What to look for when purchasing travel books?

Question

I'm buying some travel books for the guy I'm seeing, he's going to a few countries like vietnam, cambodia, thailand...

What should I look for when purchasing them? Are there any really good ones to buy? What would be helpful in them - phrases, places to see etc? I have never been travelling so I have no idea!

Answer 1

Make sure that the books are the most recent avaialble. I usually prefer Rough Guide to Lonely Planet but both serve the purpose. here is a travel blog for first timers. Hope it helps!
Here we go.
Get travel insurance. It is not expensive and can save you in nasty situations. Make sure to inform your Credit card companies that you are going to be out of the country so they don't freeze your accounts when they get a charge from Saigon or where ever you end up. It can be a real pain trying to straighten that out over the international phone.
Carry copies of your passport and visas, your birth certificate, air line tickets and driver’s license in 3 or 4 different places. If your primary bag gets lost or stolen this will help you get back on track. Don't carry a lot of money with you. ATM's are just about everywhere now, so you can get more cash when you need it. Pack light. Most of the places that you are going have nice inexpensive clothing shops and you will need room to bring them back. Leave your computer at home. There are internet cafes everywhere and they are very inexpensive. Use them. That way you don't have to worry about someone stealing your brick and you don't have to lug it around. Keep your passport, tickets etc in a sturdy pouch that goes around your neck. Never wear it in back. I haven't lost mine in over a year on the road and there have been a couple of attempts. Bring your cell phone. It needs to be the one that is most compatible with the various international systems a GSM Phone. Make sure it is unlocked so you can use different Sim cards from different countries. In most places, incoming calls are free. So your friends can reach you in an emergency and you can do the same. This works good. Just email the new number to those who need it and you have a safety net. Bring a basic medical kit. Band-Aids, antiseptic and antibiotics. Anti diarrhea meds, aspirin etc. If you get food poisoning to the point that you have a fever go the doctor immediately. (The Hotel usually has one on call) You can die from food poisoning so don't screw around. Wear slip on shoes. It saves time and trouble in airports and all Asian countries. Always let your hotels know when you leave. It’s best to give them the key, and tell them where you are going. Get a card from the hotel so you can find it again in case of extreme drunkenness or just a lack of directional ability. Also. Read your passport. It can pay to have the various Embassies know when you are in the country. They are not much help but they are a safety net in emergencies. Have I forgotten anything? I am sure I have but this is a good broad list to remember. and... Let the hotels handle booking your tours and local stuff. It costs a little more but it is worth it. Hey, Have fun. You are on vacation! Here are some good Web sites to remember.

Lonely planet.com
http://www.xe.com/ucc/ for currency quotes
Google earth for finding where you are.
Oh... get a good travel book. Lonely planet or Rough Guide are good and they give you ideas about scams and rip offs in the areas where you are and good maps and directions to hotels and restaurants. Worth the money.

Answer 2

Hotels in the suburbs or on the edge of London will be far cheaper than those in central London; there is an excellent Underground or national rail service almost everywhere that will get you into central London quickly and efficiently. Remember though that if you are outside the London travel zones 1-6 (1-9 in certain areas), you will have to pay a supplemental fare to use your Travelcard

Answer 3

The book should have historical info about the country, highlights of the main sights and of course some practical info about food, opening time, transport, some sample prices. If you go to regular book store you can just browse some books and see which you would like more.

Answer 4

In terms of travel guides, newer is better. Things are changing pretty fast in Viet Nam and no doubt elsewhere in SE Asia. Newer books should be more accurate.

Answer 5

The 'Lonely Planet' logo