Traveling Light

Swapping your guidebook for a good map

Mon Feb 5, 11:00 AM ET

Travel question of the week

Dear Rolf,

I am eighteen and in my second year of college.  I have been planning to "disappear" for a few years in Europe/Asia when I finish college.  I really don't have a clue as to where I will end up; all that I know is that I am starting in Budapest.  I don't really like guidebooks because they take the discover out of discovery.  That being said, what is a good world atlas (or Europe/Asia in particular) to buy?

—Weylin, Cheyenne, Wyoming

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Dear Weylin,

Before you buy anything, I suggest you go to your campus library and spend some time in the map and atlas section.  I'm sure the atlas publishers won't like this advice too much, but it seems that studying a world atlas at this point in your travel preparation will mainly serve as inspiration (instead of direct guidance), so there's no need to buy one just yet.  Thus, for the next two years, I suggest you spend lots of quality time in the geography section of the library to whet your appetite for travel.  In time, you'll learn plenty about maps, and the regions they represent.

Once you've graduated and saved up the proper amount of money, I suggest you fly off to the destination of your choice, and buy local maps as you go.  If possible, check the national geographic office in each country for official topographical maps (I did this in Laos, and the maps they sold me took me to some amazing places).  In time, hunting for local maps (and judging their relative accuracy or inaccuracy) will become part of the adventure.

On a final note, I'll mention that I love the notion of traveling by map instead of traveling by guidebook.  That said, however, guidebooks can come in handy — if only for cultural, historical and safety information.  Thus, I suggest you buy one general regional guidebook for your trip (say, a "Let's Go: Europe," or Lonely Planet's "Southeast Asia on a Shoestring"), and stuff it in the bottom of your pack.  You needn't bother using it for your itinerary, but it's worth digging out from time to time to check up on local customs, regional history, travel scams, and the like.

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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
We traveled through Europe for two weeks with backpacks and a Eurail pass (sp?), flying into one country and leaving from another. I, the controlling one, planned the first week. My husband, my better half, planned the next. Needless to say, he did no formal planning. And as a result, his week turned out far more adventurous and memorable than mine. Each morning started out laying in bed sipping from a leftover bottle of local wine in a no-name guesthouse surveying the train schedules together. THAT's why I married him! So I highly endorse the notion that minimal planning makes for maximum adventure.
Posted by tickerme2 on Wed, Feb 7, 2007 10:03 PM ET
2
I have spent years travelling all over the world and if I add up all of the costs, it comes out to a lot less than the Lexus I drive.
Posted by labuan20002000 on Wed, Feb 7, 2007 10:16 PM ET
3
THe best advice is to invest in a new liquid hi def tv and watch the travel channel, the thing you forget is that people dont like you and unless you pay them its just a fake act anyhow enjoy your sofa cocacola and tivo to rewatch all the great Hi def action pouring right into your mind
Posted by santos_rus on Thu, Feb 8, 2007 5:25 AM ET
4
very wise reporting
Posted by haideehai on Thu, Feb 8, 2007 5:31 AM ET
5
I plan my vacation using the Michelin Green guides to make the most of my trips. I was amazed at how much better they are than all the rest. Studying maps is also good. The 18 year old college boy is misguided but you don't have to be. Rent a bicycle in each town & ride around until you get bored & then go to your next destination & repeat.
Posted by billpluscc on Thu, Feb 8, 2007 12:29 PM ET
6
hey santos_rus, that's some really good advice, that way he can sit around being lazy getting all his information from t.v. instead of experiencing it. Your life must suck to be that negative. That travel channel shot from the top of the eiffel tower is totally sweet.
Posted by jbake_ftbl04 on Thu, Feb 8, 2007 8:19 PM ET
7
I really think that probably the most important key to ENJOYABLE travel is to know yourself...and if traveling with someone, know their makeup as well. For example, as long as I know we are not going to where they are hosting the World Cup Final, I'm perfectly content to find a place to stay after we get there. My wife is not; she wants to know that we have firm reservations, that it has a private bath, etc. She will continue to bug me on these points until I have put her fears to rest. So, I ask you: How pleasant will the trip be for me (even though I believe there is always SOMEPLACE TO SLEEP), if I have not planned for her concerns? Great Meal Tip: In a foreign country, go to a resturant where locals go with their family (i.e. not in a hotel or tourist area) and tell the owner/server that you are not familiar with their local cuisine (he knows you're a tourist the minute you open your mouth); that you can afford to spend XX amount of money, and that you put yourself in his hands; please bring you a meal of what is best on their menu that day. Not only does this get you more & better food for less money than just pointing to "chicken" or the other single word you recognize on the menu, but it also usually brings you into a great, personal interaction with this person and you learn a lot about the area, the food, and places to see you might have otherwise missed. (In Asia, it's usually best to refrain from asking questions about the dish BEFORE trying it.) Sixty years and many, many countries...never been dissapointed yet.
Posted by rik77stow on Sat, Feb 17, 2007 1:12 PM ET
8
Although I was in the travel business(tour operator) for over 20 years, I must in all honesty endorse the advice that you give this young man. To him, I say- go now! The passion you feel for disappearing, which I at 18 called escaping, will most likely dimish as time goes by. Ok, so your parents didn´t give you a plane ticket to Europe and a wad of hundred dollar bills as your high school graduation gift, you can get along in most of the continent as an iterant English teacher and have on hell of an adventure.
Posted by gerarosy2000 on Fri, Feb 23, 2007 11:48 AM ET
9
You can also try contacting the local tourist or visitors bureau for the countries you plan to visit, before going. Many of them will send you free local maps and pamphlets. I did this for Portugal and was amazed at the great maps the sent along.
Posted by cartacreations on Thu, Apr 12, 2007 12:47 PM ET
10
I liked the advice in this article, and I LOVE maps in general. I have an additional bit of advice to this college student. CHECK OUT Wikitravel, which is the travel section or travel "arm" of Wikipedia. It contains very good and interesting information on various world destinations.
Posted by ru4.reel on Tue, Jun 19, 2007 12:58 AM ET