THE BEST TRAVEL GUIDES

The perfect travel guidebook can help make the perfect travel experience.  We love the experience of getting lost and discovering things as they come, but when exploring an unknown place it also makes sense to ensure you find the hidden gems, taste the local delicacies, and understand which museums and landmarks are worth it.  A good travel guidebook is like having a trusted friend who knows all the local tips and tricks, guiding you towards the best experiences and saving you from the tourist traps.  We love to learn a little about the history and culture before arriving, and find that a good travel guide makes for a great souvenir.  Our favorite publications include Lonely Planet, DK Eyewitness Travel, National Geographic, Rick Steves, Fodor's Travel, Frommer's and 111 Places, but the best travel guide is different for each location and unique for each specific trip.  Here you can search by destination to find the perfect travel books for your next travel adventure. 

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BEST TRAVEL GUIDES

Lonely Planet

​Lonely Planet is the world's largest publisher and worldwide standard of travel guides.  One really can't go wrong with Lonely Planet.  The series is aimed at travelers, those who want to really explore a destination and experience the culture.  Whether you're planning an adventure of a lifetime or a quick weekend getaway, these trusty guides are equipped with must-see attractions and useful recommendations.  Their information is always very thorough, with practical recommendations for low- to medium-budget travelers, driven from detailed research.
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DK Eyewitness Travel

Our favorite for big cities and culturally rich places is often DK Eyewitness Travel.  These are probably the most attractive visually, with beautiful photos and custom illustrations and maps.  Those traveling on a long trip might want a book with more comprehensive information, but DK is a good choice for a long weekend and a fantastic post-trip souvenir.  

Rick Steves

Rick Steves has been exploring Europe for over three decades and has personally refined his guidebooks to provide a selective set of recommendations on how to enjoy the best possible trip.  This is a great series for those who want to be specifically guided toward what best to see and to hep understand what just might not be worth the time.

Fodor's Travel

Fodor's Travel is one of the classics in travel guide publishing, with over 80 years of experience and worldwide coverage.  Their books are very comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on hiring writers with local expertise and on providing detailed recommendations that covers most budgets.  They don't focus on providing a lot of inspiring images, but they do typically have helpful maps.
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Frommer's Travel Guides

Arthur Frommer is certainly one of the founders of modern travel guides, starting with his legendary Europe on $5 a day book published in 1957.  Today's collection caters best to older less-experienced travelers, with helpful practical tips to make it easy as possible to enjoy the perfect trip.  We like the new EasyGuide series,especially for bigger cities like New York City and Las Vegas. 
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National Geographic Traveler

National Geographic is obviously known for their stunning imagery and their powerful storytelling, and their guidebooks definitely live up to that promise.  These inspirational books are probably best used for trip planning or a post-trip souvenir, as there isn't as much practical travel information as other series.

111 Places That Should Not Be Missed

While not all that well known, the 111 Places series has over 150 titles and 1 million copies in print.  Their specialty is in finding interesting places that even locals might miss, with stories that unlock a destination's true character and history.  We find the books particularly interesting for those looking to explore their own cities, either as an armchair traveler or as an interested tourist.

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS ON TRAVEL BOOKS CELEBRATING THE WORLD

Destinations of a Lifetime, by National Geographic

Those looking for a great coffee table book will love Destinations of a Lifetime, National Geographic’s inspiring book highlighting 225 of the most spectacular travel destinations around the world.  The images are absolutely spectacular, as one would expect coming from National Geographic.  A perfect gift for those with wanderlust.  Click here to learn more about Destinations of a Lifetime.

36 Hours, from the New York Times

One of the best travel columns comes from the New York Times, a regular weekly feature called “36 Hours”.  Each article explains a recommended itinerary for someone who has a short weekend to explore a location for the first time.  These articles are now summarized into fantastic books, with one for the US & Canada, one for Europe, one for Latin America, and one for Asia & Oceania.  Click here to see our review of 36 Hours.

The Travel Book, by Lonely Planet

The world's leading publisher of travel guides, Lonely Planet, has also published a number of general travel books, and our favorite is The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World.  There truly is a section on every country, making this a book that curious readers will come back to again and again.  There are great photos, a few helpful maps, and plenty of interesting facts.  Makes for a perfect gift for someone who loves travel.  Click here to learn more about The Travel Book.