Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips (Hardcover)

by National Geographic (Author)

Book Details
* Hardcover: 400 pages
* Publisher: National Geographic (October 16, 2007)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1426201257
* ISBN-13: 978-1426201257
* Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.3 x 1.5 inches
* Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
* Rating:

Book Description
No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world’s most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.

Compiled from the favorite trips of National Geographic’s travel writers, Journeys of a Lifetime spans the globe to highlight the best of the world’s most famous and lesser known sojourns. It presents an incredible diversity of possibilities, from ocean cruises around Antarctica to horse treks in the Andes. Every continent and every possible form of transport is covered.

A timely resource for the burgeoning ranks of active travelers who crave adventurous and far-flung trips, Journeys of a Lifetime provides scores of creative ideas: trekking the heights of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania… mountain biking in Transylvania… driving through the scenic highlands of Scotland… or rolling through the outback on Australia’s famous Ghan train… and dozens of other intriguing options all over the world.

Journeys of a Lifetime also features 22 fun Top 10 lists in all sorts of categories. What are the world’s top 10 elevator rides, bridges to walk across, trolley rides, ancient highways, or underground walking adventures? Readers will love evaluating and debating the selections.

Each chapter showcases stunning photography, full-color maps, evocative text, and expert advice—including how to get there, when to visit, and how to make the most of the journey—all packaged in a luxurious oversize volume to treasure for years to come.

Journeys of a Lifetime Review
This is a great “coffee table” style book, filled with interesting information and the sort of excellent photography one would expect from National Geographic. What’s most remarkable, however, is simply the price. This is a big, heavy, tome of a book–hardcover–and I would have expected it to easily cost twice what it does. It’s a real pleasure to browse through, and I learned of quite a few places I had not heard of or would not have thought about as options for travel destinations. It is not a resource per se. Think of it as a collection, a wide array, of mini-travelogues with good photography (even if on a fairly matte paper stock), and given the large size of the book, this allows for fairly large-format images. A good value.

This book can be a little annoying at times. The chapters are divided into catagories such a “travel by train,” or “travel on foot.” This means if you want to say go to Peru, you have to look at the index for Peru and flip to all the scattered writeups. You might miss something. I think there could be a little more info written too on each “Journey” mentioned. Sometimes it’s not enough to get a true excitement about the place, event, or experience. Overall I do like the book though. Great reference and gives enough info to do some research on your own when making plans for your trip. Great photos.

I have seen quite a few travel books, but I have really liked this one. It has the great photo’s you would expect from National Geographic as well some very interesting realistic journeys. Looking through the book I had found several that I have already done and they were truly great trips. If you really want a book that will give you the urge to travel somewhere great, or want to get someone else motivated and excited to travel this is a great book for just that.

If you are looking for a traveller guide which will guide you to the not to be missed locations in this world then this is the one for you. The photos are awesome and the description of each location, although only one page long is sufficient to give you a good idea about what to expect. There is also a small section on tips which really give you some out of the way ideas to do at each location. All in all I highly recommend this book.

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Italy (Eyewitness Travel Guides) (Turtleback)

by DK Publishing (Author)

Book Details
* Turtleback: 720 pages
* Publisher: DK Travel; 2006 edition (March 20, 2006)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0756615453
* ISBN-13: 978-0756615451
* Dimensions: 8.4 x 5 x 1.4 inches
* Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
* Rating:

Book Description
Italy offers an extraordinary kaleidoscope of regions and experiences for all visitors. Packed with photographs, illustrations and maps the Eyewitness Travel to Italy has mapped out all of the remarkable flavors of Italy. Use this guide to help you decide where to stay, eat, relax, and shop. Every page in the Eyewitness Travel to Italy has pinpointed the highlights of each fascinating region.

Italy Eyewitness Travel Guides Review
DK travel guides (Eyewitness brand) are known for its unique photograpy and pictures. They are printed full-color and magazine-style and the sublime pictures get supreme treatment. The maps are not ideal, but they do the job for some one new to Italy and answers the question of what to see and where to go with a little history and background tossed in. The maps will get you from Florence’s Pitti Palace across the River Arno and to the Galleria to see Michelangelo’s David, but good luck finding that little bistro in the cobblestone alley. This is a guide for the county of Italy in general and its regions and may lack some depth in terms of detail but for the first and even second time visitor to Italy its great considering its relative small weight and size in your travel case or backpack. Don’t expect this guidebook to have that out-of-the-way gallery, or even the celebrated gelato shop directions. This little book covers the most important sites in any given city or region – with lush pictures that DK is known for and short blurbs to match. It also covers general information to the first time visitor covering money, agencies, other basic travel information which can be of great help to some one not famliar to Italy.

I found this book useful for helping me target in on the areas I’d be most interested in visiting. Perusing the overview maps and many little photos of the attractions quickly gives you an idea what to expect in each region. It’s a great starting point for planning your vacation to Italy. It has all the contact info you need to further track down or get specific information on hotels/attractions. Once you look thru the book and have an idea on the specific regions you want to visit I’d suggest getting a book just targeted in on that region as you’ll get more detailed information on the hotels/restaurants/attractions in that area that way. This book as to not be thousands of pages just briefly describes attractions and as for hotels/restaurants it mostly just gives you a star rating. If you want to do leg work yourself though it may be all you need as it does provide web links and phone numbers where you can get more details on each.

This is one of the best travel books I’ve read. Every page has well laid out and well labeled full color pictures to augment the text. Once you look at this it’s hard to go back to a dry, sterile book that’s all text with a handful of color pages in the middle. The information here is clear and easy to read. There is cross-referencing everywhere, for example a page that’s describing a major attraction will tell you where to go in the book to find hotels in that area. There are listings and descriptions for hotels and restaurants in each area, and general travel tips. The introduction to each area of Italy also has an overview of the history and architecture.

My family and I visited Italy for two weeks, and this travel guide was priceless. I borrowed it from a friend (his 1998 version) and had to purchase a more recent version from Amazon as soon as I got back. DK Publishing has reasonables prices, and the delivery time is fast. Very fast. The book arrived in brand new condition, and I noticed that our hotel in Rome ‘The Lancelot’ is now listed in the directory of places to stay in Rome. There is so much information in this travel guide. Each tourist sight description is short and sweet and to the point. No pages and pages of details that might otherwise put you to sleep, as other tour books can do. And the pictures are just as wonderful. Looking at them again now that we’ve been back, is even more fun. They do a great job, and this seller is very good. I’ll buy from them again.

Accolades to the DK Eyewitness staff. Their books are art pieces within themselves. Clearly labors of love. I paid $50 for Eyewitness Italy when I bought the book in Rome. Best to buy it before leaving the US, not after. The street maps of Rome are particularly good. If you are an information junky like me, one travel guide is never enough so expect to buy additional guides.

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The Next Exit, 2009 Edition (Perfect Paperback)

by Mark Watson

Book Details
* Paperback: 552 pages
* Publisher: the Next EXIT, Inc.; 2009 (18th) edition (December 15, 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 0971407371
* ISBN-13: 978-0971407374
* Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 0.8 inches
* Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
* Rating:

Book Description
The Next EXIT 2009 (18th edition)USA Interstate highway exit directory is the most complete guide ever printed. It lists services located at USA Interstate hwy exits nationwide, including gas, food, lodging, camping, hospitals, shopping and attractions. Over one million sold, it is the most trusted travel tool of the interstate highways.

The Next Exit 2009 Edition Review
I purchsed this book to have along for a 6,000 mile family drive across the US and back, and found it incredibly useful. I had planned to buy software for my laptop or PDA but when I found the same comprehensive info in a cheaper, easier-to-use book form, I bought it instead.

I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Although the notational scheme is a bit cryptic, once you get the hang of reading the exit-by-exit entries it’s easy to scan ahead and spot places to eat or gas up, or just find a rest area for a quick break. The listings are well organized and very thorough — I’m sure I can use this book far easier than I could access a software version, especially in a fully-packed moving car.
This book helped us avoid running out of gas in Arizona, and many times let us find just the right exit to stop and feed the kids (who love Sonic drive-ins). Don’t take a long trip on US Interstate highways without this book!

I have used this book for Travel to CO, to FL, to Me and to many other places and especially to go camping. It is an excellent resource for the “co-pilot.” Saves lots of arguments. At least you know what is ahead instead of pulling off each exit to find out. This is especially important when you are pulling a trailer. One suggestion would be to put trailer friendly eating places. I know that Cracker Barrel is one of them but I’m sure there are others. We do sometimes want to go out to eat but can’t find a place to park a trailer. Thanks for a wonderful book. HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who travels on the Interstates.

