Forty in-depth reviews of travel series, spanning hikes in national parks to a perfect day in Positano. To help manage selection, we provide full bibliographic data for 533 individual titles that make up this series review, along with a downloadable spreadsheet of every title, sortable by BISAC.

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Backroads & Byways

This driving guide series, published by Countryman, is perhaps best used by readers who live in or adjacent to the states covered by each title, as the road trips detailed here are lengthy and require significant driving to reach start locations. Out-of-state travelers planning a trip will still find useful information and will be able to identify a loop or a shorter trip if they want to spend some of their time driving across the landscape. The books begin with a map detailing each of the numerous trips and their locations before devoting several pages to the details of each suggested drive. Practical information, such as estimated length, estimated time, and key highlights, is provided at the top of each drive. Then follow narrative descriptions with commentary on the landscape, history, surroundings, food and lodgings, and the authors’ experience of the trip itself. Frequent use of first- and second-person perspective and memoiristic accounts from the authors driving each tour give the series a decidedly personal, casual tone. Following each tour are a few suggestions for places to eat, stay, and visit. VERDICT A good choice for local collections or for regional interest, but libraries with limited budgets can skip buying the series in full.

Lohmann, Bill. Backroads & Byways of Virginia: Drives, Day Trips, & Weekend Excursions. 3rd ed. (Backroads & Byways). Countryman. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781682688670. 288p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Blue Guides

This series is arguably the best option for travelers eager to dive deep into the details of a destination’s history, architecture, and art. Published by Blue Guides Limited of London and focused on one city per year, the guides each start with a time line of the city’s history. For example, this year’s offering about London begins in 55–54 BC, when Julius Caesar invaded the area, and ends with 2023, when King Charles III was crowned. Each section notes three highlights of the featured area, but the core of the book is its straightforward text about the city’s past, present, and future. Key players are profiled too. There is a lot of text, but it’s structured to give readers bite-size chunks of information, and the writing style makes for easy reading. Color photos, illustrations, an extensive index, and even some floor plans are the costars of this resource, along with pointer boxes that take readers to the back of the book, where they will find easy-to-navigate color maps. While the historical context of each destination is the real feature of the series, a short section called “Practical Information” also gives basic guidance on how to get around the city and where to eat. VERDICT With more text than most travel series, this resource can be studied before and during readers’ trips. It is ideal for self-guided explorations.  

Barber, Emily & others. Blue Guide London. 19th ed. (Blue Guides). Blue Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781916568013. pbk. 640p. $29.95. TRAVEL

Bradt Travel Guides

What’s different about this series is that it covers destinations that other guides ignore. The books begin with background about the travel spot and practical information for a wide variety of trip-takers, from people with disabilities to people traveling with children. As with other travel guides, these books spend considerable time noting sights to see, the area’s cultural observances and traditions, activities, best places to stay, eat, and drink, suggested itineraries, historical aspects, common wildlife and plants, and much more. Notable highlights of this series are its color pictures featured at the beginning and sprinkled throughout, and the “Don’t Miss” and “Work and Study” sections, which are filled with highly readable and useful information. VERDICT This is the series to give to readers who want to go to places that many travelers skip. As overtourism continues to make news, these guides are perfectly on point.

Bird, Angela & Murray Stewart. The Vendee: With Nantes & Pornic, plus La Rochelle and the Ile de Re. 2nd ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781804692219. 264p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Briggs, Phillip & Janice Booth. Rwanda: With Eastern Congo. 8th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781804690161. 336p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Brummell, Paul. Latvia. 6th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781804690406. 298p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Burford, Tim & Nancy Chuang. Georgia. 7th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781804690710. 376p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Campbell, Gill & Alistair Campbell. Greenland. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781784770617. 224p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Connolly, Sean & Phillip Briggs. The Gambia. 3rd ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781804690611. 288p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Crask, Paul. Dominica. 4th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781804691021. 248p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Davey, Jo. Okinawa and Japan’s Southwest Islands. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781784776824. 352p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Edwards, Grace. Saudi Arabia. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781784779337. 424p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Evans, Mary Anne & Alistair McKenzie. D-Day Landings: A Travel Guide to Normandy’s Beaches and Battlegrounds Sites, Museums, Memorials. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781804691700. 152p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Fay, Tom. Hokkaido. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781804690994. 320p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Foster, Jane & Piers Letcher. Croatia: Dalmatian Coast: Dubrovnik, Split, the Islands. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781804692349. 256p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Mallows, Lucy & Paul Brummell. Romania: Transylvania. 4th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781784777241. 352p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Pentelow, Mike & Peter Arkell. Freedom Pass London: 25 Special Days Out In and Around the Capital. 2nd ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781804692271. 256p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Phillips, Laurence. Lille. 5th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781804691014. 240p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Proctor, James. Faroe Islands. 6th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781804691373. 192p. $28. TRAVEL

Rowe, Mark. Orkney. 2nd ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781804690963. 328p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Skelton, Tim. Luxembourg. 5th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781804691526. 256p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Thomson, Emma & John Ruler. World War I Battlefields: A Travel Guide to the Western Front: Sites, Museums, Memorials. 3rd ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781804691366. 120p. $12.99. TRAVEL

Whitehouse, Rosie. Liguria. 4th ed. (Bradt Travel Guides). Bradt Travel Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781804691489. 312p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Culture Smart

This series from Kuperard focuses on providing travelers with insight to navigate the cultural, political, social, and religious aspects of a nation. Divided into chapters that address topics such as land and people, values and attitudes, customs and traditions, making friends, private and family life, time off, business, communication, and travel, health, and safety, these books explore subjects like approaches to friendship, prevailing philosophical thought, social structures, recreational activities, business practicalities, tolerance and prejudice, drinking, eating, sports, attitudes toward visitors, hospitality, and manners. The largest audience for these books will be foreign exchange students and businesspeople planning to be in a new country for an extended period. More casual visitors, such as those on a cruise ship day trip, can best use these books as background reading as they orient themselves to the countries they visit. The information is written in a straightforward manner from the perspectives of residents of each nation, with limited commentary. VERDICT They needn’t be part of a core collection, but readers who need this information will be happy to find it in these well-organized, in-depth guides.

Brewer, Nicole. Oman: Culture Smart!; The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. 2nd ed. (Culture Smart). Kuperard. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787023512. pbk. 200p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Morris, Isabella. Egypt: Culture Smart!; The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. 3rd ed. (Culture Smart). Kuperard. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787023451. pbk. 200p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Obal, Cheryl. Saudi Arabia: Culture Smart!; The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. 2nd ed. (Culture Smart). Kuperard. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787023543. pbk. 200p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Riches, Sarah. Britain: Culture Smart!; The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. 3rd ed. (Culture Smart). Kuperard. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787023574. pbk. 200p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Like a Local

What this series lacks in imagery (there are no photos), it makes up for with insider information that would be hard to find in many other kinds of city guides. The books give off the atmosphere of having a glass of wine with a friend who just got back from a trip and is sharing their best tips and secret finds. It’s hip and insider-y, but also practical, useful, and deeply engaging. City tours begin with a seasonal overview of highlights before quickly detailing key information to know, such as when restaurants begin serving, when bars open and close, and specifics of navigating the local culture (e.g., smoking policies and bike riding routes). Next are brief tours of the neighborhoods that make up each city, with details of who lives there and what might be seen. The rest of the guide is dedicated to six subjects: eating, drinking, shopping, arts and culture, the outdoors, and nightlife. Maps are provided and keyed to the same six topics. Each subject is subdivided into relevant categories for the locale, such as brunch spots, coffee houses, vintage stores, performing arts, nightclubs, and parks. VERDICT Travelers who like to feel as if they are in the know and are looking for a city’s less-touristed spots will find that this series makes for a perfect final read before a trip.

Brenner, Elysia & others. Amsterdam Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home. (Like a Local). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241680162. 192p. $18.99. TRAVEL

Jacobshagen, Marlen & others. Berlin Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home. (Like a Local). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241680179. 192p. $18.99. TRAVEL

Marland, Kenza. Austin Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home. (Like a Local). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241686799. 192p. $18.99. TRAVEL

Marland, Kenza. Edinburgh Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home. (Like a Local). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241680193. 192p. $18.99. TRAVEL

Marland, Kenza. Nashville Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home. (Like a Local). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241686829. 192p. $18.99. TRAVEL

Steffensen, Monica & Allan Mutuku Kortbaek. Copenhagen Like a Local: By the People Who Call It Home. (Like a Local). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241680186. 192p. $18.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Pocket Travel Guides

The books in this aptly named series of small-scale (7.5 by 4 in.) city and region guides contain a top-10 list on nearly every page. The guide opens with an overview of the featured destination, alongside notes on the top 10 expert-recommended experiences for a day trip, a weekend outing, or a week-long visit. Each top site is followed by its own top 10 list, which can beget yet another list. Thus, each location gets a deep dive, and readers can select from a wide range of places that interest them, including churches, museums, galleries, palaces, squares and fountains, green spaces, famous filming locations, shopping areas, family attractions, nightlife venues, and restaurants. Itineraries and maps are provided, including a pullout. VERDICT For visitors short on time and in search of a petite travel guide that both gets to the point and supports browsing.

