Our philosophy when we travel focuses on finding the significance in what we see and do from a cultural and historical perspective. We want to appreciate the art we see and the historical icons we visit as much as the food that we eat and the people we meet. It is for this, and for many other reasons I will continue to extol, that research and planning becomes an essential part of your travel process.
Last week we discussed the numerous resources available to a traveler to plan their time in port or in a particular city or region. One of those tips involved taking advantage of the work done by professionals and using their guide books.
The internet is a great invention and an invaluable travel planning tool. But, and I say this at the risk of sounding antiquated, you still need a good guide book. Now before you smirk and tell me “print is dead” let me tell you the reasons why.
- You get more selection.
There are numerous publications each with their own expertise and focus. A quick search on Amazon or a trip to your local book store will help you find the best one for your circumstances. You can purchase large tomes on travelling within a certain continent, or ones focused on a specific country, city or destination. There are guidebooks aimed at families, budget travelers and backpackers. Perhaps you would prefer an ecofriendly excursion, the foodie tour, historical sites or a list of the best places to shop. No matter what your travel dreams are there is a book that covers it.
- You get help finding your way around.
Along with full, often colour maps of each country or city covered in the book, you will also find well prepared maps of the transit systems, historic cores, favoured hotels and restaurants, and recommended walking tours. Many tourist bureaus publish copies of maps and brochures online but they are limited to the size of your screen, and may not be customized to your specific purpose.
A good guidebook will also include the cost of public and private transportation so you can decide if a cab is worthwhile or you should be attempting the subway system. You can see as much, if not more, through the window of a local bus for a couple of dollars as you could see aboard a high priced hop on – hop off bus tour. Many guidebooks also include a listing of companies that offer walking, bike or bus tours at your destination.
If a particular attraction such as a museum, art gallery or church is discussed in the guidebook there is often a diagram of it as well. This is valuable if you plan to hit the highlights or focus on a particular collection. The amount of time and frustration this type of preplanning saves cannot be expressed, only experienced.
- You can plan, and budget, your itinerary
There is nothing more disappointing then finally getting to that site you really want to see only to find it is closed that day, or you are too late for the last entry. A good guide book will also include information on how to avoid lines and crowds; such as buying a combo ticket at the least busy portion of the attraction that will get you fast entrance to the popular one, avoiding days when entrance is free, or buying your entry tickets online before you go. More importantly, it will indicate which sites require advance reservations and refer you to the correct website to make them. The information provided about entry fees are helpful in budgeting your expenses, and the estimated time it takes to visit helpful in budgeting your time.
- You get recommendations for good places to eat and sleep.
Each contributor has their favourite restaurants and hotels, often sorted by neighbourhood and/or price. Dinner at a pub or beer hall frequented by locals gives you a more authentic, and often economical alternative to the tourist hotspots.
No one would expect you to book a hotel solely based on a writer’s recommendation without first checking online sites such as Expedia or Trip Advisor. Customer reviews can be invaluable, and the cost can be compared to other comparable lodgings in the area. It’s much easier, however, to pinpoint your restaurant and hotel search when you can start with a recommended name or neighborhood. For example, a quick Expedia search for hotels in the historic center of Rome yielded 2,422 properties. The results were daunting.
- You get all the other information you had no idea you would need.
The amount of information included in most guide books is massive from a practical point of view, and is the kind of information you would not normally look for online. Currency exchange and the availability of ATMs in the area, acceptance of credit cards and security issues associated with using both is a good example. There will be listings for pharmacies, laundries, groceries and shopping; day to day necessities that you may not have thought of beforehand. What to expect with respect to the weather and how to pack accordingly is also important. When travelling overseas it is a good idea to have the address and phone number of your embassy in case you run into any passport or legal issues. Unfortunately not all travels are blissful so being prepared is your best defense.
Guidebooks are a one stop reference that will help you plan, direct you to specific websites for more details, even make recommendations on what to see and do. They are the one aspect of your travel planning process that can make the rest of your research more focused and beneficial. And that will make your travels more rewarding.