Travel Magazines
 

We subscribe to Budget Travel and Travel & Leisure magazines. There are a slew of others including resgional and specialized periodicals.

Do you find these magazines helpful or do they just whet your appetite for travel?

Am I only the curmudgeon, but does it seem the ads and the editorial have the same artistic look and it is difficult to tell them apart? Do you have trouble finding stories and particularly the story if there is a jump line?

I got my Travel & Leisure yesterday. Every time it makes me wonder why i subscribe (i realize that i do only because i get a very cheap subscription thats costs only about $1 per issue) It has almost nothing of interest. I would never waste the money staying at the super expensive places it features.

I used to really like Budget Travel and got some good information when it was first published. I don't find much of value these days.

Heh - I was looking at the latest Travel & Leisure mazine yesterday and thinking the same thing: why do I subscribe to this rag? It seems to be mainly ads, and the articles they do run are of little use to me, since it's mainly very high end (impractical) travel.

We get Budget Travel, and I think it's a little more useful. Definitely more entertaining.

I sometimes find some ideas for travel in these magazines and on occasion have stayed at some of the establishments listed.

I believe it was T+L which had the rather breezy editor at one point...her busy lifestyle jetting off to here and there which I suppose inspires the truly thoughtful to realize how superficial it all can be.

I agree with your observations about the magazines look and layouts, but I just read them for entertainment - not to find ideas for or do research for upcoming trips. Heck, I figure it beats watching TV ;-)

I always get Budget Travel and Conde Nast. And alternate National Geo Traveler or T&L in addition.

I like National Geographic Traveler.

I got Travel + Leisure for awhile (I think I used some airline miles that were going to expire to get the subscription). I had pretty much the same impression as the others, that it was whole lot a flashy ads, not much meat to the articles, especially for those of us whose last name isn't Hilton.

I still get Budget Travel. I think most of the "20 best tips" or whatever it is called are pretty inane, but I like the "Confessions of..." features and the funny travel stories in the back.

I also get Condé Nast Traveler, which I think is pretty similar to T+L, but a little more worthwhile content.

I get Conde Naste- it peaks my interest in travel but as far as substance goes for help in planning my trips- its not very useful. The Ombudsman column is however usefull info.

Cancelled my Conde-Naste subscription. Although it can be of some interest, it has never helped in any way. It seems to cater in a way to those who travel in luxury (I choose not to - don't like it) and/or cruises (don't like that, either).

Is there a travel magazine out there that actually helps in trip research that isn't chock full of ads and splashy stuff?

I honestly can't tell the difference between Conde Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure, even though I get Conde Nast!

I also get National Geographic Traveler which I think I like the best out of all of them.

I used to like Budget Travel, but it seemed to focus mainly on package deals so I found it a bit boring.

I like reading the "travel" articles in food magazines as well.

The most helpful travel magazine I subscribe to is International Travel News. It is written on newsprint, black and white. With articles by real travelers and no glossy ads. Can't wait for it to come every month. Also Nat Geo Traveler is a good one. I buy Conde Naste because it's cheap and T & L also but I think T & L is a waste. No substance, but it is cheap with the right subscription you can get it for 12.00 a year. Try ITN I think you would like it.

I find some of the best travel writing in the general interest magazines such as the <i>New Yorker, Atlantic</i>, etc. I don't have much interest in the T&amp;L type because, as mentioned above, the bulk of the magazine treats travel as a superficial, essentially consumer oriented experience useful for one-upping the neighbors. Very uncool.

I also find some good travel articles in general magazines like the New YOrker, but it wouldn't exactly be the kind of thing for trip planning.

Travel magazines are pretty cheap BECAUSE they have ads. If you want a magazine without ads, you are going to pay a lot for it. What's the deal, just skip over the ads, I like seeing them, actually. I subscribe to CN Traveler and National Geographic and like Traveler a lot better, although even it has these dopey lists a couple times a year where business or wealthy people list their favorite resorts, etc. But, it does have a lot of other good articles, I think, and doesn't cost very much at all due to the ads. I don't really find National Geographic Traveler very useful, it's pretty lightweight in content.

