Specialty Travel Books

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2009 (Unofficial Guides)

Bob Sehlinger, Len Testa

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wiley Amazon Marketplace: 57 new & used starting at $11.13

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Subjects -> Business & Investing -> Industries & Professions -> Performing Arts
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Beaches
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

More than 4 million copies sold! This series is the only one that offers evaluations based on reader surveys and critiques, compiled by a team of unbiased inspectors.

• Hotels, attractions, and restaurants in all price categories

• Extensive information on shopping, nightlife, and sports

• Easy-to-use, two-color design

• Detailed, 2-color maps

From the publishers of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World

"A Tourist's Best Friend!"
—Chicago Sun-Times

"Indispensable"
—The New York Times

Five Great Features and Benefits offered ONLY by The Unofficial Guide:

1. Exclusively patented, field-tested touring plans that save as much as four hours of standing in line in a single day

2. Tips, advice, and opinions from hundreds of Walt Disney World guests in their own words

3. Almost 250 hotels rated and ranked for quality and value, including the top non-Disney hotels for families

4. A complete Dining Guide with ratings and reviews of all Walt Disney World restaurants, plus extensive alternatives for dining deals outside the World

5. Every attraction rated and ranked for each age group; extensive, objective, head-to-head comparisons of the Disney and Universal theme parks

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Bill Bryson

Amazon Price: $7.99 List Price: $7.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Anchor Amazon Marketplace: 76 new & used starting at $2.64

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Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Excursion Guides -> General AAS
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Instructional

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 72 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Waste of time, Misleading, Huge disappointment............. 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This guy is a looser! I applaud him for "attempting" the AT trail, but come on! He did not do even half of it. This book is for people who will never venture down a trail of any kind! I have done my fair share of mountaineering and hiking; I would never fathom writing about my failed attempt to "walk" a trail. If I was getting paid to "hike" something like the AT trail, I sure in the hell would finish it.

The only funny part for me was Mary Ellen! The more I read the more I agree with her opinion. She met the guy? As far as Kat, I like this guy. He seems to be a good guy that went out of his element to try something new!

Conclusion: Publisher should get their money back, Bill should have to go walk the whole trail over start to finish and he should have to do it with Mary Ellen!

Save your money & time.

Other recommendation: "No short cut's to the top" by Ed Viestures Great read, just makes you feel great about life!

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Editorial Review:

The Appalachian Trail trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America–majestic mountains, silent forests, sparking lakes. If you’re going to take a hike, it’s probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaing guide you’ll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hardy (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way–and a couple of bears. Already a classic, A Walk in the Woods will make you long for the great outdoors (or at least a comfortable chair to sit and read in).

Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why

Laurence Gonzales

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: W. W. Norton & Company Amazon Marketplace: 90 new & used starting at $5.76

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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Psychology & Counseling -> General
Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Psychology & Counseling -> General AAS
Subjects -> Outdoors & Nature -> Hiking & Camping -> Instructional

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 149 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"Unique among survival books...stunning...enthralling. Deep Survival makes compelling, and chilling, reading."—Penelope Purdy, Denver Post

After her plane crashes, a seventeen-year-old girl spends eleven days walking through the Peruvian jungle. Against all odds, with no food, shelter, or equipment, she gets out. A better-equipped group of adult survivors of the same crash sits down and dies. What makes the difference?

Examining such stories of miraculous endurance and tragic death—how people get into trouble and how they get out again (or not)—Deep Survival takes us from the tops of snowy mountains and the depths of oceans to the workings of the brain that control our behavior. Through close analysis of case studies, Laurence Gonzales describes the "stages of survival" and reveals the essence of a survivor—truths that apply not only to surviving in the wild but also to surviving life-threatening illness, relationships, the death of a loved one, running a business during uncertain times, even war.

Fascinating for any reader, and absolutely essential for anyone who takes a hike in the woods, this book will change the way we understand ourselves and the great outdoors.