My wife and I have been traveling the interstate road systems for 35 years. We have always traveled with a road atlas but in 2000 we bought this book. We were so impressed with it’s accuracy and completeness we have suggested to all friends and relatives they need to purchase one as well. Since the recent renumbering of the exits we decided it would be best to own a more recent version. So, we have sent for a 2004 version and have given our old 2000 version to a family member to use until they purchase their own. Thanks for a great book!!! Please make these more readily available at stores like Walmart and Truck Stops throughout the county.

I am not a road warrior as are some of the reviewers. My first, upcoming trip will be north on Interstate 5 from CA to Oregon, towing a vintage, restored travel trailer. I’ll be “boondocking it ,” as they say, so the trailer has been re-engineered to “go it alone,” — anywhere but trailer parks. Not everyone’s cup o’ tea to be sure. But what has the book got to do with it? Just this: With my aversion to trailer parks, I spent a night (make that a couple of hours) trying to nap at a rest stop. You don’t want to do that — ever! The drivers keep their thunderous diesel engines roaring and the noise will sap your strength so that you will be more tired than when you stopped. But! Find a truck stop, and sidle up amongst the acres of silent big rigs, and you have a quiet, safe haven for as long as you choose to stay. You can usually grab a hot showr, too. The trick to finding these truck stops is clearly marked in the Exit information of this tour de force publication. Don’t set out without one.

This handy guide lists services at exits off of most major interstates (all 2-digit interstates and selected 3-digit ones as well). If you have your favorite gasoline brand or only want to eat at specific restaurants, you can search the listings for your preferred brand on the stretch of highway you’re currently on. Hospitals, parks, shopping centers, and other attractions are also identified. Although the now-defunct “Professional Truckers Exit Guide” had a better layout (individual categories of services, i.e; gas, lodging, etc. were listed on separate lines and every other page had a strip map of the highway covered) I have not seen it in stores since 2000, so I do believe the Next Exit is the only such directory currently in print. This is a valuable tool that no interstate traveler should be without.

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Rick Steves’ London 2009 [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Rick Steves (Author), Gene Openshaw (Author)

Book Details
* Paperback: 464 pages
* Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing; illustrated edition edition (December 1, 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1598801171
* ISBN-13: 978-1598801170
* Dimensions: 7.9 x 4.5 x 0.9 inches
* Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
* Rating:

Book Description
With Rick Steves’ London 2009, travelers can visit Westminster Abbey, explore the British Museum, and finish the day off at an Art Nouveau pub. Rick offers expert advice on both the big-name attractions and local favorites of this world-class city, from the London Eye to artisan cheese shops. With detailed walks through London’s famous districts, including Bankside and the West End, and complete tours of the major museums and historical sights, Rick Steves’ London 2009 is a tour guide that fits in your pocket.

Rick Steves’ London 2009 Review
I’ve traveled to Europe several times over the past 8 years and purchased various guide books for the planning of each trip and as a guide during the trip. By far the best and most reliable is the Rick Steves series. Factual information. I like it because he has a back door philosphy. I feel like I’m getting the background information from someone that has lived there for years. I also love how I’m able to use it as a guide once I’m there too. He has walking tours of museums – of course I typically purchase the musuem audio tours but in the random time that I don’t pay for it, it’s nice to have one in the guidebook. I like knowing the hours and cost of sites. Also the restaurants and hotels he has reccommeded have always been better than expected. I will always use Rick Steves whenever traveling to Europe. I know that he updates these yearly! I just wish he made these books for other parts of the world!

This book has been the most helpful of the three I ordered. I am looking forward to carrying it around London. His comments are always down to earth, just like his tv series. I know his information is current and is in common language that is easy to understand.

This book saves you lots of time and energy planning a trip. Steves even walks you through museums down to every corridor. Great book – we would have been lost without it!

Rick always comes thru with great information on where to go and what not to waste your time on. I enjoy the way that he suggests ways to immerse yourself in the culture of the place you are visiting.

Kindle Edition
Rick Steves’ London 2009 (Kindle Edition)