I just like these magazines for photos and some articles about places (CN Traveler does have some good journalists). CN Travelers does have some good consumer articles, also (by Wendy Perrin). I don't count on them for much else,I would use a guidebook or other resources for hotel advice, for the most part, or things like that.

I subscribed to Budget Travel about one year but it was really boring and a lot of packages, I agree, or tips for people who must be dunces when it comes to travel.

How does one get a $1 an issue subscription to Travel &amp; Leisure? It might be worth a try at that price for one year.

It may be regional, but Caribbean Travel is one of my favorites(and I get them all). I look forward to every issue!

I enjoy Budget Travel &amp; National Geographic Traveler, and at about $12/yr subscription you can't pass it up. Although I also receive Conde Nast Traveler it is definitely marketed for a much different reader/traveler. Did you see this month's Top 100 Reader's Choice Awards? I wonder if anyone on this forum has actually stayed in any of those top 100 hotels.

Another vote for ITN (International Travel News). I look forward to receiving it each month, and I do read it. The articles are by real people that take affordable trips.

I'm letting my subscriptions to other travel magazines expire. Those magazines feature high-end hotels and restaurants. The ads and articles are for people with lots money.

Go to any bookstore/drugstore that stocks these magazines and flip thru them. You should be able to find one of those subscription cards where you can usually get a one year subscription for $12.

I enjoy getting the country-specific ones... there are a couple called &quot;France&quot;, and I'm getting &quot;German Life&quot; right now... had &quot;Realm&quot; and &quot;Britain&quot; many years ago... and, of course, any magazine or newsletter featuring &quot;PARIS&quot;. Oh, and the Gemutlich (sp?) newsletter was interesting, too.

The only way travel magazines have been helpful to me for actual planning is when I clip an article of interest and file it. I have a Paris, Switzerland, Amsterdam, etc. labeled in folders. The likelyhood of an article popping up just when you need it are slim to none.

As far as my real-life budget, even Budget Travel is too rich for my blood. T&amp;L and Conde Nast are a joke. But I still enjoy reading the magazines.

Smithsonian is not a &quot;travel&quot; magazine but it can help make travel so much more enjoyable.

These are articles in issues I've saved:

Feb. 2005 - Surprising Sicily

Mar. 2006 - Ben Franklin's London Digs, Restoring the Jewel of Dresden, Exploring Utah's Prehistoric Paradise

Mar. 2007 - A Journey into Caravaggio's Italy

June 2007 - Petra (Jordan), Grand Teton National Park,

Jan. 2007 - Peace at Last in the Basque Country, Americans in Paris written in conjunction with the show at the Met in NY, London's Natl Gallery and the MFA in Boston

The articles won't tell you where to stay or eat but they get your juices running.

&gt;I got my Travel &amp; Leisure yesterday. Every time it makes me wonder why i subscribe....

So did I. So I quit.

((I))

I've gotten many of these over the years, and have finally stopped them all. It's really the same reason I have not used a travel agent for years: in this wired world, it's all on-line - including great spots like this Forum!

&lt;&lt;it's all on-line - including great spots like this Forum!&gt;&gt;

I couldn't agree more, and it often makes we wonder how we managed before Al Gore invented the internet. ;)

but I like the photographs

Oh, duh - I do get some helpful magazines that are country specific (i.e. &quot;In Britain&quot;).

I quit the subscriptions too; no content but glossy ads. There is so much more info on the internet.

Although the ads drive me crazy (I rip the multi-page ones out and throw away as soon as I get my copy in the mail) (without the ads there would be none of these publications,) I think Conde Nast Traveler has some excellent in-depth articles, especially about destinations outside of Europe. I find their Ombudsman and Stop Presses sections helpful, and I like Wendy Perrin's columns about various travel-related topics. I think they put too much emphasis on the trendy and luxe hotels and restaurants so I do not use them for that..

I don't mind the ads - occasionally I have a moment's confusion but the top corner of the page clearly marks ads out either as advertisements or advertorials (which are the ones that often look more like regular editorial pieces).

