Guidebooks Books - Page 2

In a Sunburned Country

Bill Bryson

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Subjects -> Reference -> Writing -> Travel
Subjects -> Travel -> Australia & South Pacific -> Australia -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Australia & South Pacific -> Australia -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 409 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.

Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide.

Hawaii The Big Island Revealed; The Ultimate Guidebook

Andrew Doughty, Harriett Friedman

List Price: $14.95 By: Wizard Publications Amazon Marketplace: 38 new & used starting at $0.01

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Subjects -> History -> Australia & Oceania -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Australia & South Pacific -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Australia & South Pacific -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 244 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

This is simply the best guidebook available! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I compared it with three other guidebooks, and this one is hands down by far the best. I also like his sense of humor, and his ability to give us foreigners a realistic taste of the local culture. It is down to earth, not superficial, and it must have been a lot of work to write this guide! The first thing I did when I arrived in Oahu for the second segment of my trip was to go to the bookstore at the airport and buy his book for Oahu.

Just Get It 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you are planning a trip to The Big Island you need to buy this book. We got 5 books from the library before purchasing this book, and this is the one we kept ging back to. Just get it.

Editorial Review:

Most travel titles are put together in a few weeks by visiting travel writers. Wizard guidebooks take over a year to compile and the writers are residents who personally and anonymously review every facet of the island. Their maps are the best you'll find. From restaurants to helicopter companies to scuba to beaches to trails. They see it all and show you the best the island has to offer. They also reveal who's the worst and who to stay away from. All told in a frank, humorous way that keeps the reading fun.

The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World

Lonely Planet Publications

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 67 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Big disappointment 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book and find it absolutely useless. If you expect to learn something about a country this is not the book for you. It is a big waste of money. A huge heavy book that will gather dust on your coffee table. Very little information about the countries. I found it absolutely uselss and rather typical of the out-of-date information that Lonely Planet turns out today. If you are a traveler and want to learn something about the countries of the world, find another book. Very sorry that I bought it.

Breath-taking photographs 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

High-fives and congrats to the smart people at Lonely Planet Publications. This beautifully photographed book is a treasure that you must see for yourself. The somewhat plain cover hides the wonder you'll find inside. Every country is included with multiple photographs and brief, but relevant (and sometimes humorous) information. This is not a detailed book to use when planning a trip. It is a starting place for travelers and armchair dreamers. There is beauty in every country in the world and the proof is within these pages. Buy multiple copies. You'll want one to keep and several to give away as gifts to anyone interested in travel or photography.

Editorial Review:

The world is a breathtakingly big place, and in this big book we have undertaken the big task of detailing as much of it as we can - every single country, many of the larger dependencies and other, smaller destinations. With the traveler's experience at its heart, this book shows a slice of life in every corner of the globe, and all points in between, engaging the reader's senses in an adventure which conjures up the sights, smells, tastes, sounds and feel of our amazing world.

Blue Highways: A Journey into America

William Least Heat-Moon

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Subjects -> History -> Americas -> United States -> General AAS
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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Essays & Travelogues

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 114 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

First published in 1982, William Least Heat-Moon's account of his journey along the back roads of the United States (marked with the color blue on old highway maps) has become something of a classic. When he loses his job and his wife on the same cold February day, he is struck by inspiration: "A man who couldn't make things go right could at least go. He could quit trying to get out of the way of life. Chuck routine. Live the real jeopardy of circumstance. It was a question of dignity."Driving cross-country in a van named Ghost Dancing, Heat-Moon (the name the Sioux give to the moon of midsummer nights) meets up with all manner of folk, from a man in Grayville, Illinois, "whose cap told me what fertilizer he used" to Scott Chisholm, "a Canadian citizen ... [who] had lived in this country longer than in Canada and liked the United States but wouldn't admit it for fear of having to pay off bets he made years earlier when he first 'came over' that the U.S. is a place no Canadian could ever love." Accompanied by his photographs, Heat-Moon's literary portraits of ordinary Americans should not be merely read, but savored.

Sacred Places of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations

National Geographic

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Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> New Age -> General AAS
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Occult -> General
Subjects -> Religion & Spirituality -> Occult -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This inspirational book showcases 500 of the world's most powerful and spiritual places–and guides modern-day travelers who wish to visit them.

With eloquent text, hundreds of gorgeous full-color images, and practical visitor information, Sacred Places of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Most Peaceful and Powerful Destinations highlights fascinating icons of many religions around the world and offers an intriguing window into the cultures that created them. From prehistoric burial chambers to modern monuments and sanctuaries, each site’s history, lore, and appeal is evocatively detailed.

Nearly 300 locator maps point out pilgrimage routes, temples, mountains, churches, and holy places, including Mont St.-Michel Abbey in France, founded after a reported vision of the Archangel Michael; the White Horse Temple in China, site of the country’s first Buddhist temple, dating from the first century A.D.; Machu Picchu in Peru, whose origins lie in obscurity; and Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, said by many to be the holiest city in the world. A follow-up to the bestselling Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips, this beautiful book answers the call of the spiritual traveler while also appealing to the many readers interested in sites of unique cultural heritage.

Rick Steves' Paris 2009 (Rick Steves)

Rick Steves, Steve Smith, Gene Openshaw

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> France -> Paris
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Editorial Review:

The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the cozy crêperies of Ile St. Louis—Rick Steves’ Paris 2009 allows any traveler to experience all that the City of Light has to offer, from the big-name attractions to the local favorites. Rick covers the best of Paris, providing full tours of the museums and historic sights, detailed walks through various neighborhoods, and complete coverage of Parisian cuisine. Pick from over 400 types of cheeses at the fromagerie on Rue Cler or take a day trip to Versailles—it’’s all possible with Rick Steves as your guide.

