I had an idea this morning that some of you might be interested in the guide books we have used in our travels as this is the time of you might be either planning or dreaming about a destination vacation.

This is the latest Eyewitness  guide we  used and  most of the 800 pages!  This  cover shows  you some of the reasons that the architect only buys these guides. He is all about architecture and notice the number of color photographs, detailed maps, and illustrations such as as  plans including  isometric photographs which are  important in understanding the architecture of the area.

Accuracy of information such as times that sites are open is important and often those change.  We did go to a museum in India where the actual hours it was open were different than in the  guide.  So be careful if saving money by borrowing an older guide from a friend.  Things may have changed even in an ancient culture like India.

Using these guides make it possible to plan your own itineraries as it is pretty inclusive with hotels, restaurants, region by region organization, walks, scenic routes, markets, shopping, Here is the double page as a guide to visiting the Taj Mahal

The publisher is DK publishing in London. The cost is about $30.00 a volume.  Pricey but worth it or so we thought.

To quote the New York Times:  “Each book is visual, as well as an informative feast.”