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Andalucia and the Costa del Sol. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241663080. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Athens. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241668214. pbk. 160p. $13.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Bangkok. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780241679036. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Barcelona. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241675663. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Berlin. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676240. pbk. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Boston. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241675786. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Brussels, Bruges, Antwerp and Ghent. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241670828. pbk. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Chicago. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241462812. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Cornwall and Devon. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241663622. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Crete. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241669648. pbk. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Cuba. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780241679043. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dubrovnik and the Dalmatian Coast. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9780241664957. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Greek Islands. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241664797. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Hong Kong. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241678589. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Iceland. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241676134. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Las Vegas. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241669662. pbk. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Lisbon. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676165. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 London. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676301. pbk. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Los Angeles. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241664803. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Marrakech. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jan. 2025. ISBN 9780241677070. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Montreal and Quebec City. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241671825. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 New England. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9780241664964. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 New Orleans. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9780241662670. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 New York City. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676318. pbk. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Normandy. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241670491. pbk. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Orlando. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jan. 2025. ISBN 9780241677094. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Paris. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676585. pbk. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Prague. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241676714. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Rome. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676851. pbk. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 San Diego. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241671849. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Seattle. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241668221. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Seoul. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241678602. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Sicily. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9780241664971. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Singapore. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241678992. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Sydney. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780241679050. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Valencia. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241663684. pbk. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Vancouver and Vancouver Island. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241668566. pbk. 128p. $14.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Top 10 Venice. (Pocket Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241676868. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Specific Destinations

For readers seeking to fully immerse themselves into a culture, this is the series to pick. Filled with plenty of color photos, the books offer so much detail that readers may not want to only travel to each country in the series—they’ll be tempted to relocate entirely. Each guide covers the country’s geography, entertainment, wildlife, seasonal climates and weather, festivals and traditions, must-see sites, art offerings, nightlife, food scene, and history, plus other aspects that readers expect from a travel guide. What’s distinctive here is that the guides also inform readers of the proper etiquette for the country; what daily life there is like; important symbolism; common spiritual beliefs; fashion; the literature, sports, and films it’s known for; the best ways to stay healthy, and more. VERDICT Part travel guide, part reference book, this is also ideal for armchair travelers.

Be More Japan. (DK Travel Guide: Specific Destination). DK Eyewitness. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9780744095081. 224p. $25. TRAVEL

¡Viva Mexico! (DK Travel Guide: Specific Destination). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780593841334. 224p. $25. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Travel Guides

This deeply agreeable travel guide series is most notable for its abundant images and beautiful design. It offers much information and value to travelers starting to get a sense of a location as well as armchair voyagers. Several elements make the series stand out, including detailed drawings of key buildings, with cutaway views; photos of landscapes, monuments, food, and art; and inviting drawings of special areas to explore. Readers starting to build their own itineraries will enjoy the country grand tour and the smaller-city suggestions, which skim through major sites. However, the series does not offer sufficient detailed, on-the-ground information for practical travel plans. For example, it does not list a rich range of hotels (it offers only a few choices), recommended restaurants (suggesting instead a small handful), or methods for booking tickets to key sites. VERDICT Supporting sink-into-the-pages-and-dream desires, this series will please any reader who’s starting to think about a trip at the 10,000-foot level. It showcases the best design and use of images of any travel guide; sure to be in demand.

DK Eyewitness Alaska. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241669440. pbk. 272p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Australia. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241677124. pbk. 512p. $29.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Barcelona and Catalonia. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241662892. pbk. 224p. $21.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Brittany. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241473962. pbk. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness. DK Eyewitness. DK Eyewitness California. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241663783. pbk. 544p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Cambodia and Laos. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241677216. pbk. 248p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Canada. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241664827. pbk. 400p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Caribbean. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780241679005. pbk. 480p. $25.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Cuba. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9780241679029. pbk. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Egypt. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241671924. pbk. 320p. $25.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness France. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241672976. pbk. 576p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Great Britain. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241662908. pbk. 592p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Greece, Athens and the Mainland. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241664285. pbk. 272p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Iceland. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241682142. pbk. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Ireland. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241672990. pbk. 320p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Italian Riviera. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241470848. pbk. 192p. $19.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Italy. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241673164. pbk. 560p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Japan. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241673195. pbk. 352p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Krakow. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241664834. pbk. 224p. $25. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Loire Valley. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241470862. pbk. 224p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness London. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241673232. pbk. 352p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Madrid. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241668184. pbk. 224p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Mexico. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241669464. pbk. 336p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Milan and the Lakes. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241461976. pbk. 208p. $19.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Morocco. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9780241677056. pbk. 336p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Naples and the Amalfi Coast. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241664841. pbk. 224p. $23.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness National Parks of the USA. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241682104. pbk. 384p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness New Orleans. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9780241662632. pbk. 224p. $19.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness New York City. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241673249. pbk. 328p. $21.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness New Zealand. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241675083. pbk. 304p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Northern Spain. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241668191. pbk. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Norway. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241670804. pbk. 272p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Paris. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241675090. pbk. 328p. $21.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Portugal. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241675533. pbk. 400p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Prague. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9780241672198. pbk. 224p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Road Trips France. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241538647. pbk. 264p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Road Trips Great Britain. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241670514. pbk. 264p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Road Trips Ireland. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241670538. pbk. 264p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Road Trips Italy. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241538661. pbk. 264p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Rome. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241675571. pbk. 352p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness San Francisco and the Bay Area. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241662991. pbk. 272p. $21.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Scotland. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241675601. pbk. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Seville and Andalucia. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241663028. pbk. 256p. $22.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Sicily. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241664322. pbk. 256p. $22.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Spain. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241664513. pbk. 608p. $27.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Sweden. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9780241663073. pbk. 336p. $25. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Switzerland. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9780241664520. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness the Netherlands. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241664902. 416p. $26. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Umbria. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9780241670729. 192p. $19.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness USA. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780241670811. 768p. $29.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Venice and the Veneto. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. May 2024. ISBN 9780241664926. 272p. $19.99. TRAVEL

DK Eyewitness Vienna. (Travel Guide). DK Eyewitness. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9780241672228. 240p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Falcon Guides Hiking

These excellent guides are organized in a straightforward manner that helps hikers get on the trail as fast as possible. They do not all begin the same way, nor are they all organized in like fashion, but they all offer the same high level of information and cover a multitude of hikes of different types. The level of detail in this series is impressive, with mileage cues, GPS coordinates for trailheads, hikes for all kinds of adventurers (plus adventurous kids and dogs), photos, and loads of tips. Each hike listing includes information about the terrain, distance, time, difficulty, accessibility, land-use status, nearest town, and points of interest, plus trail name changes, available maps, and more (depending on the hike and what the series’ experienced authors think is important). Even dining and accommodations are considered, and there’s information on weather and flora and fauna, plus contact details for parks and organizations. VERDICT Libraries should consider these essential if they are located within the region of any title in the series and may want to buy titles covering popular areas farther afield.

Adkison, Ben. Hiking Wyoming’s Wind River Range: A Guide to the Area’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. 4th ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781493068357. pbk. 304p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Brooks, Seth. Hiking Iowa: A Guide to the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. 2nd ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781493036523. pbk. 240p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Brooks, Seth. Hiking Kansas: A Guide to the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493077724. pbk. 256p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Burnham, Bill & Mary Burnham. Hiking Virginia: A Guide to the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. 5th ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781493075652. pbk. 280p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Gillman, Andrew Dash. Hiking Utah’s High Uintas: A Guide to the Region’s Greatest Hikes. 3rd ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493075690. 280p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Heerdt, Marcus. Hiking South Dakota: A Guide to the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781493068616. pbk. 272p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Kratz, Luke. Hiking Idaho: A Guide to the State’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. 4th ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493067640. pbk. 518p. $24.95. TRAVEL

McDarris, Alisha. Hiking Texas Hill Country: A Guide to the Area’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781493072743. 256p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Minetor, Randi. Hiking New York: A Guide to the State’s Best Hiking Adventures. 5th ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781493077342. pbk. 312p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Molvar, Erik. Hiking Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness. 2nd ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781493074365. pbk. 400p. $22.95. TRAVEL

O’Keefe, M. Timothy. Hiking Central Florida: A Guide to the Area’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. 2nd ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781493080045. pbk. 190p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Schneider, Bill. Hiking the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness: A Guide to 63 Great Wilderness Hikes. 4th ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781493063277. pbk. 320p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Skjelset, Mary & Heidi Radlinski. Hiking Mount Rainier National Park: A Guide to the Park’s Greatest Hiking Adventures. 5th ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781493077526. pbk. 328p. $26.95. TRAVEL

Westrich, Greg. Hiking Maine’s Baxter State Park: A Guide to the Park’s Greatest Hiking Adventures Including Mount Katahdin. 2nd ed. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781493075171. pbk. 240p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Zaharek, Jonathan. Hiking the Adirondack 46 High Peaks. (Falcon Guides Hiking). Falcon Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781493070084. pbk. 256p. $24.95. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Full-Color Travel Guides

This beloved series, long considered one of the essential guides to refer to when trip-planning (along with guides by Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, and Rick Steves) invites first-time visitors to experience a city by ensuring they are pointed to top spots that make the most of their time and help them experience a place in full. A particularly engaging aspect of this series is its attention to detail about neighborhoods of the featured city. It also guides readers to less-touristy places that can be easily reached from the featured city for a day of exploring. Sprinkled throughout these excellent resources are full-color photos of the city’s sights and attractions and sidebars offering “Top Reasons To Go.” These books also offer a selection of clear maps. VERDICT This is a reliable, efficient, well-organized series for readers who have always wanted to visit a particular city. Libraries should consider these guides a key purchase.

