Word: guidebooks
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...number of travel guide authors [April 29]: two points for taking down those foolish ones plotting Europe on a shoestring; two points for reversing those who claim London is dead; and the ultimate five points for pinning my father and his colleagues on the count that there is no guidebook for second-time travelers. But let it be noted that a guide writer thrives on those experienced travelers who do not need his product-for I know of at least one such author who diligently checks out every one of the scores of tips that come to his desk daily...
...steam and the steamer trunk, and it was a remarkable performance. But not even old Karl Baedeker could have done it in today's Europe, although his descendants continue the guides competently enough. The Continent is simply changing too fast in too many directions for any single guidebook to keep up with it. There are 10,350 restaurants and 1,100 hotels in Paris alone, not to mention 110 nightclubs and 12,000 bars. Whether or not they could cover all the pertinent sights, smells and tastes, none of today's guides could consider printing them...
Fielding displays a spurious heartiness that can be depressing, and occasionally he may overplay the nursemaid bit. But the heart of Fielding's guidebook is his personal advice on where to eat, sleep, drink and be merry. It is current (this year's book contains 125,000 lines of revisions), caustic, and in reliable taste. Maxim's (ranked by Michelin as one of France's twelve*** restaurants) has been off Fielding's list since the death of Maitre d'hótel Albert Blaser in 1959, and he attacks Chez Denis (*) for serving...
Most professional guidebook writers still shape their books for the first-time tourists. But millions of Americans are now second, third and fourth-time tourists, and they are looking for new and exciting things to do. The guides will have to take account of this new reality or else risk losing an important part of their following. Many travelers already rely for their information on journalism, on the generally current calendars of events handed out by government tourist offices-and, above all, on a mass of excellent literary travel books, whose aim is not information but inspiration, not sightseeing...
...boundlessly curious and energetic, and its ability to recreate a trip after it is over. For one test of a good travel guide is not how well it serves abroad but how well it stands up back home. The returned traveler's particular pleasure is to read his guidebook to see where he has been. As he grows more experienced, he discovers an even greater pleasure-to argue with his guidebook and finally ignore...