Book Review - Insight Guides to Cruising and Cruise Ships by Douglas Ward

Thinking about taking a cruise? Perhaps you're new to cruising? Or maybe just deciding on your next ship? This is an excellent guide for understanding cruising and getting high-level insights to all the cruise lines and the ships that are available in 2025 (when this book was published).

If you're new to cruising, start with the Introduction section which gives a nice overview of what cruising is and some good first cruise experiences. Plus some what to expect type things.

The "Cruising Uncovered" chapters has lot of great advice, tips and question-answer type nuggets. Considering using a travel agent? There's a nice list of 6 questions to ask a travel agent. Considering travel insurance, check out the "7 Tips to Get the Best Travel Insurance" side bar. Be sure to read the "5 Rip-Offs to Watch Out For" so you don't end up having a huge bill at the end of your vacation. "7 Money-Saving Tips" has some useful tips when booking. If you want to keep your trip under budget, check out "10 Things Not Included in 'All-Inclusive'" so you can avoid spending too much extra on these experiences or activities.

If you're a history buff, there's a chapter on "The Chronology of Cruising" which has a lot of interesting information.

The next section, "Choose The Right Cruise" offers suggestions based on destination and/or ships. Choose Your Ship discusses the different sizes and classes and advantages/disadvantages. I like the side-bar "10 Cabin Locations to Avoid". Sometimes, if you book too late, you really can't avoid these options.

"Types of Cruising" section has lots of good chapters - "Cruising for Families", "Cruising for Solo Travelers", "Cruising for Seniors", "Cruising to Suit Travelers with Additional Needs", "Expedition Cruising Uncovered", and more. Lots of good tips and information on all these different segments.

"The Cruise Experience" section talks about Life Aboard the cruise ship, Entertainment, Excursions, Casinos, Spas and Wellness, and more. A lot of ships charge extra for these experiences (see the "10 Things Not Included in All-Inclusive" mentioned earlier.

Now, "The Cruise Companies" talks about the Major and Smaller Cruise Lines in brief.

"Practical Information" is great. You can find the useful "What To Do If" chapter with question and answers that almost everyone will ask at some point. And a chapter on "Cruising and Safety" which I hope none of us will ever need.

"The Ships and Their Ratings" comes next. You can find almost every cruise line and a selection of their ships listed there with points on Ship, Accommodation, Food, Service, Entertainment, and Cruise Experience as well as information about the ships themselves.

Overall a great book to borrow from your local library to get an intro into cruising and to narrow down some possible trips/ships to take.

Title: Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025: Cruise Guide eBook
Author: Douglas Ward
ISBN: 978-1839054259
Pages: 408

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Book Review - Clanlands: An Unforgettable Journey Through Scotland’s History, Legends and Whisky by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

I'll be honest, I never finished watching the Outlander series because my Starz subscription expired and I didn't renew it. So a lot of the references in this book are lost on me. I picked up this book because Scotland is on my bucket list and I hope one day to visit. So if you're not a fan of the Outlander series, you will still find this book worth reading.

The book follows Sam and Graham, who worked together on the series, as they take a major road trip around the Highlands of Scotland stopping at historically significant places (such as Glencoe). Since the two men are good friends there is a lot of bantering back and forth and jokes. The antique motorcycle incident at the end of the book was amusing thanks to Big Tam until Graham runs into trouble.

Graham seems to be an expert on Scottish history and I thoroughly enjoyed his explanations on the various battles (such as the Battle of Culloden). In addition, there are discussions with experts and guides throughout which offer lots of good history or knowledge. For example, there's a small bit about Rob Roy MacGregor toward the end and where he may or may not be buried with several email exchanges to Graham.

I also enjoyed learning bits of Scottish Gaelic that is sprinkled throughout the book. There's even a two page spread of "Sam's Scottish Slang" midway through the book with some interesting phrases.

On page 49 is a nice "Key Dates in Scottish History". Page 238 has a nice "The House of Stuart" family tree of those who ruled England and Scotland from 1603 through 1714.

Interested in the movie making process? There's plenty of educational bits throughout the book.

