Comments on: Speaking up for the humble guide book

By: My Little Nomads

My Little Nomads — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:56:32 +0000

I’m always surprised by how much I miss or overlook in my guidebooks. I think I buy them – like you Andy – in part, just to own them and have them after the trip, but I don’t really read them that thoroughly. Occasionally I’ll get back and see a feature, in the NY Times say, about some can’t miss place in Hanoi or Bangkok or Mumbai, and I’ll say why didn’t Lonely Planet put that in their damn guide book. And I’ll pick up LP India and sure enough it’s a big boxed item – page and a half essay – can’t miss this place. Ahhh damn!

By: These Roads (Amy)

These Roads (Amy) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:49:14 +0000

I probably rely on apps/internet more for accommodation and transport details… basically, info that changes quickly and will be more up-to-date in the electronic sphere, but once I’m on the road I tend to fall back on the old faithful guidebook.
Sure, they might weigh more and scream ‘I’m not from ’round here’ (as opposed to the iphone which screams ‘rob me’), when compared to electronic gadgets they’re more robust, easily replaced, easy to read outdoors (in fact positively enjoyable to read outdoors) and when you get home you’ve got a nice memento on your bookshelf… and I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not going to use my iphone to squash big bugs! Long Live The Guidebook!

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:44:59 +0000

Great points all, and thanks for the discussion. If I reflect on it I would agree that my use of a guide book has changed over the years, and from what I read I suspect that’s true for all of us.

Mind you, I wouldn’t attribute that to the hi-tech options at my disposal, but rather my own changing habits as I’ve got older. Like others have said, carrying a book around while exploring a city is often an unnecessary weight. I like to research in advance (from my book) and then take a wander and see where I end up, hopefully bumping into a few of the things I read about in my hotel room.

Perhaps one of its great values for me is, as some have suggested, as a prop for the pre-trip excitement and then as a memento on my shelf of a trip taken (or not taken). It’s maybe an emotional purchase as much as a logical one; but then isn’t that the case with so many things we buy?

Thanks all for your thoughts, and I’d recommend reading Dave and Deb’s excellent post on the same topic. http://theplanetd.com/will-travel-blogs-take-over-guide-books

By: Annie

Annie — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 09:33:28 +0000

I am heading out to buy my Portugal guidebook now! At my current budget I seriously debated it when I got so much helpful info online and from other travel bloggers. Then I thought about how much trouble our Australia guidebook got us out of in Melbourne and how many unexpectedly great things it helped us find in Sydney. Even if we end up just using it as a jumping off point, I still think I’m a faithful guidebook buyer. I always want one, and now my collection is still small.

I enjoy personal recommendations as well, and I feel that guidebooks will tend to steer you in the tourist way, but not always, I have found some very helpful tips. As for the iphone, well I can hardly afford that 20 Euro guidebook so it’s clear where I stand on that! For my next trip I’ll use a mixture of recommendation, online research and my guidebook!

Great post!

By: Runaway Juno

Runaway Juno — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 03:14:14 +0000

I still buy travel guide books, but I hardly ‘well’ use it. In the old days, like 5 years ago, LP guide book normally really good for accomodations or special look around spot. Well but now we have numerous way to book accomodations and once we got there we can get better informations than books.
Then why still buy guide books?
I think that’s some kind of ‘obligation.’
Once I bought a guide book, I finally realize ‘Im really going!’ and get to plan or something.
It’s money not well spend, but I think Ill keep buy them.

By: Dave and Deb

Dave and Deb — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:05:55 +0000

Excellent argument in favor of the guide book Andy. I have thought about an old interview with Queen when they talked about Radio Ga Ga. It was in defense of the radio when all the rage was video. “Radio, someone still loves you” and like Queen, you offer valid points to the guide book. Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, Rick Steves “someone still loves you!”
We stopped using our guide book during our last trip. We bought it for India but hardly looked at it in Sri Lanka and Nepal (although we bought it for both) We ended up going to the internet to look up ideas and places to stay. India Mike was a far better reference than our guidebook.
But I completely understand your point. I can’t believe that you have a guidebook referencing how to cross the Berlin Wall, that is pretty cool!
So awesome that we were both thinking about the same thing today.
I love your post!

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:39:35 +0000

Admittedly, I still buy guidebooks (I am cutting way back though) but I realize that it’s money not well spent. Or perhaps it’s money not spent for the guidebook’s designed purpose. I, too, enjoy flipping through it before the trip to build excitement, like some travel foreplay, but I think the time of lugging them around is coming to an end. Essentially, I think their utility is decreasing and I feel like many guidebook publishers still produce them simply because they don’t know what else to do.

There will be the guidebook-dedicated audience, perhaps like yourself, Andy, but it’s a dwindling tribe. I’d probably place myself in the same tribe; however, I see it’s demise and I’m heading toward new lands.

By: eurotriptips

eurotriptips — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:27:47 +0000

I totally understand why you choose to stick to actual books rather than shift to online information. The simple feeling to buy a travel guide, and start to read it on the subway ride home is simply amazing. It’s like a whole new world is in there, tangible and resourceful.

And having them around on a bookshelf is a constant reminder of previous travels, and might actually hold more memories than photos.

Amen to paper travel guide!

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:28:20 +0000

Great topic Andy, I was actually thinking of writing something similar myself. I’m with you and can’t seem to do away with the trusty guide book. Although I haven’t tried them just yet, I reckon the Lonely Planet downloadable PDF for a small section (for example one country from a book covering a continent) could come in handy for a short trip. In relation to the ripping out of pages, I’ve never done that, but I do remember once having to rip the cover from a Lonely Planet Africa as it was actually banned from bringing in to Malawi back in the very early nineties.

By: Andy Jarosz

Andy Jarosz — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:11:16 +0000

Thanks David and Stuart for your thoughts. Enjoyed your post on same topic David, and agree with your point on the light issues. Until now most devices can’t cope with bright sun, and those that can fall into the nickable/muggable category. The comments make a good read too…

Stuart, LP maps are excellent for getting around a city, and I’ve often made a dodgy sketch copy of one to save carrying the book out with us. I did learn the limitations of those stick maps in Syria when I tried to use it as my driving map of the country and ended up 200km away from my intended location, but that’s another tale.