How to Write a Perfect Travel Guide From Home

For many aspiring bloggers, writing about travel seems daunting because they don’t yet have extensive travel experiences. However, lots of travel experience is not necessary, as today one can easily make a travel guide from the comfort of their home. In this post, we’ll define what is a travel guide book or travel post, what sections you should include, and how to monetize your guide with affiliate links.

How to write a perfect travel guide from home

To monetize the travel guide using partner links, join the Travelpayouts partnership platform . Here you can find the travel affiliate programs of many popular travel brands, such as Booking.com, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, etc.

By promoting travel brands, you help your audience save money on travel and, as a result, travel more. In addition, you can turn your hobby into income. Signing up only takes a couple of minutes and you can start integrating partner link in relevant pages of your guide. You’ll earn every time a user follows your link and purchases a service.

Monetize your project with Travelpayouts, embark on a new journey, and create inspiring content for your audience.

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Can You Write a Travel Guide From Home?

Naturally, writing travel guides based on your own experiences and illustrating them with your own photos is much easier and more authentic than writing about a destination you have never visited, although it is not always possible or even necessary to do so. With such a large selection of travel posts on the Internet today, you can easily create a detailed travel blog without ever leaving your home.

In this article, we’ve prepared some travel guide writing tips and a template to help you create useful blog materials. To make your posts even more appealing, explore travel guides created by locals who have a deep knowledge of your selected destination. Of course, be sure to double-check all the information that you share.

Choose a Destination

The first step towards writing a travel guide is selecting a destination. You may choose any location from the world’s most-visited cities, such as New York or Paris, to small idyllic villages. Just remember that your writing will largely depend on this initial choice. As there are already tons of guides about popular destinations, you’ll probably have to find a fresh perspective to make your materials stand out. When it comes to lesser-known spots, it will likely be easier to draw the attention of your audience.

While writing a guidebook, make sure to check with locals who know your destination inside out and can share invaluable advice. Try to connect with them through platforms such as CouchSurfing.org or Facebook.com . Ask them questions or ask them to check over your guide.

Use Travel Guide Structure

While the style of travel guides varies widely, most of them have a similar structure, which consists of tips on transportation, accommodation, tours, activities, popular sites, travel costs, and so on. Make sure to include these sections in your article so that it presents all the information that readers are looking for.

1. How to Get There

Normally, travel guides present several options for getting to each destination, including which cities are nearby, which modes of transportation are available, and the price of those transportation options. 

Also, you can offer some tips and tricks on how to plan a trip more efficiently. For example, in some cases, it’s cheaper to take a plane, while, in other cases, ground transportation is a better option. You can also share some money-saving tricks.

2. Accommodations

Today, there are plenty of ways to arrange accommodations in any destination. You can start by suggesting a hotel or hostel via Booking.com , which many tourists are familiar with or have already used. You can then offer to rent places to stay with locals through platforms like Airbnb or HomeAway .

At this point, you can also offer tricks to save money. In some popular locations, such as Barcelona, it is usually cheaper to rent accommodations in the nearest town instead of within the city itself, while, in other destinations, like Paris, choosing the right town while avoiding marginalized areas can be far trickier. Be sure to carefully research the destination and offer valuable advice.

3. Tours and Attractions

After learning about their transportation and accommodation options and costs, tourists will want to explore their destination’s sights and entertainment opportunities. In this section, you can create a list of attractions to visit and excursions that will make sightseeing more exciting. Include options from walking tours to bus excursions to boat trips. For inspiration, look through the Experiences section on Airbnb.com .

4. Getting Around

Another important topic to cover is transportation options within the destination. For example, the first thing travelers would like to know is how to get from the airport/railway/bus station to the city center. There are usually dozens of transportation methods and the price differences between them can be massive, so your readers will appreciate such advice.

It is also important to describe different methods of getting from the transportation hubs to the main attractions while offering options to save a few bucks. In this section, it might be a great idea to ask locals to share tricks. For example, in Lisbon, taxis are often the same price as public transportation or lower.

5. Travel Costs

This is one of the most important parts of any travel guide, as travel costs greatly influence booking intent. Thus, you should briefly cover the prices of flight tickets, accommodations, tours, food and drink options, public transport insurance, and other relevant travel products. Also, for budget travelers, provide tips on how to save money or find the best value.

6. Staying Safe

In this section, you can cover concerns that tourists might have about security. Different cities and areas have different regulations and concerns, so make sure to do the proper research and possibly even ask locals for advice.

So, which questions and concerns should you cover? Consider topics like: where to park a car or exchange money, what areas are best to avoid, are there many pickpockets, and so on.

7. Best Time to Visit

Each destination offers different experiences to travelers at different times of the year. For example, Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms, so it’s worth mentioning the best time to catch them in bloom. European destinations are especially beautiful during the winter holidays thanks to their abundance of Christmas markets and celebrations.

You can recommend the best season to visit each place or offer specific advice for different times of the year. 

8. Food and Drinks

In this section, you can describe features of the local cuisine and recommend popular dishes. Then, suggest specific restaurants, markets, or shops with high ratings and positive reviews. To get inspired, check Google Maps , TripAdvisor , or Instagram .

It’s worth mentioning food markets, as they usually have local treats and a wide variety of products at low prices, such as La Boqueria in Barcelona.

How to Write a Travel Guide: Best Practices

Below, you’ll find the best practices for travel writing that will help you make your guides appealing, valuable, and easy to monetize. 

1. Add Pictures

Using schemes or images for travel guides is beneficial for many reasons. Posts with pictures receive over 90% more views than ones with plain text. Images help break posts into small parts and make them easier to digest. Readers retain more information and remain interested for a longer time if the text is paired with an image. In addition, 90% of the information that the brain receives is from visual cues. 

Thus, make sure to illustrate your post with a few appealing photos to help the audience get inspired. You can also add maps or schemes so that readers can better navigate in the destination, as well as other image types to make the content more illustrative and versatile.

Where to find photos? You can buy photos at photo banks or download free stock images . Moreover, if you stumble upon a nice picture on social media, consider contacting its owner and ask for permission to use it on your site. Another option is to download a stock photo and edit it with one of the free design apps to make it look original. In any case, try choosing only high-quality, unique photos to make your blog look professional.

2. Research Keywords

Keywords are important in terms of website promotion. If you want to drive more traffic from search engines, be sure to run keyword research for your niche . To automate the process, try dedicated tools like Google Keyword Planner and Keywordtool.io (free tools) or SEMrush and Ahrefs (paid programs).

Then, it’s equally important to use keywords properly . That is, find the best placement within the text so that they attract attention and help navigate the text. Also, follow keyword density best practices so that your post doesn’t look spammy. And try to use keyword variations to enrich the text and drive more traffic.

Keywords differ widely: they can be short-tail or long-tail, short-term or long-term, high volume or low volume, geo-targeting, LSI, and more. Some keywords have higher competition, such as short-tail, high-volume keywords, thus aspiring bloggers might find it extremely difficult to compete with established sites. You can start with long-tail keywords and then work your way through the other types as you go.

More practical tips about SEO, including finding and using keywords, can be found in the free SEO course from Travelpayouts and Sharon Gourlay. Watch one lesson from the “Boost Travel Affiliate Revenue Using SEO” course to find out how many keywords you should use in your articles and how to search for them easily and quickly. 

All Travelpayouts Academy courses are free for everyone. So feel free to view all the lessons that will help you increase your income.

3. Place Affiliate Tools

When writing a travel guide, don’t forget to insert an affiliate link, widget, banner, or other tools . This can help you monetize your guide and increase your ranking in the SERPs. 

The most important thing is to add only relevant tools. For example, when describing sights, add a link to a tours and activities platform, such as Expedia or Musement, so that readers can book an excursion immediately. In the accommodations section, you can link to Booking.com, HomeAway, etc. Such an approach helps your readers easily find a solution to their problem or an answer to their question while generating additional income for you.

We recently published a more detailed guide on using affiliate links on our blog.

4. Choose the Right Format

There are plenty of formats available for travel guides. You can choose to make a post on your blog, a PDF guide, an eBook, and the list goes on. 

If you plan on writing multiple guides for your blog, it makes sense to create a separate section and publish all the guides there. You can also create subsections for each country to facilitate better navigation.

To get more leads, you can even create city guides in PDF format and offer to send them for free in exchange for a users’ email address. This could help you grow the number of your subscribers. 

If you are writing a travel guide covering multiple destinations, consider adding a table of contents so that readers can easily navigate.

Travel Guide Examples

It might be a good idea to find inspiration before you start writing. Check out a few travel blogs and if you like the structure, perspective, etc., why not adopt those elements for your blog and audience?

Here are a few good travel blogs to check out:

  • AGAINSTtheCOMPASS
  • Lost With Purpose
  • THE Blonde ABROAD
  • ROADS&KINGDOMS
  • NOMADIC MAT  

Also, be sure to check our list of the top travel blogs to follow in 2020 for more inspiration. 

How to Create Online Travel Guides

You don’t need extensive travel experience to create your own travel guidebook or series of travel posts. Start by choosing a destination that will be interesting to your audience, think about the structure of your guide and the various aspects of travel, and perhaps ask locals for additional tips. Also, don’t forget to choose the right format, fill your text with keywords to reach a larger audience, and insert affiliate tools to start earning money immediately.

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How to create an Online Travel Guide

Helpful tips to understanding and writing various types of travel guides

The Different Types of Travel Guides

The goal of every travel guide is to help potential travelers prepare for their journey and have the best possible trip. A travel guide should be informative, but it can also be interesting or inspiring. Take a closer look at some of the most common types of travel guides as well as the benefits of each.

1

Destination Travel Guide

A destination travel guide is just what the name suggests: a travel guide that revolves around a specific destination. These guides can cover an entire country, but they can also focus on a specific city or even a small town. A destination travel guide should entice someone to visit that destination, and it should provide readers with specifics about that spot.

A destination travel guide might start by detailing the destination and explaining where it is located or how travelers can get there. Then, it should focus on the main reasons to visit the area. Readers might want to know what the main attractions in the destination are and whether they would appeal to budget travelers, outdoor enthusiasts or sports fans.

A destination guide might also focus on ways to make the most of a trip to that destination . For example, your guide could include details on how expensive the destination is or where the most popular hotels are located. Information about weather, security and transportation are all welcome in a destination guide.

2

Special Interest Travel Guide

While a destination guide focuses on a specific area and includes as much detail as possible, a special interest travel guide is far more focused. This is a type of niche writing, and it is designed to appeal to a specific demographic. Ultimately, the special interest you focus on is up to you. Some ideas include cuisine, history, architecture, fitness or pets.

Food is a major focus for special interest travel articles. People from around the world love to eat, and travel is often a great way to explore new cuisines and dig into new dishes. A culinary travel guide could include details on up-and-coming restaurants, Michelin-starred eateries and food vendors that tourists wouldn’t typically visit.

Other special interest guides may focus on a specific interest like history, art or architecture. If travelers are heading to Palm Springs specifically for the mid-century modern architecture, what buildings should they visit? If they are in New York City and love history, which museums are the most impressive?

A travel blog might also put an emphasis on pet-friendly travel. There are 77 million pet dogs and 85 million pet cats in the United States, and many of them travel with their owners. Highlighting which hotels, restaurants and attractions are pet-friendly can be valuable to a lot of readers.

3

Financial Travel Guide

One of the most common reasons why people avoid travel is cost. At the same time, many prospective travelers are eagerly searching for ways to travel more while spending less. For that reason, lots of travel guides specifically focus on the costs related to travel. Many more give readers tips on how to reduce expenses on upcoming trips.

Sometimes, readers just want information. A person who is planning a trip to Europe might want to know the average hotel costs in Paris or whether a hostel in Berlin is affordable. Financial travel guides that offer specific costs for accommodation, transport, food and attractions are incredibly useful.

Another type of financial travel guide will suggest ways to keep costs low on upcoming trips. It may include lists of affordable hostels, discounts on train travel or cheap and accessible grocery stores located in major cities.

4

Narrative Travel Guide

A narrative travel guide is the story of a singular travel experience. This type of travel blog can be any length, and it can detail any number of experiences. While a narrative travel guide can absolutely be educational, it is also designed to transport readers to a new destination.

A narrative travel guide might tell the story of a family that heads to Asia for an extended trip with young children. The unique challenges of this trip and the events along the way are woven together to become a cohesive narrative. This might inspire readers to take their own journey with children.

Stories can revolve around travel in off-the-beaten-path locations, or it can be an emotional journey. Narratives can discuss exploring a single city over a long weekend, or they can detail a year-long trek through Europe. These articles are less likely to include bullet points since they are more likely to read like short stories.

5

Side Trip Travel Guide

Many travelers will plan their getaway by booking a flight to a major destination. Their journey may take them to a bustling metropolis like London, New York or Hong Kong. These thrilling cities have a lot to offer, and a standard destination guide can certainly offer plenty of options. However, many visitors want to get away from these hubs and see something a little different for a day or two. That’s why side trip travel guides are growing increasingly popular.

A side trip travel guide can suggest and detail one or more choices for an escape from the main attraction. Visitors to London, for example, could plan a side trip to Brighton for the day. Those who travel to Berlin might take the train to Hamburg to see something new, and visitors to Orlando could see what Tampa has to offer. Offering advice on how to arrange transport for these trips, how long travelers should spend in each destination and the top attractions to include on an itinerary are all great additions to a side trip travel guide.

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How to Create The Perfect Online Travel Guide

Putting together a travel guide can be exciting, but it also takes a lot of work. Since there are so many different types of travel articles out there, it is important to stand out. Offering something unique gives readers a reason to gravitate toward your travel guide above all others. Here are some of the best tips to keep in mind as you create your travel guide.

Decide on the Type of Travel Guide You Want to Write

  • Destination travel guide
  • Special interest travel guide
  • Financial travel guide
  • Narrative travel guide
  • Side trip travel guide

Deciding on a travel topic

How to Write a Travel Blog

To know how to write a travel blog, you first need to know what kind of blog you’re writing. Then, you can put together an outline. A destination travel guide might have separate headings pertaining to attractions, accommodations and transport. A narrative travel guide might not have headings at all, and it may be a story told in the first person. Understanding the format of your article will help as you flesh it out and create something that others will truly want to read and share.

Pick an Angle for Your Travel Content

The next step in writing your travel guide is deciding on an angle. This means thinking carefully about who you want to read your work. Although it might be nice to imagine that anyone can find value in a travel guide, the reality is that targeting a specific demographic can have better results .

Think of your target audience. Imagine what kinds of people are in that group. This is known as putting together a buyer persona. As you write the travel guide, try to appeal to this specific kind of person.

If you’re writing to young professionals without children, you’ll want to include lists of higher-end hotels and great nightlife options. If you’re writing to retirees, then off-season trips with a more relaxed pace could be a better option. Targeting your audience in every sentence ensures that the right readers gain value from the final product.  

Choose an angle

Be Sure to Include Graphics

Travel guides can be formatted in a number of different ways. However, there are some best practices that will make your content easier to read online. Keep your paragraphs short so that readers can skim through content and find the information most relevant to them. If possible, include bullet points or lists to streamline the content. Adding hyperlinks can direct readers to sources for further information. Above all else, aim to include graphics .

Graphics can break up the content and make your travel guide more visually appealing. Travel is a very visual topic. When individuals plan their trips, they want to see the places they will be visiting, admire the hotel rooms where they might be staying and drool over the food served in the region.

If your travel guide is more informative, adding in charts or infographics might be a smart idea. Visual elements of all varieties keep content interesting and appealing, which in turn keeps more readers on the page for longer.  

include graphics

Invoke All the Senses

In even the most educational of travel guides, your travel content should tell a story. Whether you’re detailing the cheapest ways to visit Boston or you’re encouraging people to take a day trip to Macau from Hong Kong, your content should inspire them. As you read the guide, does it make you want to hop on the next flight? One way to make your travel guide pop is to invoke all the senses.

invoking the senses

This simply means describing the environment using all the senses. How does the air smell while hiking in the Alps? What do you hear while sailing on a gulet boat in Turkey? What does it feel like to cross the busy streets of Tokyo? Some examples of invoking the senses in travel writing can include the following:

• Nothing compared to the sweet taste of the beignets and the bitterness of the chicory coffee. • The chatter of multiple languages swirled around the confines of the train car. • From the lookout point, I could see over the Welsh border and into England. • I followed my nose to the delightful savory smells of the local kebab shop. • The wind picked up as we headed south, and cool raindrops fell onto my bare arms.

All of this language can help readers feel like they are there with you. It turns an ordinary blog post into a guide packed with inspiration and excitement.

Hand mit Glühbirne

Don’t Forget About SEO!

Travel articles should be written with your intended audience in mind. Nonetheless, it is critical to think about how your travel guide will be found. There are three main ways for readers to access content: direct, search and social media. You can send links to your content to email subscribers, and you can post links to your travel guides on your various social media platforms. The third element, search, requires individuals to search for specific terms online, find your content and click on it from the search engine results page.

To appear on that first search engine results page, or SERP, your content should be written with search engine optimization in mind. First and foremost, that means creating high-quality content with the end user in mind. It should be engaging, relevant and optimized to include appropriate keywords (without unnatural keyword stuffing), meta tags and back-end SEO modifications. This will ensure that more people can find your content when they use search engines like Google, Yahoo or Bing.

Keys to Publishing and Promoting Travel Guides

Once your travel guides have been written, it is time to get them in front of readers. Travel guides can’t be effective until they have been read! In today’s world, publishing travel guides typically means digital publishing, which means the content can be viewed on websites and blogs. Promoting this content is key in order to increase traffic, build your reputation and convert readers into subscribers or customers.

Decide Where and How to Publish Your Travel Guides

Often, individuals and businesses who are putting together travel guides already have an idea of where they will be published. Travel guides are a natural fit on a website, and they are also featured on many private and commercial blogs . However, there are still some publishing decisions you’ll need to make.

Some travel guides can be published as single reads. On the other hand, some are so long that they will need to be broken up into manageable segments. This might be a great time to introduce a blog series. You can publish a new blog entry every day or every week, depending on your publishing schedule.

If you have a collection of related travel guides, it might make sense to offer them as a single e-book. An e-book can be sold at a profit, but it can also be offered to individuals who subscribe to email marketing campaigns or who download from your website. An e-book can be a fantastic way to use content more than once and to draw in more traffic, gather email addresses and build your contact list.

Share Your Travel Guides on Social Media

Social media is one of the best strategies to promote your travel guides. Sometimes, businesses fumble with deciding which platform to use. The reality is that if you already have thriving social media platforms, then the ones you have are the best ones to use! The key is connecting with your audience by whatever means possible.

For some companies, a younger audience means utilizing visual social media platforms like Instagram or Snapchat. You might post fantastic photos of your destination along with a link that leads directly to a related travel guide. You can also share links to your travel guides on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Reddit or Google+.

Include Snippets or Full Articles in Marketing Emails

An ideal way to share and promote your travel blog is through email. If you have a contact list made up of inquiries, current customers and past clients, then you’re already halfway there. Crafting an email marketing campaign just means getting your content in more inboxes.

Your marketing emails can include all kinds of topics, but travel articles might be a natural fit. If the travel guide in question is relatively short, you could email the entire version to readers. If it is longer, or if you want more direct traffic to the website, include just a snippet of the text. If readers want to see more, they can follow your links and head to your main page.

A valuable tool in the online travel industry is a subscriber list. This is a group of individuals who have opted in to your emails in order to learn more or snag deals. Be sure not to abuse this subscriber list and to respect those who unsubscribe. When used appropriately, email campaigns can be a fantastic way to increase traffic and brand awareness.

Consider Advertising in Order to Reach a Wider Audience

Ideally, you would be able to promote your travel content without paying a penny. If you want to get even more eyes on your travel guides, however, it may be worth paying for advertising . There are a lot of paid advertising options available, and you can advertise through any number of platforms.

Pay-per-click advertising, or PPC, means that you only pay if a person clicks on your ad and heads to your website. You may pay slightly more for this kind of advertising, but it means you only pay if someone is redirected to your site. The alternative is CPM, or cost-per-thousand advertising. In this format, you pay a set price for every 1,000 impressions on your webpage. This is cheaper per impression, but you need to work hard to ensure that the ad is being seen by the right audience.

You can pay to boost your travel guides in search engines. If someone searches for something related, your content can pop up as a sponsored result at the top of the SERP. You could even pay to occupy permanent real estate on the side or banner of a friendly, related website.

Allow Readers to Share Your Content

Sometimes, the best way to promote your travel guides is to let someone else do all the work. If readers enjoy your content, make sure there are easy and convenient ways for them to share that information with their friends and networks. One effective solution is to include share buttons at the bottom of your travel guides. This makes it possible for readers to post the link to the article on platforms like Facebook or Twitter. With the click of a button, you’ll be reaching new readers and a brand-new audience. Plus, this can be done at no cost to you.

6

Consider Guest Posting or Hosting as a Way to Promote Your Travel Guides

A popular form of promotion is known as guest posting. There are two ways to encourage guest posting if you have a website or a blog. First, you can be the guest that posts content on other websites. Second, you can host other guest authors who want to promote their content on your page. The best relationships have give and take, which means you do a little of both.

If you are the guest author, you can offer your travel guide content to a third party. If you’re a travel blog, you might partner up with a cooking blog. You could suggest a special interest piece about food in Morocco. Then, your travel piece about Moroccan food will be posted on the cooking website along with links back to your blog. This increases your audience and brings you valuable new connections.

As long as your content is engaging, unique and informative, you should have little trouble connecting with the right audience.

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11 BEST Travel Guides for 2024 [Websites & Guidebooks]

* This article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you.

TL;DR: The two best travel guides are Rick Steves for first time travelers—especially anyone going to Europe—and Bradt Guides for off-the-beaten-path destinations and “Slow Travel.” Both are reliable, will give you ideas for what to do, and help you plan the best trip.

The way we travel has changed drastically in my lifetime. Information is more readily available in the digital age, a massive plus for traveling. 

Everyone, including myself, wants to make the most of every trip abroad. That’s why I love reading travel guide books or online guides. 

Some of these guide books help you get off the beaten path. Others give information on tours you can take on your own to learn the history of a certain destination you’re visiting. 

But which are the best?

After years of reading and doing research, I have found the best travel guides for you to use when planning your next trip abroad!

Note: this article contains affiliate links, which help run this site at no extra cost to you so I can keep providing free travel advice and tips.

A smiling brown-haired woman wearing sunglasses and a backpack slung over her shoulder, holding an example of one of the best travel guides in the form of an open book, with an out of focus city square behind her.

Here’s a quick look at our recommendations

  • DK Eyewitness
  • Bradt Guides
  • Rick Steves
  • Lonely Planet
  • Blue Guides
  • Footprint Guides
  • Frommer Guides
  • Tripadvisor
  • Rough Guides
  • Moon Travel Guides
  • Insight Guides

Table of Contents

#1 DK Eyewitness

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of DK Eyewitness books.

DK Eyewitness is one of the best travel guide books on the market today. But they offer more than just travel information. 

After publishing books for over 45 years, DK Eyewitness Books cover everything from travel, science, history, pop culture, and children’s topics.

Their travel guides give the information you desperately need for travel– such as maps, itineraries, accommodations, where to eat, and more! 

I also love how easy their visuals are to look at. I sometimes get lost in their maps and start imagining myself there (I’m a big daydreamer if you can’t tell!).

DK Eyewitness Travel guide books might not be the most in-depth on a particular location, but they help with travel inspiration. 

If you want more information, DK Eyewitness has a podcast called ‘Where to Go,’ which is another excellent way to get your travel information on the go!

  • 100+ destinations
  • Heavy on history
  • It has both outdoor and city guides
  • Amazing visuals
  • Not as in-depth as other guides

#2 Bradt Guides

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Bradt Guides Books.