Sam Heughan has ventured into the whiskey making business with his own brand, Sassenach. There's some interesting discussions of whiskey making as well as different types of whiskey and alcohol.

Overall, this is an entertaining read especially for anyone interested in Scotland or Scottish culture. Try to find it at your local library if you can. My library had a waiting list so it took a few weeks before I could check it out. I guess there are still people out there who loved the Outlander shows or books.

Please note that this book does contain some adult language and themes. Also this book was published in 2020 so be sure to verify locations before setting out as accessability might have changed.

Title: Clanlands: An Unforgettable Journey Through Scotland’s History, Legends and Whisky
Author: Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish
ISBN: 978-1529342024
Pages: 359

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Book Review - DK Eyewitness Travel - Off The Tourist Trail

This massive (and heavy) book is absolutely loaded with suggested places to visit that rival famous and very touristy locations and even popular festivals. Full-color photos will inspire you. Most of the suggestions come with Practical Information boxes with "Getting There and Around", "When to Go", and a useful website for more information. I like the This vs That format of each location and even offers a little side bar about why you should skip the more famous site.

My favorite part of the book are the chapters titled "Less-Explored" such as "Less-Explored New York" and "Less-Explored San Francisco" located toward the end. They offer unique and interesting experiences without dealing with the long lines or high prices. "Less-Explored New York", for example, has suggestions for Off-Broadway Theater and Performances, international foods to try, Hidden Parks, Music Venues, and suggestions on where to stay and where to eat.

Also at the end of every section are these great "44 More" sights to explore with pages full of great suggestions.

The section "Ancient and Historical Sights" highlights plenty of interesting alternatives such as Pyramids of Meroe in Sudan versus the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt followed by 4 more pyramids to check out. Avebury versus Stonehenge followed by 6 more prehistoric sites. Pula Arena in Croatia versus Rome's Colosseum. This is followed by 6 more amphitheaters to visit.

The "Festivals and Parties" section has suggestions all over the world including Salvador Carinval versus Rio Carnival. Both are in Brazil but the Salvador version offers more participation and is actually the biggest street party in the world. This is followed by 4 more Carnival parties to attend. If you enjoy music, check out the Montreal Jazz Festival versus the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland - it's much closer and much more manageable.

"Great Journeys" section includes chapters "Less-Travelled China" and "Less-Travelled India" in addition to famous treks such as Coastal Route 15 in Mexico versus Route 66 in USA or a Pilgrimage to Rome vs Camino de Santiago in Spain.

"Architectural Marvels" section includes lots of famous structures including Haghia Sophia in Istanbul versus Basilica San Marco in Venice. Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles versus Sydney Opera House in Australia (and it's much closer for us). Notre-Dame d'Amiens in France versus Notre-Dame de Paris.

The next section, "Natural Wonders" has several good American options - Devil's Tower in Wyoming and Bryce Canyon in Utah, but then the authors choose Iceland over Yellowstone.

The "Beaches" section has some gorgeous pictures. Turtle Bay in Watamu, Kenya, Sabratha in Libya, Manzanillo Beach in Costa Rica, and more.

"Sports and Activities" section has some adventurous options. Skiing in Kicking Horse versus Whistler in Canada. Hiking Mount Stanley in Uganda versus Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Diving in Australia's Christmas Island versus The Great Barrier Reef.

"Art and Culture" section includes some interesting options such as Wine-Tasting in Mendoza in Argentina versus Napa Valley. Rock Art of Drakensburg in South Africa versus The Cave Paintings of Lascaux in France. Lyonnaise Cuisine versus Parisian Cuisine. New York's Independent Galleries versus MoMa also in New York.

And finally, "Cities" section featues a lot of "Less-Explored" chapters in addition to a nifty Geographical Index.

Overall, this is a great book to get inspired for some new places to visit and new experiences to try. The price of the book is pretty reasonable. I leave my copy on the coffee table so guests can also feel inspired by the beautiful full color photographs.

