Fodor's. Frommer's. Lonely Planet. Eyewitness. Rick Steves. Let's Go. Mobil. And there are even more besides those famous names.

After a few minutes, your head is spinning. There are zillions of them.

Good grief! You know you need a plan and the right travel guide can certainly help you plan a great trip. But which book is the best one for you? Should you buy just one or several for your next trip?

That's where we come in. We've looked at and reviewed all the major travel guidebooks. We've pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of each.

In our reviews, the strong points of each travel guide are indicated by a green up arrow. Look for this sign: .

The weaknesses we've found, if any, are indicated by a red down arrow. Look for this sign: .

Our reviews let you know who each travel guide is aimed at, so you can tell the difference between Frommer's and Eyewitness and Lonely Planet.

We haven't just taken a general look at big publishers like Frommer's and Fodor's. These major companies have many guidebooks in different series written for different kinds of travelers. We've looked at and discussed each series.

We'll tell you which travel guides are best for a student on a tight budget, for a family, or for a traveler looking for a quick vacation getaway.

We'll help you make the best choice so you can plan and have a fantastic trip.

So, relax and let us guide you to the best in travel guidebooks. Welcome to Travel Guides 101... where your guidebook education begins.