A Bradt travel guide is perfect if you’re interested in visiting countries that are less traveled to— written by experienced travelers with fantastic insider tips. 

Bradt travel guide books has a reputation as the “World’s leading independent travel publisher.” They are also the best India travel guide company.

Some unique destinations include Iraq, Sri Lanka, Galapagos Islands, and Grenada. But don’t worry. Bradt Guides also has a British series for those interested! 

Lately, I’ve been striving to travel like a local. Bradt has a ‘Slow Travel’ guidebook series, which I love using these days because it helps me travel like a local. 

The trip ideas are great in detail but might not be for your preferred country to visit. 

Bradt Guides prides itself on being the most comprehensive on the market. Their authors give cultural insights and expressions of interest and knowledge.

You can support Bradt’s Guides even further by subscribing to their Patreon! Here you can pay monthly for a specific tier and earn different things like one free e-book a month.

  • More off-the-beaten-path destinations
  • Slow travel series
  • Has a Patreon page
  • Unique style of travel not for everyone

#3 Rick Steves

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Rick Steves Books.

Rick Steves books are the guide books your mom hands you when traveling to your dream destination in Europe. And that’s a good thing! They’re trusted by many for a reason.

These travel guide books are always up-to-date, thanks to Rick Steves’ research partners. 

Rick’s books will have you feeling like you’re on guided tours! He ensures you’ll have some fantastic cultural experiences. 

I love Europe, but there are many other cultures throughout the world that I’m even more interested in. So, since Rick Steves’ guidebooks are primarily Europe-focused, I’m not as drawn to them.

Also, traveling in Europe long-term can get expensive. His books cater to a more wealthy crowd. 

Pick any European country, and you will have high-quality content on that destination. Rick has visited Europe countless times, and other travel websites can’t compete. 

Rick’s bestseller is his Italy guide, which isn’t surprising. In that guide, he goes over the best places to eat and sleep and how to beat the crowds. 

It’s a good idea to grab a Rick Steves’ book simply for the detailed maps.

  • Best guides for Europe
  • It gives in-depth information for solo tours
  • Perfect for a beginner traveler.
  • Catered to upper and middle-class travelers

#4 Lonely Planet

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Lonely Planet Books.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Lonely Planet , as they’ve been a dominant force in the travel scene for quite some time now. Their goal is to make travel planning easy, and they’ve succeeded!  

I loved using Lonely Planet books when I first started traveling. These books helped me up my game as a budget traveler. 

Lonely Planet dominates the internet with a wealth of online resources. While the information they offer online is easy to access, it can be vague. 

You can subscribe to Lonely Planet on their website for free. I’ve done this, but I’ve found that there tends to be some destinations/articles that are low in detail. 

Considering Lonely Planet’s sheer amount of content, it’s not too surprising that they sometimes gloss over details. 

Their claim to fame is their numerous experts located worldwide. These experts cover adventure travel, family holidays, food and drink, and much more. 

Plus, a Lonely Planet magazine is an amazing coffee table piece, am I right?

  • Backpacker friendly
  • An extensive collection of guides for the entire world
  • Free information is available
  • Some of their content is outdated or not detailed

#5 Blue Guides

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Blue Guides Books.

If you love the art and history of Italy, then Blue Guides is for you! People often plagiarize Blue Guide books due to the amount of accurate information each book has. 

With over 14 books on Italy alone, you won’t find more detailed information on a particular destination than with Blue Guides– they deliver it all! 

Italy was the first country that I visited outside of the United States, and I’m so glad that I had a Blue Guide book with me. 

Their award-winning maps and exceptional attention to detail made it feel like I was on a private tour! 

Be aware: there aren’t a lot of online articles from Blue Guides or many countries to choose from, which could be an issue if you like to visit more unusual locations.

Blue Guides’ first publication date was in the early 1900s, so it’s undoubtedly a top guidebook for a travel junkie!

  • Helps travelers understand art and history
  • Multiple guides on Italy
  • Extremely thorough in their research
  • Not a lot of destinations

#6 Footprint Guides

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Footprint Guides Books.

Footprint Guides is the go-to source for Latin American travel tips for all budgets! My love for this region of the world has only grown since I started using their books.

Even if Latin America isn’t one of your top destinations, they do offer other print books. All Footprint Guides are written by experts who have lived in that destination. 

Unfortunately, for North American travelers looking to plan a dream road trip, you won’t find much helpful information here, as their focus is decidedly on the south. 

Alongside their practical information, Footprint adds a layer of imagination to their guidebooks, giving them an edge that makes them one of the best travel guide series available today!

  • Wide range of budgets
  • Specializes in Latin America
  • Practical information
  • Not much content on the United States

#7 Frommer Guides

Frommer Guides

Does traveling on $5 per day sound appealing to you? Arthur Frommer thought so when he set out to create his Frommer travel guides . 

Alongside some of the best guidebooks, Frommer also offers other forms of information, including podcasts, online articles, and hotel deals!

I love using Frommer guides on road trips because they help me in many different situations. 

I usually like to have a podcast for when I’m driving , a guidebook on specific destinations while I’m in a hotel room, and online sources when on the go. 

Having Frommer guides in all their varied forms is essential since each one typically doesn’t go into heavy detail. 

If purchasing travel guide books doesn’t interest you, then keeping up to date with Frommer’s online travel guides is the way to go.

  • Many styles of information are available
  • Updates information frequently
  • Offer hotel deals
  • It covers only the main details

#8 Tripadvisor

Screenshot of the of the Tripadvisor website homepage.

Tripadvisor is an online source that most travelers have heard about. It’s unique on this list of travel guides because you interact with other travelers!

If you’re looking for help with trip planning, look no further than the Tripadvisor forum . Here you can talk with fellow travelers about your upcoming trip! 

When I have a specific question that needs answering, I always check Tripadvisor first. They have information on most countries, but some info on the forums can be outdated. 

Tripadvisor is great because it’s free! But they’re more than just a review and forum-based platform; you can also book different travel deals and tours through their website.

Sometimes the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming to click through.  If that sounds relatable, you might want to purchase some guidebooks instead. 

Tripadvisor started the wave of online travel planning. They’re worth browsing, even if you just want to write down a few travel tips!

  • Multiple reviews from other travelers
  • Travel deals available
  • Forum can be out of date
  • The massive amount of information can be overwhelming

#9 Rough Guides

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Rough Guides Books.

Rough Guides has grown into a leader in the travel industry with its amazing travel guidebooks and online travel guides. 

What I love about these books is their authenticity. Their recommendations from locals helped to grow them into who they are today.

It all started with their Greece travel guide, and it quickly blew up. Demand increased for more and more Rough Guide content; they released a guidebook series for people who were eager for more. In 2017, Rough Guides expanded even further.

Today Rough Guides are more than just a travel guide company that sells books. They offer tours, custom-made itineraries, and more! I love using their website when planning my next trip. 

These custom-made itineraries and tours are expensive but for a reason. Rough Guides’ experts are located worldwide to give you the best travel experience ever. 

Rough Guides best selling guides offer a ton of background information and local tips, making them worth the high price!

  • Detailed itineraries
  • Personal recommendations from locals
  • An extensive list of countries
  • High prices for tours and custom itineraries

#10 Moon Travel Guides

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Moon Travel Guides Books.

Moon Guides are my favorite guidebooks for traveling around the United States. Planning that perfect road trip is challenging but Moon Guides makes it easier.

Moon’s travel guidebooks are all about traveling sustainably. I’ve used them countless times in the Americas and have found them super helpful.

But Moon Guides don’t focus on the Americas only– they also offer some of the best travel guides for Japan in particular.

I’ve learned to use these books more for research instead of bringing them on my travels– they don’t always hold up with how rugged traveling can get for me.

Moon’s detailed maps are so good in their guidebooks that I fill my phone library with them. They are easy to read and use, which is what I think makes a good map. 

The best travel tips are from locals, and that’s what Moon’s travel guidebooks bring. They don’t have a fancy touring app or anything, but they don’t need it. 

If you want one of the best travel guides for families, then there’s no better choice than making Moon Guides your tour guide when traveling. 

Find your dream destination, get travel inspiration from their maps, and book that plane ticket.

  • Emphasis on the Americas and the Pacific
  • Easy-to-understand maps
  • Many pages of information solely for hotels/accommodations
  • Guidebooks aren’t durable

#11 Insight Guides

Screenshot of a search result page showing a selection of Insight Guides Books.

Insight is one of the best travel guidebooks on the market for a reason. The beautiful photographs in these travel guidebooks will have you daydreaming for days.

Insight guides are perfect for those history buffs out there like me. They combine great information with also some off-the-beaten-track activities. 

Insight has produced over 200 guidebooks and language books. Their books provide information on nearly any country you can think of (besides Mexico).

I love their books because they also have a mini-series.

During the Covid years, I was in the mood to read a lot. I picked a different destination each week and bought a new e-book. 

I could do this because they only cost five to ten dollars! Most of the best travel guidebooks are double this.   

Besides its guidebook series, Insight offers a handmade trip planned by experts to the destination of your choice. What more could you ask for?!

  • Multiple countries in each continent
  • Has language guides
  • Sells hand-picked vacation packages put together by locals
  • Offers mini versions of guides to sell for cheap
  • No Mexico guide

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Travel Guide

A man wearing a red and black checkered shirt reading an open guide book holds hands with woman in a black and white striped tank top, jeans, and a wide-brimmed hat while walking down a European-looking cobblestone street.

What to Look for in Travel Guides

Is the information up to date.

Picking the best travel guidebooks can be an overwhelming process. But the most important thing to watch out for is making sure the information is up-to-date.

Compared to online sources, guidebook information tends not to get updated as quickly for obvious reasons. 

You don’t want a travel guide taking you to a restaurant that doesn’t exist anymore, do you? No. You want to get off the beaten track but not THAT off that it gets you lost.

Pick Locally-Based Travel Guides

My ideal travel style is meeting locals, living, and eating like a local. I have the best travel experiences when I dive deep into the culture.

The best information about a destination comes from locals. When you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, wouldn’t you want to consult someone who has lived there for many years?

When you rely on locals’ recommendations, you’ll truly have an experience of a lifetime. 

Know What Type of Traveler You Are

A young woman in a peach tank top and sunglasses holds a travel guide book under one arm, and checks her phone.

This next tip can be difficult for some, and it can change from year to year. I have gone from being a true budget traveler to somewhere in the middle. 

I used to love history (I still do) and would base my travels around that. Now I seek adventure activities. 

Different types of guides will focus on different things, such as budget travel, adventure, expensive tours, food, or history. 

Finding the travel guide that fits your style will be more beneficial in the long run.

Know Which Destination You Want to Visit the Most

The best world travel guidebooks are often better for certain locations than others. For example, Rick Steves has a reputation for being the best travel guide for Europe and, specifically, the best travel guide for Italy. 

So, choose your travel guide based on which one specializes in the area you’re curious about.

Other Helpful Travel Guides

Travel is a huge industry which means there are more guides than you could ever possibly use. 

If you prefer your travel content in video form, one of the best travel guide Youtube channels is Ryan Shirley . 

His videos showcase the top places to visit in different countries with some of the best drone shots you’ll ever see. 

FAQs About Travel Guides

A woman with short brown hair wearing a black and white striped tank top squints as she opens a Lonely Planet book on Myanmar in front of a blurred background.

Should You Even Buy a Travel Guide?

A travel guide has its place. It may seem outdated to use one, but you can find some of the best information in them. 

Some guides take years to make and are very specific in the details they write for certain locations. The maps tend to be better and easier to read in these types of guides as well.  

Which is better: Lonely Planet or Rough Guide?

It depends on the style of travel you prefer. I prefer budget travel and tend to take fewer tours, so I like Lonely Planet. Rough Guide also has amazing tours if you’re interested in those.

What is the difference between Fodor’s and Frommer’s travel guides?

Frommer travel guides are excellent for those who want an easy read. Fodor is typically the better choice if you want more details about your activities. 

Fodor also has one of the best travel guides for Ireland, so check out Fodor if that’s your destination.

Is it better to travel with a tour guide or alone with a travel guide?

The answer differs from person to person! If you want your trip planned, then a tour guide is perfect. Going alone with a travel guide is nice because you can go at your own pace. 

Do people still buy travel guides?

Absolutely! There’s something different about having a travel guidebook to look at rather than scrolling through a website. 

Rick Steves and Bradt are my favorite travel guides.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Phillip Anderson

Phillip Anderson is a freelance travel writer, personal trainer, and adventure enthusiast. With years of travel experience under his belt, Phillip is an expert in finding the best deals through travel apps and websites. He knows how to find cheap domestic and international flights, like a flight to Peru for as low as $350.

When looking for cheap accommodations, Phillip combines his knowledge of websites like Airbnb, Booking.com & Hostelworld with more unique sites like TrustedHousesitters, for even more savings. Whether it’s flights, accommodations, or local experiences, he teaches travelers to make informed decisions, ensuring their adventures are both memorable and economical. For more from Phillip, check out his website, JaywalkTheWorld.com.

Planning your next big adventure? Check out these related articles below!

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Types of Travel Guide #1: The Destination Travel Guide

types of Travel Guide No1 Destination How to Write and Self-Publish a Travel Guide Jay Artale

All about The Destination Travel Guide

How to Write and Self Publish a Travel Guide Grid 4 books

Destination guides should inspire your reader. If they have already booked their tickets, your Destination Guide should give them peace of mind they’ve chosen the right location.

Definition of a Destination Travel Guide

Destination guides are the most popular type of travel guidebook, and there are different ways to approach them. They tend to be more fact-oriented than narrative, and although most are written in the first person, the majority of the content positions the writer as the neutral observer rather than an active participant.

Bear in mind though, your destination guide can’t just be facts and figures. It also needs to include a human perspective so that your readers have something to connect with. It may be something as simple as giving them the confidence to explore the area for themselves.

Whether your travel guide covers a city (London, Paris, Munich, etc.), a country (Mexico, Brazil, Australia, etc.), or a specific geographic region (Europe, South America, etc.), it needs to be clear to your reader. They need to know what they’re getting when they buy your book, which means you need to be clear about your intent.

A destination travel guide tends to be more fact-oriented than narrative. Although some of it may be written in the first person, the majority of the content positions the writer as the neutral observer rather than an active participant.

How to Write a Travel Guide: Destination Guide by Jay Artale

Bear in mind though, that your destination guide can’t just be facts and figures. It also needs to include a human perspective so that you readers have something to connect with. It may be something as simple as giving them the confidence to explore the area for themselves. We’ll cover how to evoke an emotional response in your audience in a later article.

Destination Guide Focus

Whether your travel guide is going to cover a country, city or specific geographic area, it needs to be clear to your reader. They need to know what they’re getting when they buy your book. So in turn, that means you need to be clear about your intent.

Here’s some examples of some destination guide titles:

  • Sightseeing Tour of London
  • A Weekend in Venice
  • Eat, Sleep & Play in Europe
  • Top 10 cities in France

Each of these destination guides has a scope that implies the content, but there’s still questions about the level of detail they contain.

For examples – in the Sightseeing Tour of London – there are so many sights to see in England’s capital city that you may decide you only want to focus on historical sites or royal sites to narrow the focus. Or you could expand the focus of your book by including places to eat and drink nearby.

When you write your own Destination Travel Guide “what to leave out” is actually more difficult than deciding what to include.

Scope of your Destination Guide

The geographic area you plan on covering can help to define how much detail you go into. Obviously, if you choose a town or small destination you can go into a lot more detail. If you choose a larger destination you won’t be able to include every single snippet of information. If you try, you will end up with a draft the size of War and Peace.

Destination Travel Guide Examples

Take a look at these Lonely Planet Destination Guide  examples below which includes country guides, a city guide, and a combination country guide. Lonely Planet guide books are packed with information. They include a little bit of everything and cover each topic you would expect in a destination guide, but don’t cover all of them in-depth. They’ve found a happy medium between too-much and not enough.

How to Write a Destination Travel Guide by Jay Artale

London Villages: Explore the City’s Best Local Neighbourhoods was written by Zena Alkayat and Jenny Seddon and offers an intimate view of the UK’s capital city, highlighting the small, locally-known enclaves of independent shops, cafés and public spaces that give the capital its inimitable character.

  • London Villages: Explore the City’s Best Local Neighbourhoods

Rick Steves’ Pocket Venice is a compact 280-page book that includes Rick’s advice for prioritizing your time, whether you’re spending 1 or 7 days in the city. It has everything a busy traveler needs, including a neighborhood overview, city walks, tours, sights, handy food and accommodations charts, and an appendix packed with information on trip planning and practicalities.

  • Rick Steves’ Pocket Venice

Europe by Eurail 2017: Touring Europe by Train written by Laverne Ferguson-Kosinski is a comprehensive guide that provides the latest information on fares, schedules, and pass options, as well as detailed information on more than one hundred specific rail excursions. It also includes sample rail-tour itineraries combining several base cities and day excursions into fifteen-day rail-tour packages complete with hotel recommendations and sightseeing options.

  • Europe by Eurail 2017: Touring Europe by Train

South-East Asia Travel Guide Package: Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Travel Guides is a box set of guides written by Hoang Pham. He provides an introduction to each of these neighboring countries and explains how they are different from each other, and what cultural traditions overlap. It includes eating, getting around, what to do, and bucket list items.

  • South-East Asia Travel Guide Package: Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia Travel Guides

Each of these destination guides has a scope that implies the content. When writing a destination travel guide, what to leave out is more difficult than deciding what to include. The geographic area you plan on covering can help to define how much detail you include. Obviously, if you choose a town or small destination, you can go into a lot more detail.

If you choose a larger destination, you won’t be able to list every single snippet of information. If you try, you will end up with a draft the size of War and Peace.

Considerations when planning your travel guide

When you plan your destination guide, you should consider the following:

  • Should I cover a little bit of everything ?
  • Should I narrow down my focus to a specific topic ?
  • Should I combine these two approaches ? (e.g. focus on a few things in detail and cover the rest more broadly)

If you plan on writing an all-inclusive destination guide, consider the length and attention span of your reader. Do you really want to include everything, in minute detail?

If the answer is a resounding “yes” – you could opt to break your destination guide into multiple segments and write a series of books instead.

Destination guides can include full details about accommodation, restaurants, transportation, and sightseeing activities. They can also feature historical, cultural or general travel tips. This reference-type information is valuable when making travel arrangements as well as while you are on a trip.

Destination guides should inspire your reader. If they’ve already booked their tickets, your destination guide could confirm they’ve chosen the right destination. Examples of destination guides are Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, Frommer’s and Insight Guides.

Important last note, the information in your destination travel guide must be updated regularly to keep it current.

Want to learn about the other types of travel guides ? Here’s the full list of this article series:

  • Type of Travel Guide #1: Destination Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #2: Side Trip Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #3: Journey Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #4: Special Interest Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #5: Event Specific Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #6: Expat Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #7: Culinary Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #8: Advice Travel Guide
  • Type of Travel Guide #9: Reporting Travel Guide  ** coming soon

In addition to these articles, I also wrote the following articles about writing a Local Travel Guide (which is a sub-genre of special interest travel guides):

  • Think Local, Share Global: Writing a Local Travel Guide Pt.1
  • Think Local, Share Global: Local Travel Guides Pt.2

Read more articles in my How to Write a Travel Guide Series

I’m putting the finishing touches on my  How to Write and Self-Publish a Travel Guide Series , which details a step by step approach for writing and producing your own travel guide. It’s part of a four-part series aimed at helping travel bloggers achieve passive income based on their passions and existing content.

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Each month I host a monthly free prize draw and give away a travel writing e-book to the lucky winner. Sign up to join my mailing list to participate.

If you’re a travel blogger who wants to turn their travel blog into an ebook or paperback destination guide, leave me a comment below.

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Author: Jay Artale

5 thoughts on “ types of travel guide #1: the destination travel guide ”.

I’m sure this post gets lots of visits because this has to be the most popular type of travel guide to write. To be honest, I thought it was the only type of guide, so gonna read your other posts in this series to find out more about the other.

This is an interesting article which really helped me. I was struggling to start my travel guide for couple of month and finally got an idea. Thank you very much for the tips.

These have got to be the most popular types of guides to write. but the competition is fierce so the quality has to be high.

Thanks for sharing the information about Ingram Spark. I’ve heard of Lulu before but not explore Ingram.

As far as I can tell, Lulu is great if you want to print spiral bound books, but Ingram has such a wide distribution spread that it makes it a good option.

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How To Write A Travel Guide

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How to write a travel guide: ’48 Hours in’

This article is a step-by-step guide showing you how to write a travel guide for the 48 Hours in series of travel guides.

I am subdiving this writing guide into three chapters that cover (i) the aspiration of a 48 Hour guide, (ii) its structure and (iii) its content

Chapter #1: 48 Hours guides are authentic

Each episode of  the 48 Hours in series wants to introduce one city to the single male traveler from the point of view of a local. Just think about what kind of advice and tips you would give to a single male friend who is coming to your city for the very first time and you have all you need in order to write a good guide.

For the 48 hours in guides it is the local’s perspective that makes them so interesting. The episodes are no tourist brochures that tell you what sights are a “must”. If you do a Google search for “what to do in Paris” you will come across millions of articles telling you that you should visit Eiffel Tower and the Louvre — nice, but who really wants to read that?

In a 48 hour in guide local tells things how they are, mentioning the good and the bad.

If you were writing about a city where most hotels/apartments have bad service, but high prices then you should mention that (see my article on Kiev hotels ). And if you were writing about a city that, in your opinion, is nicer, cleaner and more lively than any other city in the country then you should mention that as well.

Here’s an example of authentic writing:

In the 48 hour guide to Wroclaw Poland I had to find a hotel in the middle of the night when almost all hotels were booked.

What I did was walk to the main railway station and enter the first hotel I saw in the hope they had a spare room. As the hotel was across the railway station where drunks were bumbling around I didnt expect much. To my surprise the hotel was not only cheap, but also newly refurbished. It could easily pass as a 4-star hotel in Munich or London and cost just 44€ for the night.

I added a nice picture of the hotel room and then put the mini-anecote into the guide. Here is what it looks like:

How to write a travel guide - screenshot 1

Screenshot taken from https://euromentravel.com/48-hours-in/48-hours-wroclaw-poland

People liked it. Why did they? Because it is authentic. The main thing is to give the reader little insights that stem from your own personal experience . This makes it so much easier for the reader to relate to what you are saying.

Chapter #2: The structure of the guide

All guides follow a simple 3-step structure. Each step is about a specific topic. These are:

  • Flights/driving/buses
  • The city & places to stay
  • Activities.

Let’s start with the first topic titled “How to get there”:

“How to get there” – The most common way to reach your city?

“the city of [name] [country]” – brief outline of the city and hotels & apartments, “what to do” – b est daytime actitives & nightlife venues.

This is the most creative part. Think of your male friend coming to town and tell him about the ins and outs of your city: What is interesting to do during the day time?

This is not so much about sightseeing, but more about the lesser known spots in your city.For example, the guide to Varna Bulgaria tells you everything about the number one daytime activity in Varna, the beaches. But it also tells you about everything Varna’s Retro Museum with Soviet memorabilia that is not located in oldtown Varna, but somewhat hidden inside a shopping mall.

Chapter #3: The content of the guides

Now that we know the structure all we need to do is fill it with information. Here are some guidelines to what information the three chapters should contain:

How to get there

Here, you need to do some research by looking up prices on the websites of airlines, bus services etc.:

  • Name 3-5 airlines that offer cheap flights to your city and link their names to their websites.
  • Name 1-3 bus services that offer cheap rides to your city and link their names to their websites (if applicable).

