Every penny counts when you’re planning to go backpacking. You soon learn to sacrifice nights out, new clothes and the only gastro dining you enjoy is a dash of spice to your beans on toast, but hey living the life of a pauper for a while will be worth it when you have a good wedge of cash to get you around the world. So during this frugal living surely paying sometimes as much as £30 for a travel guide book would be classed as utter madness?
It’s not just the size and weight of these books that make a dent on your wallet, they also add to the weight of your backpack. When preparing for a long trip abroad surely the aim is to travel as light as possible, streamlining everything, not chucking in heavy guide books lugging you down?
In this modern day where everything is online are travel guide books worth it?
I’ve always had a guide book before each long trip I’ve made. It adds to the excitement by flicking through pages full of information, colour and inspiration of the things I may be about to experience. As well as helping me out of many a hard spot with the easy to read maps, names of hostels and difficult spellings of addresses to point to for unsure taxi drivers.
I also like the idea that one day I’ll have a bookcase full of well used guidebooks. Their dog-eared pages and well creased spines serving as reminders of the places I’ve been and loved.
But yeah they are usually pricey, heavy and full of recommendations that are now teaming with tourists. So much for those hidden gems. Surely you can get more up-to-date real reviews from blogs or travel forums?
If you don’t want to splash the cash or carry the weight of a travel guide book you may get lucky and find a copy in one of the hostels in the destination you are staying in, however these may be out of date, scribbled on or the all-important pages ripped out. Wah!
An alternative is to download sections, chapters or maps from the best known guides onto your tablet or e-book. This has worked for a few backpackers I’ve met and I recommend doing this for short city breaks, but when you’re away for a long trip, visiting numerous countries, the cost of these chapters add up so you may have just bought the book in the first place? Plus there is nothing better than the feel of a proper book, you can highlight section, fold pages down and jot notes to help you make your way around the country.
The travel guide books that have worked for me are the ones that incorporate many countries in one. Yes so it is a little pricier but ultimately cheaper than buying a book for each country and less weight to carry. When I went to South East Asia I used this one from Lonely Planet which allowed me to plan ahead and prepare my route to numerous countries. On my most recent trip this one crammed full of information on South America was perfect.
What do you think? Are guide books the ultimate costly and heavy comfort blanket or an essential item you simply cannot travel without? I’d love to hear from you. Remember you can tweet me @notwedordead, scribble down a comment in the box below or an email to [email protected]