Fodor’s Amalfi Coast, Capri & Naples. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781640977099. pbk. 336p. $21.99. Travel

Fodor’s American Spirits: Exploring the Best Wineries, Breweries, and Distilleries in the USA. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977341. pbk. 464p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Amsterdam: With the Best of the Netherlands. 6th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781640976849. pbk. 304p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Barcelona: With Highlights of Catalonia. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781640977082. pbk. 320p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Black Hills of South Dakota: With Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park. 2nd ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781640976962. pbk. 272p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Carolinas & Georgia. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977044. pbk. 608p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Costa Rica. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781640976924. pbk. 528p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Europe: The Best of 26 Exceptional Countries. 4th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781640972629. pbk. 1,008p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Hawaii. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977372. pbk. 592p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Ireland 2025. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781640977051. pbk. 672p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Italy 2025. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781640977426. pbk. 896p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Peru: With Machu Picchu & the Inca Trail. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781640977396. pbk. 432p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Scotland. 4th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781640976931. pbk. 496p. $23.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Essential Switzerland. 3rd ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781640976979. pbk. 560p. $23.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Florence & Tuscany: With Assisi & the Best of Umbria. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977068. pbk. 368p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s InFocus Lisbon. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977365. pbk. 288p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s InFocus Savannah: With Hilton Head and the Lowcountry. 7th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781640976955. pbk. 240p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Kauai. 10th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781640976894. pbk. 224p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s London 2025. 38th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781640977037. pbk. 384p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Los Cabos: With Todos Santos, la Paz and Valle de Guadalupe. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781640977402. pbk. 240p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Mexico City. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781640976993. pbk. 368p. $21.99. Travel

Fodor’s Montana & Wyoming: With Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781640977020. pbk. 464p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Montreal & Quebec City. 32nd ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781640976863. pbk. 304p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s New Orleans. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977389. pbk. 304p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s New York City 2025. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781640977358. pbk. 512p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Oahu: With Honolulu, Waikiki & the North Shore. 10th ed. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781640976900. pbk. 272p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Paris 2025. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781640977075. pbk. 400p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Rome 2025. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781640977105. pbk. 320p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Venice. (Full-Color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781640977013. pbk. 288p. $20.99. TRAVEL

Fodor’s Walt Disney World: With Universal and the Best of Orlando. (Full-color Travel Guide). Fodor’s. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781640976986. pbk. 416p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Frommer’s Complete Guides

These reliable guides are part of the long-depended-upon quartet that readers typically turn to when planning a trip. The 2024 editions contain useful updates for travel in the COVID era and new rules that European countries have made in response to an overwhelming influx of tourism. The books begin with a quick overview of highlights, including key experiences, hotels, restaurants, family activities, landscapes, museums, and architecture. Suggested itineraries for one and two weeks, for families, and for highlights showcasing particulars of each country are also offered. Next is a section devoted to history, and then chapters addressing cities and regions. These chapters include a list of things not to miss and detailed travel and orientation information, a narrative map of the city explaining its neighborhoods, and brief summations of a panoply of sites to visit. All sites are ranked in a three-star system to showcase places not to miss. Particular highlights include information on the best views and special tours and experiences. Serviceable hotel and restaurant recommendations follow the same three-star rating system. VERDICT Comprehensive, useful, and written in an authoritative yet companionable tone, these are go-to guides for planning a trip.

Brantley, Ashley. Frommer’s Nashville and Memphis. 2nd ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781628875935. 368p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Brian, Kevin. Frommer’s Main Coast. 7th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781628876215. 378p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Brokaw, Leslie & others. Frommer’s New England. 17th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781628875775. pbk. 826p. $26.95. TRAVEL

Brooke, Anna E. & Lily Heise. Frommer's France. 25th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. May 2024. ISBN 9781628875911. 856p. $28.95. TRAVEL

Brooke, Anna. Frommer’s Paris 2025. 10th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781628876116. pbk. 368p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Cochran, Jason. Frommer’s Disney World, Universal, and Orlando. 9th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781628875751. 320p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Cochran, Jason. Frommer’s London. 9th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781628876239. 394p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Cooper, Jeanne & Natalie Schack. Frommer’s Hawaii 2025. 17th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781628876079. 634p. $27.95. TRAVEL

Frommer, Pauline. Frommer’s New York City 2025. 10th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781628876130. pbk. 410p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Gordon, Yvonne. Frommer’s Ireland 2025. 30th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781628876031. 602p. $27.95. TRAVEL

Heath, Elizabeth & Donald Strachan. Frommer’s Italy 2025. 17th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781628876055. 858p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Heath, Elizabeth & others. Frommer’s Rome, Florence and Venice 2025. 10th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781628876093. pbk. 378p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Pratt, Meredith. Frommer’s Washington D.C. 10th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781628876154. pbk. 378p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Spalding, Lavinia & Tami Fairweather. Frommer’s New Orleans. 9th ed. (Complete Guide). Frommer’s. Dec. 2023. ISBN 9781628875799. pbk. 320p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Frommer’s Day by Day

This actionable series offers plans and itineraries to see the most in the most efficient way. Guides highlight the best places to visit, stay, or experience if visitors have only one, two, or three days to explore the city, whether by car, bus, taxi, public transit, or foot. Information is precise about how long it will take readers to get to each site, the best time to go, what to do and see there, admission price (if applicable), and even recommended stops to make along the way. Color photographs and maps accompany the entries. Each guide begins with “15 Favorite Moments,” with tips from an insider, such as the best place to have an authentic drink with locals. Big sites are on the lists too, but the authors make recommendations for viewing them in the most atmospheric ways. VERDICT This is the series to grab when time is limited but seeing and experiencing everything is essential. Consider these small (about 7 by 4 in.) gems a key purchase.

Frommer, Pauline. Frommer’s New York City Day by Day. 7th ed. (Frommer’s Day by Day). Frommer’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781628876314. pbk. 194p. $17.95. TRAVEL

Heath, Elizabeth. Frommer’s Rome Day by Day. 6th ed. (Frommer’s Day by Day). Frommer’s. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781628875973. pbk. 194p. $17.95. TRAVEL

Pratt, Meredith. Frommer’s Washington D.C. Day by Day. 5th ed. (Frommer’s Day by Day). Frommer’s. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781628876253. pbk. 194p. $17.95. TRAVEL

Strachan, Donald. Frommer’s London Day by Day. 6th ed. (Frommer’s Day by Day). Frommer’s. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781628875959. pbk. 204p. $16.95. TRAVEL

Globe Pequot Day Trips

This road-trip series shows that sometimes the best getaways are the shortest ones, with trips ranging from 30 minutes to three hours; some cover more distant points of interest or places where readers may want to spend a week or a weekend. Every location entry includes a map of the interstate route, but the books recommend that readers use either GPS or paper maps. There’s advice about high-traffic times, where to go upon arrival, the parks and activities in the area, where to eat, and where to stay if readers want to turn their one-day excursion into a longer trip. Since these guides highlight a range of areas, there are also tips on how to dress for the weather, wildlife to watch out for, and finding the most scenic sites. A series highlight is the “Festivals and Celebrations” section. VERDICT For budget-conscious travelers who want a quick getaway.

Anderson, Anne. Day Trips® from Tampa Bay: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler. 2nd ed. (Day Trips Series). Globe Pequot. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781493084050. pbk. 272p. $22.95. TRAVEL

McClintick, Lisa Meyers. Day Trips® from the Twin Cities: Getaway Ideas for the Local Traveler. 2nd ed. (Day Trips Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493075812. pbk. 250p. $22.95. TRAVEL

Globe Pequot Off the Beaten Path

Written by people who’ve spent considerable time in each location, this excellent series is for travelers who want to avoid tourist traps. The books spotlight options unknown to most visitors, like areas found beyond dead-end streets or scenic sites accessible only on foot. The authors take great care to emphasize that visitors must respect the cultures and preserve the natural habitats they encounter. The series starts with a glossary of terms used by locals. Every section includes a map, sidebars with facts and trivia about the area, geographical and historical details, and a list of places to stay and eat. The core of the series is its precise, folksy directions—turn left here, make a right there, go half a mile—which will make readers want to take this guide with them. VERDICT This is the perfect series for travelers who want to avoid doing touristy things.

Bouziden, Deborah. Oklahoma Off the Beaten Path®. 9th ed. (Off the Beaten Path Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493078141. pbk. 214p. $19.95. TRAVEL

DeLano, Patti. Missouri Off the Beaten Path®. 12th ed. (Off the Beaten Path Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493078226. pbk. 240p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Erickson, Lori. Iowa Off the Beaten Path®. 11th ed. (Off the Beaten Path Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493078165. pbk. 186p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Finch, Jackie Sheckler. Ohio Off the Beaten Path®. 15th ed. (Off the Beaten Path Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493077571. pbk. 252p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Pager, Sean & Catherine Caldwell. Hawai’i Off the Beaten Path®. 11th ed. (Off the Beaten Path Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493078202. pbk. 290p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Weinberger, Mark R. Minnesota Off the Beaten Path®. 11th ed. (Off the Beaten Path Series). Globe Pequot. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781493078189. pbk. 204p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Globe Pequot Scenic Driving

The vibrant color photographs on nearly every page are what make this series one to ooh and ah over. Aptly named, the books urge readers to get in their vehicles and go on journeys designed to be either weekend outings or day trips. Each volume offers multiple drives that guide people to state parks, national forests, and other natural environments, but readers are encouraged to meander and explore other routes. A delightful touch is the “Photo Spots” sidebar in each section, which shows readers the best places for capturing their own photographic memories. There are also simple maps in color, but the series tells readers these are rough guides, and they are urged to bring along an atlas or map for outlying areas. The “Before You Go” sections and the indexes are especially helpful. VERDICT An inviting series that will compel armchair travelers to get in their cars and take the scenic route.

Davies, Phil. Scenic Driving Minnesota. 2nd ed. (Scenic Driving). Globe Pequot. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781493072668. 232p. $26.95. TRAVEL

Parent, Laurence. Scenic Driving North Carolina. 3rd ed. (Scenic Driving). Globe Pequot. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781493072682. 264p. $26.95. TRAVEL

Pierce, Patricia. Scenic Driving South Carolina. 3rd ed. (Scenic Driving). Globe Pequot. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781493070565. 336p. $27.95. TRAVEL

Insight Guides

These lovely books offer travelers great reading and viewing. An introduction covers reasons to visit each locale, top attractions, the best places to go, as selected by series editors (including parks, museums, and festivals), and much more, all in a welcoming and exciting tone. An expansive history lesson is supplied via a time line, short keynotes, and longer essays about cultures, important advancements, and events. This lengthy overview offers more detail than many other guides and should please readers seeking context in their vacation-planning. Incorporated into these history lessons are listings of modern-day activities and experiences connected to the culture, again offering a rich connection to the locale for travelers who want more than a topline summary. (Examples include art, dance, sports, food, and wine.) Subsequent chapters address places to visit in similar detail. These chapters nicely suggest a sense of getting lost in the city and local life while also checking off key tourist attractions. VERDICT Full of color photos and offering rich insight and history, these guides hit a sweet spot. They are not as on-the-ground practical as the Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, or Rick Steves publications, but they provide far more insight and context, and patrons will enjoy reading them. Libraries that can afford multiple books on popular destinations should add them to the collection.

