laurie_ann

Just wanted to pass on two recent travel articles I got a lot out of.

1. Rick Steves newspaper article how to participate like a local when you travel Chicago Tribune May 31, 2009. http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel...,6156943.story (Yes, not everyone is a Rick Steves fan but I think this article illustrates one of the reasons his books, TV show, etc. are worth considering if they are right for you.)

2. Conde Nast Travel article June 2009 with a competition in Moscow among a person with a blackberry, a person with an iphone and a person with a traditional guide book. They are each given the same nine travel tasks and the one with the best result in the shortest time wins that category. I will leave you to guess who. http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500791. There are related follow up articles from each of the three of them too. http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500794
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500793
http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500792

thursdaysd

Cool! But the guidebook person might have done even better with a better guidebook - I'd never take DK on a trip.

LSky

Thanks for posting these.

I've always thought that when Rick Steves says, "the more money you spend the more it seperates you from the people of that city", he's right.

Although, I don't want to spend time going to a school play, he has a bit of a point. There are many times when I'm playing Scrabble that I wish I could play it in Polish

No surprises that the non techie found hotels and restaurants faster. It seems easiest to just asked someone.

One thing that has helped me, is to learn to say something like, "Excuse me, I don't speak ____ well" or "Sorry but I speak _____ poorly" is always better than asking, "do you speak English?"

hazel1

It seems to me that the guidebook person didn't use her guidebook all that much - her primary resource was the front desk person at her hotel.

laurie_ann

As to the guidebook "winner" I thought that was part of the point, that we can too easily depend only on our guidebooks or electronic devices and forget that it is people who can make a trip special. If we fail to interact with locals we miss a lot.

LSky

I think you're right laurie_ann. Plus a guide book is out of date the minute it is printed, I've never taken a guide book to help me look for a restuarant but always ask someone. I just don't like to be tied to hunting around for some special restuarant when I'm ready to eat.

Someone one on the street or at the hotel may be better able to help you because they are getting a "reading" about you in person. Also, the desk clerk at the hotel already has an idea of where your budget lies simply because of the hotel you've picked. I've been pointed to some wonderful places by a front desk person. Also by asking a person on the street, I would be most likely to asked someone who resembles me therefore I'd get a suggestion that might be closer to a place that I'd like.