DMBTraveler

On recent posts, many comments have been made about the benefits of guidebooks and the lack of common sense for those that do not use them. A popular position being that the $20 cost of a typical guidebook is worthwhile especially if it prevents one from “blundering” while traveling.

Of course this works fine for some but being the frugal, budget minded, cheap traveler that I am, it does not necessarily work for me. I find that all information offered in travel guidebooks can be easily found for free online at such forums like Fodors which advertises it's online trip planning products.

Furthermore, I have found more than a few members at various forums like Fodors more than willing to share their expertise and sage advice for free. All it takes is to mention somewhere in a trip report a perceived “blunder” and the horses are off to the races.

Combined with this just waiting “to let go” resource, free local information and guidebooks at hostels (where I normally stay), $20 seems to be a waste of money even if I end up making a few yen, yuan or baht “blunders”.

After having traveled to hundreds of places over many years, I could have easily spent thousands of dollars on guidebooks. Even a thousand “blunders” would be cheaper.

Rastaguytoday

You can buy some great travel books from www.abebooks.com for far less than $20. I recently bought a new 2008 Moon book on Prague and Budapest for $3.00 total, including shipping.

DMBTraveler - On my first trip, I walked through the Luxembourg Gardens to get somewhere. I didn't have a clue about the Gardens. Now, with some research, I make it my first stop after flying all night. Nice place to get your body adjusted to the time. Always works for me. I'm glad I read about it.

november_moon

I usually get guidebooks from the library when I am in the planning stages for a trip. I might buy a guidebook to take along, or I might not. Depends on the trip. I hardly ever travel without a good map though.

For me, it isn't really about money, just not hauling extra stuff.

I recently got a tablet computer, which is absolutely great for looking up stuff on the fly if wifi is available. I also like the screen shot feature - I take a screen shot of maps or info for later - works great.

suze

As above, I use guidebooks for free from the library in advance of a trip for general research. I like paper copies better than the internet in the early planning stages, especially when it's a place I haven't been before.

For the actual trip I only need a street map (that I pick up upon arrival) and, if applicable, a phrase book/dictionary.

adrienne

I get free guidebooks from my libraries - no need to pay anything for them. I find that there is a lot of information on this board but guide books offer more depth.

You can also check out "Destinations" at the top of the screen. That's a guide book and a free one. I just copied tons of information about Barcelona. Yes, it's the internet but it's a guide book.

nyer

To me the advantage of traveling with a single guidebook (and yes, often borrowed from the public library) is for the unexpected. I use Fodor's and other sources online and off for research and planning, but will not generally go online while I'm on vacation. So if I'm in Paris and find myself in a different neighborhood, or want alternate plans because the museum isn't open yet or I'm not in the mood, I can use the book to remind myself of what else is nearby or find something that was not in my original plans but seems like a good idea now. I don't always travel with my iPad and when I do, I don't necessarily want to pull it out on a street corner or find a cafe with WiFi when I can just flip through a few pages to get me to my next step.

suze

I never travel with electronics so have no phone, iPad, laptop, etc. to fall back on.

Sometimes I do purchase ONE small guidebook. For example "Let's Go Amsterdam" was priceless for my 1st trip to that city. Lots of maps and great suggestions. Way more precise than anything I found online, and a lot quicker. Just bought it and threw it in my carry-on, read it on the plane ride over.

michele_d

I have tons of guidebooks. For me, half the fun of traveling is the planning and learning about new places and what there is to see and do when I get there. I usually plan our trips years in advance so I find it helpful to have my own guidebooks I can refer to off and on during my planning. To each their own.

Hanuman

This thread is probably in response to these threads where several Fodorites were offering you advice on how to make your holiday better:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...py-reunion.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...atm-advice.cfm

Your third sentence "All it takes is to mention somewhere in a trip report a perceived “blunder” and the horses are off to the races." does not make sense since if you have written a trip report then the trip is over with and no advice will help.

suze

Better yet... When Fodor's uses your quotes from this forum in their guidebooks, then you get a FREE copy of any guidebook you'd like. I have a stack of them, never had to pay for one.

