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What's the best Printed Travel Guide Book money can buy?
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I'm currently in a tossup between the DK Eyewitness books or Lonely Planet. They both look great but the DK Eyewitness books have more visual elements and that appeals to me as a visual learner, but since Lonely Planet is so tried and tested I figured you can't go wrong with them either. Out of these two which would you guys pick, and are there other guides out there like, Rick Steven's, Frommer's, Rough Guides, that you prefer more?
Top Comment: Depends on where you go and what you want out of it. Quality of guides can vary hugely from destination to destination, though the publisher has guidelines, there goes a lot of subjectivity into deciding on what to in/exclude. since Lonely Planet is so tried and tested I figured you can't go wrong Wrong! There is a lot of criticism about LP and loads of complaints that quality has been degrading over the years. But even at the times that LP was 'the standard', it was not by definition the best. E.g. LP describes fewer places more in depth, compared to Rough guide that tends to describe more places. What is better is open for debate and largely depends on your travel style and preferences. In general, I prefer Rough guide over LP. Bradt guides are often also a good choice, for off the beaten track destinations often the only dedicated option.
/r/SoloTravel: Where traveling solo is traveling social!
Main Post: /r/SoloTravel: Where traveling solo is traveling social!
My personal travel guide
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My travel guide (applies to all cities):
- Book a guided walking tour.
- Check out the places where you can see a top view of the city.
- Look for local restaurants that serve local dishes and avoid the touristy places for food.
- Book a boat trip (a must)
- Check museums that tell something about the city.
- Pick a special scent to wear or music you associate with that city and let your mind make all the associations as you roam, it shall teleport you back later once you've encountered that scent or music again.
- Take photos that document your experience and not just camera-worthy shots. Take shaky photos, ruined photos, silly photos and some vids too. Playing them back later is very rewarding.
- Journal about it if you can and mention all the details that grabbed your attention.
- Get small souvenirs for yourself that you can use in your daily life and not just leave behind stached in some box. It can always remind you of that time.
- Pick your travel mates wisely.
- It's always good if you plan ahead, but if not, don't stress and just go spontaneously, walking around the city shall lead you to the places you need to visit anyways. Getting lost is not always a bad option. It means you see more.
- Pick the stuff you usually enjoy doing and do it in the cities you visit, don't just try stuff you read in must-visit guides and do it because you have to. Some of them are just phony and underwhelming. Ditch that fomo.
- Pick transportation methods that show you the best of your route as you travel.
- Check that city's subreddit and read people's experiences and suggestions.
- If you're looking for random things to visit while you're in the street and done with all your plans, search tourist attraction on google maps and pick smth you like.
- Have a look on the local/farmer's market and supermarkets there, even if briefly. It's always fun to have a gist of what the grocery shopping experience feels like in a new place.
- Been doing video commentary of my travels, it works as somekind of a diary if I didn't have the time to journal + captures the moment and my observations better (can make you look weird to other people looking from the outside though lol)
- Take photos of your accommodation if you liked it.
- Send people stuff that reminds you of them if you come across any while you roam. It's sweet.
- ziplock bags are a life saver forreal, get the big and small ones, shall make your life easier.
- Watch movies shot in the cities you are visiting, it's entertaining to run into the same spots irl and see how it feels like when they materialize.
- Stop and read the stuff they write beside monuments and spots you pass, they can look boring and useless, but mostly they give you a quick overview and some of them are actually well-written. I still remember the time I visited Mauritshuis in Den Haag and I could tell whoever wrote them did actually make some storytelling effort because I genuinely enjoyed reading them.
These are all based on my personal experience and preferences. Would appreciate if you shared with me your personal ones too.
Top Comment:
I like this list! I am stealing this! 🙃😁
What is your best travel tip that most people don't know?
Main Post: What is your best travel tip that most people don't know?
Top Comment: Let your family back home know your travel itinerary.
Where do most of you get your travel info before going to a new place?
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I've found that there's a lot of misleading information on the internet, mostly coming from blogs. It led me to take an extended trip to the Thai island of Koh Samui where I found not much more than pollution, tourist traps, and most of the ugly side of Thailand all packaged up in place. Where do you usually get your travel tips, info on avoiding tourist traps, and ways to get off the beaten path?
Top Comment: I prefer an actual, tangible guide book: Rough guides are excellent. Lonely planet is good. I used to go to Barnes and Nobles before a trip. Peruse the travel section. Take handwritten notes from city sections, and not purchase anything. Classy times. After going through about 5 guides on the same city, you'll see the repeated themes and get a picture of what is good, and a waste of time. Wikipedia also has decent information. And the youtuber Gabriel Traveller is excellent. He's in his 40s. Very level headed and not trying to promote anything. Just tells us the real deal.