After half a dozen trips abroad, I'm convinced an old-school travel tool is always worth the money
Who wants to lug an unnecessary book across international borders? I'm very attached to packing light. Plus, don't we have the internet for that?
But half a dozen trips later, I've realized that she was right and I was wrong.
A cheap guidebook is a travel must-have, and now I never go without one.
Here's why:
It has everything: maps, restaurants, beach directions, stories, advice on rental cars ... all in one place. If you put your phone on airplane mode like I do when I travel, this is super useful.
No matter where you find yourself - plane, train, automobile, cafe - you can page through and do "research." And you definitely missed something in your pre-trip Googling.
Even if your style is "land and figure out where to stay and what to do on the fly" (not for me, thanks) it's useful to have a resource with local emergency numbers, guides to customs, and directions to the neighborhood in which you'll find the charming cafe of your spontaneous dreams.
If you lose it, it's not the end of the world. It's a $9 book that will cease being useful on the plane home, unless you wanted it as a souvenir or point of reference to label your unrealistically ambitious photo book post-trip. In that case, maybe just buy another one.
My go-to is Lonely Planet - interestingly, its books are much easier to deal with than its website - but you can also grab Fodor's, Frommer's, Rick Steves ... the list goes on. And frankly, you don't need the newest version. I've always been fine with one from a few years back. If the idea of lugging around a physical book appalls you, there is almost always a Kindle version available.
When I'm headed home, I donate it to my hotel or Airbnb, for future visitors to use and enjoy. It's a low-stakes, low-cost tool that's made every trip I've taken that much better.