Off the Tourist Trail is a guide to the world's unspoiled sights and experiences. It takes a hundred clichéd tourist destinations - everything from over-visited national parks to overrated museums - and reveal 1,000 fresh and fascinating alternative options. Written by a team of travel experts, and with a foreword by Bill Bryson, this book brings vibrant cities, enchanting sights, breathtaking natural wonders and unforgettable experiences to life with informative narrative and stunning photography.
Choose your destination by theme - Ancient and Historical Sights, Festivals and Parties, Great Journeys, Architectural Marvels, Natural Wonders, Beaches, Sports and Activities, Art and Culture, and Cities - or simply flick through this sumptuous guide and be inspired. Practical advice on getting there and around, where to stay, where to eat and when to go, as well as useful 'Need to Know' facts, ensure that you get the most out of your time away.
Less crowded, generally less expensive, and often more spectacular and rewarding, these lesser-known wonders of the world encourage readers to ditch the famous but well-worn choices, reminding them what real travel is all about - escaping the everyday and embracing the new.
Vacations will never be the same again. |
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 Your Worldview, Expanded |
| Review Date: September 21, 2009 |
| Reviewer: litaddiction, Chicago |
The premise of OFF THE TOURIST TRAIL is ambitious: narrow the planet's must-see attractions to the hundred crème-de-la-crème; delineate what makes them so fabulous and acknowledge their drawbacks (usually crowds and commercialization); and then offer worthy alternatives. Oh -- and accompany it with mind-blowingly stunning photography.
The result? A coffee-table book presented with Dorling Kindersley's trademark lush sensuality -- smooth, heavy pages; vibrant colors; pleasing layout -- that is beyond successful. To be clear, the book is less an actual travel guide and more a guide for expanding one's worldview. Yes, uber-travelers might happily substitute one continent's beach or festival for another's, half a world away. But historical sites and natural wonders seem much less interchangeable, and the takeaway from this book is an awareness that even unique sites actually do have similars (Lascaux isn't the planet's only example of prehistoric rock art; Pompeii isn't the only preserved ruins; Route 66 isn't even the best driving trip).
My only caution is to Bill Bryson fans who are drawn by the prominent attachment of his name to this book. Be forewarned -- his only contribution is an unbelievably short, repetitive, and vacuous Foreword, and it frankly disrespects both the book and the reader.
Otherwise, highly recommended!
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Best Travel Idea Book Ever
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| Review Date: October 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: loyal customer Bill, |
| There are lots of books around that give summaries of the world's "best." This is the best of these books I have ever seen. It has the usual DK excellence of design, but what makes it so useful is that it lists so many options in so many categories. Then, it gives plenty of information necessary for further study. The big categories are Ancient & Historical Sights; Festivals & Parties; Great Journeys; Natural Wonders; Beaches; Sports & Activities; Art & Culture; and Cities. For each, there are pages that list the most well known item, then its major competitor. What I like especially is that there are usually 4-44 additional destinations--small presentations, but sufficient, and usually with a small photo. Great. The whole world. |
Fascinating. Wonderful photographs, Full of ideas
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| Review Date: August 24, 2009 |
| Reviewer: ELP FAN, |
| As soon as i saw this book I was impressed with it. Basically it gives alternatives to common tourist attractions around the world, Its categorized by areas such as cities, mountains, festivals, etc. What I like is that it gives easy access to many travel ideas I might have never found out about or which wouldve taken hours to research, It a concise volume on lesser know places of interest around the world. Maybe lesser know but also maybe equally or more beautiful. While some of the many listed alternatives are only briefly described the book is just a jumping point for future reference and research via the internet. So if you like to travel and want to get off the beaten path this book is definitely for you. Happy Travels |
If you like to travel off the tourist trail, buy this book!
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| Review Date: November 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Deborah Verlen, Chicago, IL USA |
After perusing this book, I'm ready to pack my bags and head off to almost anywhere in the book! The book takes one hundred cliched destinations and gives you over a thousand alternatives. The book itself is presented in a large coffee table format and is full of wonderfully colorful pictures that make you feel like you are there in the middle of the scene as well as suggestions and advice on what to do when you get there.
You can flip through the book looking for interesting places to visit or read about or you can approach the process more scientifically and search by theme. They include ancient and historical sights, festivals/parties, journeys, architectural marvels, natural wonders, beaches, sports, art and culture and cities.
For instance, I love the city of New York and when I go there I tend to revisit the same attractions which are generally right smack dab in the middle of the tourist path. The book contains a couple of pages on "Less Explored New York City." I can't wait until my next visit to go exploring. There are also some great suggestions for other well known cities.
If you enjoy travel and like the unexpected, this book will give you a lush presentation and lots of ideas for exploration no matter what you like--ancient ruins, modern cities, festivals or just beach combing.
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Truly useful travel book
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| Review Date: May 17, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Yolanda McCree, Issaquah, Wa United States |
This book is meant for the serious traveler or dreamer. Want to see amphitheaters? This guide will direct you away from the Colosseum in Rome to Pula Arena in Croatia with historical details, how to get there and when to go in the typical DK format. However, it explains both what makes the Colosseum the lesser choice and a good choice. Should you still decide to go, tips are given on how best to do that. For many of the topics (like amphitheaters), more than the one main option is presented. Alternative amphitheaters in Lybia, Tunisia, Germany, Spain, Italy (Verona) and France are shown. It is the richness of the choices which are global and inclusive which delights me, but may frustrate the less serious or impoverished traveler.
I bought 5 travel books around the same time. This is the one that I come back to time and again. While the premise of the book is to avoid the more touristed sites, ignore that, after all, that is what the off-season is for. This volume is my candy shop window.
I invite you to share the plentyful delights. |
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