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

Lonely Planet Publications

Amazon Price: $19.80 List Price: $30.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lonely Planet Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $18.80

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Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Pictorial
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> General AAS

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.

Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die: Diving Experts Share the World's Greatest Destinations

Chris Santella

Amazon Price: $16.47 List Price: $24.95 By: Stewart, Tabori & Chang Amazon Marketplace: 44 new & used starting at $15.56

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Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Scuba -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> Scuba -> General AAS
Subjects -> Sports -> Water Sports -> General

Editorial Review:

The earth’s oceans hold many wondrous surprises—be they the small, colorful “critters” off the coast of Papua New Guinea, opportunistic red demon squids in the Sea of Cortes, or naval wrecks in the lagoon of Bikini Atoll. In Fifty Places to Dive Before You Die Chris Santella has invited diving experts from around the world to share some of their favorite destinations, so ardent divers can experience these underwater wonders for themselves—either on location in their SCUBA gear, or at home in their armchair.

The fifth in Santella’s bestselling “Fifty Places” series, the book takes divers from hot-spot destinations like Raja Ampat (off the coast of West Guinea) to old Caribbean favorites like Grand Cayman Isles. Readers will swim among whale sharks off Myanmar, befriend wolf eels off the coast of Maine, and marvel at the giant mola mola of Lembognan, Indonesia. These wonderful creatures—plus the brilliant coral reefs that often provide their backdrop—are captured in 40 gorgeous color photos from the world’s greatest underwater photographers. And for readers who want to travel to these breathtaking locales, Santella provides complete “If You Go” suggestions to help you plan your trip.

Frommers 500 Places to See Before They Disappear (500 Places)

Holly Hughes

Amazon Price: $13.02 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Frommers Amazon Marketplace: 49 new & used starting at $11.39

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

Editorial Review:

500 Places to See Before They Disappear enables passionate travelers and the eco-conscious to learn about and plan a visit to see rare cultural, historic, and natural places before they are irrevocably altered or even gone forever. Here are one-of-a-kind landscapes, fragile ecosystems, rare bird habitats, places to see the last remaining species of big game in the wild, cityscapes in peril, vanishing cultural kitsch, petroglyphs, and more—500 thoughtfully-chosen treasures that will inspire and enlighten travelers of all ages.

Each entry explains why it’s been included, gives its history, the nature of the threat against it, brief practical information on how to visit, and what visitors can to do protect it. A Geographical Index allows travelers to locate attractions across the world. Photos throughout the book help bring destinations to life.

Look inside some of the world's most endangered places (Click on images for more information)

PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! (PassPorter)

Jennifer Marx, Dave Marx, Allison Cerel Marx

Amazon Price: $16.29 List Price: $23.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: PassPorter Travel Press Amazon Marketplace: 6 new & used starting at $16.29

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

Great Planning Guide 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

Passporter's WDW book is a great organizer and planner. Although I visit Disney almost every year, I still like to keep up-to-date with its many changes. So for my 2009 Disney vacation, I purchased several new Disney World guidebooks. Ultimately, I found that my favorite guides were Passporter's and The Healthy Guide to Walt Disney World 2009: How to Eat Right and Stay Fit in Disney - The NEW Diet, Dining, Food, Fitness and Complete Weight Loss Book.

Passporter's Disney guide includes great mapping details, abundant general Disney info and a helpful journal. Well organized and easy to read, any Disney guest will benefit from its vast contents. It also contains clear, concise reviews and straighforward planning tips.

As I also like to maintain a healthy lifestlye while traveling, The 2009 Healthy Guide to WDW was very beneficial. A popular book within the Disney community, The Healthy Guide was best at updating me in the areas of 2009 Disney Dining, ADR's, menus, diet and fitness options.

Concurring with many Disney fans, I agree that authors Jennifer Marx (Passporter's) and Dan Green (Healthy Guide) have written the two best guides to assist guests on their Walt Disney World vacation in 2009.