How to write a travel guide - screenshot 2

Screenshot taken from: https://euromentravel.com/48-hours-in/48-hours-jakarta-indonesia/

Note that you do not need to put any screenshots of city maps/special offers/nice apartments/great hotels into your guide. I will do that for you. However, what you need to do is tell me where these special offers can be found so I can implement them.

The City of [XYZ]

  • What is traffic in the city like? Is there good public transport? What is a good part of the city to stay in?
  • How much is a taxi ride from A to B? There is a local smartphone app that everybody uses to order taxis? There is? Great, mention it and write about it!
  • Write about some good offers that you see on apartment sites like Airbnb.com or booking.com and name 3-5 good hotels . Link their websites to their names.
  • Look up the prices for a night in a hotel room/apartment and add the price after the hotel’s name Another very important factor is communication:
  • What does a local SIM card cost?
  • With a local SIM card: What’s the average price level for calls/texts/internet?
  • Write a continuous text that describes your experience with about 3 daytime activities. This can be anything from spending a day at the beach to the picturesque old town or the area with the best local food.
  • In your text, add 5-8 links to the names of popular daytime locations.
  • Have a look at the other 48 hours in guides for inspiration.
  • Write a continuous text that describes your experience with about 3 nightlife venues.
  • Again, have a look at the other 48 hours in guides for inspiration.

And last but not least:

  • Send in 10 high quality pictures of your city that you took yourself. If you can then send in more than 10. Actually, send in as many high quality pictures as you can! Choosing the cream of the crop from a large pool is always nicer.

In total, your 48 Hour guide will now have 1200-1600 words and is ready for editing.

Do not forget to give me your Twitter, Instagram and a short bio if you like and then allow me some time to do the editing. And before you know it your travel guide will go live on euromentravel.com.

This short synopsis on how to write a travel guide for the ’48 hours in’ series should cover most of your questions. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate do contact us via the form below.

See you around and happy traveling!

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Travel Guides

My travel guides aim to give you the best and most up-to-date information on the major travel destinations around the world. (I know how bad it is to get outdated information from a print guidebook so I keep all these pages updated constantly!)

Here you will find things to see and do, information about costs, my best money-saving advice, recommendations on places to stay, suggested restaurants, transportation tips, and safety advice. I give you everything I know about each destination.

No matter what type of vacation you are going on — a cruise, backpacking trip, island getaway, two-week holiday, round-the-world trip, or family vacation — these destination guides will give you all the information you need so you can travel better, longer, and cheaper.

I update this section twice a year to keep the content fresh!

Select a country on the map below or search for your destination.

Search for:

Regional Travel Guides

travel to the caribbean

General Travel Tips and Resources

Travel is more than just getting up and going. It’s about being knowledgeable so you can travel better, cheaper, and longer. So besides the destination guides above, below you will find links to articles I’ve written that deal with planning your trip and other general advice, so your total vacation is as amazing as it can be. These articles are relevant for any trip, no matter how long!

  • How to Find Cheap Flights
  • How to Find Cheap Places to Stay
  • How to Choose a Backpack
  • My Best 61 Travel Tips
  • 16 Steps for Planning a Trip
  • My Ultimate Packing Guide
  • How to Buy Travel Insurance
  • 12 Tips for New Travelers
  • My Favorite Hostels
  • Solo Female Travel Tips
  • How to Pick a Travel Credit Card
  • Common Travel Scams to Avoid
  • 15 Ways to Work Overseas
  • 10 Best Places to Travel on a Budget
  • Points and Miles 101
  • How to Travel with a Theme
  • Stay in Europe More Than 90 Days
  • The Best Gear for Travelers

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My Budget City Guides

nomadic matt's guide to paris

Book Your Trip Now!

Below are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They are always my starting point when I need to book a flight, hotel, tour, or train, or for meeting people!

  • Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. It searches small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. It is hands-down the number one place to start.
  • Going – Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) finds incredible flight deals and sends them directly to your inbox. If you’re flexible with your dates and destinations, you can score some amazing deals and save hundreds of dollars in the process!
  • Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there, with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
  • Booking.com – The best all-around booking site. It constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates and has the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, it’s always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
  • Intrepid Travel – If you want to do group tours, go with Intrepid. They offer good small-group tours that use local operators and leave a minimal environmental footprint. And, as a reader of this site, you’ll get exclusive discounts too!
  • Get Your Guide – This is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. It has tons of tour options in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes and walking tours to street art lessons!
  • SafetyWing – This site offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. It has cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
  • Discover Cars – Discover Cars is a car rental aggregator that can help you find the best deals for your next road trip. It pulls data from over 8,000 car rental locations to ensure you always find a great deal!
  • Trusted Housesitters – Trusted Housesitters is a platform that connects you with people in need of pet and house sitters. In exchange for looking after their pets or home, you’ll get access to free accommodation.
  • Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

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Travel Guide Templates

Business Travel Itinerary Template

Barcelona City Tour Guide Template

City Travel Itinerary Template

Explore Naples Travel Guide Template

Free Travel Itinerary Template

Modern Travel Guide Template

Travel Guide Brochure Template

City Guide Template

Do you have a travel agency? Or perhaps you’re a passionate travel blogger? Don’t just post your amazing photos on social media. With our travel guide template, it’s so easy to create a guide and share your travel experience with the world in a more organized way! If you run a travel agency, you can make things so much easier for your clients with all sorts of travel guides. Just choose our city guide template which is perfect for city break holidays or a travel itinerary template to offer them some suggestions as to what places they should visit.

Need some travel guide ideas? Browse our template library and you will find plenty of travel guide examples. If you run a travel agency you can help your customers prepare for an upcoming trip with all sorts of tips and tricks on how to pack, info regarding the climate, culture and all sorts of information that might be useful for them. Just choose our travel guide brochure template and customize it to your own preference with our user-friendly editor. Or perhaps your clients are more on the corporate side, so you could choose a business travel itinerary template and create something targeted towards their needs.

For longer trips in remote locations, you can use our itinerary template and suggest people daily itineraries they can follow to visit breath-taking locations and get an authentic travel experience. Search for the coolest photos within Flipsnack’s amazing library. If you have your own photos, feel free to upload whatever you want. Change the colors, fonts, add text, icons, captions, whatever you find useful and important! You don’t need to master great skills in order to make a travel guide. Just use your experience and let your creativity guide you. Remember, you’re in total control! Sail away, create amazing travel guides and share them with the world!

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Plan, Ready, Go

The Best Travel Guides (Online and Books)

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Even in the digital age, travel guide books are an important part of my travel planning journey. I have read and tried many different travel books and online travel guides. And I pulled together a list of what I think are the best travel guides (books and online resources). 

couple using a map while planning a trip

I return to my favorite travel guides again and again with each trip that we plan. Once you find a travel guide series that you know and trust, it can really speed up the travel planning process.  

But which travel guides are the best? Keep reading for the full list!  

Need help with planning your trip? Check out our guide to the best travel planning resources .  

This post includes affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  See disclaimer.

Are travel guidebooks still used now? 

Absolutely! Although you can find a wealth of travel planning help online, the good old-fashioned travel guidebooks are still very much available and in use. 

Some people prefer to use paper travel guidebooks. You can flag important sections and highlight things you want to remember. We’ve even ripped our books up (they’re meant to be used!) and traveled only with the sections covering the cities and sites we visited. 

E-books are also a great option for travel guides. If you use e-books, you can easily travel with several guides without adding a single ounce to your luggage. It’s a perfect option for those who travel carry-on only .

Rick Steves: best travel guides for Europe 

Rick steves guidebooks .

Some seasoned travelers look down their noses a bit at Rick Steves guide books . There’s no reason for that. Rick Steves knows Europe inside and out from decades of traveling, leading tours, writing books, and producing episodes of his wonderful series  Rick Steves’ Europe.  

Rick Steves books are excellent guides and well worth the money. I highly recommend them, especially for travel planning beginners or for anxious travelers who are looking for an expert to tell them where to visit and how. 

His books are kept up to date and quite detailed, even to the point of including full guided walking tours (often several) and detailed guided tours through major sites. 

cover image of Rick Steves Rome travel guide book

  • Steves, Rick (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 604 Pages – 09/06/2022 (Publication Date) – Rick Steves (Publisher)

Rick Steves online 

You can also get a lot of good free travel tips and help on the Rick Steves website, including the forums . There are forums specifically for countries, reviews, and several forums about general travel tips topics. 

They’re a great way to get insight and tips from other experienced travelers…even those who disagree with Rick Steves itinerary suggestions. (Shocked face.)

Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App 

I also highly recommend the Rick Steves Audio Europe Travel App . It’s loaded with audio guides for walking tours and top travel destination sites like the Colosseum in Rome and The Louvre Museum in Paris.  

Download the audio tours for your destination so you can listen to them on your mobile device as you explore your destination. 

Rough Guides: my favorite travel guidebooks overall 

Super practical and easy to read, Rough Guides are my top choice for any destination that isn’t in Europe (for which I prefer Rick Steves guide books ). 

The UK-based company was founded in 1982 with the  Rough Guide to Greece . Since then, they have published travel guidebooks for well over 100 destinations all over the world. 

In addition to their main guidebook series, they also offer Pocket Rough Guides, On a Budget, Snapshots, phrasebooks, and inspirational guides like “Make the Most of Your Time on Earth.” 

cover image for The Rough Guide to Greece guide book

  • Guides, Rough (Author)
  • 840 Pages – 10/18/2022 (Publication Date) – Rough Guides (Publisher)

Rough Guides website 

Rough Guides isn’t just a guidebook publisher though. Since 2017 they have offered tailor-made trips to over 70 destinations. created by local travel experts. 

Their website provides some basic itineraries, travel recommendations, and basic destination information for free that can help get you started on planning your travel itinerary . 

Fodor’s 

The great travel writer Eugene Fodor once said “You don’t need to be rich to travel well.” And that’s been kind of my mantra for the last several years. 

In 1936 Fodor wrote the first modern travel guide book . It was for British audiences and he wrote all 1200 pages himself. The book was O n the Continent: An Entertaining Travel Annual .

According to Fodors.com , “The guide went beyond reporting on the sights and for the first time included information about Europe’s culture and people, practical information like how to tip, and was the first to be annually updated.” 

Since  On the Continent  was first published, Fodor’s has been a trusted name in travel guides. They now claim that their travel writers have covered more than 8,000 destinations around the world . 

In addition to the Signature Guides, their other series include Fodor’s Inside, In Focus, and 25 Best. Fodor’s says that  Fodor’s   Italy  is the company’s top-selling guide book. 

cover image of Fodor's Italy travel guide

  • Fodor’s Travel Guides (Author)
  • 896 Pages – 12/20/2022 (Publication Date) – Fodor’s Travel (Publisher)

Fodor’s website 

Fodors.com was one of the first travel websites when it launched in 1996 . Today the site offers destination guides, general travel content, and forums about specific destinations or general travel topics such as air travel. 

Frommer’s 

The venerated Frommer’s travel guides were launched by Arthur Frommer in 1957 with a guide to visiting Europe on $5 a day (yup. $5.). That guide followed his book about how to travel Europe as a GI (Frommer was in the Army at the time). 

Frommer’s quickly grew to become one of the most trusted names in travel guidebooks. 

Several years ago, Frommer’s was acquired by Google, which pulled the plug on their print books in the spring of 2013.

Arthur Frommer reacquired the company shortly thereafter and then quickly made a deal to get the books back in distribution. Frommer’s then started emphasizing their Easy Guides and Day by Day series, which were smaller and easier to read and carry than the typical large guidebooks they saw on the market. 

cover image for Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks travel guide book

  • Gordon, Yvonne (Author)
  • 602 Pages – 08/23/2022 (Publication Date) – FrommerMedia (Publisher)

Frommer’s website 

Frommers.com is a fine place to start planning for a trip for free. Destination information includes city layouts, how to get around, and their top picks for hotels and dining. 

They also provide other general travel content and feature articles plus trip ideas for honeymoons, arts and cultural travel, national parks, family travel, road trips, and more. 

The Frommer’s Travel Show (podcast) 

Pauline Frommer, daughter of Frommer’s founder Arthur Frommer, hosts The Frommer’s Travel Show podcast . New episodes come out approximately once per week or several times a month. 

Bradt Guides 

Known for publishing guides for lesser-traveled destinations (though certainly not less deserving), Bradt bills itself as “the world’s leading independent travel publisher.”  

Bradt guides are the go-to for destinations not covered by other publishers. They say that “over two-thirds of Bradt guides still have no direct competition from other publishers.” 

The Bradts’ first book,  Backpacking Along Ancient Ways Peru & Bolivia , was the first to detail the Inca Trail.

Later they became known for writing guides to destinations “post-conflict.” These included Rwanda, Kosovo, and the Baltic States after the fall of the Iron Curtain. 

In addition to their destination guidebooks, Bradt also publishes a Slow Travel series of UK destinations, a Wildlife series, and general travel literature. 

cover image for Bradt travel guide

  • McIntyre, Chris (Author)
  • 456 Pages – 06/01/2022 (Publication Date) – Bradt Travel Guides (Publisher)

Bradt Guides Travel Club 

Avid travelers can support Bradt by joining their Travel Club through Patreon. There are three tiers: Bradtpacker, Globetrotter, and First-Class Traveller. Each tier offers differing levels of subscriber benefits including things like e-books and access to their bespoke travel planning service. 

Lonely Planet  

Lonely Planet books for a long time were quite popular especially with younger backpackers looking to travel on a budget. The books can be light on the details that certain travelers (beginners, anxious travelers) might wish for when making good decisions about where to spend their travel dollars. 

Lonely Planet books are good for independent and adventurous travelers . Or for those who just want some recommendations but not a prescribed itinerary with a ton of detail.  

In addition to their popular guidebooks, Lonely Planet also publishes phrasebooks, general travel books, food books, and children’s books. 

cover image for Lonely Planet travel guide

  • Mayhew, Bradley (Author)
  • 288 Pages – 03/16/2021 (Publication Date) – Lonely Planet (Publisher)

Lonely Planet website  

You can get some basic, inspirational travel information to start your travel planning from the Lonely Planet website . Sadly, they set their forums to “read-only” some time ago. In my opinion, the forums were the best (and most valuable) part of the website. 

Marco Polo 

Marco Polo is best known for its compact and colorful pocket travel guides. They also offer spiral-bound itinerary-based guides, phrasebooks, folding maps, travel handbooks, travel journals, city maps, and road atlases. 

Cover image for Marco Polo guide to Santorini

  • Marco Polo Travel Publishing Marco Polo Travel Publishing (Author)
  • 136 Pages – 10/15/2022 (Publication Date) – Marco Polo Travel Publishing, Ltd. (Publisher)

Marco Polo Discovery Tours App 

The free Marco Polo Discovery Tours app offers travelers a variety of guided itineraries through many destinations. For example, you can download a 23-day driving tour of New Zealand with a step-by-step driving tour over both islands. 

DK Eyewitness: among best travel books for visuals 

I enjoy reading DK Eyewitness guides, especially when I’m looking for information about the history and culture of my destination.  The glossy full-color books feature beautiful photographs and illustrations perfect for inspiring your travel itinerary. They cover more than 100 destinations. 

DK was founded in 1974 by Christopher Dorling and Peter Kindersley. They published their first travel book in the early 1990’s promising to show you “what others only tell you.”

They also cover all the usual grounds for travel guidebooks: itineraries, maps, dining and accommodations recommendations, top sites, etc. 

cover image for DK Eyewitness travel book

  • DK Eyewitness (Author)
  • 592 Pages – 04/26/2022 (Publication Date) – DK Eyewitness Travel (Publisher)

Where to Go podcast 

Produced by the team behind the DK Eyewitness books, each episode of the Where to Go podcast dives deep into a particular destination. New episodes come out every two weeks or so. 

Insight Guides 

For more than 40 years, Insight Guides have published guidebooks covering more than 200 destinations. 

In my experience, they’re quite a bit heavier on destination history and culture than any other travel guide I’ve encountered. So, if that’s not something you enjoy, then these guidebooks might not be your top choice. 

Insight Guides series include: Explore Guides, City Breaks, Pocket Guides, City Guides, and Experience Guides. 

Insight Guides Explore New Zealand (Travel Guide with Free eBook) (Insight Explore Guides)

  • Guides, Insight (Author)
  • 144 Pages – 04/01/2018 (Publication Date) – Insight Guides (Publisher)

Insight Guides website

You will find some travel information on the Insight Guides website , making it a decent place to start if you’re unsure of your destination.

The emphasis of their website seems to be on advertising their Insight Guides trip offerings…not that there’s anything wrong with that. 

Atlas Obscura 

Atlas obscura book .

Unlike all of the other travel guidebooks listed above, Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders is not a series of guidebooks but rather one book that details an incredible array of oddities and wonders around the world. 

Here’s how the authors describe their book and website (more on that below): 

“The site, and this book, are a kind of wunderkammer of places, a cabinet of curiosities that is meant to inspire wonderlust as much as wanderlust. In fact, many of the places in this book are in no way ‘tourist sites’ and should not be treated as such. Others are so out of the way, so treacherously situated, or (in at least one case) so deep beneath the surface, that few readers will ever be able to visit them. But here they are, sharing this marvelously strange planet with us.  Joshua Foer, Dylan Thuras & Ella Morton,  Atlas Obscura , revised second edition, (New York: Workman Publishing, 2019) vii

The revised second edition (published in 2019) added more than 100 new sites to the 2016 first edition. The book is delightful reading if you’re into oddities around the world. I definitely recommend picking up a copy. 

Atlas Obscura

  • Hardcover Book
  • Foer, Joshua (Author)

Atlas Obscura website 

Make sure you stop by the Atlas Obscura website  during your travel planning if you like finding out-of-the-way sites, or unusual places to visit, or want to make it a priority to get off the beaten path. 

You can even take Atlas Obscura trips to some pretty unusual places and even with some unusual activities…such as assisting biologists with bee research at Redwood National Park. 

Atlas Obscura podcast 

Atlas Obscura launched a podcast in March 2021, which I’ve really enjoyed listening to. Early episodes covered sites such as the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan, the Museum of Bad Art in Massachusetts, and the old Widow Jane cement mine in Rosendale, New York. 

Final thoughts on the best travel guidebooks 

The best travel guides will be the ones that you use and that help you plan a trip that you truly love. I personally like to use a combination of travel guidebooks and online travel planning resources. 

But don’t just follow my advice. Try these guidebook series and online travel guides for yourself and find the ones that you will like and use for your trip planning. 

What are your favorite travel guidebooks?

More articles related to travel guides 

  • Travel planning resources  
  • The top books about travel and self-discovery 
  • Best books to read before you travel to Paris  
  • The best books about the South 

Pin this post!  

the best travel guide books

Darcy Vierow is a busy professional and travel planning expert with years of experience maximizing travel with limited time and on a less-than-average salary. Her tips have been published by Forbes, MSN.com, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, Aol, Newsbreak and GOBankingRates. Read more about Darcy Vierow .

Michelin guides (the green books) are great!

I used to use the “Let’s Go: Europe” guides, which were great. They were targeting college age students mostly, but they had lots of good information re: trip planning for everyone.

Which guidebooks (and/or websites) are best for planning train/plane travel while in Europe? Any standouts?

Thanks for your very helpful information!

You’re welcome, Wayne. The Man in Seat 61 is THE expert in European train travel. His website is: https://www.seat61.com/ . He’s also pretty active on Twitter. I’d also recommend checking out https://www.rome2rio.com/ for helping with planning transportation for any trip. Thanks for reading!

My family had a great time in Paris. We had a wonderful time there and enjoyed the culture of the region. The nightlife was fantastic, and the city’s elegance is indescribable. We are in love with the place and explore so many places like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, Cruise on the Seine, etc. After reading your blog I would like to revisit there.

Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed your trip. Thanks for reading!

Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.

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How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide ?

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Home

Table of Contents

Creating an ideal travel guide is significant as it can offer helpful insights to tourists and enable them to have a hassle-free and delightful journey. A guide that is well-crafted can aid travelers in organizing their schedules, maximizing their time, and steering clear of typical mishaps.

Also, it can offer insider tips and unique suggestions to improve one’s travel experience. Providing accurate and current information about local customs, cultural sensitivities, and environmental concerns can assist travelers in making informed decisions and avoiding any unpleasant surprises.

Welcome to this blog post, where we will delve into the vital components of a well-crafted travel guide and offer guidance on conducting research, structuring, and conveying information. So grab your notebook, and let’s get started!

Understanding Your Target Audience

To create a perfect travel guide, you should first remember to understand your target travelers’ insight clearly. When determining the demographics and preferences of the target travelers, several important factors must be considered. These may include:

Age Gender Income level Current location Occupation Religion Ethnicity Family size Marital status.

Luxury Solo or group Adventure Relaxation Backpacking Business Etc

Preferred activities Preferred mode of transportation Destinations Special needs such as dietary restrictions or accessibility requirements. Etc

To gather all this information, you can conduct market research to gather insights into their interests and needs through:

  • Surveys and questionnaires
  • Focus groups and interviews
  • Asking open-ended questions and encouraging discussion
  • Analyzing data from travel websites and social media

By blending these methods, you can create a comprehensive profile of your target travelers and tailor your guide to cater to their unique interests and desires.

Example : A travel blogger researching their audience’s preferred travel destinations and activities through surveys and social media engagement. They could post a poll on their Instagram story asking their followers to vote for their favorite travel location, ask their followers to share their travel experiences and recommendations in the comments section of their posts, etc.

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide

Choosing A Destination And Researching

You can create a list of potential locations and, when considering different ones, research each location’s attractions, accommodations, dining options, transportation, and safety.

Utilize various resources such as travel websites, guidebooks, personal anecdotes, social media, travel blogs, online forums, etc to gather the exact information.

Tips: Focus on highlighting specific details that would benefit the travelers. Rather than simply mentioning that a place has “good restaurants,” provide more valuable information, such as the names of highly-rated or locally recommended restaurants.

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Image 2

Example: A travel writer visiting a destination and exploring its various aspects (attractions, accommodations, dining options, and transportation systems) to gather first-hand information for the guide. During the stay, record experiences and engage with locals or fellow travelers to obtain insider tips and insights. This can involve seeking recommendations on places to visit and things to do and learning about the local customs and cultural norms.

Structuring the Travel Guide

This usually includes advice on introduction, getting there, attractions, accommodations, dining, activities, safety tips, and more. Covering these topics in detail is vital to ensure your guide is comprehensive and valuable.

  • Comprehensive overview of the destination and its purpose.
  • Be captivating and informative
  • Encompass a brief history, geography, climate, distinctive characteristics, and tourist attractions.
  • Contain practical information, such as the optimal time to visit, prevailing currency, and spoken language.

Detailed, up-to-date, and accurate information on how to reach the destination, including

  • Information on flights, airlines that fly to the destination, and airport transfer options.
  • Information on other transportation options such as trains, buses, car rentals, visa requirements, and border crossings.

Provide detailed information on the destination’s top sights and activities.

  • Name historical landmarks, museums, natural wonders, cultural experiences, etc.
  • Brief description, practical information such as opening hours and admission fees, and tips for visiting.
  • Also contain photos and maps to help travelers plan their itinerary.
  • List of hotels, hostels, vacation rentals, camping options, and more.
  • Added information such as amenities and location and tips for booking.
  • Organize the information by price range or location to make it easy for travelers’ budgets and preferences.
  • List of restaurants, cafes, street food vendors, local specialties, and more.
  • Information by cuisine or location, opening hours, prices, and tips for ordering.

Attach location, cost, and tips for participating

  • Outdoor activities: hiking and biking
  • Cultural experiences: cooking classes, dance performances
  • Entertainment options: nightlife and shopping

Information on

  • Local customs and cultural sensitivities
  • Health concerns such as vaccinations and food safety
  • Crime rates and safety concerns
  • Emergency contact information

Example: A travel agency designing a travel guide with a user-friendly layout, including a table of contents for easy navigation. Consider organizing the information into clear and logical sections with headings and subheadings to make your guide easy to read and understand. Adding visual elements like photos, maps, and icons can help break up the text and make the guide more engaging for readers.

