Guide books? When I first started traveling internationally, planning for every trip included a trip to the book store for the latest guide books. The books contained useful and practical information on everything from currency, to local customs. When flying internationally it was common to see people waiting for the flight, or on the plane discussing the books. Those extra pounds of paper packed into every carry on.
But a lot has changed in the last 34 years, and not just the amount of hair on my head (my first trip across the Atlantic was in May of 1990.)
I still find the books helpful for identifying museums and attractions in places I have never been, then I find myself looking online, visiting museum websites, looking at the streets on Google Maps and street view. I buy fewer books, and I use them differently than I did 34 years ago.
The weight of the books has become a factor. I don't really want to carry an extra 1 or 2 pounds of paper with me. I have copied the pages I really wanted and taken just those pages, I have cut the books apart and taken select pages with me. I hate cutting up a book, but it allowed me to take the ten pages I needed and leave the other 290 pages behind. I have tried e-book versions, and find the inability to easily flip from page to page, and to bookmark an e-book version, results in the books not being as useful.
I am more likely today to use the books for background research, idea generation, then do in-depth online research. Creating a few pages of notes on what I might want to see and the details of how to go about doing so. With my trusty Chromebook and WiFi I can fill in the details as I go.
Guide books are not dead, but need to evolve.
We have/had several that we've bought through the years but now they feel almost obsolete and we rely more on the computer and the phone.
ReplyDeleteWhen traveling internationally, I don't always turn on data - more abou that in a future post.
DeleteTheir hard copy format seems almost quaint now.
ReplyDeleteKind of like phone books.
DeleteI remember going to the library to check out travel books when we were planning a trip. Now everything is online when it comes to checking out locations and making reservations. I haven't seen a travel book in years!
ReplyDeleteMy local library has very few travel guide books.
DeleteMy first trip to Europe was in 1985 and it was a guide book that inspired some of the places I visited. I've used them ever since and like you I did quit taking them with me. However, I do copy the pages I need to take with me.
ReplyDeleteI also print out maps. When I went to Oklahoma City a few months ago, I printed a map of the downtown area and marked my hotel and the art museum I was visiting. I've tried using maps on my phone but I prefer the paper one because it shows a bigger perspective. I'm a visual person; I have to see the big picture.
Maps on my phone sometimes help, sometimes not. I was very happy that the last couple of cars I have rented when traveling, had in dash GPS that worked well.
DeleteSince I only travel to the refrigerator these days I don't need a guide book. But I remember the days.
ReplyDeleteI love how you capture the essence of the Hirshhorn Museum with such vivid descriptions and personal reflections. Your insights into the art and atmosphere make the reader feel like they're right there with you. What was your favorite exhibit or piece of art at the Hirshhorn, and why did it stand out to you?
ReplyDelete