It is summer vacation planning time and I have had lots of questions about whether or not I use a travel agent for my trips. The answer is no. Travis and I are the travel agents, and I am happy as a clam to keep it that way. Why pay someone to do the work that you can do? Here is my favorite tip for planning a vacation.
Go to your favorite bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Full Circle, etc. and plop down in a comfy chair in the travel section. Go grab some books that perk your interest. Just a few weeks ago, Travis and I had books on Amsterdam, Brussels, France, Spain, and Europe in general. I think we picked up about 12 books. It is the absolute best way to learn about a place and start to plan a trip. Here are a few of my favorite travel writers/publishers.
Rick Steves
If you are traveling to Europe, pick up a Rick Steves book. I cannot say enough good things about how he prepares you for everything. Reading his book on Italy is what made our trip so smooth and easy. Check it out.
Fodor's
I like the books that are the 25 Best series. They are perfect for putting in your purse because they have a fold out map in the back flap. With such a small book, you don't look quite so touristy whipping out a map to figure out where you are. Also, they narrow the field on what is exciting and cool to see.
Frommer's
They are very similar to the Fodor's books, but they give great food recommendations. We dominated San Francisco's food market thanks to Frommer's.
Enjoy and happy travels!
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