The second edition of Fodor’s 1001 Smart Travel Tips, which went on sale in April, 2008, is a book I wished I had many years ago because it has almost every tip in it that I learned through trial and error. Still, since things changed over the years, I needed more information, and this edition fit my needs perfectly.

The best thing about the book is its compact size. It can even fit into a woman’s small to average size handbag. The second best thing is the impeccable organization of the chapters and the immense information in them. Tips that are arranged in double columns and placed in frames enhance the general information in each chapter, and The word of mouth advice that pops up every now and then is enjoyable, entertaining, and informative. The language of the book is direct and easily understandable. The headings and the main points are printed in bold letters and orange color, forcing the reader’s attention to what they are saying.

The first chapter on planning the trip is the most important one, because without planning, a trip can turn into a disaster especially if you are going to a place alien to you. The following two chapters deal with booking and gearing up by offering information about checking on things ahead of time, legal paperwork, buying tickets, making reservations, and getting rental cars.

Chapter four gives excellent tips on packing that no one should skip. The next few chapters take care of traveling with family, children, teens, and pets. The following chapters sort out the possibilities, the delights, and the difficulties of air travel, car, train or bus travel, and cruises.

Chapter eleven and the next couple of chapters after that offer recommendations on what to do once you get where you have planned to go, such as sightseeing at night or daytime, dining, and the places to stay. The last part of chapter thirteen gives ideas on what to do and how to complain effectively if things do not work out in a hotel or lodging.

The last chapter is about destinations, informing the traveler of the fundamental and realistic details of each area of travel from Egypt to Safari trips, to Asian treks, to the islands, to the continental Europe, and to the Americas.

The last section of the book is not a chapter but a list, directing the reader to websites, important addresses, and tourism and government organizations.

taking with you on a trip, reading it before you decide where and how to go, and learning about possible destinations.

"The Word of Mouth" tips because for each tip, a person behind it has had the experience.

sort of annoyed for not having such a book in the market 20-30 years ago. It would have helped me then, when I had been traveling almost non-stop. Europe $5 a Day was all we had and it was neither enough nor accurate.

The editors are the Fodor editors Laura M. Kidder and Kelly Kealy. Laura M. Kidder is the editor of Fodor's Seattle, Fodor's Indonesia and contributing editor of Fodor's Pacific Northwest, Fodor's Ireland, Fodor's Southeast Asia, Fodor's Cuba, and Fodor's Affordable France.
Kelly Kealy is the contributing editor of Buenos Aires, Fodor’s Central America, Fodor's South America, and Fodor's 1,001 Smart Travel Tips, 2nd Edition.

It was amazing to see so much information in such a small package. I think 1001 Smart Travel Tips is a book for every traveler whether he or she is a first-timer or an experienced one.

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Created Jan 10, 2009 at 4:20pm • Submit your own review...