Return to Home Page

April 16, 2008

The best way to use a guidebook

What can I say—I like guidebooks. You get a little history, a little culture, and when it comes down to making things happen, you get hotel and restaurant recommendations from someone who’s been there.

But there’s the rub, right? When a guidebook is widely distributed, there’s a good chance that lots of others will visit those same spots—lured by the same poetic descriptions that you were.

We’ve heard the rants and raves on guidebooks before, but I thought that the recent Perceptive Travel blog on the subject was an interesting read.

On one hand: a hostel owner in Puerto Natales, Chile (near Torres del Paine National Park) was so put off by the wrong mindset of popular guidebooks that he (a) refused a listing in a guidebook, and (b) accused backpackers of being unadventurous for using said guidebook. I know that he echoes the cry of some travelers who are finding hoards of travelers at their favorite, once ‘hidden’ spots.

On the other hand: the blogger, Carolyn McCarthy, is not only a traveler but a guidebook author. While she commiserates with the hostel owner about some general woes of mass tourism, she takes offense at the idea that travelers who use guidebooks aren’t adventurous.

In the end, the gem is her suggestion of how to best use a guidebook: in moderation.

“How do you avoid the traps of a guidebook? It’s easy. Use it when it’s essential, then don’t. Don’t be sucked in by Greatest Hits Lists: what are the chances that your best travel memories will take place within yards of a Natual Wonder? You might want to spend a week in a town that got a two-sentence write up (a sure sign few travelers are there). Stick around one place long enough to make a friend. Let locals tell you their favorite outings and places to eat. Most importantly, find the time to put the guide away and trust your gut.”

Posted by | Comments (2) 
Category: Notes from the collective travel mind


2 Responses to “The best way to use a guidebook”

  1. Mark Evans Says:

    I think guidebooks have their place but they don’t have to be a staple for every traveler. Sometimes, it’s better to leave the guidebook at home or at the hotel as a way to expose yourself to new adventures that you might have not experienced if you were following the travel guide pack.

  2. pam Says:

    I happen to like the greatest hits lists and it’s a shame, when you’re in Paris, for example, to miss the Eiffel Tower. There’s a reason those places are on the greatest hits lists, after all – it’s because they’re iconic for the place or they’re just amazing. Yes, you have to watch the moon rise over Half Dome with a bunch of people, but it’s still unbelievably lovely.

    But I do think it’s a great idea to put the guide away, too, or to go to the small places and to slow down there, to stick around long enough to meet some people. That’s when a place becomes real and not just a pretty postcard.

    Though I do love pretty postcards.

Leave a Reply

Main

Bio

Books

Stories

Essays

Video

Interviews

Events

Images

Writers

Marco

Guide

News

Paris

Vagabonding.net

Contact

Marco Polo Didnt Go There
Rolf's new book!


Vagabonding
   Vagabonding


RECENT COMMENTS

Rolf Potts: Interesting to see Prague’s St Christophers at The Mosaic House win...

Angela Fornelli: @Ted – It’s so true … the reactions about the...

Ted Beatie: Like Rolf, one the first things I get when planning a trip is a map. Sure...

Ted Beatie: I sure hope so, Nancy!

Ted Beatie: Re: the backpack – no kidding! Even when we were backpacking thru SE...

Ted Beatie: Often, I will bring back music I heard on a trip, and it will transport me...

GypsyGirl: @Chris, You should! Pooh is the ultimate Uncarved Block. Next time you come...

Lindsey Rue: @Coco Marie, Paris is wonderful for street music! Actually, the man...

Ted Beatie: Create interview, Marco!

Rolf Potts: I’ve seen those tattoos all over in Thailand, but I never fully knew...

SPONSORED BY :



CATEGORIES

TRAVEL LINKS

ARCHIVES

RECENT ENTRIES

The fastest way to find great hostels
Sacred Skin: the art of spirit tattoos in Thailand
Slow Down to Enjoy the Music
Vagabonding Case Study: Heliana Trovato
Preparing for the unexpected responses to your travel news
Street children: do tourist dollars help or hurt?
Travel is good for kids
A journey’s bookends: anticipation and reminiscence
Introducing the Indie Travel Manifesto
Special February 2012 fares for multi-stop tickets on BootsnAll


Subscribe to this blog's feed