The Eyewitness travel guides, published by Dorling Kindersley of London, offer a visual feast. Much information is given through maps, gorgeous color pictures and even 3-D aerial views of various famous attractions.
There are DK Eyewitness guides to individual countries, parts of countries, and guides to major cities.
Eyewitness travel guides offer practical information on visa regulations and the best times to visit a place, plus there's info on taxes, tipping, how to travel with kids, and how to explore various districts and attractions.
Hotels and restaurants for various budget ranges are in the back of each book. There is also contact information for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, kayaking and mountaineering.
Also at the back of each book is a handy survival guide with information on personal security, emergencies, baggage restrictions and other must-know things that will make your trip safe and trouble free.
The Eyewitness guidebooks are well organized, with color-coded sections and helpful cross-referencing.
A new feature offers itineraries centered around various themes: History and Culture, Shopping in Style, The Great Outdoors and Family Fun Day.
In addition to the main Eyewitness series of guidebooks, Dorling Kindersley also has a Top 10 series, which is for travelers with limited time to spend and who only want to experience the best parks, beaches, views, markets, nightlife, cafes, as well as the best places to take kids.
The Top 10 guides make an excellent, colorful quick reference tool to find great sightseeing attractions, restaurants and shops. They also list ways to avoid things like crowds, traffic and overpriced places to eat.
These guides offer good, fast ways to plan each day of a short trip.
There is also the Pocket Map and Guide series, which (no surprise!) is a map and guidebook combined in one volume. These are designed to carry with you as you travel to major cities around the world. These guides are organized by area with selected restaurants, cafes, bars and shops in all price ranges. There is a fold-out city map. On the back of the city map is
a map of the city's metro system.
While these books have been called "graphic works of art," some find the DK Eyewitness travel guides full of pretty pictures and little else. Travelers looking for candid reviews of hotels, restaurants and attractions might want to check other guidebooks or references.
Some find that the hotel and restaurant suggestions are too pricey. There may not be a lot of listings for those with less money to spend. If you're on a very tight budget, check out the Lonely Planet Shoestring, Let's Go, and Rough travel guides.
The Eyewitness travel guides are printed on quality paper, and they are hundreds of pages long, so they're not lightweight to carry. They're so visually appealing, you may want to use them for planning your sightseeing, and after your vacation you may want to keep them as beautiful souvenirs as well.
While these books have been called "graphic works of art," some find the DK Eyewitness travel guides full of pretty pictures and little else. Travelers looking for candid reviews of hotels, restaurants and attractions might want to check other guidebooks or references.