Title: Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives
Author: DK Publishing
ISBN: 978-0756653996
Pages: 336

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Book Review - Lonely Planet: Sustainable Escapes

This book starts with a well-written introduction to sustainable travel which is summarized as "tourism that delivers meaningful guest experiences and benefits locals without negatively influencing communities and the environment." As a traveler, it often means choosing a vendor that utilizes local resources or invests in their local community in a positive way. I was also surprised that many of the places highlighted in this were actually reasonably priced.

Right after the intro is a nice highlight of "Innovative Sustainable Tourism Attractions Around the World" which features 12 sites that were cutting edge in 2020 when this edition of the book was published.

The next chapter focuses on "Nature" with color-coded dots to showcase Wildlife Watching, Outdoor Adventure, and/or Conservation. Each listing includes bullet highlights of the location and a side bar which includes cost (when available), typical food offered, location and website. The chapter contains a guide on "7 Tips for Responsible Wildlife Interactions" which is a bit eye-opening.

"Relaxation" is the next chapter with color-coded dots for Eco-Luxury, Sustainable Dining, and Wellness. This chapter contains a note on "7 Ways to Reduce Waste on Your Travels" with simple tips anyone can try to incorporate.

Next is the chapter on "Culture" with color-coded dots for Community Interaction, Arts and Traditions, and Homestays. Within this chapter is a useful guide on "How to Choose a Responsible Tour Operator". The colored sidebar offers great suggestions on a responsible tour.

The next chapter is titled "Urban" for locations in cities and the color-coded dots include Eco-Luxury, Sustainable Dining, and Community Interaction. Many of the places in major cities are actually reasonably priced. The guide "Identifying a Sustainable Sleep" has some tips on picking a good place to spend the night (not necessarily a resort or hotel).

Next is a chapter on "Learning" where you can combine your travel with education but some of these tours might be a bit of a monetary stretch such as the Antarctica Scientific Expedition Cruise running over USD$14,000. But that is offset by the absolutely free Australia Beach Clean Up 10 day Expeditions. This chapter also contains the guide "How to Choose a Sustainable Volunteering Project"

Since this book was published back in 2020, you will want to verify all the information before making reservations or heading out.

Overall, this was a great book to find locations to stay at or visit that will minimize your impact on the planet and, for many locations, without spending gobs of money. Try to find this book at your local library or through inter-library loan programs.

Title: Lonely Planet Sustainable Escapes
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1838690373
Pages: 256

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Book Review - Subpar Planet by Amber Share

This is a fun, entertaining book that features some of the most famous landmarks and tourist destinations around the world and what a one-star reviewer said about them.

The author describes each location in great detail with some insight, oftentimes questioning what the reviewer might have experienced. One example: Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada which someone said was "Not Really the Best Place". Amber then discusses the appeal of the park and what a typical tourist might actually experience such as the blue and green lakes filled by glaciel melt, wildflowers in the Sunshine Meadows, and more. Another example: Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The reviewer said "Not as Spectacular as I Had Thought". Ouch. Amber gives the background of this masterpiece with the Emperor Shah Jahan who commissioned it in the 17th century for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal who died after having 14 children.

The chapters are broken out by continent or region - Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Each chapter has a colorful map of locations.

On pages 40 and 41 are a great "Which Waterfall is 'Best'" discussion comparing some of the most famous waterfalls in the world.

Pages 114 and 115 illustrate "The Big Five", the animals most people want to see when they head to Africa for a safari.

There's a funny chapter called "How to Have an Absolutely Terrible Time Traveling" at the end. This chapter offers some useful advice on not overloading your trip or your expectations.

This is not an actual travel guide but reading through the author's descriptive research, it's hard not to add many of these sites to your bucket list of places to visit. Definitely look for it in your local library for a quick, easy read.

Title: Subpar Planet: The World's Most Celebrated Landmarks and Their Most Disappointed Visitors
Author: Amber Share
ISBN: 978-0593473177
Pages: 254

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Book Review - Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World's Leading Travel Authority

When planning a vacation, if you lean towards activities that are more physical or challenging such as running marathons or rock climbing in the desert, this is the book for you.

