SUMMER 2000

CURRENT FEATURES:

• FOR WOMEN ONLY - Cheap, comfortable, and safe lodging
• BOOK NOTES
• THE PASSENGER STOP TRAVELER
• TRAVEL FUNNIES
• PHOTO TIP

BOOK NOTES

From Mort Blankman

A question that customers frequently ask us is, "Which guidebooks are the best"? Is there such a thing as an ultimate guide?

While most of us seek an ideal guidebook, as far I can tell there is no such thing as an ultimate travel guide. Many can claim to be the best at what they do. As most of you already know, some guidebooks are wonderful, while some leave much to be desired. Some are written by individuals, some by editorial teams, others by passionate travelers, in-the-know expatriates, natives, or people who are frequent travelers and want-to-be writers.

Not long ago I received a call from someone in the process of writing a series of travel articles. Asking if I would recommend some travel guides to assist in this effort, I was surprised to find that she had no familiarity with the most popular guidebook series, and asked me (you guessed it) "which one is the best"? This individual later confided to never using guidebooks because she only took guided tours.

What do our customers prefer?

The Dorling Kindersley Travel Guides (previously called the Eyewitness Travel Guides) from UK publisher Dorling Kindersley continues to be our most popular guidebook series. Their guides for Ireland, Italy, Paris, and Great Britain have been the most frequently requested.

It is a new breed of guidebook that is graphically exciting and visually pleasing. In addition to hundreds of color photographs, the series features unique cutaways, floor plans, 3-d aerial views and more to help you explore important sights. You will also find detailed and accurate maps, and carefully selected hotels, restaurants, cafes, and bars in all price ranges. Also included is a survival guide that covers local currency, public transportation, and telephones.

New guides for 2000 include: Mexico, South Africa, Millennium Editions for Rome, and for London, Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and Great Places to Stay in Europe. Written by a group of contributors, the bottom line for this series is - quality.

To complement the guides they have added a series of Travel Planners and Travel Guide City Maps, as well as Kids' Travel Guides to London and to New York.

Michelin Guides run a very close second. Now 100 years old! In publishing as in life, reaching the age of one hundred years old is proof of radiant vitality. Published first in 1900 as a giveaway for motorists, they have served travelers as the definitive guide to the best hotels, restaurants, and sights in Europe. Today, Michelin has expanded to areas beyond Europe as well as increasing the range of offerings.

Michelin's Green Guides continue to be arranged alphabetically as to major sights, along with the time- honored rating system (0 to 3 stars) by the in-house team. Compact and lightweight, these guides are designed to enhance the quality of your trip. They Include lesser-known places of interest as well as the more famous sights. You will also find abundant maps, photos, and drawings; along with authoritative sections on landscapes, history, culture, food and drink, and lists of resorts and driving itineraries.

New titles in English this year are Hungary, Budapest, and the Pacific Northwest. Green Guides are updated every few years, with many titles published in French, some in Spanish and Japanese. New for this year, are guides to Spain, Italy, London, New York, and Paris published in Hebrew. Michelin also relies heavily on input from readers, if you have a recommendation please write to them.

The Michelin Red Guides serve as an indispensable tool for the independent traveler in Europe. They are updated yearly, and propose a wide selection of comfortable hotels and quality restaurants designed to suit the reader's budget. Supplemented by many detailed city maps, and internationally recognized symbols to rate all establishments, each guide has an introduction in English.

Michelin also publishes a series called In Your Pocket, which offers "everything the short-trip traveler needs to know in a handy pocket-sized format". There are more than 35 titles in this series, which is priced at $9.95.

A new adventure and culture oriented series coming from Michelin this year are called NEOS Guides (French for the four directions on the compass) will offer "a different way of traveling and capturing the spirit of a country". Titles in the English editions are be Cuba, Tunisia Guatemala/Belize, Indonesia, Rajasthan, Reunion/Mauritius/Seychelles, Turkey, Sri Lanka/Maldives, and Syria/Jordan. They will range from $22 to $26.

Passenger Stop continues to carry the entire line of Michelin Road Maps, City Maps, and Road Atlases, in addition to the above travel guides. Michelin is also publishing some Regional USA maps. Check them out!

Fodor's Gold Guides includes a broad array of titles. Since Eugene Fodor's first guide to Europe appeared in the 1930's, they have become one of the world's most respected travel publishers. They feature up-to-date balanced coverage of destinations the world over.

Fodor's also offers other guidebook series including the popular Fodor's Exploring Guides. A series of up-to-date guides featuring full-color photos and maps throughout. Other continuing series are: Fodor's Citypacks, Fodor's upClose, Fodor's Pocket Guides, Compass American Guides.

New this year are Fodor's Road Guide USA for on-the-road-travel, and Fodor's Around the City with Kids for family fun, written by parents for parents: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.

Other popular series are the Moon Handbooks, which are comprehensive in their coverage of history, culture, flora and fauna. The are always titled by destination. The new edition of the New York City Handbook is as quirky and full of life as the city itself. This expansive guide covers the Big Apple the way New Yorkers know it: neighborhood by neighborhood. Organizing the city's sights, practicalities, and offbeat pleasures geographically. The author, Christine Bird puts insider attractions at the readers fingertips. "Thorough and intelligent. Don't visit New York without it". -New York Daily News

Frommer's Guide users can rely on detailed, authoritative, and sensitive coverage, contemporary and historical sites, and outdoor adventures. Readers get up-to-date practical advice, color maps, and logistical tips.

Frommer also offers the popular, pocket sized Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop guides for Italy, England, France, and the Caribbean with detailed tips for traveling shoppers and bargain hunters.

Frommer's Irreverent Guides series offer an insiders perspective on each destination and take a fun, honest look on such categories as most overrated museum, weirdest public statuary, and hotels for people who hate conventioneers.

Another guidebook series that continues to be very popular is the Cadogan Guides, published in the UK and distributed by Globe Pequot Press. One of their writing teams, Dana Facaros and Michael Pauls, who author many of the European and Mediterranean destination guides, seem to have a following of their our. They are well written, rich in information, with excellent line maps and drawings; a very readable series, easy to use, and a favorite of many travelers.

The National Geographic Traveler was launched last year by the publisher of the magazine; bringing a century of travel expertise in their guides to: Australia, Canada, The Caribbean, Florida, Great Britain, London, Miami and the Florida Keys, New York, Sydney, and Paris. New guides this year: California, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Los Angeles, and Rome. "Rich with photography, maps, and historical context. "-The Los Angeles Times".

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