Guidebook Galaxy
© Diane Goldberg under the original topic name
You can't enjoy a place unless you know a lot about it.
Few disappointments loom as large as returning from the Rockies without a glimpse of elk, or leaving London without having met a ghost. As my heart was set on seeing the Jewish Museum in Vienna, I had to console myself with sacher torte when I discovered it was closed during the week I visited the Austrian city.
You can't anticipate every museum closing or climatic disaster.
You can research your destination to increase your fun
Once you have set your sights on a particular place, find out everything you can from every available source on that destination. http://expedia.msn.com/wgspec/, the address for World Guide, is a great place to start for anywhere on the planet.
But, nothing can beat an in-depth guidebook to your desired destination.
Know what to expect from a guidebook
Access - These guidebooks focus on urban areas, arranged geographically. They are an excellent "know as you go" resource. If you want lodging, restaurant, and museum info to tote with you, they're a good choice. Access has a good selection of US city guides.
Baedeker - Fairly comprehensive guidebooks covering both large areas and specific cities, the pictures are beautiful. The budget traveler may not find what he wants in terms of hotel/restaurant recommendations.
Blue Guides - For the tourist who stays "on the beaten path," this may be your guidebook. If you have an interest in history or culture, you'll find a significant amount of background information. If smaller sights and side trips appeal to you, this guide might be a disappointment.
Berkeley Budget Guides - An excellent mixture of historical/cultural information and inexpensive ways to access sights is available to the reader of this excellent series of guidebooks. One caveat: as budget hotels and restaurants refuse to remain static. be cautious when buying a Berkeley - if the addition is a few years old, the information may be outdated.
Cadogan - Covering the quirky from London street markets to an insider's guide to Crete, this erudite collection contains topics not guidebooked by other companies. The Mediterranean, South America, and South Africa are among their best titles. The illustrations are sometimes worth the price of the guide.
Fielding's - Guidebooks for the extreme traveler who thrill-seeks round the globe or the literate surfer who seeks the big one. Additionally, this publisher offers some detailed evaluations of cruises worldwide.