A table of contents can also be a useful feature for easy navigation. By following these steps, you can create a user-friendly guide that your audience will appreciate.

Writing Engaging and Informative Content

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Image 3

When creating a travel guide, aim to produce interesting and informative content that will assist your readers in planning a remarkable journey.

Using a captivating introduction to grab the reader's attention

Crafting an alluring opening to seize the reader’s interest is a crucial element when composing a flawless travel guide. An aptly written introduction has the potential to establish the mood and allure readers to peruse further.

  • Be descriptive
  • Provide an overview
  • Be engaging

For instance: “Welcome to our travel guide to the vibrant city of Tokyo, Japan! From its neon-lit skyscrapers to its tranquil temples, Tokyo is a city of contrasts that offers something for everyone. In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through Shinjuku’s bustling streets, the Imperial Palace’s serene gardens, and the trendy boutiques of Harajuku. Whether you’re a foodie, a history buff, or an adventure seeker, Tokyo has something to offer. So pack your bags and get ready to explore one of the most exciting cities in the world!”

Providing accurate and detailed information

Here are some pointers on how to provide accurate and detailed information about attractions in your travel guide:

Research the history and significance of the attraction: What is its cultural or historical significance? Who built it, and why? What is its role in the local community?

Describe the critical features: Explaining their significance What makes them unique?

Write practical information: The attraction’s hours of operation Admission fees Accessibility information Special events or activities that take place there

Incorporating personal experiences, anecdotes, and storytelling

One effective approach to make your travel guide more appealing and captivating for readers is by incorporating personal experiences, anecdotes, and storytelling. Adding these elements can help readers connect with the guide on a personal level.

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Image 4

Including Practical Tips and Recommendations

Incorporating useful advice and suggestions into a travel guide can greatly assist travelers in organizing their journey, economizing their time & finances, and augmenting their overall travel encounter. Through the provision of exclusive recommendations, valuable knowledge, and insights, a proficiently composed travel guide can enable visitors to make informed choices, evade typical setbacks, and relish an unforgettable and authentic experience.

Offering practical advice

Some advice you should focus is transportation, local customs, currency, and communication

Transportation

Provide detailed information on the transportation options available in the destination, including Public transportation, taxis, car rentals, and ride-sharing services. Included information on routes, schedules, fares, and safety tips.

Provide information on the local currency of the destination, including Exchange rates, ATM availability, and accepted forms of payment. Tips on how to get the best exchange rates and avoid common scams

Communication

Provide information on communication options at the destination, including Cell phone coverage Internet access Emergency contact numbers Tips on how to stay connected while traveling and how to communicate effectively with locals

Recommending specific restaurants, cafes, and local dishes

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Image 5

  • Research the local cuisine
  • Find the best places to eat: Use online reviews, local food blogs, and recommendations from locals to find the best places.
  • Include a variety of options
  • Highlight local dishes: This can include traditional dishes, regional specialties, and street food.

Incorporating high-quality photographs, maps, and illustrations

When writing a perfect travel guide, incorporating high-quality photographs, maps, and illustrations can greatly enhance the guide’s visual appeal for visitors. Here are some tips on how to do this:

  • Use high-quality images
  • Include a variety of visuals: This can include photographs of local landmarks and attractions, maps of the area, and illustrations of local customs or traditions.
  • Use visuals to enhance the text
  • Be mindful of layout

Formatting and Design

Proper formatting and design can enhance readability, improve visual appeal, make information easier to find, and reflect professionalism. By focus on these elements, you can create a travel guide that is easy to read, visually appealing, and user-friendly, helping to establish trust with the reader and make them more likely to follow the recommendations in the guide.

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Image 6

Using clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points for easy readability

Using headings, subheadings, and bullet points can greatly improve the visual appeal of a travel guide. These elements help to make the guide look organized and professional, grabbing the reader’s attention. To effectively use these elements, choose clear and descriptive headings, use consistent formatting, effectively use white space, and incorporate design elements such as color and images.

Choosing an attractive layout and font style

  • Using columns, boxes, or other design elements to organize information logically
  • Selecting a font size that is large enough to be easily legible, clear, and uncluttered.
  • Using color to highlight important information or use graphics or images to enhance the visual appeal of the guide.

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Proofreading and Editing

Improving the accuracy of the information, enhancing readability, boosting credibility, and reflecting professionalism are all achieved through proofreading and editing. When you meticulously proofread and edit your travel guide, you can produce a trustworthy, professional, and accurate guide that is more likely to be followed by readers and recommended to others.

Check for grammar, spelling, and factual accuracy

When creating a travel guide, it’s crucial to edit it for clarity, coherence, and flow. To achieve this, use plain language and avoid technical terms to keep the text simple and accessible. Group similar information together using headings and formatting for better organization.

Make sure there are smooth transitions between sections by using transitional words and phrases. Lastly, eliminate any unnecessary information to keep the guide concise and to the point.

How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide Image 7

When crafting a travel guide, it is imperative to consider your intended audience, conduct thorough research on your chosen destination, and present your content in a clear and logical manner. Incorporating personal anecdotes and storytelling can add an element of relatability and engagement to your guide, while also providing accurate and comprehensive information on local attractions and insider tips that can enhance the travel experience.

Furthermore, including visual aids such as photographs and maps can help readers visualize the destination and better plan their itinerary. By following these guidelines, you can create a high-quality travel guide that will assist travelers in having an unforgettable and fulfilling journey.

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10 of the best guidebook series to help plan your dream trip.

Start dreaming of your next adventure, with the help of the experts, insiders and locals who create the the world's best guidebooks. There's one for every destination, interest and type of traveller...

1. DK Eyewitness

(DK Eyewitness)

(DK Eyewitness)

Who:  Succinct but expert advice, beautifully detailed illustrations that transport you right into city streets and historic buildings,  detailed maps and interesting facts – is there really any wonder why DK's Eyewitness guides impress us so much? 

It's safe to say that you hold them in high regard yourselves, as DK topped the list of best guidebooks at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards .

DK has been going strong since 1993, taking us to more than 200 destinations in this time. Their real standout feature is the brand's compelling use of inspirational visuals and illustrations.

Incredibly user-friendly, the photo-packed books paint a clear picture of exactly what you can expect on your travels.

What to read: Check out the latest updates to DK's collection here   – the new 2020 editions offer fresh insights into popular cities across the world, including  Paris  and New York City .

See the city of love in a new light with hand-drawn illustrations showing the interiors of its most iconic sights, from the  Notre-Dame to the Panthéon, and a calendar of exciting events happening throughout the year.

2. Lonely Planet

(©Lonely Planet 2020)

(©Lonely Planet 2020)

Who: Lonely Planet's travel guides narrowly missed out on the top spot in the 2020 Reader Travel Awards, but they're popular for a reason.

The brand's origins are certainly romantic, too, having been founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler after their epic overland expedition from London to Australia in the early 70s.

While Lonely Planet's first offering was, of course, the stapled 94-page booklet  Across Asia on the Cheap in 1973,   the brand has come a long way since then. 

With more than 100 million guidebooks printed, the books are t horough, informative and packed with ideas for responsible travel escapes.

What to read:  Pick up a copy of the best-selling   The Travel Book  (2006) – a visual bible on every UN-approved country in the world – or look out for their most up-to-date guides here .

We also suggest updating your bookshelf with Lonely Planet's new edition of the Poland guide, which includes insider tips on everywhere from  Warsaw to the Carpathian Mountains. 

(Bradt)

Who: Another perennial favourite, Bradt guides are pretty much the gold standard when it comes to independent travel guides.

Founded by Hilary Bradt in 1974, the pioneering brand is one of your favourites, having taken the top spot  at the Reader Travel Awards many times in recent years.

Delving deep beneath the surface, Bradt's guides are always packed with high quality content , while advocating for sustainable and slow travel. Best known for covering off the beaten track destinations, they are also loved for their guides to the UK. 

What to read: If you're looking for a new insight into Africa, take a look at the recently published guides on Gabon   and Zimbabwe .

After the significant political upheaval of recent years, Zimbabwe is an excellent guide for travellers wanting to dip their toes into the country's attractions, covering everywhere from Victoria Falls to the Zambezi River. 

For more off-the-beaten-track destinations, dive into Bradt's online shop  here  – there's currently 50% off for shoppers who use the code DREAM50. What are you waiting for? 

4. Rough Guides

Rough Guides (APA Publications)

Rough Guides (APA Publications)

Who? If you're looking for an easy way into a destination, Rough Guides ticks all the boxes.

Famous for its 'tell it like it is' approach to places, the guidebook series initially provided founder Mark Ellingham a way out of getting a 'real job' – but now offer thousands of readers practical and hands-on advice on more than 120 countries across the world, as well as being strong on cultural insights..

What to read? Fans of Japan should look out for the  Rough Guide to Tokyo  (out on 1 April 2020) which promises comprehensive coverage on everything from the dizzying neon lights of Shinjuku to sushi and sake.

Or you can look out for new releases on Rough Guides' online shop here . 

5. Insight Guides

Insight Guides (APA Publications)

Insight Guides (APA Publications)

Who:  Insight have been in the business for more than 45 years, so it's safe to say that these guides know what they're talking about.

Detailed maps, accurate information and beautiful photography combine within to connect readers to places through their history and culture. 

What to read: Look out for one of Insight's latest offerings – Insight Guides Pakistan – to uncover the country's turbulent past and present, and  encounter its people and politics from an interesting new perspective. 

You'll find more books online here . 

6. Time Out

(Time Out)

Who:  Time Out's city guides have long been a trusty travel companion for those of us seeking the freshest take on a city – especially in Europe – but we nearly lost them for good back in 2016.

Now those dark days are over, they're back and better than ever, proving that we still want to discover the latest trends on art, culture, design, food and hotels. 

What to read: Delve into the latest guides online here – there's some excellent European coverage, including Time Out: Amsterdam , the brand's most recent offering, highlighting all that's afloat in the city of canals. 

Detailed street maps will help you find your way when your phone battery dies, leading you to best  museums, restaurants, bars and coffee shops to recharge in the city.

7. Footprint

(Footprint)

(Footprint)

Who:  Travelling to Latin America? Footprint Guides are your best bet, having specialised in all things under the South American sun for nearly 100 years.

That's not to say they don't specialise in other parts of the world, though – their shelves include books on the Caribbean and South Asia, only written by expert authors who have lived in that region and can truly capture its essence.

Perfect for travellers who want an intimate insight into a country. 

What to read: Footprint's iconic  South American Handbook is your new best friend for any adventure to the continent, with advice on everything from swinging from the treetops in epic rainforests to dancing in Andean villages and exploring the plains of Patagonia.  

First published in 1924, it's now in its 94th edition, so you're sure to find the answer to any of your burning questions. If you've already crossed that continent, you can explore Footprint's latest releases online here . 

8. Blue Guides

Blue Guides on a bookshelf (Blue Guides)

Blue Guides on a bookshelf (Blue Guides)

Who:  With more than a century of history to back them up, Blue Guides are the go-to guides for cultural capers.

From art to architecture and archaeology, these guides aim to inform travellers unsure about where to go next or who want to know more about the museum they're visiting with a series of award-winning maps, diagrams and photographs at your disposal – a great source of knowledge for any trip you're planning. 

What to read:  Don't worry if you can't get to Rome at the moment – you can still plan your next trip to the Eternal City with the help of  Blue Guide: Rome ,  the brand's latest updated guide.

New mentions are  the ruins of Ostia, the port of ancient Rome, as well as information on Tivoli and its famous gardens, but you can also look out for other guides online here .

We also recommend  Travels in Transylvania: The Greater Târnava Valley  – a fascinating insight into Romania's great green heart beyond the blood-sucking stereotypes. 

9. Cicerone

(Cicerone Guides)

(Cicerone Guides)

Who: Wild walking adventures across the globe have been Cicerone's USP for more than half a century.

If you want to know where to walk, trek, climb, mountaineer or cycle, these guides s panning the UK and Europe are are really the ones to watch out for with clear maps and directions paving the way for an epic hike.

Is it time to dust off those hiking boots yet? 

What to read:  Cicerone celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, marking the occasion with Cicerone: Celebrating Fifty Years of Adventure .

Featuring  50 inspirational tales and trails, the book collates the memories of Cicerone's seasoned writers who have weathered all storms on their adventures, with laugh-out-loud moments and jaw-dropping accomplishments in the mix.

To see Cicerone's latest guides, check their online shop here .

10. Marco Polo

(Marco Polo)

(Marco Polo)

Who: Want to be more like Marco Polo? The pioneering 13th-century Venetian explorer has inspired many adventurers – Columbus, for one – as well as these handy little guides.  

As well as revealing the best things you can do for free, Marco Polo guides are fully equipped for the digital age – download the Touring App and you can freely access detailed  routes and maps on your smartphone.

No internet? No problem – you can access them offline, too, so you won't get an expensive phone bill, either. They really are your best friend when travelling on a shoestring budget. 

What to read: From Marrakech to Mallorca, there's lots of sunny destinations to look out for this year, but if you're dreaming of beaches, forests and mountains in the USA, check out the recently released  California Marco Polo Travel Guide .

Want an Australian adventure, instead? We all do – especially when there's tropical climes, island paradises and epic road trips to be had. Check out the latest info for a trip down under in the   Australia Marco Polo Travel Guide or see what else the brand has to offer here .

More essential travel reading:

Wanderlust 's 77 ultimate travel experiences bookazine is here, the best travel books of 2020 (so far), our favourite travellers share the books that inspired them, related articles, looking for inspiration.

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Explore the Various Types of Travel: A Comprehensive Guide for Every Adventurous Soul

Zackary Hooper

example of travel guide

Navigating the world of travel can be a daunting task with countless options at every turn. We’ve all been there, overwhelmed by choices and unsure which type of adventure best suits our wandering heart.

Table of Contents

With first-hand experience in multiple types of travel and extensive research under our belt, we’re here to guide you through this maze. This blog post will offer an in-depth look into various types of travel from solo ventures to luxury indulgences – delivering insights for your next epic journey ! Let’s begin the exploration!

Key Takeaways

  • Solo travel offers opportunities for personal growth, self – discovery, and building confidence. It allows travelers to tailor their adventures according to personal interests.
  • Safety tips for solo travelers include researching destinations, sharing itineraries with someone back home, staying connected, trusting instincts, being cautious with alcohol, securing belongings, and using reliable transportation options.
  • Top destinations for solo travelers include Bali (Indonesia), Prague (Czech Republic), Iceland, Tokyo (Japan), and New Zealand. These places offer unique experiences and opportunities for self-discovery.
  • Adventure travel offers thrilling activities such as safaris, summer camps for outdoor fun, hiking and trekking in stunning landscapes, wildlife conservation initiatives to protect endangered species.

Solo Travel: The Ultimate Guide for Independent Explorers

Embarking on solo travel can be an incredibly rewarding experience, providing the opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery.

Benefits of Solo Travel

A solitary traveler walks along a mountain trail at sunrise, capturing the beauty of nature and various individuals along the way. Types of Travel.

Solo travel cultivates an atmosphere of self-reliance and independence . Venturing into new locales on your own opens doors for deep introspection , a chance to discover and explore oneself just as much as the destinations.

It forces one to step out of their comfort zone, sharpening problem-solving skills in unfamiliar environments. Not only does this boost confidence but also broadens perspectives about different cultures and landscapes around the world.

Unconstrained by travel partners’ preferences, solo travelers have full freedom to tailor their adventures according to personal interests – from adventurous activities at dream destinations or peaceful retreats amid serene landscapes, every choice is yours alone! Sharing experiences with fellow solo travelers also helps build lasting friendships across borders.

Furthermore, encountering unexpected situations during solo travels can serve as life lessons that further enrich our knowledge and understanding of the world we live in.

Safety Tips for Solo Travelers

The image depicts a travel photography scene with various people and travel essentials around an open map.

Solo travel can be an incredible adventure, but it’s important to prioritize safety. Here are some tips to help ensure a smooth and secure solo trip:

  • Research your destination : Learn about the local customs, laws, and potential safety risks before you go.
  • Share your itinerary : Let someone back home know your plans , including where you’ll be staying and how they can reach you.
  • Stay connected : Always have a way to communicate with others , whether it’s a local SIM card or an international data plan.
  • Blend in : Dress like the locals and avoid flashy jewelry or accessories that may attract unwanted attention.
  • Trust your instincts : If something feels off or unsafe, remove yourself from the situation and find a safe place.
  • Be cautious with alcohol : Drink responsibly and be aware of your surroundings when enjoying nightlife or socializing with new people.
  • Secure your belongings : Keep valuable items locked up in a hotel safe or hidden in secure compartments of your bag.
  • Stay aware of your surroundings : Pay attention to who is around you and trust your gut if something doesn’t feel right.
  • Use reliable transportation options : Stick to reputable taxi companies or trusted ride-sharing services when getting around.

Top Destinations for Solo Travelers

A traveler stands on a cliff, admiring a scenic mountain landscape with different people and outfits.

Are you a solo traveler looking for the perfect destination to explore on your own? Here are some top destinations that will surely feed your wanderlust:

  • Bali, Indonesia : Immerse yourself in the stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and spiritual experiences of this tropical paradise.
  • Prague, Czech Republic : Wander through charming cobblestone streets and soak in the architectural beauty of this historic city.
  • Iceland : Experience breathtaking landscapes with waterfalls, volcanoes, and geothermal hot springs that are sure to leave you in awe.
  • Tokyo, Japan : Dive into the bustling metropolis of Tokyo where you can indulge in amazing food, shopping, and immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture.
  • Solo travel in New Zealand : Explore the stunning natural beauty of New Zealand through hiking trails, adventure sports, and breathtaking scenery.

Solo Travel Resources and Apps

A hiker stands on a mountain peak surrounded by stunning scenery, captured in high-quality detail.

I have discovered some great resources and apps that are perfect for solo travelers like myself. These tools can help make the journey even more enjoyable and stress-free:

  • TripIt : This app keeps all of your travel itineraries organized in one place, making it easy to access flight details, accommodation reservations, and other important information.
  • Google Maps : A must-have app for navigating unfamiliar cities or remote areas. You can easily find directions, discover local attractions, and even save offline maps for offline use.
  • Skyscanner : This website and app is perfect for finding the best deals on flights. You can compare prices from different airlines and book your tickets directly through the platform.
  • Hostelworld : If you’re looking for budget-friendly accommodation options, Hostelworld is a great resource. It provides a wide range of hostels around the world with reviews from fellow travelers.
  • Yelp : When it comes to finding places to eat or drink, Yelp is a reliable source for reviews and recommendations from locals and tourists alike.
  • Duolingo : Planning to visit a country where English may not be widely spoken? Duolingo is an excellent language-learning app that will help you pick up the basics before your trip.
  • XE Currency : Avoid confusion when it comes to exchanging money by using this currency conversion app. It offers accurate rates and allows you to easily convert between currencies.
  • Google Translate : Overcome language barriers with this handy translation tool. You can translate text or even have conversations with people who speak different languages.
  • Trail Wallet : Perfect for budget-conscious travelers, Trail Wallet helps you track your expenses on the go so you can stick to your financial goals while exploring new destinations.
  • Safety apps : There are various safety apps available that offer features such as real-time tracking, emergency contacts, and panic buttons in case of any mishaps during your solo travels.

Adventure Travel: Exploring Different Types of Adventures

A diverse group of hikers standing on a mountain peak at sunrise, captured with a high-quality camera for stunning detail.

From thrilling safaris to exhilarating hiking and trekking experiences, adventure travel offers endless opportunities for excitement and exploration. Discover the world’s most captivating landscapes and embark on wild rides that will leave you breathless with anticipation.

Read on to dive deep into the various types of adventures awaiting your adventurous soul.

A group of elephants peacefully grazing in the savannah, captured in a well-lit photo with vibrant colors and sharp focus.

When I think of adventure travel, one activity that always comes to mind is going on a safari. The thrill of being in the wild and getting up close with exotic animals is an experience like no other.

Whether you’re taking a jeep tour or embarking on a walking safari, there’s something magical about witnessing these majestic creatures in their natural habitat. From spotting lions roaming the grasslands to observing elephants bathing by the watering hole, every moment on a safari is filled with awe and wonder.

It’s not just about the wildlife though; safaris also offer incredible opportunities to immerse yourself in different landscapes and learn about local cultures . So if you’re ready for an adventure of a lifetime, make sure to add a safari to your bucket list!

Summer camps

A diverse group of campers enjoying a lively evening around a campfire, laughing and roasting marshmallows.

I absolutely love summer camps! They are a fantastic way to experience adventure and have fun in the great outdoors. Whether you’re a kid or an adult, summer camps offer exciting activities like hiking, swimming, canoeing, and even campfire storytelling.

Not only do they provide an opportunity to make lifelong friends , but summer camps also teach valuable skills like teamwork and leadership. So pack your bags and head to a summer camp for an unforgettable adventure this year!

Hiking and Trekking

I absolutely love hiking and trekking ! There’s something incredibly exhilarating about exploring nature on foot and pushing your limits . Whether you’re tackling a challenging mountain trail or strolling through scenic landscapes, hiking and trekking offer unique adventures that allow you to connect with the natural world .

It’s not just about the physical exercise – it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in stunning environments , experience breathtaking views, and discover hidden gems off the beaten path .

So lace up those boots, grab your backpack, and get ready for an unforgettable journey into the great outdoors!

Wildlife Conservation

A photograph of a diverse elephant family walking through the African savannah, taken with a professional camera.

I love exploring the wild and learning about wildlife conservation. It’s important to protect animals’ natural habitats and ensure their survival for future generations. We can help maintain biodiversity and preserve endangered species by supporting wildlife conservation initiatives.

Whether it’s participating in research programs , volunteering at animal sanctuaries, or promoting eco-tourism, there are many ways to make a difference. Let’s work together to safeguard our planet’s beautiful creatures and create a sustainable future for all life forms.

Cultural Travel: Discovering the Richness of Different Cultures

A diverse group of people enjoying a traditional dance in a vibrant cultural festival.

Immerse yourself in local traditions, explore historical sites, indulge in culinary experiences, and celebrate festivals and events from different cultures around the world.

Immersion in Local Traditions

A vibrant photo of a traditional Indonesian dance performance with diverse dancers in colorful costumes.

Exploring different cultures and immersing myself in local traditions has always been a highlight of my travels. There’s something truly enriching about stepping into the shoes of locals, learning their customs, and embracing their way of life.

Whether it’s participating in traditional ceremonies , trying local delicacies, or engaging in cultural activities, immersing myself in local traditions allows me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the people and places I visit.

Through these immersive experiences, I’ve learned about ancient rituals at temples, witnessed breathtaking festivals firsthand, and even picked up some new dance moves along the way.

Historical Explorations

I love delving into the past and uncovering the stories of our ancestors. Historical explorations allow us to step back in time and witness different cultures, events, and landmarks firsthand.

Whether it’s exploring ancient ruins , visiting museums , or walking through cobblestone streets lined with historical buildings, there is something magical about connecting with the past .

These adventures provide a unique educational experience that deepens our understanding of history while also igniting a sense of awe and wonder. From exploring iconic sites like the Pyramids of Giza to discovering hidden gems off the beaten path, historical explorations offer endless opportunities for discovery and reflection.

Culinary Experiences

Exploring different cultures through their cuisine is an essential part of cultural travel. Immerse yourself in the flavors and traditions of a country by sampling local dishes , visiting markets , and even taking cooking classes .