Insight Guides Great Railway Journeys of Europe. 3rd ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Mar. 2025. ISBN 9781839053917. pbk. 400p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Argentina. 8th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781839053887. pbk. 328p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Australia. 10th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781839053894. pbk. 344p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Central America. 2nd ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839050626. pbk. 384p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Chile & Rapa Nui (Easter Island). 9th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781839054075. pbk. 320p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Colorado. 7th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781839053795. 320p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Croatia. 5th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781839053924. 288p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025. 30th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781839054006. 376p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Ecuador & Galápagos. 8th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839053825. pbk. 328p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania. 7th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781835290552. 376p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Japan. 8th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781839053931. 400p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides New Zealand. 13th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781839053818. pbk. 352p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Oregon. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839053504. pbk. 224p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Southeast Asia. 6th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781839053856. pbk. 464p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Southern Spain, Andalucia & Costa del Sol. 6th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839053221. 256p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides South Korea. 13th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781839053986. 304p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Texas. 7th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781839053801. 336p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides The Greek Islands. 7th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781839053849. 344p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides The Silk Road. 4th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781839054280. 424p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides Tuscany. 8th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839053863. 280p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Insight Guides USA Southwest. 7th ed. (Insight Guides). Insight Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781839053870. 368p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Best Day Hikes

An outstanding series for hikers that expertly addresses everything they need to know before, during, and after exploring trails. This well-organized series has numerous highlights. Its “Our Picks” sections—found on nearly every page—spotlight the best trails for finding seclusion, swimming spots, wildlife, scenic views, and sunsets. The series’ “Top Tips” sidebars cover everything from what to do for achy knees to whether one needs a permit to fly a drone. Each book also offers itineraries for 10 specific walks and trails, which indicate the terrain, level of difficulty, distance, expected duration, where the path starts and ends, and what one will likely see along the way. There are also recommendations for accommodations, the best time of year to go, proper clothing and other preparation details, and words and phrases from the local language that will be useful to hikers. VERDICT An excellent, photo-filled series for travelers who want to spend their entire vacation hiking and grounding themselves in the great outdoors.

McLachlan, Craig & others. Lonely Planet Best Day Hikes Japan. 2nd ed. (Hiking Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781838692063. pbk. 224p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Parsons, Ashley. Lonely Planet Best Day Hikes France. 2nd ed. (Hiking Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838696856. 224p. $27.99. TRAVEL

West, Josh. Lonely Planet Best Day Hikes Australia. 2nd ed. (Best Day Hikes). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781838692131. 240p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet National Parks Guides

This is the perfect series for readers who want to travel to a national park but can’t decide where to go. Addressing national parks in all regions of the U.S., including Alaska and Hawai‘i, plus Canada, these books are filled with full-color photos, itineraries, and maps. They are designed for readers hoping to tailor their excursions based on their interests. For those seeking to watch wildlife, take scenic drives, have road-trip experiences, hike trails, or find amazing landscapes, geological wonders, or watery or wintry locales, these books will point them in the right direction. Readers hoping to find the less-visited areas of sometimes heavily trafficked parks will be satisfied too. Practical information, such as where to eat and sleep, is provided, along with details about safety, history, geology, wildlife, and plants. VERDICT If traveling to national parks is the goal, this series offers the best one-stop overview on the market and will help readers decide which parks to visit.

Balfour, Amy & Gregor Clark. Lonely Planet Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 3rd ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838697921. pbk. 200p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Harrell, Ashley & Anita Isalska. Lonely Planet Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. 7th ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838699833. pbk. 232p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Keith, Lauren. Lonely Planet Utah’s National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands & Capitol Reef. 6th ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838699857. pbk. 232p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Pitts, Christopher. Lonely Planet Grand Canyon National Park. 7th ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838697877. pbk. 216p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Sainsbury, Brendan & Jade Bremner. Lonely Planet Banff, Jasper and Glacier National Parks. 7th ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838696757. pbk. 272p. $22.99. TRAVEL

St Louis, Regis. Lonely Planet Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks. 7th ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838699819. pbk. 264p. $22.99. TRAVEL

St Louis, Regis & others. Lonely Planet USA’s National Parks. 4th ed. (National Parks Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838699758. pbk. 456p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Guides

Packed with practical information, this city-based series focuses on exploring the sites in a time-efficient manner. In addition to the iconic spots that every traveler must hit, the sharply organized books offer tailored options: the best activities for kids, free or budget-friendly things to do, even activities for rainy days. Each excursion is designed to be completed during a particular time span, ranging from a few hours to a few days. Walking tours are mentioned in every chapter, but the series also provides tips for getting around by public transportation or private vehicle. There are recommendations for food, drinks, entertainment, shopping, and outings in parks and gardens. The most engaging section of this series is its list of surprises that each city has to offer. Several maps, full-color photographs, and a practical toolkit for all sorts of travelers, including entries for family groups and LGBTQIA+ travelers, round out the details. Map pullouts are included. VERDICT A pocket-sized (about 6 by 4 in.) offering packed with plenty of information for easily navigating a city in a short amount of time.

Bonetto, Cristian & Andrew Bender. Lonely Planet Pocket Los Angeles. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838691325. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Bujan, Bianca. Lonely Planet Pocket Vancouver. 5th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838699253. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

de Jong, Ria. Lonely Planet Pocket Singapore. 8th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838693671. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Di Duca, Marc. Lonely Planet Pocket Cabo Verde. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781837582327. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Enright, Becki. Lonely Planet Pocket Vienna. 5th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838699284. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Garwood, Duncan & Virginia DiGaetano. Lonely Planet Pocket Rome. 9th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781837582365. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Graham, Gemma. Lonely Planet Pocket Oslo. 2nd ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787017481. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Harrell, Ashley & Alison Bing. Lonely Planet Pocket San Francisco. 9th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838694135. pbk. 208p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Hui, Angela & Thomas O’Malley. Lonely Planet Pocket Hong Kong. 9th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838693664. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Kaminski, Anna. Lonely Planet Pocket Krakow. 5th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698935. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Le Nevez, Catherine. Lonely Planet Pocket Amsterdam. 9th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698676. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet & Jade Bremner. Lonely Planet Pocket Shanghai. 5th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781786573841. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Azores. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781837582310. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Beijing. 5th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781786573834. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Florence & Tuscany. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781837582334. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Istanbul. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781786577993. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket London. 9th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781837582341. pbk. 224p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket New York City. 10th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781837582358. pbk. 256p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Phuket. 6th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781788684378. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Reykjavik & Southwest Iceland. 5th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781838693640. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Sydney. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781838699208. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Pocket Venice. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781837582389. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Maxwell, Virginia & Justin Meneguzzi. Lonely Planet Pocket Melbourne. 6th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838691912. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

McClatchie, Chrissie. Lonely Planet Pocket Nice & Monaco. 3rd ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838699093. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Milner, Rebecca & Winnie Tan. Lonely Planet Pocket Tokyo. 10th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838699222. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Monaco, Mélissa & Helena Smith. Lonely Planet Pocket Bruges & Brussels. 6th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698775. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Noble, Isabella. Lonely Planet Pocket Tenerife. 4th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781837582372. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

O’Malley, Thomas & others. Lonely Planet Pocket Kyoto & Osaka. 4th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838693732. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Richmond, Simon & Ann Babe. Lonely Planet Pocket Seoul. 3rd ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781788680387. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Sainsbury, Brendan. Lonely Planet Pocket Havana. 2nd ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781787013759. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Skirka, Hayley. Lonely Planet Pocket Dubai. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838698836. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

St Louis, Regis & Steve Fallon. Lonely Planet Pocket Montreal & Quebec City. 3rd ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838699048. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Ver Berkmoes, Ryan. Lonely Planet Pocket Bali. 8th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781838693695. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Williams, Nicola. Lonely Planet Pocket Bordeaux. 3rd ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838699888. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Wilson, Neil. Lonely Planet Pocket Dublin. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838698850. pbk. 160p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Woolsey, Barbara. Lonely Planet Pocket Bangkok. 7th ed. (Pocket Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781787016156. pbk. 192p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Road Trips Guides

This fully illustrated and highly engaging series begins with an inviting welcome and key picks for featured destinations, divided by themes particular to each area. Advice is given on when to take the drives and how to prepare for expected (and unexpected) weather conditions, what to pack and wear, and big local events that might change traffic and accommodation availability. Reading and listening suggestions are included too. The main body of the series is devoted to iconic and regional drives. Each includes a header detailing duration, distance, highlights, and the best times to go. Then comes advice on ways to link one tour to another, a brief introduction to the trip, a map keyed to the suggested stops, and short paragraphs relating to each suggestion on the itinerary. As is common in road trip books, the driving directions are not sufficient on their own and will need to be supplemented by GPS or a good physical map. However, unique to this publisher, the driving directions are worth reading as they add information and local color. Good places to take photos, worthwhile detours, and local suggestions are also provided. VERDICT Consider these books part of a core collection if they cover the library’s geographic area, and buy the rest of the series as budget allows.

Bender, Andrew. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips California. 5th ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838691615. 200p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Davenport, Fionn. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Ireland. 4th ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781788688345. 240p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Garwood, Duncan. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Europe. 3rd ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838697396. 352p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Ham, Anthony. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Australia. 4th ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838696719. 272p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Ham, Anthony. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Southwest USA. 5th ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781837581924. 224p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Lee, John. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Canada. 3rd ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838697082. 240p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Ohlsen, Becky. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Pacific Northwest. 6th ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838698584. 224p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Waby, Tasmin. Lonely Planet Best Road Trips France. 4th ed. (Road Trips Guide). Lonely Planet. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781838697815. 272p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Travel Guides

This classic is the tell-all of travel series. Contributors make recommendations and reveal everything about the destination country: trip-preparation tips, common and important words and phrases to know in the local language, outdoor and indoor adventures at both popular and lesser-known attractions, family activities, annual festivals, cultural and historical references and details, the weather and the impact climate change has had on the country, transportation options, the food, music, and nightlife scenes, and much more. Two things set these books apart from other hefty guides: they note in detail what women and LGBTQIA+ people might need to consider when they travel, and they show how travelers can connect their experiences from one stop to another. VERDICT Classic. Comprehensive. Crucial. This series is as important as the Fodor’s, Frommer’s, and Rick Steves guides. It is a must for travelers who thrive on recommendations and who want to know everything they can do and see in a given country.

