Rough Guides Book Review - Ready, Set, Travel

Summer travel season is heating up with families, singles, groups, and couples, hitting the road, hopping the next flight, escaping, with the one thought of leaving everyday life behind . . . for just this moment.

"Make the Most of Your Time on Earth" the brand slogan for Rough Guides, the travel guide publication whose brand of destination books are imprinted with those words, have built an empire of introduction selections for the well-traveled path and far off locales.

Rough Guides brands books which are available in three sizes; a larger, complete in-country destination preparatory study guide, a narrowed to specific regions and two or more cities and the a Pocket Rough Guide specific only to a singular city and surrounding area.


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With Europe the most common destination for US students, couples, singles and groups, Rough Guides presents for the 2018 season a fully updated 15th Edition of Greece, the destination of mythical gods and goddesses as well as those seeking the romantic, historical, spectacular beaches and delicious cuisine.

The Greece Rough Guides begins with the basics, where and when to go and of course things not to miss. The editors have also put together itineraries which may help when deciding which ancient ruins to visit first, especially if Athens is a stopover for the famous Greek islands.

The Guide is divided into sections with Basics explaining all the important details most may not know, where to go if documents are lost or stolen, cultural etiquette, standard modes of transportation and how to bargain with offending the locals and of course the travel essentials.

After landing The Guide is divided into eleven sections from Athens and around the general area to Crete to Santorini to The Ionian Islands. As each island has a particular culture, wild to mild, one may find it best to review the area before deciding which island to book the longest stay.

Sections contain a brief intro into the area, how to get there, the tourist highlights, and where to stay and eat. Athens, the largest and most culturally diverse sections, explains the rich history that has withstood the ravages of time. With a major city Athens also contains the hot spots, local hangouts, where the best of the city, and yes, even the worst of the city can be found.

Athens Tourist destinations are presented with maps of the site and the editors also present the top 25 of not to miss which includes, Sunset on Santorini island, swimming in Shipwreck bay, The Meteora Monasteries, Wine Tasting, Nikos Taverna, (Mykonos), The Acropolis and Pantheon, (Athens), Delphi, climbing Mount Olympus, and course in addition to taking in all the Greek cuisine one can consume.

One other noted destination the island of Skopelos, where the film Mama Mia and the sequel, Mama Mia, Here We Go Again was filmed.

Germany

Also updated for the 2018 Travel season by Rough Guides, a fully updated, 4th Edition, of Germany.

Bordering nine countries, Germany has become a Traveler's Mecca with each region unique to its own with specialty from Haute Cuisine to nightlife and cultural destinations, to the charm of tradition with a Beer and Bratwurst toast.

Germany is noted as one of the most progressive nations in Western Europe, and with that a large LGBTQ population. Diversity has become a key element in Germany with many new to the nation living among those who see no need to travel any further than the local city center.

Like all Rough Guides, Germany begins with the introduction section of where and when to go, itineraries, and the author's pick of what not to miss. As Germany is a land of dichotomies narrowing the trip to an immersive experience or choosing the cities before landing.

The updated Germany Guide divides the nation into 15 sections taking the traveler through Berlin and Brandenburg to Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt and the Harz, Thuringia, to Northern Bavaria: Franconia, to Munich and Central Bavaria, then The Alps and eastern Bavaria, onto Baden-Wurttemberg, The Black Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, Hesse, North Rhine Westphalia, to Lower Saxony and Bremen to Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and finally to Mecklenburg-West Pomerania.

The guide book, at 890 pages is exhaustive detailing each section with a regional map, with what to do and see, what not to miss and where to dine, dance, visit and stroll for the most memorable vacation possible.

For Germany the authors have put together a list of 32 destinations not to be missed beginning with Kareval in cologne, Schloss Nueschwanstein, Leipzig, Long Distance Cycling, The Berlin Wall, Jegendstil in Darmstadt, Baden-Baden Spasa, Lenbachhaus, Munich, Wilhelmshohe, Hesse, Christmas Markets, Beer Gardens, The Romantic Rhine, Oktoberfest, Munich, Ostalgie, Berlin, The Zwinger, Dresden, Romantic Road Fairy Tale Villages, Mercedes Museum Stuttgart, Cologne, Hamburg, Wurst, Berlin's Nightlife, The Ruhr's Industrial Heritage Trail, Wieskirche, Bavaria, The Rathaus, Bamburg, Rugen, German Wine, Skiing, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Lubeck, Aachen's Cathedral, Christopher Street Day (A homage to NYC Christopher Street with a wild party hosted by the LGBTQ population from Berlin, Munich, Cologne and Hamburg), North Frisian Islands and Saxon Switzerland.


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With so much to do where does one start? Rough Guides also publishes a Pocket Rough Guide for each city.

Each city Rough Guide will help make the most of any trip. Unlike the Rough Guide Country bible, the Pocket Guide includes a pull out map, details on the city's transportation system, a pull out subway map, specific reviews of the city's best hostels, B&B's and hostels, and a language section for those who have not immersed themselves or don't speak the local language fluently.

For Berlin, like the complete Guide, the city guide narrows the city into easily managed sections. Finding the must see's in proximity to the hotel, finding dining establishments operated by Michelin starred chef's or the highly reviewed hole-in-the-wall around the corner.

The Rough Guides and Pocket Guides will take the mystery out of Berlin, and every city, and leave only the allure and romanticism of a modern Germany rich in culture and history and wholly progressive with a contemporary pulse that welcomes all.

Pocket Rough Guides updated for the 2018 travel season include, Madrid and Barcelona, Tuscany & Umbria and Copenhagen.

Take to the highway, the byway, the road less travel, the city of your dreams and make the most of your time on earth! A world of worlds await!

For more information: www.roughguides.com

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