractions, such as museums, once you have arrived.

American Express
American Express guidebooks are an older series that come in a slim hardback format. There is a lot of good solid information in compact format in these guides.

Berlitz
Given the fact that these books are pocket sized, the provided information is not always complete. You give up some details for the convenience of being able to fit them into your back pocket.

Blue Guides
These books have some great accurate information on the history and geography of a destination. If you are looking for a detailed guide for a museum, or castle, or archeological site, then this is your book. On the downside, there is very little information on hotels or restaurants.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides
These wonderful guides are loaded with maps and pictures. They help you to visualize and start the dreaming process, so be sure to pick up one early in the planning phase of your trip. The walking tours are fun to take. The information is concise, but very helpful. They have a limited selection of destinations, but if available, they are well worth the money.

Fodor's
Travel guidebook reviews would not be complete without mentioning this pioneering company. One of the best features of these books is the fact that they prominently display the date of the publication on the cover. In this way you will know how accurate the information, and especially the prices, are bound to be. Attractions are clearly indicated on the maps sprinkled throughout the publication. They are especially good for "what to do when you have a free day".

Frommer
The Frommer guides usually come in two versions, a comprehensive version that is more complete, and a budget version for the more cost conscious traveler. The background information on a destination is limited, but the hotel and restaurant info is good.

Insight
The Insight guides are not ideal as a day-to-day guide when you are at your destination. The background and historical information is limited. They have some wonderful, beautiful pictures, so get one before you go on your trip and dream about what is to come.

Let's Go
These guides tend to have accurate pricing information, but the background and historical information tends to be limited. If you are a low-budget backpacker, this is your book.

Lonely Planet
Oriented towards really cheap travel, these guides are written by experienced travelers who tend to know their stuff. They have one guide on traveling with kids that is just fantastic. Especially great for Asian destinations.

Rough Guide / Real Guide
These books tend to be candid and humorous, and they provide some good background information. Some of the suggestions for accomodation may be too rustic for some.

The next time you are in a bookstore, pick up a guidebook and see if it will fit into planning your creative family beach vacations. People differ in likes and dislikes, and you may find some guides suit your personality better. Travel guidebook reviews are very subjective... If you have any insight or suggestions, please drop us a note. We would love to hear from you.

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