Abraham, Rudolf. Lonely Planet Austria. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838696733. 352p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Albiston, Isabel. Lonely Planet Argentina. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. May 2024. ISBN 9781838696689. 528p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Albiston, Isabel. Lonely Planet Experience Ireland. 2nd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838697549. 258p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Albiston, Isabel. Lonely Planet Ireland. 16th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781838698058. 616p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Averbuck, Alexis. Lonely Planet Paris. 14th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781838691981. 328p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Baker, Mark. Lonely Planet Romania & Bulgaria. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781787016354. 416p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Bartlett, Ray. Lonely Planet Experience Japan. 2nd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781838697570. 258p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Bigg, Margot & Bianca Bujan. Lonely Planet Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest. 9th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781788684613. 392p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Bindloss, Joe. Lonely Planet India. 20th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781838698003. 896p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Bloom, Greg. Lonely Planet Philippines. 15th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698652. 432p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Bremner, Jade. Lonely Planet Hawaii the Big Island. 6th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781838691585. 240p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Bremner, Jade. Lonely Planet London. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781838691844. 424p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Bujan, Bianca. Lonely Planet British Columbia & the Canadian Rockies. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. May 2024. ISBN 9781838697013. 272p. $24.99. TRAVEL

de Jong, Ria. Lonely Planet Singapore. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781838699420. 216p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Di Duca, Marc. Lonely Planet Munich, Bavaria & the Black Forest. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698362. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Di Duca, Marc. Lonely Planet Poland. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781788688734. 360p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Difo, Harmony. Lonely Planet Panama. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781838698607. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Dragicevich, Peter. Lonely Planet Montenegro. 5th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838698331. 192p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Eimer, David. Lonely Planet Indonesia. 14th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698027. 640p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Eimer, David. Lonely Planet Thailand’s Islands & Beaches. 12th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787017825. 352p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Eimer, David & Amy Bensema. Lonely Planet Thailand. 19th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781788688888. 600p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Elliott, Mark. Lonely Planet Belgium & Luxembourg. 9th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838696771. 264p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Fay, Tom. Lonely Planet Kyoto. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781787017030. 224p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Graham, Gemma. Lonely Planet Norway. 9th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781838698539. 360p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Ham, Anthony & Trent Holden. Lonely Planet West Coast Australia. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781788683968. 304p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Hanrahan-Lawrence, Caoimhe. Lonely Planet Experience Australia. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838697419. 354p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Harrell, Ashley. Lonely Planet Kauai. 5th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838691592. 208p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Healy, Brian. Lonely Planet New York City. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781838691707. 336p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Kaminski, Anna. Lonely Planet Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838697365. 360p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Kirkland, Erin. Lonely Planet Alaska. 14th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838696658. 384p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lee, Jessica. Lonely Planet Egypt. 15th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781838697334. 416p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Africa. 15th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781787015173. 896p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2025. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781837582990. 224p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Cape Town & the Garden Route. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781787016729. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Experience Tokyo. 2nd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781838697709. 218p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Hong Kong. 20th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781838693657. 240p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Honolulu Waikiki & Oahu. 7th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781838691608. 236p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Japan. 18th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781838693725. 768p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Jordan. 12th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781838698171. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Korea. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781838698218. 320p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Maui. 6th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838691578. 240p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Middle East. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781787017184. 448p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Rajasthan, Delhi & Agra. 7th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781788683869. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Slovenia. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838699444. 256p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781838699468. 520p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet South India & Kerala. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781788683883. 448p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Sri Lanka. 16th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781838691806. 288p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet The World. 3rd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781788687492. 992p. $32.99. TRAVEL

Lonely Planet Turkiye. 17th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781788688925. 512p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Mahapatra, Anirban. Lonely Planet Bangkok. 14th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781787015265. 240p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Maric, Vesna & Mark Baker. Lonely Planet Western Balkans. 4th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781788683920. 392p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Masters, Tom. Lonely Planet Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838697839. 296p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Mayhew, Bradley. Lonely Planet Bhutan. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781788687850. 248p. $24.99. TRAVEL

McClatchie, Chrissie. Lonely Planet Provence & the Cote d’Azur. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838699345. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Mutic, Anja. Lonely Planet Croatia. 12th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781838693510. 296p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Mutic, Anja. Lonely Planet Experience Croatia. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781837581931. 258p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Noble, Isabella. Lonely Planet Canary Islands. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781788687881. 272p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Nualkhair, Chawadee. Lonely Planet Experience Thailand. 2nd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838697686. 258p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Nyabola, Nanjala. Lonely Planet Kenya. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781787015890. 352p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Reid, Sarah. Lonely Planet Australia. 22nd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838693909. 928p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Reid, Sarah. Lonely Planet East Coast Australia. 8th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838691950. 480p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Rhyno, Darcy. Lonely Planet Atlantic Canada: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Newfoundland & Labrador. 7th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. May 2024. ISBN 9781838698553. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Sainsbury, Brendan. Lonely Planet Canada. 16th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838697068. 704p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Sainsbury, Brendan. Lonely Planet Cuba. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781788688017. 336p. $28.99. TRAVEL

Schulte-Peevers, Andrea. Lonely Planet Germany. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838697853. 664p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Skirka, Hayley. Lonely Planet Dubai & Abu Dhabi. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781838697280. 240p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Tan, Winnie. Lonely Planet Malaysia, Singapore & Brunei. 16th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838698256. 560p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Tan, Winnie & Ray Bartlett. Lonely Planet Tokyo. 14th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. May 2024. ISBN 9781838693756. 232p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Thiruvengadam, Meena. Lonely Planet Iceland. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781838693619. 352p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Ver Berkmoes, Ryan. Lonely Planet Bali, Lombok & Nusa Tenggara. 19th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838693688. 360p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Waters, Steve. Lonely Planet Tasmania. 10th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781838699642. 288p. $25.99. TRAVEL

Williams, Nicola. Lonely Planet France. 15th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. May 2024. ISBN 9781838693534. 832p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Williams, Nicola. Lonely Planet Switzerland. 11th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838699598. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Winston Nicklin, Mary. Lonely Planet Experience France. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838694883. 258p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Winston Nicklin, Mary. Lonely Planet Experience Paris. 2nd ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781838697624. 226p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Woolsey, Barbara & Abigail Blasi. Lonely Planet The Netherlands. 9th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838699680. 296p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Yanagihara, Wendy. Lonely Planet Ecuador & the Galapagos Islands. 13th ed. (Travel Guide). Lonely Planet. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781838697327. 368p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Marco Polo Pocket Guides

Beautifully organized, these colorful, handy, pocket-size guides make it easy to plan a trip to featured countries. They cover the expected travel considerations: lodging, eating, drinking, getting around, sightseeing, shopping, exploring, experiencing the nightlife scene, and more. They also take into account budgets, traveling with children, holidays, festivals, and the weather. What’s different about this series is its offerings that relate to a specific country’s cultural traditions and beliefs. For example, the books contain “true or false” sidebars that dispel myths and make readers aware of things to avoid saying or doing that might be offensive to locals. There’s even a fun multiple-choice quiz at the end of each book to help readers retain the volume’s most essential information and tips. Librarians should be aware that these guides contain pull-out maps. VERDICT This delightful series is jam-packed with highlights of a country’s must-sees and must-do’s. It also encourages respect for local people and cultures.

Amsterdam Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781914515200. 148p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Barcelona Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781914515538. 152p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Berlin Marco Polo Pocket Guide. 5th ed. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781914515545. 148p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Budapest Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515606. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Cologne Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781914515828. 136p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Costa Blanca Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781914515439. 136p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Croatia Coast Marco Polo Pocket Guide: Including Dalmatia, Dubrovnik and Split. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781914515422. 148p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Florence Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515811. 148p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Ibiza Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515798. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Madeira Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781914515217. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Mauritius Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515804. 136p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Montenegro Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515743. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

New York Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781914515231. 168p. $14.99. TRAVEL

New Zealand Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781914515194. 156p. $14.99. TRAVEL

North Spain Coast Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515392. 144p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Paris Marco Polo Pocket Guide. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781914515590. 168p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Sicily Marco Polo Pocket Guide. 4th ed. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781914515569. 148p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Vienna Marco Polo Pocket Guide. 3rd ed. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781914515552. 136p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Zakynthos Marco Polo Pocket Guide. 2nd ed. (Marco Polo Pocket Guides). Marco Polo. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781914515576. 132p. $14.99. TRAVEL

The Monocle Series

This is another yearly series that focuses on just one country; this year, publisher Thames & Hudson and the editors of Monocle magazine have selected France. The highlight of the series is its full-color photographs. With a focus on food, hotels, design, and fashion, this series takes readers outside to covered porches, inside to exquisite inns, through ancient farmhouses, around villas, along scenic views of the Alps, up the staircases of 19th-century buildings, and beyond. The pictures of food found at the buzziest restaurants or markets or in fields of fresh produce will make readers crave it all. The fashion sections introduce readers to innovative local designers and to the best places to shop for clothes, hats, and shoes. There’s even a section that focuses on artisans and their boutiques. By the time readers have finished browsing and are raring to hit the road, they’ll appreciate that the guides also offer a “Where To Live” section. VERDICT This premium series from the team behind Monocle magazine will create daydreamers. Don’t miss these; they are a treasure.  

Brûlé, Tyler & Andrew Tuck. France: The Monocle Handbook. (The Monocle Series). Thames & Hudson. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9780500978696. 224p. $45. TRAVEL

Moon Best Of

Each book in this series concentrates on just one national park and the best things it has to offer. Contents include the park’s top hikes, views, scenic driving routes, waterfalls, activities, and much more. The guides also offer recommendations for lodging, food, camping, and the park itself. A standout element of this series is its attention to the history and to the Indigenous peoples who first inhabited the land. The series also educates travelers about things to do in national parks that might make the trip rank as one of their best vacations. VERDICT A solid series for travelers focused on visiting a specific national park.