For me and my family, I focused on activities that young children could enjoy which wasn't many. Here are the chapters that could fall into the family-friendly category or could be re-worked a bit to become family-friendly: Going to Extremes (a few choices such as the Dead Sea, Greenland, Vatican City), Best Four-Legged Adventures (Reindeer Sledding, Dog Mushing (check on age range requirements), Wagon Train Adventure), Boy's (and Girl's) Own Adventures, Get Your Thrills Indoors (Chakazoolu Indoor Theme Park or Indoor Skiing and Snowboarding), Intrepid Treasure-Hunting Trips (Gold Panning in British Columbia, Canada), Best Undiscovered US Parks, and a chapter dedicated to Family-Friendly Adventures (options like beaches in Bali, Indonesia or Ranching in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Are you a strong swimmer and enjoy water activities, check out these chapters: Best Spots to Catch a Big Wave, Wildest Swims in the World, Epic Sea-Kayak Paddles, Sail or Bust, Get on Board, Truly Wild Waterways, Best Rafting Rivers, Sweetest Snorkel Spots, and more.

Enjoy rock climbing, these might appearl to you: Mountain Quests, Most Spectacular Rock Climbs, Rock Stars: World's Best Bouldering, Best Beginners' Climbs, and more.

Prefer running or extreme hiking? How about Gotta Be In It to Win It: Best Races, Downhill Dashes, Mind-Blowing Marathons, Best Treks with Killer Views, Best ultra Runs, World's Highest Treks, Longest Treks, and more.

Like animals plus adventure (no petting zoos in here), try these: Scariest Animal Encounters, Most Excellent Equine Escapades, Best Birding in Highlands and Islands, Essential African Adventures, and more.

This book was published in 2013 so double-check all the locations to be sure they are still open to tourists and the information is correct.

For a family of young children or for really lazy people who prefer relaxing, this wasn't a very useful guide but there were a few suggestions. If you enjoy daring activities, you'll get plenty of inspiration.

Title: Lonely Planet's 1000 Ultimate Adventures from the World's Leading Travel Authority
Author: Lonely Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1743217191
Pages: 352

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Book Review - The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive by John Graham-Cumming

For those who are curious about inventions or gaining a better understanding on scientific concepts, you will enjoy the suggested locations in this hefty book.

The book is divided out into countries in alphabetical order. Under the United States, the chapter is further divided out into states. The last chapter, "Miscellaneous" has two discussion items of interest - Magicicada Brood X (a cicada bug periodically emerging along the Eastern United States coast) and the Magnetic North Pole.

Some highlights: Parkes Radio Telescope in Parkes, Australia.

Mendel Museum of Genetics in Brno, Czech Republic

Institut Pasteur in Paris, France

The Escher Museum in The Hague, Netherlands

Greenwich in London, England

Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in Ukraine

Titan Missile Museum in Sahuarita, Arizona, US

National Cryptologic Museum in Fort Meade, Maryland, US

Keep in mind that this book was published in 2009, so double-check operating hours and fees before heading out.

Overall, this is good book to add must-see locations to your itinerary or to get an overall lesson on scientific notions. Try to find it at your local library.

Title: The Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive
Author: John Graham-Cumming
ISBN: 978-0596523206
Pages: 542

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Book Review - Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local

If you're planning a trip to Paris, France, this is a really useful book to take with you. It's small enough to fit into your backpack or sling bag (or you can rip out the pages you need and take them with you).

The book contains 6 suggested walking itineraries. Each itinerary comes with an introduction to the walk, an overview of the neighborhoods, a "short on time" section that emphasizes the main sights to see, a full-color map with points of interest labeled (which are also color-coded), and the walk description (with the labels included). Followed by more details sections for "sights and attractions", "food and drink", "shopping" and "more to explore" which also correspond to the color-coded labels.

The introduction of the book includes lots of useful information - good to know practical info, museums, French food culture, useful shopping tips, public holidays, transportation and biking, Top 10 sights and museums, Top 10 restaurants, Top 10 On Sundays, and Top 10 Nightlife.