Discover exotic spices, unique ingredients , and traditional cooking techniques that will tantalize your taste buds and expand your culinary horizons. Whether it’s indulging in fresh seafood along the coast of Italy or savoring street food in Thailand, culinary experiences are a delicious way to connect with a culture on a deeper level.

Festivals and Events

Attending festivals and events is a vibrant way to immerse yourself in the local culture while traveling. From colorful parades to music concerts, these celebrations offer a unique experience that allows you to connect with the community and witness their traditions firsthand .

You can join in traditional dances , sample delicious local cuisines , and marvel at spectacular firework displays . Whether it’s celebrating religious holidays or cultural landmarks, festivals and events create lasting memories while giving you an opportunity to make new friends from around the world.

So pack your dancing shoes and get ready to celebrate!

Participating in festivals and events not only introduces you to different customs but also provides insights into the history of a place. Through historical reenactments or guided tours, you can learn about significant moments in time that shaped a community’s identity.

Attending these events allows you to visualize stories told through artistic performances or interactive exhibitions. By immersing yourself in such experiences, you enrich your understanding of diverse cultures and gain a deeper appreciation for the destinations on your travel itinerary.

– Festivals and events give travelers the chance to engage with locals.

Eco-Travel: Promoting Sustainable Tourism

A hiker exploring a rainforest trail surrounded by diverse wildlife, wearing different outfits and hairstyles.

Eco-Travel promotes sustainable tourism through responsible wildlife tourism , conservation and preservation efforts , eco-friendly accommodations , and sustainable transportation options .

Responsible Wildlife Tourism

I believe that responsible wildlife tourism is crucial for preserving our planet’s diverse ecosystems and protecting endangered species . By practicing ethical and sustainable approaches to wildlife encounters, we can contribute to conservation efforts while also having a memorable travel experience.

It’s important to choose tour operators and accommodations prioritizing animal welfare, such as those promoting responsible interactions with animals in their natural habitats and supporting local conservation projects .

Remember, when engaging in wildlife tourism activities, always respect the environment and the animals by following guidelines set by experts in the field. Let’s be conscious travelers who appreciate nature’s beauty without causing harm or distress to its inhabitants.

Conservation and Preservation

Conservation and preservation are essential aspects of eco-travel. When we engage in responsible wildlife tourism, we actively contribute to conservation efforts to protect endangered species and preserve their habitats.

By supporting ethical organizations and initiatives, we can help ensure the long-term sustainability of our natural environment. Choosing eco-friendly accommodations that prioritize sustainable practices also contributes to reducing our impact on the planet.

Additionally, opting for sustainable transportation methods such as public transit or biking helps minimize carbon emissions and protect fragile ecosystems.

Eco-Friendly Accommodations

Eco-friendly accommodations are a great option for travelers who want to minimize their environmental impact while enjoying their vacation. These accommodations prioritize sustainability and conservation by implementing practices like using renewable energy sources , reducing water consumption , and promoting recycling .

Staying at an eco-friendly accommodation helps protect the planet and provides a unique and immersive experience for visitors. From eco-lodges nestled in rainforests to solar-powered resorts by the beach, various options are available that cater to different travel preferences.

By staying at eco-friendly accommodations, travelers can contribute towards responsible tourism and support businesses that prioritize sustainable practices. So why not consider booking your next adventure at an environmentally conscious lodging?.

Sustainable Transportation

I always make sure to choose sustainable transportation when I travel. It’s not only good for the environment, but it also allows me to experience my destination in a unique way. Instead of relying on cars or airplanes, I opt for public transportation like buses or trains whenever possible.

This not only reduces carbon emissions but also gives me a chance to interact with locals and see the landscape up close. Another option I love is biking or walking around the city , which keeps me active and reduces my carbon footprint.

By choosing sustainable transportation, I feel like I’m doing my part in preserving our planet while enjoying my travels to the fullest.

Luxury Travel: Indulging in Exquisite Experiences

A couple enjoying a private dinner on a luxury yacht, surrounded by ocean views.

Experience the epitome of indulgence with high-end resorts, private tours, fine dining, and luxury cruises. Whether you seek relaxation or opulence, this guide has everything you need to create unforgettable memories.

High-end Resorts and Spas

I absolutely love indulging in the luxurious experience that high-end resorts and spas offer. The exquisite accommodations , world-class amenities , and top-notch service make it a truly unforgettable getaway.

Whether you’re looking for a tropical paradise or a mountain retreat, these high-end establishments provide the perfect setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. From rejuvenating spa treatments to gourmet dining experiences , every aspect of your stay is designed to pamper you and ensure that you leave feeling refreshed and revitalized.

It’s all about treating yourself to the finer things in life and creating memories that will last a lifetime. So why not splurge on a stay at one of these high-end resorts or spas? After all, you deserve nothing but the best!

Private Tours and Experiences

I love the exclusivity and personalized attention that comes with private tours and experiences. It’s a fantastic way to explore a destination at your own pace, while enjoying the luxury of having an expert guide who can provide insights and insider knowledge .

Whether it’s a historical walking tour through ancient ruins or a luxurious wine tasting experience at a vineyard, private tours offer unique opportunities to delve deeper into the culture and attractions of a place.

You can customize your itinerary to focus on your interests, ensuring that you get the most out of your travel experience. With private tours and experiences, you’ll have unforgettable moments that are tailored just for you.

Fine Dining and Wine Tasting

I love indulging in exquisite experiences when I travel, and one of my favorite ways to do that is through fine dining and wine tasting. There’s something truly special about savoring a gourmet meal paired with a perfectly matched wine .

Whether it’s enjoying a Michelin-starred dinner or exploring vineyards in the rolling hills of Tuscany, fine dining and wine tasting offer unique opportunities for sensory pleasure and culinary exploration .

From rich flavors to elegant presentation, every bite and sip take you on a delightful journey of taste. So if you’re a foodie like me, be sure to add fine dining and wine tasting experiences to your travel itinerary for an unforgettable gastronomic adventure.

Luxury Cruises

If you’re looking to indulge in exquisite experiences while traveling, luxury cruises are the perfect choice. These cruises offer high-end resorts and spas on board where you can relax and rejuvenate in style.

Private tours and experiences provide personalized attention , allowing you to explore destinations at your own pace . Fine dining options with world-class cuisine and wine tasting events elevate your culinary experience while sailing the seas.

Luxury cruises provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in opulence and create unforgettable memories .

Conclusion on Types of Travel

A diverse group of travelers celebrating their adventurous journey on a mountaintop.

Embark on your next travel adventure and explore the various types of travel that await you. From solo exploration to adrenaline-filled adventures , cultural immersions to eco-friendly experiences, and luxurious indulgences to soulful journeys, there is a type of travel for every adventurous soul.

So pack your bags, step out of your comfort zone, and let the world be your guide as you discover new landscapes, cultures, and unforgettable experiences along the way.

FAQs on Types of Travel

1. what are the different types of travel i can explore.

You can explore various types of travel such as adventure travel, cultural tourism, ecotourism, and beach vacations.

2. How do I decide which type of travel is right for me?

To decide which type of travel is right for you, consider your interests, preferences, and desired experiences. Think about whether you enjoy outdoor activities, learning about different cultures or simply relaxing on a beach.

3. Are there any recommended destinations for each type of travel?

Yes, there are recommended destinations for each type of travel. For example, adventure travelers may consider places like New Zealand or Costa Rica while cultural tourists may be drawn to cities like Paris or Kyoto.

4. Can I combine different types of travel in one trip?

Absolutely! You can combine different types of travel in one trip to make it more diverse and enjoyable. For example, you might start with an adventurous hike and then unwind by exploring local traditions and cuisine.

About the author

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I’ve been fortunate to visit over fifty countries, each journey leaving a unique footprint on my life’s map. From bustling cities to serene nature trails, I’ve immersed myself in different cultures and experiences, constantly broadening my understanding of the world. On this site, I share my travel stories, tips, and insights, hoping to inspire others to embark on their own journeys. Join me as we uncover the beauty of our planet, one adventure at a time. Please reach out here if you need to get in touch.

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15 Best Travel Guidebook Series & Why You Will Love Them

  • Updated: 11/14/2023

Are you an avid traveler or someone who loves exploring new places? If so, you know the value of good travel planning  information and particularly the value of editorial independent guidebooks . Though—with so many options, how do you choose the best book? 

In this article, I share the top 15 must-have travel guidebook series , from Lonely Planet to Rick Steves and everything in between. These books offer essential resources for travelers seeking reliable details about destinations, local cultures, and tips for a seamless journey.

The guides deliver a one-stop-shop that combines the best of the internet without the pop-up ads and paid-for-placement “recommendations.”

So, join in—as I delve into the pros and cons of each travel guidebook series, considering factors like accuracy, depth of coverage, user-friendly layout, and unique features. I will cover what sets these guidebooks apart, helping you to make the best decision on which one to choose before your next trip.

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Why travel guidebooks are still relevant in the digital age.

From our early days of travel, I remember one of the heaviest parts of backpacking around the world used to be shouldering the weight of hefty printed guidebooks as we made our way from one country to another.

We would often carry four or five thick books at a time. This heavy stack included guides for our current country, our recently visited country, and, if we happened to be organized—for the country we were going to next.

We did this because, at the time, we had no other choice. Before the prevalence of e-books and travel blogs, YouTube channels, and social media accounts, old-school travel guidebooks provided the only source of travel information available.

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However, today, in our digital age, where information is just a few clicks away, you might wonder if travel guidebooks still hold any value. The truth is, despite the abundance of online resources, guidebooks continue to be an essential tool for travelers worldwide. Here is why: 

Firstly, travel guidebooks offer a curated, reliable, and comprehensive source of information. While the internet can provide a wealth of data, it can also be overwhelming and often unreliable. Guidebooks, on the other hand, are meticulously researched, are editorially independent (aka do not receive payment from businesses for placements), written by experts who often share a distinct opinion on a place and its attractions, and are constantly updated to ensure accuracy.

Secondly, guidebooks provide a complete overview of a destination. They go beyond just listing tourist attractions, offering insights into possible itineraries, local customs, traditions, and lesser-known gems that are easy to miss. Whether your interests lie in history, art, food, or adventure, guidebooks typically cover it all comprehensively.

For example, after reading Frommer’s EasyGuide to Washington, DC  before a family spring break visit, I learned I needed to act fast to request tickets for Capitol and White House tours. Because the guidebook let me know to reserve so early, we successfully booked a tour and visited the Capitol building. Standing in the historic and beautiful US Capitol Rotunda and viewing the House and Senate Chambers was an unforgettable experience I would not have wanted to miss. 

Lastly, guidebooks are portable and do not require cell connectivity . Physical guidebooks are easy to carry and access anytime, anywhere. Digital travel guidebooks, or e-books, can be downloaded and discreetly referenced from the convenience of a smartphone or portable tablet. Whichever your preferred format, these books offer an excellent choice for travelers who want to disconnect from being constantly in contact and have a more immersive experience.

With these benefits in mind, we will explore things you should consider when choosing the best guidebook in the section below.

5 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Travel Guidebook

To help you choose the ideal travel guidebook for your next trip, here are five key factors to consider:

1. Destination: Consider the specific destination you plan to visit. Some guidebook series specialize in regions or countries, offering more in-depth coverage and insider tips. For example, Rick Steves’  travel guidebooks focus on Europe only.

2. Travel Style: Think about your travel style and preferences. If you are a backpacker looking for budget-friendly recommendations—you will likely want to read Lonely Planet . Or are you more interested in luxury and upscale experiences? Then, a DK Eyewitness Guide or a Fodor’s might be more to your taste. Different guidebook series cater to specific travel styles, so choose one that best aligns with the way you travel.

3. Content: Evaluate the type of content you are looking for. Do you prefer detailed historical information, practical tips, or recommendations for off-the-beaten-path experiences? Some guidebooks, like Culture Smart! , focus on cultural insights, while others provide a broader overview.

4. Layout and Format: Consider the layout and format of the guidebook. Is it easy to navigate? Are there maps, photos, or illustrations? Does it offer an easy-to-follow rating system for top recommendations like the Frommer’s guides include? A well-organized guidebook with clear visuals can significantly enhance your travel experience.

5. Publish Date: Reference the date the travel guidebook was most recently published. If it is several years old, see if a newer version with updated content is available for your destination from a different guidebook series. 

Now that we have covered the factors to consider, check out the top 15 picks for the travel guidebook series in the sections below.

Lonely Planet: The Iconic Travel Guidebook Series

Best for: Budget and mid-range independent travelers.

Coverage: 50+ countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, Americas, Australasia & the Middle East.

Lonely Planet  is—undoubtedly—one of the most well-known and respected travel guidebook series. For over five decades, Lonely Planet  has been helping travelers discover the world with its comprehensive guides.

Here are three things that set Lonely Planet apart:

  • Accuracy: Lonely Planet guidebooks are known for their accuracy. Writers and editors meticulously research the information, ensuring that you have the most up-to-date and reliable details at your fingertips.
  • Depth of Coverage: Lonely Planet offers extensive coverage of destinations worldwide. From popular tourist spots to hidden gems, you will find detailed information on attractions, accommodations, transportation, and more.
  • User-Friendly Layout: Lonely Planet guidebooks have a user-friendly layout that makes it easy to navigate and find the information you need quickly. Clear maps, color-coded sections, and helpful icons enhance the reading experience.

However, it is worth noting that Lonely Planet guidebooks can sometimes be overwhelming due to the vast information provided. Additionally, since it focuses primarily on budget and mid-range travel, you may want to consult other sources for more luxury recommendations.

Though given that their library is so extensive and refreshed so frequently, they may offer the only up-to-date travel guidebook for your destination. We recently used their Lonely Planet Malta & Gozo guide for a spring family trip to Gozo  and Valletta and found it an excellent resource. 

The only other downside when it comes to Lonely Planet for travelers who prefer e-books is that it can be slow to e-publish new editions, offering only print guides for sale.

Rick Steves: A Comprehensive Guide for the European Traveler

Best for: Independent European travelers.

Coverage: 30+ European countries.

For travelers planning a trip to Europe, Rick Steves’ guidebooks are a must-have. With a focus on European destinations, Rick Steves has been helping travelers explore the continent for over four decades. 

Three reasons why travelers regard Rick Steves’ guidebooks so highly:

  • In-depth European Coverage: Rick Steves’ guidebooks offer unparalleled coverage of European destinations. Whether visiting popular cities like Paris and Rome or exploring lesser-known towns, like Dingle Town in Ireland, you will find detailed information and valuable insider tips provided by experts. For example, in his Ireland guidebook, the excellent detail for the Dingle Peninsula self-guided route is supplied by a local archeological tour guide and retired police chief, Tim Collins.
  • Cultural Insights: Rick Steves is known for emphasizing cultural immersion. His guidebooks provide insights into local customs, traditions, and history, helping to give you a deeper understanding of the places you visit.
  • Practical Advice: Rick Steves packs his guidebooks with practical advice for European travel. From transportation options to money-saving tips, you will find everything you need to make the most of your trip.

One downside of Rick Steves’ guidebooks that might be an upside is that Rick always has an opinion, and he shares it. You may love his strong point of view. Or you might not agree with what he thinks. 

For example, I love Rick Steves and always reference his guides for any new European destination. However, in his Switzerland guidebook , Rick shares his low opinion of a Berner Oberland mountain hub town called Grindelwald for being too busy and overly commercial. Upon visiting Grindelwald, I could see his point. However, a short five to 10-minute walk from the train station showed me a very different view of a beautiful and much quieter destination that I would, without hesitation, highly recommend for any traveler to visit. 

Read Rick for his deep knowledge of Europe, though take some of his strongest opinions with a grain of salt. Then, visit and form your own views. 

Fodor's: The Go-to Guide for Luxury and Upscale Travel

Best for: The upscale traveler.

Coverage: 150+ guides for countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Australasia & the Middle East.

For travelers seeking a more luxurious and upscale trip experience, Fodor’s guidebooks are an excellent choice. With a focus on high-end destinations and experiences, Fodor’s offers a curated selection of recommendations for the discerning traveler. 

Here are three things that make Fodor’s stand out:

  • Luxury Recommendations: Fodor’s guidebooks offer comprehensive coverage of luxury accommodations, fine dining options, and upscale experiences. If you want to indulge in the finer things during your travels, Fodor’s has you covered.
  • Insider Tips: Fodor’s guidebooks offe r insider tips and recommendations from local experts. Whether a hidden gem or an exclusive experience, you will find unique suggestions that cater to luxury travelers.
  • Beautiful Photography: Fodor’s guidebooks are known for stunning photography. The visuals not only inspire wanderlust but also provide a glimpse into the luxurious experiences that await you.

However, due to its upscale focus, you may find Fodor’s guidebooks to be not as budget-friendly as other series. If you are on a tight budget, you may need to supplement this book with additional resources.

Frommer's: A Trusted Guide for Budget-Conscious Travelers

Best for: The all-around traveler looking for value for money. Also, for family travelers.

Coverage: 350+ guides split across 10+ different series from Frommer’s Complete Guides to EasyGuides that cover Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Australasia & the Middle East.

If you are a budget-conscious traveler looking for value-for-money recommendations, which includes most family travelers, Frommer’s guidebooks offer an excellent choice. With a focus on affordable travel, Frommer’s offers practical advice, insider tips, and a reliable rating system, bestowing one to three stars on places and experiences it recommends as worth your time and money.  

Over the years, and as a value-conscious traveler always looking to get the most out of my travel budget, I have come to rely on Frommer’s guidebooks as my first resource for how I want to shape a trip. I use these guides to set high-level itineraries and develop a broad-strokes list of things I want to see and do most. For example, its Hawaii guide provided just the right amount of information for me to figure out which islands were best for our family to visit on a two-week trip. 

These three factors set Frommer’s apart:

  • Budget-Friendly Recommendations: Frommer’s guidebooks provide a wide range of budget-friendly recommendations, including affordable accommodations, dining options, and attractions. They also offer money-saving tips to help you stretch your travel budget.
  • Practical Information: Frommer’s guidebooks are known for their practical and detailed information. From transportation to multiple sample itinerary options, you will find everything you need to plan your trip efficiently.
  • Local Insights: Frommer’s guidebooks include insights and recommendations from local experts, allowing you to experience a destination like a local. This adds a unique perspective to your travel experience.

One limitation of Frommer’s guidebooks is their coverage, which may not be as extensive as other series. Especially if you are visiting lesser-known destinations, you will want to consult additional resources.

Rough Guides: The Adventurous Travel Companion

Best for: The adventure traveler.

Coverage: 100+ countries throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Australasia & the Middle East.

For adventurous travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path experiences, Rough Guides is the perfect companion for your journeys. With a focus on adventure travel, R ough Guides offers a wealth of information for those looking to explore beyond the usual tourist spots.

Here are three things that make Rough Guides unique:

  • Off-the-beaten-path Recommendations: Rough Guides detail recommendations for lesser-known destinations and experiences. Whether trekking through remote mountains or exploring hidden cultural gems, Rough Guides will inspire your adventurous spirit.
  • Adventure Travel Tips: Rough Guides offer practical advice for adventure travel, including information on outdoor activities, gear recommendations, and safety tips. If you are planning a hiking, diving, or wildlife-focused trip, Rough Guides supply a valuable resource.
  • Cultural Immersion: Rough Guides emphasize cultural immersion, providing insights into local customs, traditions, and indigenous communities, helping you achieve a more authentic travel experience.

One potential drawback of Rough Guides is their limited coverage of popular tourist destinations. If you plan to visit major cities or well-known attractions, you may need to consult additional guidebooks.

DK Eyewitness Travel: Visual Guides for Immersive Travel Experiences

Best for: Travelers who love to learn while they travel.

Coverage: 200+ guides to destinations throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Australasia & the Middle East.

If you are a visual learner or prefer a more immersive travel experience, DK Eyewitness Travel guidebooks or their Pocket Top 10 guides are a perfect choice. Or the ideal complement to read along with a more detail-intense series. With its stunning visuals and in-depth coverage, DK Eyewitness Travel offers a unique way to explore the world. 

Here are three things that make DK Eyewitness Travel stand out:

  • Visuals: DK Eyewitness Travel guidebooks are known for their beautiful photography, detailed illustrations, and 3D maps. These graphics bring destinations to life and help you visualize your travel experience.
  • Immersive Content: DK Eyewitness Travel guidebooks provide immersive content beyond just listing attractions. They offer insights into local culture, history, and traditions, helping give you a deeper understanding of the places you visit.
  • User-Friendly Layout: DK Eyewitness Travel guidebooks have a user-friendly layout with color-coded sections, detailed maps, and easy-to-read text. Readers find these convenient to navigate, helping them to find the information needed.

However, it is worth noting that DK Eyewitness Travel guidebooks may not offer as much depth of coverage or budget-friendly recommendations as other series. If you seek more specific or detailed information, you will want to pick this up elsewhere.

National Geographic Traveler: Discover the World Through Stunning Photography

Best for : Travelers who want their guidebooks to double as keepsakes and prefer a culturally immersive experience. 

Coverage: 40+ guides to destinations throughout the world, with the heaviest coverage in Europe and a few titles for top destinations in the US, Central America, Asia & Africa.

National Geographic Traveler guidebooks offer a unique perspective on travel, combining stunning photography with informative content. 

Three factors that make National Geographic Traveler guidebooks a must-have:

  • Photography : National Geographic Traveler guidebooks are known for breathtaking photography. The visuals capture the essence of a destination and will inspire your wanderlust.
  • Insider Tips: National Geographic Traveler guidebooks provide insider tips and recommendations from National Geographic experts. These insights offer a deeper understanding of a destination, allowing for more unique travel experiences.
  • Cultural Exploration: National Geographic Traveler guidebooks emphasize cultural exploration, focusing on local customs, traditions, and indigenous communities. These elements add a deeper layer of authenticity to your travel experience.

One potential limitation of National Geographic Traveler guidebooks, like the DK Eyewitness Guides , is their limited coverage of the logistics of travel as compared to other series. If you are planning a trip to lesser-known or off-the-beaten-path locations, you may need to consult additional resources. 

8 Other Notable Travel Guidebook Series

1. Bradt Travel Guides : Known for their offbeat and unconventional destinations, and Slow Travel titles to British regions, Bradt Travel Guides are perfect for travelers seeking unique experiences.

2. Moon Travel Guides: Moon Travel Guides offer comprehensive coverage of worldwide destinations. Though—it publishes many titles for less mainstream places. For example, Moon offers the best, and in some cases, the only guidebooks for less common places like Vermont  and Door County, Wisconsin .

3. Berlitz Pocket Guides : Berlitz Pocket Guides provide concise and practical information for travelers who prefer a more compact and portable guidebook.

4. Michelin Green Guides : Michelin Green Guides are known for their meticulous attention to detail and focus on cultural, historical, and architectural landmarks. Although, check the date of publication. Many of its Green Guides are due for an update.

5. Blue Guides : These in-depth guides are indispensable for culture and history lovers. Expect a deep and thorough dive into art, architecture, and history for major and minor destinations and sites throughout Europe. Also, look for their Art/Shop/Eat guides  for major international cities.

6. Culture Smart! : Culture Smart! guides offer excellent pre-trip reading. Learn about the people, the culture, and the dos and don’ts travelers should adhere to while visiting. These illuminating guides—we read Culture Smart! Switzerland  before a trip to the Bernese Oberland —written by long-term expats, journalists, professors, and diplomats, help provide visitors with a deeper understanding of a place and direction on how to be a good guest. 

7: Not for Tourists : Although these guides, mainly offered for major US cities and a few large international ones, are designed for residents, they provide an excellent alternative read for visitors seeking a more off-the-beaten-path experience.

8: Independent Local guidebooks: When planning a visit to any new destination, search online for the term “best guidebooks for [your destination]” and see what you find. Many travel locales offer hyperlocal guidebooks written by experts in the know and are sometimes not easily found without an engaged search.

Such as the Himalayan Travel Guides  series, offering 20+ titles dedicated to in-depth information about trekking in the Himalayas. Or the Hawaii Revealed  series, which provides the most extensive and detailed travel resource for the four most visited Hawaiian Islands. I read both the Oahu Revealed  and Kauai Revealed  guidebooks before a two-week Hawaii stay, and each was excellent. 

Or even for a recent trip to Acadia National Park in Maine, I found and read two non-mainstream travel guidebooks, Acadia: The Complete Guide  and Ten Days in Acadia—A Kids Hiking Guide to Mount Desert Island , both off-the-radar reads written by locals. The history section in the Complete Guide was so good that I read it twice. And our heavily used dog-eared copy of the Hiking Guide is a testament to how valuable I found it to be during our trip. See a few pics from our Maine visit below.

About Finding the Perfect Travel Guidebook for Your Next Adventure

Choosing the best travel guidebook can easily enhance your travel experience, providing you with the most useful information, insights into local culture, and practical tips. From Lonely Planet  to Rick Steves , Fodor’s to DK Eyewitness Travel , each guidebook series has its own unique strengths and specialties.

Consider factors like accuracy, depth of coverage, user-friendly layout, and unique features to help pick the right book. Determine the destination, travel style, and content you are looking for to choose a guidebook series that fits your needs best. 

If you are still unsure which travel guidebook is the right one, try one out. Borrow a book from your local library, visit a nearby bookshop to skim their travel section , or take a leap and buy and download an e-book to determine if you want to keep or return it.

Guidebooks continue to offer a valuable travel planning resource in the digital age, delivering curated and reliable information not often replicated by online sources. So, before your next adventure, find your perfect travel companion from the travel guidebook series that fits you best. Happy travels!

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Additional Trip Planning Resources

To further help you with travel planning, I share my go-to resources for every trip below. 

Google Flights. Save money and time by searching this free flight search engine for affordable and direct flight options. Learn more about why to use it here . 

Google Hotels . Use its “Where to stay” button to discover which neighborhood to stay in and which hotel to book. Learn more in this video clip . 

Booking.com. You will love its more flexible cancellation and payment options, user reviews, discounts, and easy-to-use interface for hotels and rentals.

Viator , Get Your Guide , & Airbnb Experiences . Search any of these tour and experience booking platforms to find and pre-purchase highly rated guided activities.

Google Travel Things to Do & Google Maps . Discover more travel things to do on Google Travel, then record the places you want to visit on your own Google Maps lists. 

AllTrails . Use AllTrails to find top hiking and biking trails. Get up-to-date route info, like trail difficulty ratings, what to expect, user reviews, and access points. Sign up for   AllTrails+ to download offline maps.

Guide Along . For U.S. road trips and National Parks. Download these 5-star self-guided audio tours that are GPS-compatible and work offline. Hear stories, fascinating facts, and tips for visiting. We loved the  Glacier National Park tour .

Insure My Trip. Stay protected using this online travel insurance agent and search engine to shop policies from different insurers. Buy from the ones with the highest user ratings. Learn why to buy it here . 

Want to know the 15 travel apps I have downloaded and updated for every trip? Check them out here .

Janice Moskoff in front of doorway in Valletta, Malta. (Credit: Danielle Cassar)

About the author:  Janice Moskoff is a travel writer and blogger who loves hiking, exploring the world, and reading. She writes to inspire travel-loving families, adult friends, and couples on her blog,  Gather and Go Travel . Check out  her bio , learn how she became  a blogger , and discover how to  work with her . Sign up for her monthly  Discovery Newsletter  to get her latest travel recommendations and  how-to’s .

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Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I only recommend products and companies I use. And the income goes to keeping the site community-supported and ads minimal.

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Welcome to Gather and Go Travel , a blog inspiring families, adult friends, and couples to explore US and international destinations and to get outdoors. I am Janice, an experienced traveler to over 50 countries and a travel writer, book lover, and blogger. Learn more about me , read our story , and how to work with me .

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17 Travel Brochure Examples For Traveler & Tourism

By Danesh Ramuthi , Oct 12, 2023

Travel Brochure Examples

Travel brochures are vital, acting as silent ambassadors for countless destinations. At their core, travel brochures are printed or digital guides, crafted with precision by graphic designers, meant to showcase intriguing destinations, unforgettable experiences, and enticing offers, all with the purpose of beckoning tourists.

These aren’t just mere pages filled with colorful images and minimal text; they are the heartbeats of travel agencies, painting vivid dreams of beach getaways, wildlife watching, and outdoor activities.

In this blog post, I’ll explore various travel brochure examples and provide helpful information on creating designs that not only catch the eye but also encourage visitors to embark on a journey.

If you’re looking to enhance or create your own masterpiece, Venngage offers an easy way to create irresistible travel brochures . With our user-friendly platform and a plethora of travel brochure templates , even those new to design can craft brochures that take potential customers on a journey before they even set foot at the destination.

So, let’s set forth on this journey together, ensuring that your travel business and its offerings take the center stage in the minds of tourists and travelers alike.

Click to jump ahead:

Trifold travel brochure example

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  • What to include in a travel brochure?

How to make a travel brochure?

Final thoughts.

Widely preferred by travel agencies and businesses, the travel trifold brochure template is a compact, yet effective means to showcase travel destinations with finesse and clarity. This tri-fold brochure design, meticulously crafted by graphic designers, is an art of balancing minimal text, colorful images, and strategic placement of details to captivate the potential customer.

Creative Travel Brochure Template

The beauty of the trifold design lies in its structure. With three distinct panels, it allows a business to segregate information efficiently, dedicating space for highlighting specific travel destinations, detailing travel insurance options, and even showcasing enticing beach getaways or outdoor activities.

example of travel guide

Creating an effective trifold travel brochure requires more than just filling in a template. It involves understanding the target audience, selecting images that resonate, and providing helpful information without overwhelming the reader. 

Vacation Tours Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

Travel guide brochures serve as a comprehensive roadmap for tourists, encapsulating the essence of a destination. These brochures, often crafted by skilled graphic designers, emphasize not just the beauty of travel destinations but also offer helpful information to potential tourists.

Such brochures not only highlight the picturesque landscapes and popular spots but delve deeper into the local culture, hidden gems, and off-the-beaten-path treasures that make every trip memorable.

Tokyo Gradient Professional Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

Travel agencies recognize this and invest in high-quality brochure designs, often leveraging free travel brochure templates to kick-start the creative process. Such brochures can easily be customized with one’s own photos, brand assets, and unique design elements to resonate with the target audience.

Simple Vacation Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

For businesses, the travel guide brochure also doubles as a marketing tool. An effective brochure, which is more than just a compilation of images and minimal text, encourages visitors to explore the destination, engage with local businesses, and soak in the experiences offered.

Adventure travel brochures are designed to ignite the spirit of adventure in potential travelers. Unlike regular travel brochures, these focus on adrenaline-pumping activities, remote locations, and experiences that push boundaries. 

Utah Travel Brochure

Each page aims to evoke a sense of thrill, showcasing activities like wildlife watching, mountaineering, deep-sea diving, or exploring rugged terrains. It’s not just about the destination; it’s about the journey and the challenges that come with it.

Teal Europe Tourism Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

Knowing that the reader is seeking thrills, the brochure design prioritizes showcasing outdoor activities, perhaps offering details on off-season perks or travel insurance tailored to adventure sports.

Every element, from the photos to text boxes, is strategically placed to offer the reader just enough information to pique their curiosity, but not too much to give everything away. 

After all, adventure is about the unknown, and a well-designed brochure ensures the potential customer is eager to embark on that journey of discovery.

Cruise travel brochures serve as a beacon to those seeking luxurious adventures on the high seas. These beautifully curated pieces often give potential travelers a glimpse into the grandeur of life aboard a majestic liner. 

With pictures of expansive sun decks, gourmet dining experiences, and panoramic ocean views, the cruise travel brochure is designed to captivate. Additionally, detailed itineraries often accompany these images, showcasing the various ports of call, on-shore excursions, and cultural events passengers can partake in. 

Moreover, the brochure provides insights into the various amenities on board, be it rejuvenating spas, entertainment options, or themed nights. For many, the allure of a cruise lies in the harmonious blend of relaxation and exploration, and a well-designed brochure ensures that this balance is perfectly conveyed.

Beach travel brochures are an invitation to a world of sun, sand, and serenity. Evoking the rhythmic sounds of crashing waves and the gentle warmth of golden sands, these brochures are crafted to transport readers to idyllic coastal paradises. 

Vivid photographs of palm-fringed shores, azure waters, and sun-drenched landscapes take center stage, promising a retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Beyond the natural beauty, these brochures delve into the experiences that beach destinations offer. 

World Travel Tri Fold Brochure

From thrilling water sports and beachside activities to local seafood feasts and tropical nightlife, readers are given a comprehensive overview of what awaits.

A well-constructed beach travel brochure doesn’t just showcase a destination; it encapsulates the very essence of a beach holiday, offering both tranquility and excitement in equal measure.

Vintage travel brochures harken back to an era of classic adventures, romanticizing travel in a way that’s nostalgic and deeply evocative. With designs reminiscent of the golden age of travel, these brochures showcase destinations using sepia tones, retro fonts, and artistic illustrations. 

Beyond the visuals, vintage brochures transport readers through time, recapturing the charm of old-world journeys, steam trains, and early air travel. 

These travel brochures, often sought after by collectors and history enthusiasts, serve as a beautiful reminder of how travel used to be, making them not just informative pieces but also treasured keepsakes.

Minimalist travel brochures are the epitome of the adage “less is more.” Rooted in clean lines, muted color palettes, and uncluttered design, these brochures present travel information in a straightforward yet impactful manner. 

Gone are the excessive embellishments; instead, every element, from images to text boxes, is thoughtfully curated and placed. 

Such a design approach prioritizes clarity, ensuring that the potential customer isn’t overwhelmed but is instead drawn into the essential aspects of the travel offering. 

Minimalist brochures resonate particularly well with a target audience that appreciates simplicity, elegance, and the sheer beauty of unadulterated visuals.

Modern travel brochures embody the zeitgeist of contemporary design. They are vibrant, dynamic, and often interactive, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of today’s travel trends. 

example of travel guide

These brochures leverage the latest in graphic design techniques, incorporating bold colors, innovative layouts, and often, digital elements like QR codes linking directly to immersive online experiences. 

France Travel Tri Fold Brochure

Modern brochures cater to the tech-savvy traveler, ensuring that while they provide essential details in print, they also seamlessly bridge the gap to the digital realm. 

Tokyo Professional Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

Be it through embedded videos, virtual tours, or interactive maps, these brochures represent the cutting edge in travel marketing, appealing to a generation that seeks both adventure and convenience at just a click.

Navigating the urban jungle becomes an exhilarating journey with the right city tour brochure. Tailored to showcase the pulsating heart of metropolises, these brochures offer vivid glimpses into architectural wonders, historic landmarks, bustling markets, and hidden gems. 

Destination Travel Tri Fold Brochure

Maps take center stage in many of these designs, guiding tourists seamlessly from one point of interest to another, ensuring they soak in the essence of the city. 

France Tri Fold Travel Brochure

Additionally, the city tour brochure provides helpful information, from local dining spots to modes of transportation. 

Creative Travel Brochure Template

For travelers keen to explore a city’s fabric beyond its main attractions, such brochures are invaluable, granting them both direction and inspiration.

Travel brochures for students prioritize experiences that are both enriching and budget-friendly. Recognizing the unique needs and aspirations of the student traveler, these brochures highlight destinations and packages that offer a mix of learning, adventure, and cultural immersion. 

Details on affordable accommodation options, group discounts, and off-season deals are crucial. Graphics and images within these brochures often resonate with youthful energy, focusing on outdoor activities, wildlife watching, and community engagements. 

Simple Blue Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

Moreover, with students often relying on digital platforms for planning, a good travel brochure for this demographic would seamlessly integrate QR codes or links to websites, ensuring detailed information is available at just a click.

Trekking brochure example

Trekking brochures are aimed to attract the hikers’ attention to visit the routes and trails described on them.  In case a reputable trekking company intends to sell  Tour du Mont Blanc  the detailed info will be referred exclusively to this route. 

image (3).png

For travel agencies, the brochure is more than just an informational tool; it’s a potent marketing asset. These brochures are meticulously designed to showcase the agency’s expertise in curating memorable vacations. 

Tourist Travel Brochure

From the selection of travel destinations to the arrangement of tours, the brochure communicates the agency’s commitment to providing unparalleled experiences. High-quality photos and colorful images of destinations take the reader on a visual journey, while testimonials and reviews build trust. 

The design often reflects the brand assets of the travel agency, ensuring consistency in messaging. 

Simple Orange Travel Tri Fold Brochure Template

Clear call-to-action prompts, such as “Contact us for customized packages” or “Visit our website for exclusive deals,” encourage potential clients to take the next step.

In essence, a travel agency’s brochure serves as a bridge between the agency and its potential customers, emphasizing reliability, variety, and expertise.

What to include in a travel brochure? 

Crafting an effective travel brochure requires the amalgamation of essential information, captivating visuals, and purposeful design.

Whether you’re a seasoned travel agency or just trying your hand at travel brochure design, having a checklist of indispensable elements can help in creating an impactful brochure that appeals to your target audience. Let’s delve into the key components to include:

  • Destination name : Clearly mention the travel destination to set expectations for potential tourists.
  • Eye-catching cover photo : Use a colorful image or a collage of images that captures the essence of the destination, ensuring it takes center stage on the brochure cover.
  • Brief description : Give a succinct overview of the destination, highlighting its unique selling points and major attractions.
  • Map : Include a map to highlight key attractions, accommodations, and transportation options.
  • Travel itinerary : Detail day-to-day activities, sites to visit, and recommended spending time at each location.
  • Accommodation options : Provide a list of recommended places to stay, catering to a range of budgets.
  • Local attractions : Spotlight on main tourist spots, wildlife watching areas, outdoor activities, and lesser-known hidden gems.
  • Travel tips : Offer helpful information about local customs, necessary travel insurance, off-season travel benefits, and other points of interest.
  • Photos and images : Integrate high-quality photos of the destination, ensuring they resonate with the overall theme of the brochure.
  • Testimonials : Include positive feedback from previous customers to build trust and encourage visitors.
  • Contact information : Detail the travel agency’s contact information, including website link, phone number, and physical address.
  • Call to action : Encourage potential clients to reach out, book a trip, or visit the agency’s website for more information.
  • Customizable templates : If offering free travel brochure templates for potential clients or graphic designers, ensure they can easily customize them with their own photos or brand assets.
  • QR code : Integrate a QR code linking to additional resources, booking pages, or exclusive offers, ensuring details are just a click away.

Related: 88.2% Of People Travel The World To Get Their Hands On This… [INFOGRAPHIC]

Creating an engaging travel brochure is both an art and science, capturing the essence of a destination while ensuring practicality. From enticing travelers with stunning visuals to offering valuable details that assist in planning their journey, a well-crafted travel brochure is a fundamental tool for every travel business. Let’s delve into the intricacies of designing a brochure that stands out.

Understanding the target audience

Every destination has its unique allure, captivating a distinct set of travelers. While some might be in search of adrenaline-pumping adventures, others could be seeking a serene beach getaway.

Recognizing the target audience’s preferences is pivotal in crafting a brochure that resonates with them. Analyzing feedback from previous clients, surveying potential customers, and studying travel trends can provide insights.

These insights inform not only the content but also the overall design, ensuring the travel brochure effectively engages its intended readers.

Selecting the optimal format

Travel brochures come in various formats, each serving a specific purpose. For a concise snapshot of a destination, the tri fold brochure is a popular choice among travel agencies.

On the other hand, a more extensive booklet format allows for an in-depth exploration of the travel destination, perfect for those offering a range of experiences or a comprehensive guide to a region.

Use a color scheme

The power of color in evoking emotions and setting the mood cannot be understated. The colors chosen for the travel brochure can transport readers, offering a glimpse of the destination’s ambiance. For example, earthy tones might suggest wildlife watching adventures, while cool blues could evoke images of serene beach getaways.

Moreover, the color scheme should complement the images and align with the brand assets of the travel business. Working with a graphic designer can help in selecting a palette that both represents the destination and appeals to the target audience.

Integrating practical information

While captivating visuals and narratives are vital, the functionality of a travel brochure is equally crucial. A well-designed map highlighting essential attractions, transportation hubs, and recommended accommodations aids travelers in their journey.

Additionally, crucial details like travel insurance options, off-season benefits, and links to associated travel agencies enhance the brochure’s utility. Equally essential is the inclusion of contact details right on the cover, ensuring potential clients can reach out with ease.

Comprehensive directions, both within the brochure and via digital means like QR codes or website links, further support travelers in their planning phase.

Embracing modern design elements

Today’s travelers expect a blend of traditional and digital touchpoints. Incorporating QR codes, which lead to immersive video tours or detailed websites, can seamlessly bridge this gap.

Furthermore, ensuring the brochure’s design is optimized for both print and digital ensures a broader reach, catering to varying preferences of tourists.

Use a pre-designed template

For those not looking to start from scratch, utilizing pre-designed travel brochure templates, like those offered by platforms such as Venngage , can be a time-saving choice. These templates, crafted by professional designers, ensure that the brochure design is visually appealing.

They can then be customized with their own photos, details, and branding, creating a professional travel brochure with ease.

Related: Top 10 Best Brochure Design Software in 2022

It’s evident that every brochure serves a unique purpose, reflecting the essence of its respective travel destination. A travel brochure is more than just a collection of colorful images and enticing descriptions; it’s a bridge between potential clients and unforgettable experiences.

Whether you’re a travel agency aiming to draw tourists to a hidden beach getaway or a graphic designer hoping to showcase a city’s charm, the right brochure design takes center stage.

The wide selection of travel brochure examples showcased here is a testament to the versatility and significance of these tools in the world of tourism. As travelers, these brochures become our initial window to the world, guiding us, inspiring us, and fueling our wanderlust.

Ready to craft your own captivating travel brochure? Dive into the world of effortless design with Venngage and create a travel brochure that stands out with our customizeable templates.

Embark on your creative journey now!

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Kynance Cove, the Lizard peninsula, Cornwall, England, UK

The classic travel guidebooks that inspire my trips

From the iconic Shell Guides to Wilkie Collins’s rambles, travel writers pick the vintage UK guides that keep them exploring

‘A rollicking account of a walking tour around Cornwall in 1850 … to “the savage regions beyond” Plymouth’

Rambles Beyond Railways by Wilkie Collins

Cover of Rambles beyond Railways by Wilkie Collins

It was not only intended to be used as a guidebook, but Wilkie Collins’s Rambles Beyond Railways (1851) is written with the kind of precision you’ll find in any of the later Shell or Blue guides. It’s a rollicking account of a walking tour he took around Cornwall in August 1850, aged 26, when he travelled to ‘the savage regions beyond’ Plymouth, where the railways had not yet reached (although they were only just behind him).

He was rowed from Devonport to St Germans by an expansively inebriated shrimper, and he hiked from village to town, along the coast, strolling along the tops of the thick stone walls (as we still can), dining on pies, cream and lobsters, trying to find Cornish speakers, looking for ghosts, becoming almost indecently excited about the prospect of Land’s End (which he then couldn’t find without a guide). We don’t have that problem today, what with the car park and hyperactive gift shops, but much of the rest of Rambles is as fresh and informative as it ever was.

I have wriggled through the same caves at Kynance Cove, followed Wilkie to Tintagel and Helston (‘the dullest of towns’, he sniffed), stood on the Cheesewring (where the view, if you squint out the pylons, is just as he described) and caressed the same standing stones. He even sniggers at the “fly blown mock jewellery” and “dusty nuts” in a shopfront in Looe, launching 150 years of seaside innuendo. You can skip some of his waffle about Cornish theatre in the later stretches of the book; but his descriptions of his visit down a tin mine and especially the wild night-time haul of pilchards at St Ives, where the entire town turned out to bring in the fish, are exhilarating.

The people of Cornwall will always prosper, he wrote, thanks to the “inexhaustible mineral treasures in the earth, and the equally inexhaustible shoals of pilchards which annually visit the coast”.

He can be careless with his research (but who wouldn’t want to read what Wilkie Collins has to say about druids?), and he seems to have become bored with the book by the end, but Rambles still holds its own as a guide. It’s even topical. When Wilkie reached Lizard, he found a doctor down from London holding a smallpox party at the inn (now the Witchball), inoculating local babies with “a lot of fine fresh matter”. Wilkie scuttled out, and headed for the coast, where the air, he sighed, was “better than laudanum”. He ended his journey at Forrabury church with a ghost story, before heading back to London on the train, and so “our pleasant days of strolling travel are ended”. Peter Fiennes is the author of Footnotes: A Journey Round Britain in the Company of Great Writers

‘Hutton was gloriously opinionated. He thought Stonehenge “sterile” … entire valleys displeased him’

Highways and Byways in Wiltshire by Edward Hutton

Cottages, Lacock village, Wiltshire, UK

Years ago I came across a faded little volume in a secondhand bookshop near Salisbury: Highways and Byways in Wiltshire by Edward Hutton, published during the first world war. Inside its pages a world opened before me: little lanes, silent villages, rivers that meandered through unspoilt landscapes of willow and elm.

Hutton was also gloriously opinionated. An upper middle-class Edwardian gentleman, his writing was often snobbish. He praised Salisbury fulsomely, but disliked its ruined predecessor, Old Sarum , dismissing it as “all these dead stones”. He thought Stonehenge “sterile” and called Wilton’s breathtaking Italianate church “a horrible building”. Entire valleys displeased him.

Nevertheless, he found much to marvel at. He could be elegiac or rhapsodic, and what he liked, he loved – the Wylye valley , Old Swindon Town, Lacock . He was fascinated by Avebury . Mostly, I didn’t believe this portrait of a bucolic English county, untouched by modernity. For all that, I loved the book, and Hutton’s trenchant opinions.

The Wiltshire volume introduced me to the Highways and Byways series, exploiting a new middle-class market, liberated by railways and bicycles. First appearing at the end of the 19th century, each book also had a map and sketches by well-known artists. The publishers, Macmillan, focused on holiday hotspots: Hardy’s Wessex, Shakespeare country and, exotically, Normandy.

Highways and Byways in Wiltshire by Edward Hutton

That chance encounter was the start of an oddball literary journey; I snapped up each new volume I found. They weren’t guidebooks in the modern sense; subject to the authors’ whims, sometimes they omitted huge chunks of their counties – the author of the Hampshire book left out almost all the New Forest and the Isle of Wight “for reasons of space”, although the book is more than 400 pages long. Elsewhere, the authors allowed themselves flights of fancy. In the Dorset book, Sir Frederick Treves (surgeon to Edward VII and author of The Elephant Man) imagined an iron-age couple tramping over swampy land. The books weren’t practical, but their idiosyncrasies were liberating.

I took them on journeys, packed into bike panniers. I visited Weymouth (“incommoded by its exceptional popularity”); to what was once Heath Row, now buried beneath the airport (“The flat country hereabouts … is mainly stretches of market gardens and cornfields”) and Covent Garden (“Disappointed hopes, shattered ambitions, tragic suicides”). I explored the imported ruins of Leptis Magna at Virginia Water in Surrey (“northern rains and northern ivy have done their work”) and discovered a forlorn monument to the importance of Brentford in history, sited near the Thames when the Middlesex book was published, since transplanted to a busy roadside. Tales of smugglers from Devon and Cornwall enlivened a walk from Seaton to Beer. I’m grateful for my lucky find and the complicated vision of England as it would have appeared to a certain sort of traveller a century ago. Jon Woolcott works for Little Toller Books. He is writing a book about the southern counties of England

‘Pen-and-ink sketches make this little book a here-be-dragons treasure map’

The Harcamlow Way (1980) and other guides to Essex and Hertfordshire by Fred Matthews and Harry Bitten

Round-towered St Mary’s church, Bartlow. England, UK.

