Despite the numerous travel guides I have used and the varied cultures I have visited, I have come to realize that not one single travel guide will ever meet all my travel needs and interests. Some guidebooks provide in-depth cultural and historical information. Others are strong on practical travel details like recommendations for lodging, dining, and transportation. But there is not one single series that can do justice to both aspects of travel. That book would be too heavy to carry around on a day of sightseeing.

Knowing what kind of traveler you are will go a long way in choosing a travel series that comes close to matching your travel style. Is the quality of the hotel room as important as the location? Do you need serenity and peace after a day of sightseeing or are you invigorated by big city nightlife and need to be near it? Look carefully at your answers to these questions. You are either fastidious or freedom-loving, or a combination of the two.

Are you a carefree spirit who is comfortable in most surroundings? Are you equally satisfied in a rural or urban setting? Are you equally interested in history and culture as the local cuisine? Do you like to get off the beaten path and let fate be your guide from time to time? Then you can absorb maximum uncertainty and you can travel light, as almost any guidebook series will meet your needs. Assess your finances and choose a general travel guidebook that lists accommodations in your price range. Select your cultural,historical or other main travel interests and choose any series that covers at least half of them. No series will cover them all adequately.

Or are you meticulous, with an exacting personality who expects an efficient trip and wants timetables of trains and ferries at hand in the planning stages? Do you want to focus on the major attractions of an area and visit as many as possible? Do you want all hotels clean, quiet, and near the attractions on your list? Then you will have to shop for your travel guidebooks very carefully. Choose the general guidebook that gives ample detailed information you require for the logistical side of your trip. And the main travel interest guidebook should be detailed but not verbose, giving just enough detail to keep things interesting.

Many travelers find that on a long trip, they exhibit characteristics of both kinds of travelstyles and can create an itinerary that has room for both detailed planning and periods of unabashed spontaneity. Sketch out a rough itinerary and choose a travel series that covers your list of destinations plus side trips. Look for a series which gives ample details about small towns so that you to feel comfortable choosing a hotel room.

I recommend checking some travel guidebooks out from your local library before you purchase one. Read most of it and get a feel for the writing style.If it kept you interested and provided enough detail, then consider purchasing the latest edition.

Since every travel guidebook is outdated even at printing time, it is imperative that you purchase the newest edition available. Keep in mind that some series are not updated annually, so a year old book might be the newest one available for a particular series. Find out the publishing schedule for the series you are interested in and buy their most recent version.

You can also buy English language travel guidebooks in your destination country, and just might come across some local guides written by a native. The best travel guide is ultimately the one you create yourself from a variety of resources, based on your personal interests and travel style.