Tag Archives: Travel Guidebooks

Rick Steves Wants To Set You Free

Posted on March 25, 2019 by

If you live in the United States and have ever watched PBS television, or if you’ve ever visited the travel section of any bookstore, then you know exactly who Rick Steves is and what he’s all about. But if you’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Hotels, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

NYC Way-Back Machine

Posted on June 20, 2018 by

Many years ago, when I made the transition from book collector to bookseller, a client asked me to locate a copy of “The Picture of New-York, Or The Traveller’s Guide Through The Commercial Metropolis of the United States, By a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, History, Maps, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Reasons to use a guidebook

Posted on December 9, 2017 by

As a former travel guidebook author, I am biased in favor of old-school print travel guidebooks. Not that I am completely averse to digital travel literature; I use e-book guides too. But print guides are easier to highlight and annotate, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Maps, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Travel Guru To Follow

Posted on April 23, 2017 by

For more than three decades North American travelers have been getting advice on European tourism from a folksy, easy-going travel writer named Rick Steves. Over the years, Rick’s best-selling guidebooks and popular Public Television travelogues have encouraged millions of Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Freedom of Speech, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Small World, Little Planet

Posted on March 8, 2017 by

Petite Planète is a series of iconic travel guides by the French publishing house Edition du Seuil published between 1954 and 1964.Early on, filmmaker/novelist/graphic artist/World War II resistance fighter Chris Marker was recruited as the editor for the experimental series. He was also … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Photography, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Kafka : On The Cheap

Posted on January 29, 2017 by

During the summer of 1911, Franz Kafka and his friend Max Brod took a railway journey through Switzerland and France. While they were hanging out in Lugano, Switzerland, Kafka hit on a novel notion for “reforming” the traditional staid travel … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Tourism, Travel Writing, Writing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Europe on $5 a Day

Posted on January 19, 2017 by

The notion of traveling around Europe on $5 a day seems preposterous in 2017, but back in 1957 it was a reality for frugal savvy travelers. This year the guidebook, which came before Let’s Go Europe, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves Guides, is celebrating … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, History, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

You Too Can Be A Londoner

Posted on February 7, 2016 by

Carl Goes London is a new flavor in travel guidebooks; it offers a useful perspective for visitors whether they are in London for three days, three weeks or three months. Written with the digital nomad in mind, the book provides … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Europe, Hotels, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tech, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Guide to Tokyo

Posted on February 3, 2016 by

Regular readers of TBTP have probably noticed that I have a fascination with travel guidebooks, both contemporary and antiquarian. If you saw my library, you might even call it an obsession. I’m always intrigued when I stumble upon a novel … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art, Asia, Books, Photography, Public Transport, Tourism, Travel Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Driving While Black

Posted on October 29, 2015 by

Between 1936 and 1966, an unconventional travel guidebook series was published specifically for African-American motorists. The Negro Travelers’ Green Book was sadly necessary to provide Black motorists and travelers with scrupulously accurate information on accommodations, restaurants and auto services during … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Canada, Europe, Hotels, Public Transport, Restaurants, South America, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment