Tag Archives: Travel Guidebooks

Kafka : On The Cheap

Posted on January 29, 2017 by Brian D. Butler

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 Brian D. Butler

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 Brian D. Butler

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 Brian D. Butler

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 Brian D. Butler

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

A Travel Guide With Heart

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The popular French travel guide publisher Le Guide du Routard has created a wonderful new 90 page graphic guidebook for migrants and refugees in Europe. Titled Hello, and illustrated by French artist Pascal Gauffre, the handbook allows communication by simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, Europe, Middle East, Public Transport, Tech, Travel Writing | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Seventy-one Square Miles Seeded With Hustle

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Brian D. Butler

The just launched Brooklyn from the Wildsam Field Guide Series describes the New York Borough as “…seventy-one square miles seeded with hustle and grit and leaps of faith”. As the product of more than a century of Brooklynites on both … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Books, History, Hotels, Maps, Museums, Music, Public Transport, Restaurants, Tourism, Travel Writing, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Portrait of the City (a little delayed)

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

Regular visitors to TBTP know that I’m inordinately fond of  old travel guidebooks, whimsical book illustrations and tales of eastern European intrigue. Of course I couldn’t pass-up a crazy story that I ran across the other day that has all … Continue reading →

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