There are many very detailed travel apps for smartphones and tablets. However, the good old paper guides also did not lose their relevance, since they do not require recharging, they do not slow down, and they do not freeze. And the text written on paper is often perceived better than electronic. We will not give preference to any one kind of guides and consider the best guideswhether they are in print or electronic form.
10. Google Trips
Russian language: no.
Cost: Free.
Opens the ranking of popular travel guides is an excellent mobile application for iOS and Android, which contains information about all the popular tourist destinations in the world. All available information is sorted by sections: Food, Sights, Interesting information and so on. You can read the comments of tourists about places where it is better to go, or vice versa, it is absolutely not worth visiting. The program is integrated with Google Maps, so the most detailed maps will be at your service anywhere in the world. The routes proposed by the program can be changed at your discretion: change the number and composition of objects, reduce or increase the duration of the tour and make notes. And if there are notifications of ticket reservations in your Google inbox, Google Trips will show you the flight and departure time.
Minuses: no Russian language.
9. TripAdvisor
Is there Russian language.
Cost: Free.
This mobile application offers many pictures of hotels and restaurants that have been uploaded by travelers, not advertisers. In addition, TripAdvisor has detailed maps of 300 cities in the world and can be accessed even offline. Thanks to the feedback from real users, it is very easy to find the most inexpensive tickets for flights, hotel rooms and restaurants, and you can reserve a place, as they say, in one click.
Disadvantages: there are problems with sorting in the search, the “my trips” option does not work on the tablet.
8. Afisha Travel Guides to World Cities
Is there Russian language.
A series of domestic guides in Russia and the world was written taking into account the interests of Russian tourists. Each “Afisha” guidebook is compiled by an author who often visits the city in question or who constantly lives in it. The books describe in great detail the most popular tourist routes, as well as the main points of urban life: shopping establishments, popular restaurants, clubs and theaters. An additional plus: these guides are sold in most bookstores.
Minuses: There are guides only for cities, not countries in general.
7. Rough Guides
Is there Russian language.
There is a reason people fall asleep while reading history books, and this reason is boredom. However, reading the city guides and countries from Rough Guides will not be bored. The descriptions in them are very vivid and objective, there is useful information not only about the history of a city or its attractions, but also about bars, restaurants, hotels and clubs with an indication of price categories. There are many cards in the books.
However, due to their detail, these guides can scare away those who value conciseness.
6. Travel Guides Dorling Kindersley
Is there Russian language.
One of the best travel guides of 2017 on our list. They have district schemes, beautiful and informative illustrations and photographs, and the presentation style is not mentoring, but very interesting. There are practical tips for travelers, a description of seasonal events in different cities, and, of course, information about hotels, markets, cafes, pubs and other types of leisure activities. However, in the reviews there are complaints about poor quality paper, pages can easily fall out of the book. The text in the books is small, which is inconvenient for people with low vision. And the price of guidebooks is high - from 750 rubles and above.
5. Travel Guides Polyglot
Is there Russian language.
The first guides of this series were issued in black and white, while the modern Polyglot are full-color books on quality paper. There are guides both in Russian cities and in the most popular destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Oceania. The books have a mini phrasebook, and they are written briefly and to the point. There are information on the main tourist routes, detailed maps, practical tips and photographs of the main attractions.
4. Bradt Travel Guides
Is there Russian language.
Small and inexpensive guides for those who are interested in leisurely travels (travel by public transport and train, hiking). From the Bradt guides you will find a brief historical information about the city you want to visit, about its most interesting places.
Disadvantages: there are no color illustrations and city maps; the maps available are very small, so get ready to view them with a magnifying glass.
3. Guides Around the World
Is there Russian language.
Opens the top 3 of the best travel guides in Russia and the world a series of domestic publications. They are very informative and “without water” tells about the main attractions of different cities and countries. If you like objective recommendations and a lot of photos that let you know whether to go to this place or not, then the Around the World paper guide will be an excellent choice.
Disadvantages: maps of most cities are tied to the central part.
2. The National Geographic Traveler
Is there Russian language.
From these guides you can find information about the national characteristics, cultural traditions and attractions of the place you have chosen to travel. The books are full of informative maps and magnificent illustrations. There are options for hiking routes in the main cities of different countries and trips to certain areas.
Disadvantages: not all attractions are given detailed and interesting descriptions.
1. A series of guides from Lonely planet
Is there Russian language.
In the first place in the selection of the best travel guides for tourists are very detailed, detailed paper guides, which contain all the subtleties of a stay in a particular country. The reader is provided with information about the history of the country or city visited, all the sights of interest are described in a bit, and the time at which it is better to visit them is indicated, as well as the approximate cost of the visit. The guide also gives advice on which transport is better to travel around the area and which transport cards are better to use in order to save on travel.
There are two drawbacks to these guides: the weight of the book (about 2 kg) and the price is about 1000 rubles. There are free electronic options in pdf, but they are very slow due to the large size.