Brown, Ann Marie & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Best of Yosemite: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Park. 2nd ed. (Moon Best of Travel Guide). Moon. May 2024. ISBN 9798886470369. pbk. 240p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Silver, Maya & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Best of Zion & Bryce: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Parks. 2nd ed. (Moon Best of Travel Guide). Moon. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9798886470321. pbk. 160p. $17.99. TRAVEL

Moon City Walks

Many travelers find hidden gems when they explore spaces accessible by foot. This series builds on that concept by presenting six walks throughout a city. Each featured self-paced walk starts with an overview and a guide to the neighborhoods that it rambles through. Based on how much time walkers have, the series notes the best sites—local hot spots, museums, galleries, and more—to see during each outing. It also mentions the best places to stop for food, drinks, or shopping. There’s even a section that discusses top activities for a Sunday (when lots of sites will be closed) and highlights where films and TV shows have been shot in the city. The series provides a map of each walk and its neighborhood (with extremely precise directions), so readers can feel confident that they won’t get lost. VERDICT The ultimate travel series for walkers, but it mentions biking, public transportation, and other ways of getting around too.

Moon London Walks: See the City Like a Local. 3rd ed. (Moon City Walks Travel Guide). Moon. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9798886470888. pbk. 152p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Moon New York City Walks: See the City Like a Local. 3rd ed. (Moon City Walks Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9798886470246. pbk. 152p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local. 3rd ed. (Moon City Walks Travel Guide). Moon. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9798886470222. pbk. 152p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Moon Europe Travel Guides

The strength of these guides lies in their focus on itineraries, which are engaging, dynamic, and in-depth. Also worth noting are the curated lists of suggestions for dining, shopping, and accommodations, which have the feel of highly considered choices that will steer readers in rewarding directions. With this series in hand, travelers can make a grand start on planning a trip. The arrangement of chapters is easy to follow, and the inserted highlights of various activities are useful and nicely placed. If one of these books exists for a traveler’s destination, it would be a mistake not to read the title before finalizing plans, or indeed before getting too far ahead in the planning process at all. The itineraries and suggestions of what to see and do are wonderful, even if some readers will crave more detail in the maps and directions. VERDICT Travelers will want to read these guides multiple times: at the early stages of planning and also when seeking more comprehensive details. Itinerary-rich and with a lovely sensibility, these are books that should be central to travel planning.

Barrett, Michael. Moon Copenhagen & Beyond: Day Trips, Local Spots, Tips To Avoid Crowds. 2nd ed. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9798886470758. pbk. 336p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Bratley, Carrie-Marie. Moon Azores: Best Beaches, Diving & Kayaking, Natural Wonders. 2nd ed. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781640499942. pbk. 392p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Bratley, Carrie-Marie & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Lisbon & Beyond: Day Trips, Local Spots, Tips To Avoid Crowds. 2nd ed. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9798886470741. pbk. 312p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Cohen, Alexei J. Moon Rome, Florence & Venice: Italy’s Top Cities with the Best Day Trips. 4th ed. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9798886470109. pbk. 448p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Peters, Lucas. Moon Grand European Journeys: 40 Unforgettable Trips by Road, Rail, Sea & More. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781640497542. pbk. 744p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Peters, Lucas. Moon Seville, Granada & Andalusia, with Cordoba, Malaga & Tangier: The Alhambra, Wine & Tapas, Coastal Getaways. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9798886470642. pbk. 384p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Sarris, Linda. Moon Sicily: Best Beaches, Local Food, Ancient Sites. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9798886470000. pbk. 344p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Thayer, Laura & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Amalfi Coast, with Naples, Capri & Pompeii: Best Beaches, Timeless Villages, Local Flavors. 3rd ed. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470482. pbk. 440p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Walker, Jennifer D. & Auburn Scallon. Moon Prague, Vienna & Budapest: Palaces & Castles, Art & Music, Coffeehouses & Beer Gardens. 3rd ed. (Moon Europe Travel Guide). Moon. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9798886470703. pbk. 552p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Moon Latin America & Caribbean Travel Guides

These full-color guides start with top experiences, providing detailed guidance for creating uniquely curated trips based on visitor interest. Arranged geographically by area, the series offers a deep dive into sights, culture, history, and more. The series also includes a solid introduction to the landscapes of each subject locale, suggesting ways of getting oriented and deciding where to visit, keyed to an overview map. General itineraries are provided for travelers who have a week, 10 days, two weeks, or longer, and there’s one specific itinerary for a two-week stay. Suggestions are also provided for different kinds of vacations, such as ecoadventures, travels with children, culinary trips, and sports outings. The bulk of the content is devoted to specific places, addressing sights, recreation, entertainment, shopping, dining, accommodations, and how to plan one’s time. Included as well is basic travel guidance for arrival and getting around, plus resources such as a glossary, phrasebook, and further reading. VERDICT These outstanding books deserve to be ranked among the crucial Fodor’s, Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, and Rick Steves guides. Consider them part of a core travel collection.

Meade, Julie & Moon Travel Guides. Moon San Miguel de Allende: With Guanajuato & Queretaro: Art & Architecture, Local Flavors & Festivals, Day Trips. 4th ed. (Moon Latin America & Caribbean Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470628. pbk. 288p. $19.99.  TRAVEL

Pitts, Bethany & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Ecuador & the Galápagos Islands: Outdoor Adventure, Indigenous Culture, Sustainable Travel. 8th ed. (Moon Latin America & Caribbean Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470307. pbk. 568p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Prado, Liza & Gary Chandler. Moon Yucatán Peninsula: With Cancún, Cozumel & Tulum: Beaches & Cenotes, Temples & Pyramids, Diving & Snorkeling. 14th ed. (Moon Latin America & Caribbean Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470062. pbk. 504p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Moon National Parks Travel Guides

Scenery is one of the main reasons people choose national parks as their travel destinations. This series plays up the visual wow-factor by offering full-color pictures on most of its pages and clear maps throughout. Big on details, the books give readers advice for trip planning, including park fees, passes, visitor centers, and the top 10 experiences. The guides tell travelers when to go, the best options for getting there, and where to go hiking, bicycling, backpacking, horseback riding, and waterfall sightseeing. This series also notes less-crowded alternatives to popular parts of the parks, and it details best practices for traveling with children, pets, or older family members. One of the series’ strengths is its coverage of the practicalities of planning a national park trip, such as where to find accessible campgrounds, gas, Wi-Fi, ATMs, laundry facilities, and showers, along with advice about what to do for altitude sickness or if lightning strikes while one is outdoors. VERDICT A thorough, comprehensive series for those who favor national park vacations. Among the Moon park series offerings, if libraries can only buy one, this is it.

Blough, Jenna & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Death Valley National Park: Hiking, Scenic Drives, Desert Springs. 4th ed. (Moon National Parks Travel Guide). Moon. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9798886470406. pbk. 248p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Brown, Ann Marie & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Hiking, Camping, Waterfalls & Big Trees. 10th ed. (Moon National Parks Travel Guide). Moon. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9798886470345. pbk. 384p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Burlingame, Jeff. Moon Olympic Peninsula, with Olympic National Park: Coastal Getaways, Rainforests & Waterfalls, Hiking & Camping. 5th ed. (Moon National Parks Travel Guide). Moon. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781640499980. pbk. 264p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Lomax, Becky & Andrew Hempstead. Moon Best of Glacier, Banff & Jasper: Make the Most of One to Three Days in the Parks. (Moon National Parks Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9798886470260. pbk. 312p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Moon Road Trip Travel Guides

These well-designed guides begin with an overview welcome to each area and a brief tour through its top experiences, all designed to get readers excited and started on their must-do lists. To back up that work, information on how to plan the trip, including when to go and driving tips, is also provided, topped off by a full suggested itinerary and recommendations focused on experiences not to miss. The main part of the guide is devoted to the area of coverage and includes advice on planning one’s time, getting around, and going to sites, events, shops, sporting events, and more, along with suggestions on dining and accommodations. Details are thorough and smartly organized, as are the suggested short guides to making the most of it all. There are fewer road-trip details than one might expect and more site-by-site coverage, but that information is excellent and will please travelers going to one of the sites or stringing a series of locales together. VERDICT Moon sets a high standard for travel series, and these books are no exception. Buy the series in whole to help create a rich collection.

Dunham, Jessica. Moon Route 66 Road Trip: Drive the Classic Route from Chicago to Los Angeles. 4th ed. (Moon Road Trip Travel Guide). Moon. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781640499812. pbk. 368p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Howard, Miles & Moon Travel Guides. Moon New England Road Trip: Seaside Spots, Majestic Mountains, Fall Foliage, Cozy Getaways. 3rd ed. (Moon Road Trip Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470604. pbk. 448p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Jensen, Jamie. Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America’s Two-Lane Highways. 10th ed. (Moon Road Trip Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9798886470185. pbk. 968p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Malcolm, Timothy & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Baseball Road Trips: The Complete Guide to All the Ballparks, with Beer, Bites, and Sights Nearby. 2nd ed. (Moon Road Trip Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470208. pbk. 704p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Moon U.S. Travel Guides

This series focuses on each U.S. state’s most scenic places, including national parks, and the top 10 experiences travelers should seek out there. The guides give tips for making travel plans; taking the best scenic drives; finding the best nightlife spots, bars, breweries and distilleries, and food; and choosing the best accommodations, family and individual activities, and shopping venues, bars. Filled with itineraries, maps, and safety tips, these guides are for planners who want recommendations from insiders. The series does an outstanding job of detailing and paying tribute to the culture, people, and historical sites of the area. It also addresses the particular concerns of older travelers, those on a strict budget, people with disabilities, and more. The guides’ full-color photos and maps enhance the reading experience. VERDICT Ideal for travelers who want to explore an entire state. Libraries should purchase at least the guide for their own state.