Rick Steves' Italy 2008 (Rick Steves)

Rick Steves

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> Italy -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

"Rick Steves Most of Italy 2008" - he amputated the "foot". 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Don't buy this if you expect to find information on the southern Italian mainland.

The map at the front of this book sums up its disappointing lack of coverage of southern Italy. The map stops at the Amalfi coast and does not show the "foot" part of the country. Rick Steves' Italian mainland ends at a line drawn between Paestum and Manfredonia. So .... no Lecce, no Matera, no Otranto - there's absolutely nothing on Puglia. Truncated map = truncated coverage.

The title should be "Rick Steves Most of Italy 2008".

Editorial Review:

Who but Rick Steves can tell travelers the best way to see Rome, Venice, Florence, the hill towns of central Italy, the Dolomites, and the Amalfi Coast? With Rick Steves’ Italy 2008, travelers can experience the best of everything Italy has to offer — economically and hassle-free. Completely revised and updated, this guide includes opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights, friendly places to eat and sleep, suggested day plans, walking tours and trip itineraries, and clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot. America’s number one authority on travel to Europe, Steves' time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Europe have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique European travel experience.

A Walk in the Woods

Bill Bryson

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Essays & Travelogues
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Guidebooks

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 968 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A Walk in the Woods 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Having spent many nights on the AT and the surrounding towns I found this book delightful. It's full of great snapshots of life under the canopy, trudging up and down the muddy trail, encountering people who seems equally strange to you as you do to them. Bryson brings his experience of living abroad and the subsequent well-honed observational skills to the simple act of walking and being part of nature. A fun, thoughtful and well done book.

Great Travel Memoir 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Having fell in love with the audio version of Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, I decided to give A Walk in the Woods a try. This audio is also read by the author.

Bill Bryson moved to Hanover, New Hampshire, and soon after realizes the the Appalachian Trail, at least part of it, is close by. After doing some reading about the trail, he thought it would be pretty cool to hike the trail which runs from Georgia to Maine. He solicits friends and family to join him, and even puts notes in his holiday cards inviting people to hike "the trail".

The only person to respond to his invitation was an old college buddy, that he never got along with too well...Steven Katz. The two of them are like the "odd couple". Bryson is very prepared, having shopped for all the essentials for the trip, and packed very well. Katz, is like Oscar with his duffle bag well packed with Snickers Bars and Little Debbie cakes, all the essentials he felt he'd need. When Katz' bag gets a little too heavy, he tosses the water bottle...who needs water on a hike in the South right?. Their hike began in Georgia, and last about 6 weeks or 500 miles.

The book was very amusing. In addition there is a bit of history about the Appalachian Trail, as well as environmental and ecological issues neatly laced into the story. Great travel Memoir.

Editorial Review:

From the author of "Notes from a Small Island" and "The Lost Continent" comes this humorous report on his walk along the Appalachian Trail. The Trail is the longest continuous footpath in the world, and it snakes through some of the wildest and most spectacular landscapes in America.

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World For Kids 2009 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids By Kids)

Birnbaum Travel Guides

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> People & Places -> Travel

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Children are perhaps Walt Disney World's biggest fans. On playgrounds and in classrooms, there's always excited talk about who went to Walt Disney World and what they did each day-or minute. It has become almost a rite of passage to visit America's most popular travel destination, and kids can be wonderful sources of information.

Where To Go When (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

DK Publishing

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Subjects -> Travel -> Guidebook Series -> Eyewitness -> General
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Travel in Any Economy 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Want to be transported without the hassle of airport security, fees for checked baggage, or cramped airline seats? Then this Eyewitness Travel Guide is a must have. As an avid world traveler, I have my top 10 list of where I want to travel. Yet when I feel the urge to get away without a moment's notice, I just open up "Where To Go When" and slip into an effortless travel experience.

The photos in this book are exquisite. Information highlights about each destination are brief yet informative enough for trips from the couch. While I would not recommend going to a number of the places during the time of year suggested, I do highly recommend the enjoyment of this guide for intriguing picturesque travels in the comfort of your home.

Beautiful Book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is just a gorgeous book. There is much information to be gotten by merely looking at the pictures. I've enjoyed flipping through it over and over again.

Have tips for trips to come 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Nice book to read with a cup of coffee. Good photos and ideas for future travels.

Travel from the viewpoint of the time of year 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Book is very well conceived and the pictures, lay out, details, etc is outstanding. In that respect it is both a great "coffee table" addition or an useful dream or travel tool. Should highlight that the book is not confined to the usual travel destinations, which is a big big plus. With regards to the content which it is not as detailed as someone could expect I will point out that this is not a travel guide but a reference tool which I think does a great job at pointing out the "when" for a variety of travel options. My basic criticism is that although for the most part it does a very good job at explaining the rationale behind why a particular date is recommended for a given location, it does not consistently highlights other suitable periods of the year for such location and in a few instances I got the feeling that the date suggested obeyed more to the need to put something in a particular month rather than an specific advantage of the date. But all in all is a great reference in a subject often overlooked - rather than saying When is the best time to go to Cinque Terre? it is positioned to look at it from - What's a good place to go this month?.