Walk 1 = Batignolles and Montmartre

Walk 2 = Quartier des Martyrs, Grands Boulevards, Louvre, and Madeleine

Walk 3 = Les Halles and Le Marais

Walk 4 = Les Iles, Latin Quarter, and Saint-Germain-des-Pres

Walk 5 = Eiffel Tower, Invalides and Champs-Elysees

Walk 6 = Belleville, Canal Saint-Martin and Menilmontant

The very last chapter offers more things to do "With More Time".

In summary, this is a keeper to take with you on your French trip.

Title: Moon Paris Walks: See the City Like a Local
Author: Moon Travel Guides
ISBN: 979-8886470222
Pages: 152

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Book Review - Road Trip Survival Guide by Samantha Brown

If you're planning any type of road trip, you'll want to read through this book. Even if you're not going on a road trip, there is plenty of information and inspiration to get out of this book.

The first chapter focuses on planning your trip - researching your destination, making your trip more green (environmentally friendly), and some inspirational trips.

Chapter two has lots of good advice for packing and vehicle organizing plus packing lists.

The next chapter offers suggestions on snacks to make and bring with you (and thereby saving money and time).

I found the "Safety" chapter useful for any trip with tips on vehicle safety and road conditions, night driving, and other safety resources.

Chapter five has some great itinerary suggestions for road trips in the United States as well as Canada and Mexico.

Overall, this is a great book. Try to find it in your local library.

Title: The Road Trip Survival Guide: Tips and Tricks for Planning Routes, Packing Up, and Preparing for Any Unexpected Encounter Along the Way
Author: Samantha Brown
ISBN: 978-1982177072
Pages: 204

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Book Review - Black Hills Family Fun Guide by Kindra Gordon

If you're planning a family trip to South Dakota's Black Hills area, you should get a hold of this book and look through all the great suggestions.

The book is divided by chapters focused on activities: "Famous Faces to Visit", "Buffalo, Bears and Reptiles", "Dinosaurs Galore", "See It Made - Or Mined", "Meaningful Museums", "Outdoors to Explore", "Water Parks, Go-Carts and Other Good Times", "Histories and Oddities", and "Puttin' on a Show".

At the end of the book is an Index by City if you're trying to plot out a road trip and have specific cities in mind along the way. The author has included the city's website so you can do a further search on what to do or eat in town.

I like that each chapter has a map with very simple marks for points of interest. If you're tech-savvy, you could add the points to your own Google Map or other virtual map.

Each location mentioned also includes operating dates, admission, parking fees, address, phone number and website.

Some businesses have a nice little "Neat to Know" callout, such as the National Presidential Wax Museum in Keystone, South Dakota - the "Neat to Know" mentions President Calvin Coolidge's visit at Custer Park's State Game Lodge and Resort in 1927.

At the end of the chapters, there is a "For More" section which will direct you to similar experiences in other chapters.

Since this 2nd edition was published in 2017, be sure to confirm operating hours and fees before you visit.

Overall, this is a nice guide. I found lots of interesting places to visit on my next trip. Try to find this book at your local library or through interloan services.

Title: Black Hills Family Fun Guide: Explore South Dakota's Badlands, Devils Tower and Black Hills
Author: Kindra Gordon
ISBN: 978-1591937357
Pages: 136

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Book Review - The World's Best National Parks in 500 Walks by Mary Caperton Morton

This is a massive book broken out by Continent (North America, South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, Asia, and Australasia).

The author breaks out each section by trails. Each trail is listed with its corresponding National Park, location, and a description. Many of the trails also contain distance, start, difficulty, and seasonal information. A few include a map.

Some of the parks contain more than one hiking trail such as Denali National Park and Preserve. The author highlights several hiking trails - "Savage Alpine Trail" (which is a moderately difficult one), "Horseshoe Lake Trail" (easy), "Mount Healy Overlook Trail".

The photographs in this book are gorgeous. I enjoyed flipping through and bookmarking ones that sounded manageable enough for my family. But, I just used this book as a starting point. Then I went to the National Park's website and got all the information I needed from there.

It would have been nice if this author had a directory for trails by difficulty. That would help someone quickly narrow down which trails they should focus on, such as my family needing easy trails.

Overall, it's a nice book to view inspirational photographs and add to your planning board. If you enjoy hikes, you can find similar inspirational books about hiking trails published by Thunder Bay Press.