DMBTraveler

And they are off and running ....

Yes, folks it's a lovely day to be at the races

DMBTraveler

Now back to our regularly scheduled program ....

Bill: As I was saying Jim, it is nice for you to file your reports live from the field.

Jim: Yes, Bill. The internet is a wonderful thing and I am sure glad we can all use the benefit of it in so many ways.

Bill: So what resources do you use in planning a trip and where is your next destination?

Jim: Well Bill it all depends. Maybe I'll go to the library, surf the web, or just wing it and see where the tradewinds blow me. Maybe to London in time to catch a bit of the Olympics.

Bill: But aren't you afraid of blundering especially with it being this late in the games? Don't you need more time to plan?

Jim: Bill, I don't think I can do enough blundering that a pint or two can't fix. I reckon as long as I don't do any "Tweeting", I'll be just fine at Buckingham. Furthermore Bill, trip planning does not have to be long term. It can also be spontaneous. Break out the cash, credit card or stop at an ATM and hit the road running.

Travelers can do whatever works for them. The point is to get out there and have fun traveling on your own terms.

Bill: Thanks Jim, looking forward to your next trip report and I hope you'll again use the internet to make it a live one.

Now back to Churchhill Downs for our daily update

Neuman605

DMBTraveler,

I still love guidebooks and have many, even though I do NOT travel with them.As you know I do my research prior and have asked for your advice on many occasions.

DMBTraveler

Neuman605,

Ditto

I am not opposed to guidebooks as such just the idea that one is somehow foolish not to use them. There is a wealth of info available from many resources without spending US$20 everytime you want to travel somewhere.

As the posting here so far have shown, most people use as much free advice as possible and few actually purchase guidebooks.

The level of research and amount of planning one does for a particular trip depends on your individual travel experience and comfort zone.

With the technology available today, like you I do not need to be weighed down by the weight of a guidebook when traveling.

The point of this post is that you don't have to spend money to research or plan a trip. Furthermore, experienced travelers know or should know that there is more than one way to have safe and fun travel experiences.

MareW

I don't carry electronics except for a netbook if the hotel has free internet, and I always bring a guidebook or two. I don't use them for restaurants or hotels, and I get tons of info from Fodors forums, but I still find a guidebook can come in handy for addresses, self-guided walking tours, info on the museums I'm visiting, etc.

Neuman605

I have many guidebooks, they sit on my fireplace mantle and provide the dust a place to live. (Someone/thing has to be at my house 24/7, I don't want to) but when I am at home I see them daily and they help me remember good times just by reading the titles!

DMBTraveler

MareW,

I always travel with a netbook, even my wi-fi capable phone comes in handy. And wi-fi is now becoming popular everywhere.

A wealth of info at my finger tip as long as wi-fi is available, if not I am going to have to borrow your guidebook.

DMBTraveler

Neuman605,

Maybe your "Dust Bunnies" are also making good use of them before they hop along

Sassafrass

I am for sure in the guide book group because this thread made me go OMG, and go and count most of mine, which number at over 75. Crazy - I should get rid of most of them, but probably won't.

You are absolutely right that you can get most info on line. However, I love sitting in bed and reading guide books, currently reading one about Morocco that covers a lot of history, culture of different areas, bios of famous writers, artists, who've lived there, etc. I love looking at the maps and tracing walks I might do. I like comparing info in different guide books. That is the kind of stuff I read before a trip. I like taking them on car trips and reading/planning while DH drives. On most trips, we kind of hang loose and plan day by day, so during the trip, I like having a guidebook along that gives hours of museums, train/bus schedules, costs, etc., I find it easier to flip open a book that has charts or maps, than to go on line and start searching, but I do a lot of that too.

DMBTraveler

Sassafrass,

I am impressed with your collection and I like the way you use them.

I agree sometimes it is easier to flip pages and one of the first things I do when I arrive somewhere new is to load up on reading materials and maps at the "Tourist Information" booth.