I'm in the UK so some of these may not be available to all of you but my favourites are Wanderlust (great for the independent traveller, very inspirational, entertaining and informative), Travel Africa (ditto), Sunday Times Magazine (particularly good on practical, usable ideas and inspiration), Conde Nast UK Edition (mostly above my usual budget but it has improved on that front, probably because going too high narrowed it's niche too much, more inspirational than practical for me).

Because I got a bunch of free subscriptions w/expiring airline miles I currently receive T &amp; L, Budget Travel, Conde Nast, Nat'l Geo &amp; France. When they expire I'll get rid of Conde Nast and T &amp; L as I will not spend the $$$ necessary to go to any of the places they tend to tout. One of them was doing the best of the Caribbean w/$1000 night rooms (!). I can rent a villa for a week on other islands, why would I stay there ? I despise the 'best of...' issues as well. Just means they are too lazy to do any real writing.

I don't particularly like the Conde-Naste publication which seems more like a Luxe hotel guide than a serious travel magazine. Top marks for photography though.

Quite like The Times Travel magazine which does the glam stuff, but isn't afraid of bargain basement (eg camping in drizzle on the south coast!)either.

I agree about Travel Africa..I just became a subscriber last week!

Another vote for ITN - (International Travel News) It is much more full of the kind of info that we get on Fodor's - no fancy ads - no captive American Express advertisiers, etc.

I do like Budget Travel, but I must say, after 20 odd years of getting all sorts of travel magazines, you can find almost anything you want nowadays on the web, and esp. on Fodor's - and if you read enough about your targeted travel destination on Fodor's various forums, you will get an excellent overview.

National Geographic Travel is really great! I find lots of ideas from this mag.

I do like Conde Nast Traveler because of some of the regular writers (Pico Iyer is one of my favorites). Wendy Perrin's column can be useful, too. I think of CNT as more for travel browsing and getting ideas.

I tend to not really look much at those fat twice a year 'best' guides, since yes, I agree, they don't relate to my style and reality of travel. I am not a cruiser, business traveler or golfer which are the groups those lists seem to cater to.

I also read some of my pal's old Budget Travel, but find the content lightweight. Sometimes BT does have useful budget hotel articles, however.

I agree - some of the most useful articles are ones I've found in other magazines, including More and various food magazines...but Fodor's is the best for real information.

ok.. I'll be a lone dissenter here.

Get T&amp;L and CN and love them. but I'm not afraid to admit we are indeed luxury travelers and find the issues are the way we travel. I've come to know Wendy Perrin through a TA friend of mine and so I look forward to her writings.

I love the ads too, sorry.. just do..

love the photos as well...

But also like National Geographic.

And agree, lots of stuff is online, so the mags are for sure not my only source of material.

Love to read easy and pleasurable things late at night and so I cozy up to these mags in this fashion.

Could do without the luxe goods though that they promote in the regular sections; even though we travel luxuriously, I do not nor will I ever own LV luggage and other silly WAAAAAAY overpriced goods. I'd rather have memories than goods anyday.

I find all travel magazines are a mecca for ads - waste of money.

TRIPADVISOR.COM is a traveler's dream. What to do, where to eat and where to stay, anywhere in the world. All unbiased reviews.

Also, online you can download or have mailed info from tourist boards

The only travel/lifestyle magazine I regularly purchase is Cote Est, a French magazine that focuses on &quot;romantic Europe&quot;--Alsace, Burgundy, Savoie, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and parts of Eastern Europe.
Gorgeous photos, interesting articles, lots of good travel tips at varying price ranges. I've bought every issue for the past 4 years and they're all keepers.

I don't subscribe to any. I often buy the UK Conde Nast, but it's waaaay out of my league financially.

The Sunday Time Mag (not the supplement) is pretty good and very practical. Like Kavey, I like Wanderlust.

I often buy Greece magazine- mainly for the property ads- I have a dream.....

And I often buy Scottish Islands Explorer. Why, I don't know.

I find the best prices(usually $1 an issue) through Publisher's clearing house.