Travel Guides: Essential reference guides
Let's Go Map Guides
The successful Let's Go series has always promoted "knowing it like a native" through their guidebooks. Except now students won't be wasting time and sanity flipping through these large guidebooks for larger cities. Let's Go Map Guide gives the same key information on attractions, accommodations and night life in some of the largest and most traveled cities in the world. The map guides are made up of two parts: a detailed fold-out map and a short pamphlet of information on getting around, getting by and getting out the city of choice. A list at the end shows major attractions along with directions. Map guides are available for Florence, Amsterdam, Boston, San Francisco, Washington D.C., New York, London, Paris, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Rome, Berlin, Chicago and Madrid.
St. Martin's Press
$7.95
Go to www.letsgo.com for details or visit your local bookstore

IZON's Backpacker Journal
For those of us who like an easy-to-read, to-the-point guide, Lucy Izon's Backbacker Journal may be just the remedy. Izon writes about the basic essentials for planning a successful trip. The book begins with reference materials and web sites that are handy for planning a trip.

She then moves on to packing essentials, which is probably the most detailed and imaginative part of the journal (e.g. anti-fungal foot powder). The remaining pages are for journal entries, with quick tips and stories on the side such as David Stanley's great quote on fitting into a culture: "Take an interest in local customs, values, languages, challenges and successes. If things work differently than they do back home, give thanks -- that's why you've come." (South Pacific Handbook Moon Travel Publications) Izon seems to use these side notes more as fun notes, which will make it hard to track a specific note while on the road.
Ten Speed Press
160 pages (plastic cover)
$9.95
www.izon.com or call (800) 841-2665