Jan 31, 2013

Italy for the Gourmet Traveler

Italy for the Gourmet Traveler

Fred Plotkin takes us beyond the traditional tourist experience and lures us to special places, whether in big cities or out-of-the-way villages. Under his discerning eye, we learn about the food, wines, local bakeries, olive oil distilleries, cheeses, markets, restaurants, and best kept secrets of Italy's culinary world. Lovingly drawn portraits of the people who make world-famous regional specialities, and local history make each village, town, and city come alive.

Jan 30, 2013

The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour

The Machu Picchu Guidebook: A Self-Guided Tour

Machu Picchu is one of the most stunning archaeological sites on Earth. Located in the heart of the Andes in Peru, this five-centuries-old Incan relic attracts some 300,000 tourists yearly. Yet the significance of the site itself is difficult to unravel without a lot of personal knowledge or a comprehensive guidebook. Wright, who has studied the site for 25 years and has worked at Machu Picchu since 1994, and Zegarra (anthropology and archaeology, Univ. of Cuzco) have teamed up to produce a handy book for visitors who wish to guide themselves at their own pace through the site. A bound-in, fold-out color archaeological map of Machu Picchu keyed to the book's chapters and an array of black-and-white as well as color photographs will help users find and navigate the site easily and not depend on fractured live tour guide information. After reading this book, you will want to hop on the next flight to Peru. If you are unlucky enough never to visit Machu Picchu, the guide will serve as an excellent virtual tour. Recommended for general travel collections.

Jan 29, 2013

High Road To Tibet

High Road To Tibet

John Dwyer travels through Asia's most interesting and wildest regions. Follow his adventures as he passes through the sunken gorges of the Yangtze river, drinks snake blood in Chengdu, gets smuggled into Tibet illegally, watches mysterious ceremonies in Buddhist temples, reaches Everest Base Camp, climbs amongst the awe-inspiring Himalayas, and watches the dead being burned by the banks of the Ganges.

Jan 28, 2013

The Backpacker's Handbook

The Backpacker's Handbook

Whether you are backpacking for the first time or a veteran follower of the trails, this enormously practical guide includes everything you need to know, from essential techniques such as map and compass work to the skills needed for more remote wilderness journeys. The Backpacker's Handbook also gives you the latest information on gear.

Jan 26, 2013

Everest: A Trekker's Guide: Trekking routes in Nepal and Tibet

Everest: A Trekker's Guide: Trekking routes in Nepal and Tibet

Kev Reynolds is a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer. He has published many books on the Alps, a series of trekkers' guides to Nepal and, nearer to home, several guides on walking in southern England. A member of the Alpine Club and the Outdoor Writers' Guild, he is also first honorary member of the British Association of European Mountain Leaders.

Jan 25, 2013

Eagle Creek Flip Switch Wheeled Backpack

Eagle Creek Flip Switch Wheeled Backpack

This carry-on sized travel bag has a suspension system in the front? It sure does. We know that most of the time a rolling bag suits travelers’ needs just fine, but that every now and then putting a bag on your back sure does have its advantages. Remove the backpack straps and hip belt to make the bag even lighter and maximize the internal capacity. You may have to try it to believe it. Super durable lockable #10 zippers, reinforced material blocking, bumper protection, and sturdy wheel and handle system.

Jan 24, 2013

Pacsafe Z-28 Heritage Anti-Theft Urban Backpack

Pacsafe Z-28 Heritage Anti-Theft Urban Backpack

A tough canvas fabric combines with the even tougher patented 360 eXomesh locking system to create the unique Z-28 Heritage Anti-Theft Urban Backpack. The removable 17" MacBook and iPad/tablet compatible sleeve, quilted back support, internal and top zippered pockets and sternum & waist strap add functionality and practicality to this one of a kind backpack.

Jan 22, 2013

Eagle Creek Packable Daypack

Eagle Creek Packable Daypack

A versatile bag for travelers, the Eagle Creek Packable daypack functions as a full-size daypack most of the time, with 700 cubic inches of interior space. When you're not using the daypack, however, it fits into an ultra-compact pouch, so you can easily store it in a closet or stuff it in a corner of your luggage. The stuffable design makes the daypack ideal for travelers who want to bring along a day bag but only plan to use it occasionally.

Storage-wise, the daypack includes a zippered main compartment and an external front pocket that doubles as the pack-in stuff pocket. In addition, the daypack is comfortable to carry thanks to the breathable mesh shoulder straps. Also outfitted with a key fob, the Packable daypack measures 9.5 by 16.5 by 4.5 inches (W x H x D) when open and weighs 6 ounces.

Jan 21, 2013

100 Places That Can Change Your Child's Life

100 Places That Can Change Your Child's Life

This evocative book provides all you need to create life-changing vacations around the world with your kids. You won't find rote itineraries or windy, discursive text, lists of museums and landmarks, festivals and events. Instead, you'll get slice-of-life, ageappropriate experiences in special places that offer life experiences and peeks into different cultures.

The book showcases 100 places, each anchored by someone who knows the place intimately. You'll meet Lorenzo Fatzi, a Venetian gondolier, who will share his secrets of the canals; a Nantucket fisherman who gives you a very special nautical tour of the island; animal tracker Vram Seth, who talks about life in India's Ranthambore tiger reserve; and countless others who are cultural treasures, great storytellers, and keepers of a sense of place.

Jan 19, 2013

Walking the Amazon

Walking the Amazon: 860 Days. One Step at a Time.

As seen on Discovery Channel and for readers of Cheryl Strayed's Wild, Bill Bryson, Jon Krakauer, and David Grann, a riveting, adventurous account of one man’s history-making journey along the entire length of the Amazon—and through the most bio-diverse habitat on Earth. Fans of Turn Right at Machu Piccu will revel in Ed Stafford's extraordinary prose and lush descriptions.

In April 2008, Ed Stafford set off to become the first man ever to walk the entire length of the Amazon. He started on the Pacific coast of Peru, crossed the Andes Mountain range to find the official source of the river. His journey lead on through parts of Colombia and right across Brazil; all while outwitting dangerous animals, machete wielding indigenous people as well as negotiating injuries, weather and his own fears and doubts. Yet, Stafford was undeterred. On his grueling 860-day, 4,000-plus mile journey, Stafford witnessed the devastation of deforestation firsthand, the pressure on tribes due to loss of habitats as well as nature in its true-raw form. Jaw-dropping from start to finish, Walking the Amazon is the unforgettable and gripping story of an unprecedented adventure.

Jan 18, 2013

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

No money? No problem. You can start packing your bags for that trip you’ve been dreaming a lifetime about.

For more than half a decade, Matt Kepnes (aka Nomadic Matt) has been showing readers of his enormously popular travel blog that traveling isn’t expensive and that it’s affordable to all. He proves that as long as you think out of the box and travel like locals, your trip doesn’t have to break your bank, nor do you need to give up luxury.

How to Travel the World on $50 a Day reveals Nomadic Matt’s tips, tricks, and secrets to comfortable budget travel based on his experience traveling the world without giving up the sushi meals and comfortable beds he enjoys. Offering a blend of advice ranging from travel hacking to smart banking, you’ll learn how to:

  • Avoid paying bank fees anywhere in the world
  • Earn thousands of free frequent flyer points
  • Find discount travel cards that can save on hostels, tours, and transportation
  • Get cheap (or free) plane tickets

Whether it’s a two-week, two-month, or two-year trip, Nomadic Matt shows you how to stretch your money further so you can travel cheaper, smarter, and longer.