It began with a line on a map. Ten years ago, I moved to the border between Hertfordshire and Essex and began to explore the local footpaths. One long-distance route, marked by green diamonds on the Ordnance Survey map, was labelled Harcamlow Way – a 140-mile walk, looping from Harlow to Cambridge and back in a huge figure of eight.

Cover of the guidebook The Harcamlow Way

The Harcamlow was one of many inventive collaborations between Fred Matthews, secretary of the West Essex Ramblers group, and his fellow rambler Harry Bitten. They published a guidebook, The Harcamlow Way , in 1980, now long out of print. I bought the only copy I could find online for £23.90 – quite steep for a battered, 50-page booklet. But this first edition walking guide helped unlock local landscapes for me, with their ancient tracks and tumuli, bluebell woods and fields of poppies.

Bitten’s pen-and-ink sketches of a church spire or thatched cottage in the corner of his hand-drawn maps are part of what makes this little book a here-be-dragons treasure map. Warnings in capital letters suggest the hazards of research: “(BE VERY CAREFUL. THE RIVER STORT IS ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE BANK. DO NOT RUN!)”

Matthews died in 2009 and Bitten in 2017, but a legacy of green diamonds across several OS maps invites walkers to follow in their energetic footsteps. In the decade before the Harcamlow, they devised the Three Forests Way , a circular route that links Hatfield, Hainault and Epping Forests, and St Peter’s Way , from Chipping Ongar to the Essex coast. I followed both these walks, finding prehistoric earthworks under bronzed beech trees, or the seventh-century chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall , overlooking marshes and wild shell beaches.

In 1984 they published a guide to the Essex Way , an 82-mile trek across the county from Epping to Harwich. I walked that too. The most memorable part was approaching the wide Stour estuary with the high tide and reeds glowing gold in the setting sun. The adventures these two fellow walkers inspired have brought me more than weekend fun. My own, slightly quixotic project to publish updated guides to the Harcamlow Way was an unexpected milestone in my career as a travel writer. It led to further guidebooks and regular work for magazines, driven by a Bagginsesque curiosity about what’s outside the door.

In their characteristically understated introduction to the original Harcamlow Way guide, Matthews and Bitten describe the route starting and finishing beside the River Stort, which is less than a mile from my house. The walk goes on, they write, “over a number of low hills and through wooded valleys” to discover “a land of views, flowers and birdsong”. They recommend taking the time to wander around villages along the way and mention several interesting relics for “railway enthusiasts”. Highlights for me include wall paintings in some of the old churches: a dancing devil in Kingston, near Cambridge, and fragments of St George in round-towered St Mary’s, Bartlow , where only the dragon remains. The gentle preface ends by wishing readers “happy walking and fine weather”. Phoebe Taplin, author of 11 guidebooks, including two on the Harcamlow Way

‘It has a determination to winkle out forgotten corners that I love’

Buildings of England: York and the East Riding by Nikolaus Pevsner

Micklegate, York, UK, on a blue-sky day;  a car drives through the gate.

Scanning my shelves of travel books and guides, I notice the gaps: the books that went travelling with me, but never returned. Geoff Crowther’s Africa on a Shoestring, the first one I ever bought. Without that book, Sudan might never have happened for me, certainly not Darfur and Zaire. Sadly, Geoff died recently : I hope he knew how many vivid experiences he had enabled.

Cover of The buildings of England: Yorkshire, York and the East Riding guidebook by Nikolaus Pevsner.

Other books barely survived their journeys, spines broken, pages missing and covers battered: the Moon Guide to Indonesia, for example, the classic product of a generation of hippy travel guide writers who knew how to weave magic with practicality. But for me it’s often the book that is not a direct travel guide that somehow inspires.

The Buildings of England series (part of the Pevsner Architectural Guides ) has an air of nostalgia for ancient traditions and a determination to winkle out forgotten corners that I love. Written by Nikolaus Pevsner, a wartime German refugee and anglophile, the first volume was published in 1951 (followed by 45 others, all still in print) and set the standard for architectural merit in heritage buildings.

I first came across the books when I was giving a talk on travel writing in a building just off Micklegate in York. I wanted some information on that street because I’d decided, during the interval, to suggest a walking rediscovery of what were familiar surroundings to everyone present. Pevsner came up trumps: Micklegate “is without any doubt the most rewarding street in York” it begins, going on to detail the historic architectural features and dates of every significant building.

The language is precise and unemotional, yet it succeeds. I walked York with new eyes, carrying it with me, finding gems like Lady Peckitt’s Yard behind the house of Sir Thomas Herbert in Pavement. Pevsner never digresses so does not mention that Herbert stood on the gallows with Charles I, but once I had the name I chased that up elsewhere.

Once I was into the book, other gems came up and prompted trips. I noticed a reference to the village of Rudston that I had driven through many times on my way to the Yorkshire coast. “In the churchyard,” I read, “the largest standing stone in Britain, 25 and a half feet high and 6 feet wide.” I have since sat under that stone many times, wondering how neolithic humans moved it. Sometimes the descriptions just demand a visit: the Jacobean house at Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire is described as possessing, “the most crazily overcrowded chimneypiece of all England”. I just had to go , discovering a treasure with wonderful interiors and gardens. It’s this enduring power of Pevsner to inspire trips, I believe, that has allowed it, somewhat improbably, to survive. Kevin Rushby

‘ It became the inspiration for cycle rides exploring the beautiful, almost secret Kent villages to the south of Canterbury’

The Shell Guide to Kent by Pennethorne Hughes

The village and Church of Postling, Kent. A notable view from the North Downs Way and Folkestone Downs.

Opening a new London travel bookshop, Daunt Books, in Marylebone in 1990, a set of Shell County Guides were necessarily among the first books to be shelved. Originally conceived and edited by John Betjeman and a coterie of his writer and artist friends in the 1930s, these handsome glovebox guides would reveal a Britain beyond the castles and stately homes. Long out of print, they remain iconic, loved for their wonderful black-and-white photography and their often waspish humour, but most of all for opening up a lesser-known countryside of follies and quiet villages with forgotten histories.

The Shell Guide to Kent by Pennethorne Hughes

On quieter days I would browse the Kent Shell guide, by Pennethorne Hughes. It follows Betjeman’s format of introductory essay and accompanying gazetteer, and it quickly became the inspiration for weekend cycle rides exploring the beautiful, almost secret villages to the south of my then home in Canterbury, and especially the stunning Elham valley. I’ve never forgotten that first Shell-inspired trip made one clear summer day 20 years ago.

Riding south through busy Bridge, with its “cheerful dignity”, I followed the quiet lane that follows the Nailbourne stream, to Bishopsbourne. From the guide I learned that Joseph Conrad had lived in two villages in the area, and planned the route to take in both. Bishopsbourne – where Conrad died at his house, Oswalds – was still as Hughes described: “an enchanting place, green and peaceful” and blessed by a fine pub.

From here beautiful rolling hills led me on through pleasant Barham to the valley’s crowning glory – Elham. Hughes is a mite sniffy – “it remains an attractive village in spite of new buildings” – but that day Elham appeared the perfect Kentish village with its charming square and church tucked below the downland. If Hughes’ comment suggests snobbishness to a modern reader, it’s also true that the language of the guides is always deliberately plain and accessible – no architectural glossary required here.

A mile or so further on in Lyminge, Hughes diverted me to the pretty church on the site of a seventh-century abbey dedicated to St Ethelburga. I then headed south-east to Postling, a pretty hamlet where Conradlived in a gorgeous house by Pent Farm and was visited, Hughes tells us, by Shaw, Wells and Henry James. Then it was time to toil up and over the ridge of the downs with fine views of Romney Marsh and across to Dungenness.

Fine country roads through Hastingleigh and the charming villages of Petham and Waltham completed a memorable day that bore ample testament to Hughes’s words “To know one parish in detail is perhaps the work of a lifetime: to know a whole county is impossible. But in Kent it is fun to try.”

Twenty years on, and thanks to his excellent guide, I’m still having fun. Brett Wolstencroft, manager of Daunt Books , Marylebone, London

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Imagine packing your bags, lacing up your travel shoes, and setting off on an exciting journey around the world, all without leaving the comfort of your favorite chair. Welcome to the world of travelogues, a genre of writing that allows you to do just that. In today's blog, we'll take a closer look at the art of travelogues, and how they transport readers to fascinating destinations and cultural experiences around the globe. Let's set off on our journey of understanding travelogues, where we'll explore their history, famous examples, and how to create one that will capture the imagination of your readers.

Travelogues have a unique ability to transport readers to new places, introducing them to different cultures, cuisines, and landmarks through the power of the written word. But what exactly is a travelogue, and how did this genre come to be?

Answering the question, "which statement best defines a travelogue", a travelogue is a narrative that describes a journey, often to a foreign country, and includes the traveler's personal experiences and observations. It's much more than just a travel guide—it's a personal storytelling format that allows the writer to share their unique perspective and insights about the places they've visited.

Travelogues have a rich history dating back to ancient times when explorers would document their journeys. Over time, these narratives have evolved from simple trip reports to engaging pieces of literature, often capturing the spirit of an era or the essence of a culture. Marco Polo's travels to the East and Mark Twain's 'Innocents Abroad' are two notable examples from history which have shaped the travelogue genre.

From Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road', which perfectly captured the spirit of the Beat Generation, to Elizabeth Gilbert's 'Eat, Pray, Love', which inspired thousands to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery, there are countless examples of famous travelogues. Each of these works stands as a testament to the power of travelogues to not just describe physical journeys, but also the emotional and spiritual journeys that often accompany them.

In the following sections, we'll delve into the process of creating a travelogue, offering tips and insights to help you capture the magic of your own travels.

Describing a journey in a travelogue is more than just listing places you visited or things you saw. It's about capturing the essence of the place, the culture, the people, and your experiences. So, how do you build a compelling journey description?

Before you can start writing, you need to choose your destination. Are you captivated by the hustle and bustle of New York City, New York, or would you rather explore the laid-back charm of San Francisco, California? Perhaps the rich history of Chicago, Illinois is more your style. No matter where you choose to go, make sure it's a place that ignites your passion and curiosity. After all, the best travelogues are written by those who are truly fascinated by their chosen destination.

Once you've chosen your location, it's time to capture its essence. This is where your powers of observation come in. What makes the place unique? Is it the architecture, the food, the local customs, or the natural beauty? Take note of the details that stand out to you and use them to paint a vivid picture of the place. Remember, your readers are relying on your words to transport them to this place, so make every word count.

Travelogues aren't just about places—they're also about people and their cultures. So, immerse yourself in the local culture. Attend festivals, try new foods, learn a few words in the local language, and interact with the locals. These experiences will give your travelogue a depth and richness that a simple location description can't achieve. Plus, these cultural insights will help your readers feel more connected to the place, as if they've experienced it firsthand.

Now that you've chosen your destination and immersed yourself in its culture, it's time to put pen to paper and start writing your travelogue.

Writing a travelogue is not just about detailing your journey; it's an art that requires creativity, authenticity, and an understanding of your readers' interests. Here are some tips to help you create a captivating travelogue.

A travel journal can be your best friend when writing a travelogue. It's a place where you can record your observations, experiences, and thoughts as you explore your destination. Not only does it ensure you don't forget any crucial details, but it also allows you to reflect on your experiences and understand how they have shaped your perception of the place. So, carry a journal with you and make a habit of writing in it every day.

Descriptive language is the key to bringing your travelogue to life. It helps your readers visualize the places, people, and experiences you're describing. For example, instead of saying "the food was good," you could say "the pasta was cooked to perfection, the sauce rich and tangy, and the fresh basil added a delightful aroma." See the difference? The second statement not only gives a clearer image but also engages the readers' senses, making your narrative more immersive.

Your personal experiences are what make your travelogue unique. So, don't shy away from sharing your stories, reflections, and even the lessons you've learned during your journey. They add a personal touch to your writing and help your readers connect with you on a deeper level. Remember, a travelogue is not a guidebook—it's a personal narrative that reflects your unique journey.

With these tips, you're well on your way to writing a compelling travelogue. But how do you get it out into the world? Let's move on to the next section to find out.

Now that you've penned your journey's story, it's time to share it with the world. Here's how to go about publishing your travelogue.

The platform you choose to publish your travelogue can significantly influence its reach. Traditional publishing options include books and travel magazines. However, in the digital age, blogs, social media, and online travel platforms have become increasingly popular. For beginners, starting a blog or using platforms like Medium can be a good option. It's easy, low-cost, and allows for immediate feedback from readers.

Writing a great travelogue is only half the battle. You also need to promote it to ensure it reaches your target audience. Social media is a powerful tool for promotion. You can share snippets of your travelogue, intriguing photos, or even behind-the-scenes stories to pique interest. Collaborating with fellow travel bloggers or influencers can also be beneficial in getting the word out about your writing.

Engagement is crucial in building a loyal reader base. Responding to comments, asking for feedback, and starting discussions can make readers feel valued and encourage them to keep coming back. Remember, writing is a two-way street. As much as it is about expressing your thoughts, it's also about listening to what your readers have to say.

By choosing the right platform, promoting your work effectively, and engaging with your readers, you can ensure your travelogue reaches the audience it deserves. So, are you ready to share your journey with the world?

Let's take a look at how all these tips and tricks come together in real travelogues. We'll explore three examples, each focusing on a different city in the United States.

When you think of a city that never sleeps, New York City instantly comes to mind. Any travelogue about this bustling city needs to capture its vibrancy, diversity, and unending energy. It's not just about describing the towering skyscrapers or the iconic Statue of Liberty. It's also about narrating the experience of walking down Times Square, the feeling of catching a Broadway show, and the taste of a hot dog from a street vendor. The essence of New York City lies in these details.

San Francisco offers a blend of natural beauty, cultural diversity, and tech innovation. A travelogue about San Francisco should not only describe the iconic Golden Gate Bridge or the historic Alcatraz Island, but it should also delve into the city's vibrant arts scene, its diverse food culture, and its role as a hub for tech startups. From the aroma of fresh sourdough bread in Fisherman’s Wharf to the sight of sea lions lounging at Pier 39, it's these details that bring the city to life in a travelogue.

Chicago, with its impressive architecture, vast parks, and rich cultural scene, offers a wide range of experiences for travellers. In a travelogue about Chicago, one might describe the thrill of looking down from the Skydeck of Willis Tower, the serenity of a walk in Millennium Park, or the excitement of a Chicago Bulls game. But it's equally important to capture the city's spirit, such as the warmth of its people, the taste of its famous deep-dish pizza, and the sound of jazz in its lively music scene.

These examples should give you a clear idea of what a travelogue looks like in practice and how you can bring your own journeys to life. So, if you were to answer "which statement best defines a travelogue", how would you do it? A detailed description of a journey? A personal account of travel experiences? Or perhaps a combination of both, enriched with personal insights and cultural observations? The choice is yours. Happy writing!

If you're intrigued by the art of describing journeys and want to take your travelogue to new heights, check out the workshop ' Travel Photography: Chasing the Northern Lights ' by David Rocaberti. This workshop will not only teach you how to capture stunning visual elements, but also guide you in weaving compelling narratives to make your travelogue truly unforgettable.

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34 free travel itinerary templates (word, excel & pdf).

Free travel itinerary templates:  Your itinerary refers to your journey’s more detailed plan. Usually, highlights some places to be visited and the travel plan. By having itinerary templates, you will benefit from having the travel arrangement in one location for easier referencing and retrieval. 

Your travel plan is usually placed in the front of the folder full of your tickets, brochures, and confirmation receipts – this is also a good source to get information on the road. 

Although the information includes the travel plan for yourself or other people might contain different items, the basic structure was usually still retained. You can use your best itinerary templates.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Using an Itinerary Template

Traveling is an adventure! But planning for it can sometimes be stressful. That’s where a  travel itinerary template  can be your best friend.

  • All-In-One Location:  Say Goodbye to Chaos!

Do you have flight details in your email, hotel bookings on an app, and excursion times on a sticky note? Stop the madness! An itinerary template puts all these details in one simple place. Just open it up, and you’ll know what’s happening next.

  • Easy to Use:  No Tech Skills Needed!

You don’t have to be a computer genius to use an itinerary template. Most of it comes with clear fields for you to fill in. Just type your flight time here your hotel name there, and you’re done! It’s like filling out a fun quiz.

  • Be Organized:  Know What Comes After What

The best part about being organized is knowing what’s next. You see your trip like a story when you put your plans in an itinerary template. First, this happens, then that. You can enjoy the trip more when you know what’s coming up.

  • Shareable:  Keep Everyone in the Loop

Traveling with family or friends? Send them the itinerary template! That way, everyone knows the plan. If someone asks, “What time is dinner?” tell them to check the itinerary!

  • Free:  More Money for Fun Stuff!

The best things in life are free. Well, most travel itinerary templates are free, too! That means you can save cash for fun stuff like snacks, souvenirs, or an extra special adventure!

  • Time-Saving:  Quick Changes Made Easy

Plans change. Maybe it rains, and you can’t go to the beach. With an itinerary template, it’s super easy to swap things around. Just a few clicks, and you have a new plan!

  • Keeps You On Track:  No More Missing Out

Need to catch a flight or need to remember a dinner reservation? With an itinerary, you’ll get reminders. It’s like having a helpful friend who says, “Hey, time to go!”

  • Peace of Mind:  Worry Less, Enjoy More!

When you’re organized, you feel calmer. That means you can enjoy your trip more and less worrying about it.

Are you ready to try an  itinerary template ? Trust us, it will make your next trip so much easier! ????

Essential Elements in a Travel Itinerary

So you’re convinced that a travel itinerary template is a good idea. Great! But what should you include in it? Don’t fret; here’s a list of the  key things to put in your travel plan .

  • Title and Dates: What’s the Trip For?

Start with a striking title that sums up your trip. Are you going on a “Summer Adventure in Hawaii” or a “Weekend Getaway in Paris”? Include the dates so you always know the timeframe.

  • Names: Who’s Going?

If you’re traveling with other people, write down everyone’s name. It’s an easy way for everyone to know they’re looking at the right plan.

  • Departure and Arrival: Take-Off and Landing

Include details about when and where you’re starting and ending your journey. Include times, places, and how you’re getting there. Plane? Train? Automobile?

  • Transport Info: All Aboard!

Note any flight numbers, train cars, or other key details. It’s also smart to list any reservations and helpful phone numbers in case of delays.

  • Lodging: Home Away From Home

Where are you staying? Include the name, address, and check-in/check-out times for each place you sleep.

  • Activities: The Fun Stuff!

What’s a trip without cool stuff to do? List all the tours, visits, or shows you plan to attend. Add times and places so you remember.

  • Meetings: Can’t-Miss Appointments

Are you mixing a little business with pleasure? Include any meetings or important appointments you have. Who, what, where, and when—it all goes here.

  • Meals: Yummy in My Tummy

Planning to eat at that must-try café? Put it in the itinerary.

  • Free Time: Do What You Want

It’s your trip, after all! Include some blocks of free time for spontaneous fun.

  • Emergency Contacts: Just in Case

Include some emergency contacts, like local hospitals or a trusted friend back home.

  • Checklist: Remember!

Add a small list at the end for any last-minute things you need to do or bring. Passport? Snacks? It goes here.

That’s your  travel itinerary essentials  covered! With everything in your template, you’re ready for an awesome, stress-free trip! ????

Tips for Crafting a Useful Travel Itinerary

It isn’t just about jotting down names and places. Here are some tips.

Be Realistic: Time Matters!

Always consider how much time each activity will take. Keep your day manageable. You want time to enjoy the places you visit!

Group Activities by Location: Smart Mapping

Put things that are close to each other on the same day. This way, you spend less time moving and more time doing.

Always Have a Plan B: Be Flexible

Sometimes, things go differently than planned. Maybe it rains, or a place is closed. Have a backup plan, so you’re never stuck with nothing to do.

Check Opening Hours: No Unwanted Surprises

Imagine showing up at a museum you’re excited to visit, only to find it’s closed on Tuesdays. Check opening times in advance to avoid this.

Share It: Keep Everyone in the Loop

If you’re traveling with others, ensure everyone has a copy of the itinerary. You could even make a shared online version.

Local Customs and Laws: When in Rome.

Check for any local customs, rules, or laws you should know about, like dress codes at religious sites.

Remember Time Zones: Sync Up!

If you’re crossing time zones, adjust all your times so you’re always on local time.

Add Some Breathing Room: Take It Easy

Don’t schedule something every minute of every day. You’ll need some downtime to relax and soak it all in.

Include All Confirmation Numbers: Quick Access

For flights, hotels, and activities that require booking, include all confirmation numbers for quick and easy access.

Double-Check All Details: Be Sure, Be Safe

Before you finalize your itinerary, double-check all times, dates, and reservations.

Print and Digital: Best of Both Worlds

Have both a printed copy and a digital copy available. Technology can fail, and you might only sometimes have Wi-Fi.

Keep it Handy: Easy Access.

Put your itinerary somewhere easy to get to. Save it on your phone or put it in a pocket in your bag.

Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 01

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 01

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 02

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 03

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 04

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 05

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 13

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 14

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 14

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 15

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 15

Travel Itinerary Template Word

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 06

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 07

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 08

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 09

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 09

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 10

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 10

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 11

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 11

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 12

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 12

Easy to Use

One of the best things about using a Word template is its simplicity. You don’t have to be a computer wizard to figure it out!

Customizable

Word lets you change fonts and colors and even add pictures. Make your template  truly your own .

You can open a Word document on almost any device. It’s super  easy to share  with family or travel buddies, too.

Pre-made Templates

Word offers a variety of  ready-to-use templates . Just plug in your details, and you’re good to go!

Checklist Features

You can add  checkboxes  next to each activity or place. It feels so good to check them off as you go!

Safe and Secure

You can easily  lock the document  to keep your travel plans private.

Great for Printing

Word documents  print beautifully . It is a great option if you like having a paper copy of your plans.

How to Use It

  • Open Word and choose a blank document or a pre-made template.
  • Fill in your travel details like flights, hotels, and fun stuff to do.
  • Add any  extra notes  or  checklists .
  • Save it, print it, or share it via email.

Tips for Using Word Templates

  • Spell-check : Always run a spell-check to avoid any errors.
  • Save Often : Keep up your hard work. Save your doc often!
  • Backup : Email a copy to yourself or save it in the cloud.

Using a Word template for your travel itinerary is a smart way to keep all your plans in one place. Give it a try for your next trip!

Free Travel Itinerary Templates Excel

Do you like spreadsheets?  Excel templates  offer even more ways to stay organized. You can sort your plans, filter them, and find what you need fast!

If you’ve been using regular Word documents or even pen and paper for your travel plans, it’s time to  upgrade to Excel ! Here’s why and how:

Easy to Edit: Change On-the-Go

Excel allows you to add or remove items quickly. If your plans change, delete a row or add a new one!

Sort and Filter: Find What You Need

Say you want to see all your flight details at once. Excel lets you sort and filter to find what you’re looking for in a snap.

Color Codes: Make It Pretty and Practical

Blue for sightseeing and red for meals. It makes it easier to understand your day at a glance.

Formulas: Count the Hours

You can use simple Excel formulas to add how much time each day’s activities will take.

Shareable: Easy to Send

Excel files are easily shared by email or cloud services like Google Drive. You can also password-protect it if it has sensitive data.

Collaborative: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Everyone can add their activities or notes in the same Excel sheet if you’re traveling with others. It’s a team itinerary!