Editorial Review:

The size and scope of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is enough to make the most seasoned traveler shiver. This guide covers each of the four major parks — Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom — as well as all of the Disney-owned hotels and over 300 dining options. Every map, photo, chart, illustration, and worksheet is in full color, with additional use of color to highlight important points, such as items that are new or have changed since the publication of the previous edition.

The Smart Traveler's Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers

Erik Torkells, the readers of Budget Travel

Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Quirk Books Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $3.74

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Tips harder to find than ShangriLa 2 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Hard to find specific tips, as no index nor organizational sequence by topics. Is very random, and while I have found good suggestions from the magazine issues, this is just too random to be of great assistances

Editorial Review:

Budget Travel magazine isn't just about the best travel experience at the lowest price it's also about traveling "the right way." Their philosophy, "Vacations for real people," has led them to their readership for guidance, and this collection of their readers' best 399 travel tips is an essential addition to any traveler's library. In The Smart Traveler's Passport, you'll learn:
13 different uses for Ziploc bags
How dental floss can double as a tape measure
Where to find the best street food in cities worldwide
How a digital camera can help you find your rental car
Why clearing your Web browser's cache will lead to lower prices on airfare and hotel reservations
How to avoid long lines at the world's most popular attractions

Designed to look and feel like an actual passport, these tips on planning, booking, packing, flying, safety, security, and getting around make the perfect bon voyage gift!

Europe on a Shoestring (Lonely Planet Shoestring Guides)

Sarah Johnstone, Aaron Anderson, Sarah Andrews, Ryan Ver Berkmoes

Amazon Price: $18.47 List Price: $27.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lonely Planet Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $16.89

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Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> General
Subjects -> Travel -> Europe -> General AAS
Subjects -> Travel -> Reference & Tips -> Guidebooks

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 34 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Party in Tallinn or pose in Cannes; hike the Curonian Spit; be seduced by the Aya Sofia in Istanbul or simply learn the art of the Spanish siesta. Your European Adventure starts here with the most detailed guide available, featuring more than 40 countries, 200 maps and insider tips to help you to go further, stay longer and pay less for the ultimate European grand tour.

GRAND TURISMO - Itineraries to aid your planning and splurge features to help you decide where to splash out, whether it be a night in an ice hotel or haute cuisine in Paris.

BE IN THE KNOW - with a detailed Directory and dedicated language chapter, plus look out for our author picks highlighting the best of the best.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE - A Year in Europe helps you find out what's happening when, from the best music and sporting events to where to chase the northern lights.

DO THE RIGHT THING - travel ethically and lightly with advice from our unique Responsible Travel section and make a positive difference along the way.

No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks

Ed Viesturs, David Roberts

Amazon Price: $11.20 List Price: $14.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Broadway Amazon Marketplace: 53 new & used starting at $3.52

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Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> Memoirs
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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This gripping and triumphant memoir follows a living legend of extreme mountaineering as he makes his assault on history, one 8,000-meter summit at a time.

For eighteen years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing’s holy grail: to stand atop the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.

A preternaturally cautious climber who once turned back 300 feet from the top of Everest but who would not shrink from a peak (Annapurna) known to claim the life of one climber for every two who reached its summit, Viesturs lives by an unyielding motto, “Reaching the summit is optional. Getting down is mandatory.” It is with this philosophy that he vividly describes fatal errors in judgment made by his fellow climbers as well as a few of his own close calls and gallant rescues. And, for the first time, he details his own pivotal and heroic role in the 1996 Everest disaster made famous in Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.

In addition to the raw excitement of Viesturs’s odyssey, No Shortcuts to the Top is leavened with many funny moments revealing the camaraderie between climbers. It is more than the first full account of one of the staggering accomplishments of our time; it is a portrait of a brave and devoted family man and his beliefs that shaped this most perilous and magnificent pursuit.