Title: The World's Best National Parks in 500 Walks
Author: Mary Caperton Morton
ISBN: 978-1645176282
Pages: 400

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Book Review - Go Lightly : How To Travel Without Hurting The Planet by Nina Karnikowski

When I first ordered this book, I thought it was about packing light. Well, there was a chapter called "Pack Lightly" which was useful.

This book is about traveling while minimizing your impact on the planet. Even if you don't strictly follow sustainable travel practices, this book points out some really easy things we can all do without any big effort or cost.

What I really liked about this book were the "Conscious Travel Hero" interviews with experts. Many of them offer tips on lightly travelling and their favorite locations. Reading from actual people is enjoyable.

We all know that flying is toxic for the environment, but check the "Fly smarter" section of the "Move Lightly" chapter which offers a few practical tips. Have time to explore or are going to train-friendly countries, travel via a train and live the Swedish concept of "train bragging" or "tagskryt". Further in the chapter are useful tips on travelling by train including staying safe.

Some other chapters include "Eat Lightly", "Stay Lightly", and "Wild Lightly" (about wildlife).

I liked the "Shop Carefully" page because I also like to search out actual local crafts (and not items just purchased online from China).

The very end of the book features a nice Packing List with things we don't normally consider but should.

Overall, it's a good read. Try to find it at your local library or through inter-library loan.

Title: Go Lightly: How To Travel Without Hurting The Planet
Author: Nina Karnikowski
ISBN: 978-1399613569
Pages: 139

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Book Review - The Essential Guide to Driving in Europe by Julian Parish

If you have any plans to ever drive in Europe, I highly recommend reading this book. It's a small guide - easy to tuck into your backpack or purse.

The book starts with a "The first time" chapter for those who have never driven in a foreign country. Page 11 contains a really nifty checklist of what to bring with you (such as an evidence of driving record).

Skip over to page 14 or the "What to Take" chapter which contains more useful information on what you need to legally drive in Europe. Some of them should be provided by the car owner or the rental company but make sure you know how to obtain it in an emergency or police situation.

Be sure to read through the "Insurance and Breakdown Cover" chapter to understand the basic coverages and whether you might want to get extra coverage.

"Crossing the Chanel" chapter, a really short chapter, provides a useful overview for those who need to utilize crossings (such as the Western Channel between France and Spain or the Channel between France and the UK.

The next chapter explains the process of fueling your vehicle (if it requires petrol or diesel). There are QR codes which take you to websites that explain in more detail the different types of energy.

"The other side of the road" is a good explanation of driving on the left side of the road (like in the UK and Ireland).

The tiny chapter "Traffice offences in Europe" gives a quick "beward" type message on being aware of avoiding traffic tickets.

This is followed by three very short chapters - "Disabled travellers", "Travelling with children" and "Travelling with pets"

A more useful chapter is "Driving in cities". There are some good tips here. For better planning, I'd do a quick search in youtube or the web for specific cities you plan to visit to see any gotchas or must-knows.

There is a nice section on winter driving. Earlier in the book there was a brief mention on weather and road conditions.

If anything, be sure to read the "What to do: accidents and car crime" so that you are prepared and ready in an emergency situation as well as the following chapter, "What to do: breakdowns". Being prepared is smart.

The rest of the book is divided into regions then further divided into specific countries. Look for the locations you plan to visit. Each location contains roads, rules, tolls, speed limits, and other useful information.

In summary, try to find this book in your local library to get a good overview on preparing for your trip. Keep in mind, even though this is labeled as a New Edition, it was published in 2016. So be sure to verify all the information ahead of your trip.

Title: The Essential Guide to Driving in Europe
Author: Julian Parish
ISBN: 978-1787113039
Pages: 144

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Book Review - Culture Shock Vietnam by Ben Engelbach

I wish I had read this book before my trip to Vietnam because it would have helped prepare me a little bit more and given context to some of my experiences. I appreciate the honest and concise writing of the American-born author who lives and works in Hanoi. Even though this book is aimed more at long-term visitors, there's plenty of good information for short-termers as well.