Berman, Joshua. Moon Colorado Hiking: Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781640499621. pbk. 368p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Brown, Ann Marie & Felicia Kemp. Moon Northern California Hiking: Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781640499683. pbk. 680p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Collazo, Julie Schwietert. Moon New York State: Getaway Ideas, Road Trips, Local Spots. 9th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781640499850. pbk. 456p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Hill, Craig & Matt Wastradowski. Moon Pacific Northwest Hiking: Best Hikes Plus Beer, Bites, and Campgrounds Nearby. 2nd ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9798886470680. pbk. 632p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Horak, Steven & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque: Pueblos, Art & Culture, Hiking & Biking. 7th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. May 2024. ISBN 9798886470383. pbk. 304p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Hull, Tim & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Arizona & the Grand Canyon: Road Trips, Outdoor Adventures, Local Flavors. 17th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9798886470284. pbk. 496p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Kinser, Joshua Lawrence & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Florida Gulf Coast: Best Beaches, Wildlife, Everglades Adventures. 8th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9798886470444. pbk. 432p. $23.99. TRAVEL

Nangle, Hilary. Moon Maine: Acadia National Park, Lobster & Lighthouses, Outdoor Adventures. 9th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781640499874. pbk. 672p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Pitcher, Don. Moon San Juan Islands: Best Hikes, Local Spots, Weekend Getaways. 7th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9798886470048. pbk. 328p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Silver, Maya & Moon Travel Guides. Moon Utah, with Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Capitol Reef & Canyonlands National Parks. 15th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9798886470147. pbk. 504p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Vachon, Paul. Moon Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Scenic Drives, Waterfalls, Lakeside Getaways. 6th ed. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781640499966. pbk. 352p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Wastradowski, Matt. Moon Coastal Oregon, with Portland: Scenic Drives, Marine Wildlife, Historic Towns. (Moon U.S. Travel Guide). Moon. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9798886470468. pbk. 232p. $17.99. TRAVEL

Not for Tourists

Maps—more than 100 of them in each book—are what make this travel series far different from others. Full-color, full-page, clear, and highly detailed, these maps serve as a street index. Readers of the series can utilize this resource to visit almost any place in the featured cities. That includes restaurants, shopping areas, landmarks, museums, parks, theaters, and hidden gems across dozens and dozens of neighborhoods. Amazingly, while these rich resources are long reads, they’re easy to sort through, and their indexes are especially helpful. VERDICT This is the perfect series for people who want to explore an entire city without ever having to stop and ask for directions. They are as easily helpful to locals as to tourists, and they especially spotlight locales and resources that other guides overlook.

Not For Tourists Guide to Boston 2025. (Not For Tourists). Not For Tourists. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781510781115. pbk. 272p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Not For Tourists Guide to Chicago 2025. (Not For Tourists). Not For Tourists. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781510781054. pbk. 336p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Not For Tourists Guide to London 2025. (Not For Tourists). Not For Tourists. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781510781092. pbk. 640p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Not For Tourists Guide to Los Angeles 2025. (Not For Tourists). Not For Tourists. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781510781078. pbk. 384p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Not for Tourists Guide to New York City 2025. (Not For Tourists). Not For Tourists. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781510781030. pbk. 400p. $19.99. TRAVEL

Rick Steves Best Of 

Famous for his TV shows, Rick Steves might be the most recognizable figure in the travel book industry and offers several different series of guide books. His “Best Of” series strikes a middle ground between his in-depth examinations of various countries and his guides for briefer stays. The series focuses on major sites, without going into every region or detail and also includes color photos. Each book begins with a location overview and Steves’s take on smart travel before diving into the big sites in key regions. The books are designed for people who have less time to spend on their vacation—or perhaps only have a few days tacked on to a business trip to do some sightseeing. Highlights include itineraries, city guides, a listing of key sites, and walking tours. Information on each site is sufficient to get a sense of why one should visit, but serious history, architecture, or art buffs will want to have deeper information. Steves provides inside details about hotels, and his many fans from TV will probably rely on these more than any other guide. There are also restaurant suggestions and shopping tips, although foodies will want to consult additional sources, as will shopaholics. VERDICT Libraries with limited funds should stick to Steves’s more expansive guides, but these practical, detailed titles are excellent resources for general travelers seeking to feel in control.

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Best of England: With Edinburgh. 4th ed. (Rick Steves Best Of). Rick Steves. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781641715812. pbk. 424p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Best of Europe. 4th ed. (Rick Steves Best Of). Rick Steves. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781641715836. pbk. 992p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Best of Germany: With Salzburg. 4th ed. (Rick Steves Best Of). Rick Steves. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781641714051. pbk. 408p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Best of Scotland. 3rd ed. (Rick Steves Best Of). Rick Steves. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781641715799. pbk. 320p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Rick Steves Pocket Guides

In these slim, pocket-sized (6 by 4.5 in.) guides to European cities, Steves spotlights a handful of walks that show off the best places to have memorable experiences. Each book begins with a “City at a Glance” section that provides details about the city itself and its must-sees. For each walk, there’s a map of the route and a hyper-detailed itinerary. Readers are told how to travel smartly, when to go, how long each walk is, and what they’ll see along the way. Color photographs of some of the city’s landmarks are sprinkled throughout. Steves also provides historical and cultural details about the city, along with useful phrases in the city’s official language. One of the highlights of these books is their packing checklists. Librarians should be aware that the guides include a detachable map. VERDICT A series that’s easy to carry but packed with travel advice for people who want to take urban walking explorations.

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Pocket Amsterdam. 4th ed. (Rick Steves Pocket). Rick Steves. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781641715898. pbk. 208p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Pocket Athens. 4th ed. (Rick Steves Pocket). Rick Steves. May 2024. ISBN 9781641716215. pbk. 216p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Pocket Munich & Salzburg. 3rd ed. (Rick Steves Pocket). Rick Steves. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781641715874. pbk. 200p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Pocket Prague. 3rd ed. (Rick Steves Pocket). Rick Steves. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781641716253. pbk. 200p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Pocket Vienna. 4th ed. (Rick Steves Pocket). Rick Steves. May 2024. ISBN 9781641716239. pbk. 216p. $14.99. TRAVEL

Rick Steves Travel Guides

These reliable guides each begin with a full-color, photo-rich introduction to the country, including a neighborhood overview with an illustrated map. Planning and basic budget guidance follow, with a useful day-by-day itinerary highlighting top sites for five-day trips and additional site suggestions for longer journeys. After the introduction, the guide switches to black-and-white photos and begins with standard Steves fare (a pronunciation guide, a daily reminder of what will be open or closed, personality-filled advice, transportation overviews, and a look at possible tours). Next is a chapter devoted to sightseeing strategies and key places to visit, as well as a few cultural highlights and a list of the best views. A strong point of the guides is their focus on walks that string together must-see sights, with good maps, useful narrative directions, and some history and context. Tours for key destinations are then supplied in long, chapter-length detail. This makes up the bulk of each guide, along with important side trips. Also included is basic travel information: short history and culture lessons, practicalities, reminders of essential travel documents, and information on hotels, restaurants, shopping, transportation, and entertainment. Like all Steves guides, the books in this series reflect his strong point of view: minimize souvenir-shopping, splash out for experiences, do a lot, book direct, pack light. VERDICT Thanks to his long-running TV series, Steves is likely the best-known figure in the travel world, and his books are perpetually in demand. Consider them core titles for all collections.

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Barcelona. 7th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. May 2024. ISBN 9781641716055. pbk. 336p. $21.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves England. 11th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781641716116. pbk. 968p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves France. 21st ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781641716031. pbk. 1,168p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Great Britain. 25th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781641716130. pbk. 1,140p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Istanbul: With Ephesus & Cappadocia. 9th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781641716192. pbk. 432p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Paris. 25th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781641715775. pbk. 736p. $23.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Scandinavia. 17th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781641716079. pbk. 888p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Scotland. 5th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781641715591. pbk. 576p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Spain. 19th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781641716093. pbk. 1,056p. $29.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door. 40th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781641715645. pbk. 824p. $29.99. TRAVEL

 Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Iceland. 3rd ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781641715850. pbk. 544p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Ireland. 22nd ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781641715614. pbk. 720p. $27.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves London. 25th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781641715546. pbk. 600p. $22.99. TRAVEL

Steves, Rick. Rick Steves Provence & the French Riviera. 16th ed. (Rick Steves Travel Guide). Rick Steves. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781641715911. pbk. 584p. $24.99. TRAVEL

Rough Guides Main Series

Thorough and thoughtful, this series showcases the particular regions of a country. It informs readers about what they’ll see, when to go, key attractions, and more. Travelers will especially appreciate the series’ “15 Things Not To Miss” sections. The books also include full-page, full-color photographs, maps, itineraries for a weekend or several days, tips for sustainable travel and minimizing one’s footprint, details about lesser-known spots to visit, information about annual festivals, and historical and cultural aspects. One surprising section has information about what the typical media coverage entails. Another great series feature is the attention to top picks for things to do and see and places to stay and eat. There are also basic tips, such as entry requirements for each country and essential language phrases. The series presents advice for solo travelers, people with disabilities, those with children, and more. VERDICT A comprehensive series with plenty of insider recommendations about cities and extended regions. Travelers will benefit from making these key reads.