Tabs for Days: One File, Many Uses

You can use different tabs for different parts of your trip. One tab for flights, another for hotels, and so on.

Links and Notes: Extra Info

You can add links to websites or notes with additional information in Excel.

Offline Access: Always Available

Once downloaded, Excel files are available even without internet access, making them reliable and handy.

Templates Galore: Start with a Bang

It is lots of pre-made Excel itinerary templates available online. It can give you a head start and create planning even quicker.

Itinerary Templates Excel

itinerary template excel

Itinerary Templates Free

itinerary template free

travel itinerary template

travel itinerary template

Vacation itinerary template

vacation itinerary template

Disney Itinerary Templates

Disney Itinerary Templates

Free business travel itinerary template excel

free business travel itinerary template excel

Weekly Itinerary Template

Weekly Itinerary Template

Birthday Itinerary Template

Birthday Itinerary Template

Daily itinerary planner

daily itinerary planner

Program Itinerary Template

Program Itinerary Template

Meeting Itinerary Template

Meeting Itinerary Template

Travel Itinerary Template PDF

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 16

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 16

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 17

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 17

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 18

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 18

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 19

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Free Travel Itinerary Templates 20

Free Travel Itinerary Templates 20

Itinerary Template - Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Itinerary Template – Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Business Tour - Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Business Tour – Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Business Travel Diary- Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Business Travel Diary- Free Travel Itinerary Templates

Stable and Consistent

One of the biggest perks of using a PDF is that it looks the  same  on every device. No surprises!

Easy to Share

PDF files are  super easy to send  in an email or message. They can be opened on almost any gadget.

No Accidental Changes

Once you save it, it stays that way. You can’t accidentally mess up your plans!

Universal Acceptance

Almost all businesses can open and read PDFs. Most people can easily check your plans if you need to show them.

Password Protection

PDFs can be  locked  with a password. Your plans stay  safe and private .

Fantastic for Printing

If you like paper copies, PDFs print out  just how they look on screen .

  • Make your plans in any software that can be saved as a PDF.
  • Double-check all your details and  spelling .
  • Save or ‘print’ your plans as a PDF file.
  • Share or print your  snazzy  new PDF itinerary!

Tips for Using PDF Templates

  • Read-Only : Remember, most PDFs can’t be easily changed. Make sure all your info is correct before you save it.
  • Compatibility : Always ensure the people you share the PDF with can open it.
  • Document Size : PDFs with lots of pictures can get big. Keep an eye on the file size if you need to email it.

A PDF travel itinerary template is  rock-solid  for keeping your travel plans organized and easily accessible. It’s a popular option, especially if you want a file that stays how you made it.

Common Mistakes in Using Travel Itinerary Templates

Skipping the Details : One of the most common errors is  filling in all the blanks . It can lead to confusion during your trip.

Ignoring Time Zones : Many must remember to account for time zone changes. It can mess up your plans.

Overstuffing the Itinerary : It’s tempting to pack your day full of activities. But this leaves  no room for rest or unexpected events .

Forgetting to Share : If you’re traveling with others,  forgetting to share  the itinerary can make things hard for everyone.

Not Checking Operation Hours : Imagine going to a museum only to find it’s closed. Always  check the working hours  of places you want to visit.

Skipping Backup Plans : Weather changes. Plans fall through. Having  no Plan B  can ruin your day.

Bad Formatting : If your itinerary is hard to read, it’s almost useless. Make sure you use  clear and easy-to-read formats .

Not Updating : Sometimes plans change.  Only updating your template  can make sure you get all the things.

Ignoring Local Customs and Laws : Failing to account for local customs or laws can be embarrassing and sometimes problematic. Always do your  basic homework .

Not Double-Checking : A small mistake in flight numbers or hotel booking IDs can be a big hassle. Always  double-check your details .

Avoiding these common mistakes can make your itinerary a powerful tool for a smooth and enjoyable trip!

Traveling is more fun when you’re organized. Using a  travel itinerary template  can help a lot! So why wait? Download a free template today!

Additional Resources

Want to know more? Click the links below for free templates and helpful travel apps.

  • Free Itinerary Templates
  • Best Travel Apps

Happy traveling! ????

What Is a Travel Itinerary Template?

A travel itinerary template is like a  map for your trip . It shows where you need to go, what you’ll do, and when you’ll do it.

Where Can I Find Free Travel Itinerary Templates?

You can find free templates online, in apps, Excel, or Word. Some travel websites also offer them for  free .

Should My Template Be Detailed or Broad?

That depends on you! Some folks like a  minute-by-minute plan , while others want just the  big events  listed. Choose what works for you.

Can I Use the Same Template for Different Trips?

Yes, you can! Just  change the details  to fit your new trip.

What Should I Include in My Template?

Include key info like  flights, hotels, and activities . Remember  small but important details  like transport from the airport to the hotel.

Do I Need to Print My Itinerary?

Only sometimes. You could keep it on your phone. But a printed copy is good, just in case your phone  runs out of juice .

How Many Copies Should I Make?

It’s a good idea to have  more than one copy . Leave one with a friend or family member back home, keep one with you, and maybe have a  digital copy .

Can I Add Last-Minute Changes?

Yes, you can. Just  update all your copies  so you’re not working off old info.

What Do I Do If My Plans Change Mid-Trip?

No problem! Just  update your template . You can do it with a printed copy or update the digital one on your device.

Is It OK to Leave Free Time in My Plan?

Absolutely! It’s your trip, after all. Free time lets you  explore  or  rest  as you feel like it.

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Top 10 Travel Guide Websites [2024]: Time to Get Inspired!

Top 10 Travel Guide Websites [2024]: Time to Get Inspired!

With the overwhelming number of travel guides that exist out there, it's hard to find one that'll satisfy your wanderlust or inspire your next travel. Luckily for you, we've found all of the best places to look for travel inspiration. Keep reading to see all of the best travel guide websites that'll help guide your next travels!

example of travel guide

Travel guides help us plan our trips better. But, with thousands of sites claiming to be travel wizards, it can be hard to pick and choose the best travel guide sites that fit your requirements. 

While some like to travel with a paperback guide in hand, others prefer to outsource well-detailed itineraries tailored to our preferences. The pundits, perfectionists, and ardent travelers want to take matters into their own hands and plan trips by themselves. They also need guides and recommendations to help with their research and planning.

Well, folks, worry not because our list of best travel guide websites covers it all. Regardless of where you fall on the travel planning spectrum, you'll find a travel guide that'll inspire and prepare you for your next trip. Use these fantastic travel guides and start planning your trips with Pilot!

travel guide while backpacking

10 Top Travel Guide Websites for travel inspiration!

10. lonely planet .

Lonely Planet  is a dominant brand in the travel industry, offering both travel guides and other resources on destinations worldwide. It is mainly geared towards backpackers on a budget. 

Its travel guidebooks, available in both digital and print form, come under a variety of categories such as regions, countries, cities, hikes, treks, etc. They include itineraries, maps for navigation, insider tips from experts, off-the-beaten-path attractions, and other helpful information. 

You can subscribe to their services for a monthly fee of $4.99 or a yearly fee of $39.99. It will give you access to resources on their website and app. You can purchase Lonely Planet books individually too.

Although Lonely Planet is not as resourceful and updated as it used to be, it's still one of the best travel sites to get an overview of destinations. You can also book accommodation and dining options via the website. Check out our full review of Lonely Planet  here . 

  • A collection of over 825 guides
  • Phrasebooks to learn the local language 
  • Covers a lot of destinations worldwide 
  • General travel information about countries is free
  • Complaints on outdated information
  • Unreliable customer service 
  • Travel forum "Thorn Tree" is no longer available 

Lonely Planet Travel guide

9. Fodor's Travel

Fodor's Travel  is another popular website offering travel guides for destinations around the world. Their specialty is the guidebooks available in both print and eBook versions. They have over 300 travel guides covering more than 7000 destinations. The website also has plenty of information, insider tips, and appealing visual content on different destinations. It's great for inspiration and general information. 

Fodor's forum is a great place to get recommendations, tips, and insider advice that will be useful for your trip plans. It has an active community, so it's more likely that you will receive prompt answers. You have to be a member to access all of its features. 

You can access Fodor's Travel website and forum free of charge. But, the guides have to be bought either from the website or sites like Amazon. On average, prices range from $10-$20. You can read our in-depth review of Fodor's Travel  here . 

  • Helpful forum to seek advice
  • Good recommendations
  • Covers a lot of destinations 
  • Incomplete guidebooks (complaints of missing pages)
  • Lack of localized recommendations   

Fodor's Travel Travel Guide.

8. Rough Guides 

Initially,  Rough Guides  was solely focused on selling travel guidebooks in paperback and eBook formats. These books are still a popular choice among travelers today. They provide:

  • Itineraries.
  • Background information.
  • Maps to help you find the way around.
  • Independent recommendations of the writer.
  • Detailed regional coverage.

Books are available at varying prices.

At present, Rough Guides also specializes in providing tailor-made travel guides to suit your personal preferences. You can connect with a local expert to create a special itinerary for you by entering your budget, destination, accommodation and dining choices, preferred activities, and other details. Depending on what you need, you can get everything planned and booked by a local expert or only resort to insider tips. The prices vary based on the kind of service you need.

Besides this, you can also find articles on travel advice, top destinations, and other travel-related subjects on the website. So, even if you are planning the trip by yourself, Rough Rides is a good place for inspiration. 

  • A wide range of travel guidebooks 
  • Personalized itineraries 
  • Local knowledge and recommendations 
  • Not very user-friendly 

Rough Guide Travel Guide

7. ViaHero 

If you are more inclined towards personalized travel guidebooks by locals,  ViaHero  is one of the best to consider. The platform also promises to take the hassle of planning by outsourcing a day-by-day traveling guide from an expert, aka a 'Hero.' The good thing, however, is that you will be updated about every step of the planning.

You can select the destination and review the Heroes available there. Each Hero has a detailed bio outlining their personality, travel specialty, and expertise. You can also check the reviews left by past travelers about them. All you have to do is pick a Hero and specify your requirements. The cost of a customized itinerary is $40 per day. 

The Hero won't be accompanying you, although you will be in touch via email or messaging. ViaHero also posts travel articles for users to read and be informed about the destination(s) they plan to visit. If you want to learn more, check our ViaHero  review . 

  • Convenient 
  • Travel guides focus on local and uncrowded attractions 
  • Quality, well-detailed itineraries 
  • Service is available only to limited destinations

ViaHero Travel Guide and app.

6. Frommer's 

Frommer's  remains one of the best travel sites because it is very resourceful for travelers. Frommer's offers guidebooks, podcasts, and the latest travel-related information for wanderlusts. They're also one of the oldest travel guide publishers. 

Its titles cater to a range of travel styles, covering every major destination around the world. Its travel guidebooks are available in both eBook and paperback formats. The books are pretty similar to others in the market.

Frommer's website has a treasure trove of travel content, and you can browse them by 'Destination' or 'Trip Ideas.' There's also a separate section dedicated to travel 'Tips and News.' It is especially helpful as travel rules and restrictions are constantly revised and updated on the pandemic. 

There's also a 'Deals & Bookings' section to help you grab great discounts on accommodation, airfares, cruises, and car rentals. Even if you don't want to purchase travel guides, Frommer's is a good website for updated travel information. 

  • Updated travel information 
  • Over 350 travel guidebooks 
  • Good choice of accommodation
  • Guidebooks cover only major highlights 
  • Website looks outdated 

Frommers Travel guide.

5. Tripadvisor 

Obviously, you know  Tripadvisor , famed for both its usefulness and weird reviews. It is a one-stop place to read travel guides, get advice and tips, make reservations, and plan trips.

Tripadvisor is one of the most  popular travel apps  travelers use to seek advice and recommendations from locals or other travelers. It's a great place to find and read reviews – just about any restaurant, hostel, attraction, or different travel experience anywhere in the world. If you can't find a review or discussion about the topic, you can start a discussion in their forum! 

You will also find a lot of content for travel inspiration, including travel guides from ardent travelers and 'Things to Do' lists on different destinations. Besides guides from experts, you can use Tripadvisor to book hotels, tours, activities, accommodation, etc. It's one of the best travel deals websites .

You can also save your favorite places and experiences in a destination and view them on a map. However, if you are looking for a planning tool, we recommend trying a  better travel planner .

  • Active travel forum for trip guidance and tips 
  • Plenty of user reviews to help your decisions 
  • Loads of travel content
  • Attractive travel deals 
  • A mobile app for convenience 
  • Infamous for  fake or biased reviews  
  • A glorified checkout cart, not great for inspiration
  • Reserving and managing bookings is not always streamlined

TripAdvisor Travel guide and app.

4. Localeur 

Localeur  is one of the best travel websites for travelers who want to avoid tourist traps and enjoy local and authentic experiences. It offers useful insights and recommendations from local insiders as opposed to tourists. At present, it covers over 200 destinations and has a user base of 5 million worldwide.

You can find recommendations on everything from road trips to places to eat to shopping tips on the platform. Their local expert base consists of writers, artists, foodies, and other specialists from different fields. It's great to plan your trip and want to cover the best attractions in your itinerary. 

Localeur's main features are only offered to its subscribers. You can go for a lifetime subscription of $150 or a monthly subscription of $10. You get recommendations, personalized travel guides, and two weekly emails for travel inspiration.

But, you can still check out its travel content, featured guides and recommendations, and 'localeurs' for free. Subscription to their newsletter is also free of charge. Read our full review of Localeur  here ! 

  • Reliable and quality recommendations 
  • Information of local experiences
  • Wide range of choices
  • Costly subscription 
  • Limited destinations
  • Recommendations could be biased

Localeur Travel guide website.

3. Atlas Obscura 

Atlas Obscura  is about intriguing people to travel with its attractive and quirky guides and travel content. It publishes stories focusing on nature, science, culture, history, food, and hidden wonders. If you love sights that are hidden, weird, or rare, this travel guide is the perfect choice for you. 

It has an extensive collection of content on unusual attractions and cool dining places in destinations worldwide. They seem to be very informative and attractive to add to the itinerary. The community forums under each destination help you discuss travel-related topics with fellow users. 

Another specialty of Atlas Obscura is their guided tours to amazing places described by them. Most of them are adventure trips to less-traveled places, so there's no doubt that travelers are in a for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The traveling guide website also offers virtual travel experiences. 

Although you can browse travel content for free, membership is mandatory to access experiences and events hosted by Atlas Obscura. There are both monthly and yearly plans to choose from. 

  • Amazing and high-quality travel guides 
  • Focuses on unique attractions 
  • Availability of virtual experiences and guided tours
  • Not so much of a place to get travel guides and tips 
  • Not ideal if you are looking for guidance on usual tourist spots 
  • Paid membership 

Atlas Obscura travel guide.

2. Travel + Leisure 

Of course, no list of best travel sites is perfect without mentioning this leading travel and leisure magazine. While  Travel + Leisure's  focus is primarily on an exotic holiday destination, high-end vacations, its high-quality content is worthy for every traveler. From best places to travel to best gadgets to carry, it is a very informative source that educates travelers on how to best prepare for an upcoming trip. 

Travel +Leisure provides unique accommodation, dining, attractions in different destinations. You will also find content on the latest travel news, deals, tips, accessories, and inspiration on the site. In the 'Travel Guides' section, you can filter guides based on location, language, the best time to visit, and activities.

Last year, the magazine launched its trip booking and subscription features. The Travel + Leisure Go platform lets you book trips to destinations published on the website and other exclusive itineraries. The travel and leisure magazine's subscribers ($9.95 per month) can enjoy discounts on accommodation and other services. 

  • Very informative and updated content 
  • Covers a wide range of travel-related topics 
  • Convenient trip booking feature
  • Travel deals 
  • Limited destinations under 'Travel Guides' 
  • Doesn't offer detailed travel itineraries 
  • Expensive subscription fee

Travel + Leisure Travel guide.

1. Condé Nast Traveller

Condé Nast Traveller is another magazine & travel guide website that caters to luxury travel experiences. The website is a ripe source for travel inspiration, albeit for quite pricey staycations. On the plus side, there's some focus on budget travelers as well. Nevertheless, we think it's one of the best travel guide sites out there with up-to-date information. 

The articles on this travel leisure magazine cover a wide range of topics from best pizza places to shooting locations of famous films to activities for kids while traveling. On the Condé Nast Traveller, you can browse for the best accommodation and dining choices and travel content on style and art. It's a good website for you to get travel ideas from experts in the industry.

You will also find travel news and tips to help you plan and navigate. For those interested, Condé Nast Traveller also offers subscription plans to get its digital and/or print magazine copy delivered to you. The cost varies based on your country.

  • Great, informative content 
  • Promptly updated travel news
  • Focus on unique destinations and attractions 
  • Not for budget backpackers 
  • No trip booking feature

Condé Nast Traveller Travel Guide.

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Travel Guide Presentation templates

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COMMENTS

  1. How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide From Home

    4. Choose the Right Format. There are plenty of formats available for travel guides. You can choose to make a post on your blog, a PDF guide, an eBook, and the list goes on. If you plan on writing multiple guides for your blog, it makes sense to create a separate section and publish all the guides there.

  2. Various Types of Travel Guides and How to Create Them

    Special Interest Travel Guide. While a destination guide focuses on a specific area and includes as much detail as possible, a special interest travel guide is far more focused. This is a type of niche writing, and it is designed to appeal to a specific demographic. Ultimately, the special interest you focus on is up to you.

  3. 11 BEST Travel Guides For 2024 [Websites & Guidebooks]

    The best world travel guidebooks are often better for certain locations than others. For example, Rick Steves has a reputation for being the best travel guide for Europe and, specifically, the best travel guide for Italy. So, choose your travel guide based on which one specializes in the area you're curious about.

  4. Lonely Planet

    Whether you're interested in traveling to a new city, going on a cruise, or cooking a new dish — we're committed to inspiring you to experience travel in a whole new way. Lonely Planet's collection of 825+ travel and guidebooks is sure to inspire the traveler within. View All Books.

  5. Types of Travel Guide #1: The Destination Travel Guide

    Destination Travel Guide Examples. Take a look at these Lonely Planet Destination Guide examples below which includes country guides, a city guide, and a combination country guide. Lonely Planet guide books are packed with information. They include a little bit of everything and cover each topic you would expect in a destination guide, but don ...

  6. How To Write A Travel Guide

    Write about some good offers that you see on apartment sites like Airbnb.com or booking.com and name 3-5 good hotels. Link their websites to their names. Look up the prices for a night in a hotel room/apartment and add the price after the hotel's name Another very important factor is communication:

  7. Travel Guides to Destinations Around the World

    Booking.com - The best all-around booking site. It constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates and has the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, it's always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites. Intrepid Travel - If you want to do group tours, go with Intrepid.

  8. 5+ Customizable Travel Guide Templates

    Just choose our travel guide brochure template and customize it to your own preference with our user-friendly editor. Or perhaps your clients are more on the corporate side, so you could choose a business travel itinerary template and create something targeted towards their needs. For longer trips in remote locations, you can use our itinerary ...

  9. The Best Travel Guides (Online and Books)

    The best travel guides inspire and inform. Discover all the top travel guide books and online tools to help you plan the trip of your dreams. The best travel guides inspire and inform. ... For example, you can download a 23-day driving tour of New Zealand with a step-by-step driving tour over both islands. ...

  10. How To Write A Perfect Travel Guide

    Example: A travel writer visiting a destination and exploring its various aspects (attractions, accommodations, dining options, and transportation systems) to gather first-hand information for the guide. During the stay, record experiences and engage with locals or fellow travelers to obtain insider tips and insights. This can involve seeking recommendations on places to visit and things to do ...

  11. The 10 Best Travel Guidebooks in the World

    3. Bradt. (Bradt) Who: Another perennial favourite, Bradt guides are pretty much the gold standard when it comes to independent travel guides. Founded by Hilary Bradt in 1974, the pioneering brand is one of your favourites, having taken the top spot at the Reader Travel Awards many times in recent years.

  12. Explore the Various Types of Travel: A Comprehensive Guide for Every

    Yes, there are recommended destinations for each type of travel. For example, adventure travelers may consider places like New Zealand or Costa Rica while cultural tourists may be drawn to cities like Paris or Kyoto. ... With comprehensive travel guides, insider tips, and captivating stories from our own adventures, we aim to inspire and equip ...

  13. The Best Types of Travel Guides and Hospitality Content (With Examples

    The 2023 Pittsburgh Official Visitors Guide, for example, is a visitors guide for people traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It includes beautiful descriptions of the city's top attractions ...

  14. Travel Guides

    Some examples of popular travel guides include Frommer's, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, and those produced by American travel writer Rick Steves. The most common type of travel guide provides information about a particular place, such as a city, region, or country. A travel guide can include information on the various sites, hotels, restaurants ...

  15. 15 Best Travel Guidebook Series & Why You Will Love Them

    Moon Travel Guides: Moon Travel Guides offer comprehensive coverage of worldwide destinations. Though—it publishes many titles for less mainstream places. For example, Moon offers the best, and in some cases, the only guidebooks for less common places like Vermont and Door County, Wisconsin.

  16. Travel Guide Examples

    A travel guide can help travelers plan their trip by providing information about attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and activities in a particular destination. It can also provide maps, transportation information, and tips for travelers.Travel guide examples are a great way to get an idea of what to expect when visiting a new destination.

  17. 17 Travel Brochure Examples For Traveler & Tourism

    Travel guide brochure example. Travel guide brochures serve as a comprehensive roadmap for tourists, encapsulating the essence of a destination. These brochures, often crafted by skilled graphic designers, emphasize not just the beauty of travel destinations but also offer helpful information to potential tourists.

  18. The classic travel guidebooks that inspire my trips

    Other books barely survived their journeys, spines broken, pages missing and covers battered: the Moon Guide to Indonesia, for example, the classic product of a generation of hippy travel guide ...

  19. Understanding Travelogue: The Art of Describing Journeys

    Answering the question, "which statement best defines a travelogue", a travelogue is a narrative that describes a journey, often to a foreign country, and includes the traveler's personal experiences and observations. It's much more than just a travel guide—it's a personal storytelling format that allows the writer to share their unique ...

  20. 34 Free Travel Itinerary Templates (Word, Excel & PDF)

    34 Free Travel Itinerary Templates (Word, Excel & PDF) Free travel itinerary templates: Your itinerary refers to your journey's more detailed plan. Usually, highlights some places to be visited and the travel plan. By having itinerary templates, you will benefit from having the travel arrangement in one location for easier referencing and ...

  21. Top 10 Travel Guide Websites [2024]: Time to Get Inspired!

    Atlas Obscura. 2. Travel + Leisure. 1. Condé Nast Traveller. Pair the best travel guide websites with Pilot. Show more. Travel guides help us plan our trips better. But, with thousands of sites claiming to be travel wizards, it can be hard to pick and choose the best travel guide sites that fit your requirements.

  22. Google Slides & PowerPoint templates for travel guides

    Travel Guide: Paris Hello there, fellow globetrotter! If you're as fond of traveling as we do, then you're love this presentation, because we've designed it as a travel guide for Paris. The illustrations are related to France, its landmarks and its culture. To inspire your creativity, we've added some sections as an example,...

  23. Outdoor Swimmer Magazine

    Outdoor Swimmer Travel Guide 2024 Read your free copy of the Outdoor Swimmer Travel Guide - packed with holiday listings and inspiration for your own swimming travel dreams in the UK and abroad. If you love swimming, then you will love swim travel! Find out where in the world your swimming will take you this year.

  24. Why is airplane travel so stinky? A smelly air flight guide

    Air travel stinks. For example: American Airlines' contract of carriage, the legal agreement between you and the airline, says it can refuse to transport "persons who have an offensive odor such ...