Chapter one, "First Impressions", was amusing but since I had gone first to Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City it didn't quite match my own first impressions.

The next chapter, "Overview of Land and History" will give you a good idea of how variable the country is (there are beaches, mountains, big cities, etc) in addition to some history lessons.

Chapter three, "People" is really good. It includes sections on values (respecting elders, saving face, family first, etc) and religion (Vietnamese people celebrate their ancestors and are pretty tolerant of other religions).

Chapter four discusses Socializing and Fitting In. This chapter is aimed more at people who are staying longer in Vietnam than a basic tourist or if you're planning to visit a family member or friend it will be helpful.

Chapter five, "Settling into the Country" has a lot of useful information for shopping, public transportation, staying safe, health and hospitals, and more. From my own experiences, I agreed with most of the information presented. I never had to worry about schools or taxes but those are discussed as well.

Chapter six is probably the best one in the book as it focuses on Food. And yes, Vietnamese people really do eat pho noodle soup for breakfast (and pretty much any time of the day or night). After a few breakfasts you will get used to it (there aren't very many bacon-and-eggs type meals available). There's also information on drinks (coffee, beer), entertaining, fast food and more.

You can find a list of celebrated holidays and events in chapter seven, "Enjoying the Culture and Travel" as well as recreation and sports (football or soccer).

The "Languages" chapter, or chapter nine, gives a quick overview of the language. Keep in mind, however, that there are two dialects in Vietnam - the northern and the southern. This will make communicating more complicated. There is a great little sidebar detailing how to address others. Jump to the Glossary for some useful words.

The eighth chapter concerns with working in the country which is complicated on visitory visas. If you're interested in volunteer work, look at the last section of the chapter.

Chapter 10 offers "Fast Facts" followed by some useful Do's and Don'ts and a Glossary.

Overall, this a great introduction to Vietnam from an American's point of view. Not really a keeper so try to locate a copy through your local library.

Title: Culture Shock! Vietnam
Author: Ben Engelbach
ISBN: 978-9814771672
Pages: 248

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Book Review - Lonely Planet Montreal and Quebec City by Steve Fallon, Regis St Louis and Phillip Tang

This summer I am hoping to make a trip to La Ronde, the Six Flags owned amusement park in Montreal, so I picked up a few Canadian tour guides. It's been over twenty years since I'd last visited Montreal and I can't wait to go back. Just FYI, Quebec is pronounced kay-BEC and people from Quebec are called Quebecois or Quebecoise (kebekwa).

I like how the Lonely Planet guide books are broken into four main sections (with color-coded tabs) - Plan Your Trip, Explore, Understand, and Survival Guide. Lots of full-color photographs and maps. At the end of the book after the index is a tear-out section of useful maps.

The first section, Plan Your Trip, includes the following: Montreal's Top 10, Need to Know, Top Itineraries, Monthy by Month festivals, Travel with Kids, Visiting Quebec City, Eating highlights, Drinking highlights, Entertainment, and Shopping.

The next section, Explore, is broken out into the following chapters: Neighborhoods at a Glance, Old Montreal, Parc Jean-Drapeau (where the La Ronde amusement park resides along with some other family-friendly places to visit), Downtown, Rue St Denis and the Village, Plateau Mont-Royal and the Northeast, Little Italy and Outremont, Lachine Canal and Little Burgundy, Day trips from Montreal, Accomodations, and Quebec City.

Understand Montreal and Quebec City section contains chapters on the history of Montreal and a separate history for Quebec City, People and Culture, Music and the Arts, and Architecture (a brief four page chapter on some key architectural points to visit).

Survival Guide is a chapter of interest to visitors - Transportation, Directory A-Z, and Languages (a very handy pull-out guide on some basic French)

This is a wonderful guide to this area. The walking itineraries with detailed maps and points of interest are great. Just a note, I saw on Amazon there's a newer edition coming out this year. Always be sure to validate operating hours and days as well as costs before heading out.

Title: Lonely Planet Montreal and Quebec City
Authors: by Steve Fallon, Regis St Louis, Phillip Tang
ISBN: 978-1788684507
Pages: 288

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