The Rough Guide to Barcelona. 13th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059933. 280p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset. 4th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059841. 328p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Belgium & Luxembourg. 8th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290453. 360p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Berlin. 12th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781789194753. 312p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Brazil. 10th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781839059902. 664p. $28.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Budapest. 8th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781789196887. 248p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Cape Town, the Winelands & the Garden Route. 7th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781789196115. 296p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Colombia. 3rd ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059964. 392p. $26.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Devon & Cornwall. 8th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781839059940. 336p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Dorset, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight. 5th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290170. 288p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Dubai. 5th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781835290460. 224p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781835291610. 376p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Germany. 5th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781835290538. 880p. $27.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Great Britain. 11th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290415. 984p. $28.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to India. 12th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839058691. 1,208p. $35.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Japan. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781839059797. 848p. $29.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Kent, Sussex & Surrey. 4th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781835290088. 320p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Kenya. 12th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781789195941. 600p. $28.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Morocco. 13th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781839059889. 560p. $26.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Namibia with Victoria Falls. 3rd ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839059711. 376p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to New York City. 17th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781789196894. 408p. $26.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to New Zealand. 11th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781839058677. 720p. $29.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Oman. 3rd ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290439. 272p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Peru. 11th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059988. 520p. $27.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Prague. 11th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059865. 272p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Romania. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781835290187. 400p. $26.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Scottish Highlands & Islands. 10th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839058639. 424p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini. 10th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059780. 664p. $28.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget. 6th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835291603. 864p. $28.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Southwest USA. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781839059896. 512p. $27.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Sweden. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781839059957. 392p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Taiwan. 5th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290156. 432p. $26.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Tanzania & Zanzibar. 5th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9780241308790. 520p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to the Cotswolds, Stratford-upon-Avon & Oxford. 5th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839059728. 256p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to the Lake District. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9781839058684. 280p. $24.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to the Netherlands. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839059735. 344p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to the USA. 14th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059872. 1,032p. $29.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Tokyo. 9th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059926. 272p. $25.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Wales. 11th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059971. 472p. $26.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget. 6th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781835290101. 960p. $29.99. TRAVEL

The Rough Guide to Sri Lanka. 7th ed. (Rough Guide Main Series). Rough Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781839059773. 448p. $26.99. TRAVEL

Rough Guides Mini Guides

This delightful full-color series begins with a list of 10 places not to miss, keyed to chapters where each site is discussed in greater detail. Unique to travel guides, each book describes a perfect day, starting with breakfast and moving through an ideal itinerary for tourists, which includes cultural lessons, food, drinks, shopping, and visits to top sites and experiences. Contents are arranged by area and type of site, followed by a list of experiences covering shopping, entertainment, nightlife, sports, and more. There are pages devoted to food and drink, travel essentials, and accommodations. An in-depth overview of the featured locale is provided, diving into history, culture, and contemporary policies and outlooks. A guide to key attractions, organized by geography or kind of site, makes up the bulk of the book and includes brief explanations of why to visit and what to do there. There’s also expansive coverage of shopping, dining, and entertainment. VERDICT These books might fly under the radar but are great additions to all collections, offering readers useful help when planning and a strong sense of place.

The Mini Rough Guide to Athens. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781785731808. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Bruges & Ghent. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781839057663. pbk. 136p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Bucharest. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781835290071. pbk. 128p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Cuba. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290446. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Gran Canaria. 2nd ed. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781835290019. pbk. 152p. $9.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Helsinki. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839059674. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Mauritius & Rodrigues. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839059667. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Oslo. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781835290132. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Scotland. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781835290194. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

The Mini Rough Guide to Singapore. (Mini Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9781835290002. pbk. 144p. $12.99. TRAVEL

Rough Guides Pocket Guides

These pocket-sized (about 7.5 by 4 in.) guides curate a list of contributors’ recommendations for short stays in a given city. The series provides practical information such as how to get around and contains maps, including a pullout. The guides also offer insider tips for where to stay, shop, eat, drink, and go out. Travelers will especially appreciate the series’ “15 Things Not To Miss,” best-budget tours, and guide to the secrets of the city. VERDICT These easily portable guides take into account travelers’ time, budgets, and quest to find hidden gems. If a library can only afford one pocket series, consider this one first, as the books are full of insider tips and presented in an easy-to-follow format.

Pocket Rough Guide British Breaks: Edinburgh. 3rd ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839058714. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Istanbul. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839059742. 168p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Seville. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781839059803. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Stockholm. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059834. pbk. 136p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Tenerife & La Gomera. 3rd ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781835291559. 152p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Venice. 4th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781789195880. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Barcelona. 6th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059759. pbk. 184p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Bruges & Ghent. 2nd ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781789196023. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Copenhagen. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781839059827. 136p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Dubai. 4th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839059681. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Florence. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059698. pbk. 152p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Hong Kong & Macau. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290392. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Istanbul. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839059742. 168p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Las Vegas. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9781839058707. pbk. 136p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide London. 6th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9781835290491. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Madrid. 5th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9781789194722. pbk. 160p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Paris. 6th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839059650. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Porto. 2nd ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781789194739. pbk. 144p. $13.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Reykjavík. 3rd ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781789195859. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Rome. 6th ed. (Pocket Rough Guides). Rough Guides. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9781835290095. pbk. 192p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Rough Guides Pocket Walks & Tours

These guides focusing on walks, drives, and other tours place readers into the thriving heart of a destination. The opening information offers a concise history and general orientation to the region before dipping into a range of points of interest and key experiences travelers should not miss. The information is brief and general, just enough to give readers ideas of what they might want to do. Next come the itineraries, organized in a logical order that allows for a full country tour or a shorter sojourn, even day trips out of city hubs. The bulk of each book is devoted to tours, each of which includes solid directions and a good insert map, along with specifics as to length (time and distance), start and end points, and extras such as ferry information or site pass details. There are pages devoted to accommodations, restaurants, and nightlife. Also included are travel tips and essentials and a list of books and films to help immerse travelers in the area before they leave home. VERDICT With suggestions for tours based on special interests and plenty of choices, these excellent, expertly organized guides will help travelers plan a wide range of adventures and activities.

Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours Ireland. (Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours). Rough Guides. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9781839059704. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours Italian Lakes. (Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours). Rough Guides. Mar. 2024. ISBN 9781839059766. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours Krakow. (Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290125. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours Naples & the Amalfi Coast. (Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059995. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours Warsaw. (Pocket Rough Guide Walks & Tours). Rough Guides. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9781835290422. pbk. 144p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Rough Guides Pocket Weekender

These guides open with key sites not to miss, which are invitingly arrayed in color photos and short captions outlining the reasons they are iconic. Each book’s introduction offers an overview of the locale, including its history, geography, topography, climate, economy, and environment. Last is a focus on food and drink, highlighting specialties. The main body of each book is focused on walks and tours, each with a list of highlights, an explanation of the route, its length, its ideal duration, an inviting narrative introduction to the trip, and occasional sidenotes about the area’s cultural or artistic qualities. The information on every stop is enough to suggest why readers might want to go, but once there, readers will have to rely on local information and other travel guides to gain context. Directions for traveling between stops are bare-bones, and drivers new to the area will have to rely on GPS or more detailed print maps. VERDICT Filled with images and smartly organized, these guides offer great days out for locals as well as intriguing travel planning for sightseers who are going further afield. This series will be welcomed by anyone planning a trip to one of the areas it covers.

Pocket Rough Guide Weekender Belfast. (Pocket Rough Guides Weekender). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839058387. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Weekender Jersey. (Pocket Rough Guides Weekender). Rough Guides. Jul. 2024. ISBN 9781839059919. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Weekender Norfolk & Suffolk. (Pocket Rough Guides Weekender). Rough Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781835290545. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Weekender Oxford. (Pocket Rough Guides Weekender). Rough Guides. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9781835291511. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

Pocket Rough Guide Weekender Snowdonia & North Wales. (Pocket Rough Guides Weekender). Rough Guides. May 2024. ISBN 9781839059810. pbk. 128p. $15.99. TRAVEL

“Secret” Guides

Designed for those who live in or near each locale, this series from Jonglez offers an endless list of suggestions for rainy afternoons, enlivening one’s commute, or entertaining family from out of town, leading readers to discover interesting, delightful hidden treasures. The books all begin with a table of contents that lists each site, arranged by broad geographic location. Then follow short entries on each location, accompanied by a color photo and directions. The entries explain the history, appeal, and scope of the suggested site, explaining how it fits into a wider context and making a case for why one should stop by. Unlike other travel books, this series is not focused on building an itinerary or making the most of limited days in a city. Instead, it is content to offer ways to sample the gems in one’s own backyard, from a largely unknown hotel bar to a historic sign hanging overhead on the route to the office or a particularly notable brick in the street. Historical markers, statues, and underappreciated public art are also included, as are libraries, gardens, and small museums. VERDICT An essential purchase when a library’s community is featured, and a nice addition to round out travel collections more broadly.

Akerman, Isobel. Secret York: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Oct. 2024. ISBN 9782361957674. 224p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Capart, Natalie & Isabelle de Pange. Secret Brussels. 6th ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9782361957162. 368p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Cassan, Felicien & Darrow Carson. Secret Los Angeles: A Guide to the Unusual and Unfamiliar. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9782361956738. 256p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Champagne, Chris. Secret Louisiana: A Guide to the Unusual and Unfamiliar. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Jun. 2024. ISBN 9782361956752. 256p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Curran, Kathy & Lorenza Bacino. Secret Belfast: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9782361957131. 224p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Fatt, Lam Seng. Secret Kuala Lumpur: An Unusal Guide. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Dec. 2024. ISBN 9782361957919. 288p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Howard, Rachel & Hannah Robinson. Secret London: Unusual Bars & Restaurants. 3rd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. May 2024. ISBN 9782361956561. 256p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Keating, Mike. Secret Liverpool: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9782361957216. 272p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Lindinger, Michaela. Secret Vienna: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. May 2024. ISBN 9782361956165. 480p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Mustiere, Pierre & Yoko Kera. Secret Tokyo: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Jan. 2024. ISBN 9782361954185. 256p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Otkem, Emre. Secret Istanbul: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Apr. 2024. ISBN 9782361957186. 288p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Roy, Manuel. Secret Potsdam: An Unusual Guide. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Feb. 2024. ISBN 9782361955984. 256p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Schmitt, Kiernan. Secret Boston: An Unusual Guide. 2nd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Aug. 2024. ISBN 9782361957179. 288p. $19.95. TRAVEL

Seymour, Ellie. Secret Brighton: An Unusual Guide. 3rd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Nov. 2024. ISBN 9782361957841. 320p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Steenstrup, Johanne & Klaus Dahl. Secret Copenhagen: An Unusual Guide. 3rd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. May 2025. ISBN 9782361954192. 224p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Warren, Karen. Secret Bath: An Unusual Guide. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. May 2024. ISBN 9782361957285. 288p. $21.95. TRAVEL

Young, Michelle & Laura Itzkowitz. Secret New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants. 3rd ed. (“Secret” Guides). Jonglez. Sep. 2024. ISBN 9782361957582. 192p. $19.95. TRAVEL