janvier5

I am very interested in travel writing. For a college writing project, I am surveying travelers to get their honest opinions. So if anyone could help me in answering my basic questions, it would greatly benefit me.

So here are the questions:
1) When seeking travel advice, do you prefer finding info from a travel blog or a book? explain.

2) Do you find problems/issues with either travel blogs or books? why.
What do travelers need to wary of?

3) Any blogs/travel books you would recommend? why.

4) Do you feel books tend to p.r. (public relations) destinations instead of giving honest advice that maybe a blog would?

If also you could state your name (or whatever name is appropriate), location & age.

Thank You, Jennifer

tillyhoo

Questions 1, 3 & 4:
IMO this travel blog, (Fodor's) has given me the most informative advice. It offers varied suggestions from a wide spectrum of their experiences in answering my quandaries for an upcoming adventure. It's also easier than going through a web page or book for the area I plan to visit. Also, Rick Steves travel advice has been useful- best tip: bring 20 lbs. of baggage, no matter where or how long the trip is.
2) No problems or issues, I just use my own judgement in which advice pertains to my specific trip i.e. my budget, mode of travel, likes and dislikes, etc. Naturally every answer expresses the individuals personal objectives, so I've learned to apply parts or all or none to my situation. Mostly I've noticed to much emphasis on "danger" warnings. I have not found that the locals are out to rob tourist, or present danger to us, as is so often stated in travel info.

[email protected] 61 Florida
Great Sucess in your endeavor.

happytrailstoyou

I use guidebooks and travel forums.

Guidebooks are indispensable references while traveling. On an upcoming one-month trip to Italy, I will carry guidebooks from Fodors, Frommers, Rick Steves, Lonely Planet, and Michelin. Why? Each has something special to offer.

I find www.tripadvisor.com is helpful in selecting a hotel IF there are many reviews for a particular property.

I use www.fodors.com for answers to specific questions. For instance, when my hotel in Rome offered to pick me up at the airport for 55 Euros, I asked at this forum if that is a good deal and learned that I can get the same service elsewhere for 35 Euros.

suze

First off I think there is a problem with the terms you are using. Fodor's is not a "blog". It is called a message board or internet forum... so...

1) Neither one. I use travel message boards and forums like this one. Two I use have a private email feature to contact other posters for more details about their suggesitons additionally to public posts. I also use guidebooks for general planning and information if it is a place I have never been before.

2) Problem? Guidebooks get outdated very quickly for things like prices and restaurants. But are helpful for what doesn't change, like what to see and do. 'Blogs' I think of as generating from a single person, and those are not of interest to me.

3) The best guidebook depends on the specific location and your budget. Different publishers have their areas of expertise. I have used and would recommend: Lonely Planet, Moon Handbooks for Mexico, the Revealed series for Hawaii, Let's Go and Rick Steves for Europe.

4) No, I think books are probably less slanted and more objective than a blog would be (as usually they are created by someone with a particular love for a particular place).

Suze, Seattle, 50-something

suze

janvier5~ I have another category that you did not mention, & it is probably how I get the most trip planning information, the most frequently... the internet! Not a blog or guidebook. You can research for events calendars, find the tourist informational websites for specific cities, etc. That single resource is a wealth of information that no blog or guidebook could hope to cover.

november_moon

1. I use a combination of guidebooks, message boards, and internet sites. The only blogs I read are ones written by people I know.

2. In general, I find blogs pretty boring and one-sided, whereas message boards attract a lot of opinions. I do find blogs by people I know to be helpful, but then I know the source. Guidebooks, of course, get out of date quickly.

3. Guidebooks I generally read - Lonely Planet and Frommers, Eye Witness travel guides as well - I think that is what they are called.

4. No - both can be informational or just an advertisement - it all depends on the authors/editors.

L84SKY

The problem with a blog, besides that 96% of them are boring, is how much information can one blogger obtain? A lone blogger will only have their personal budget, so they can't really stay in hotels that are of interest to all.

The competition for you want to do is incredible, because everyone here on Fodor's (or whatever site) already is giving this info without any ulterior motive.

I use a guidebook to know what to see. I use tripadvisor, fodor's etc to know where to stay and what to expect.