While the digital age has made guidebooks—and to some degree, the print format in general—a less-obvious need, guidebooks can still be found and are an invaluable resource for planning a bigger trip, or one where you may not have cell service all the time. Guidebooks help curate a travel experience and because they aren’t on a website, they aren’t written with language that’s more focused on clicks than anything else. Here are three to check out before your next trip.
Brandt Guides
In the digital age, it’s hard to sift through the online reviews of places that won’t always give you an accurate picture of your destination. Brandt Guides provide more trusted, carefully-curated information that you can take seriously. They have guidebooks on nearly every country, including less-traveled destinations for those looking to get off the beaten path.
Trailblazer Guides
What’s unique and useful about Trailblazer is that they provide an “opinionated” view of their destinations, so you’ll be able to enjoy a distinct authorial voice. They also have guides that go far beyond restaurant reviews or hiking trails to try, in particular their comprehensive guides to riding the rails around the world and to motorcycle travel.
Rick Steves Guidebooks
Steves’s guidebooks have a small but dedicated user base, as he always keeps his recommendations up to date and is sure to provide info on the most crucial places to see without wasting time on experiences that aren’t worth your time. This makes his work especially useful for new travelers and those with limited time, and his books are available in e-book format.