With the growing popularity of guidebooks over the past fifteen years, it would be difficult to find a region on earth that is not covered by a travel guide today. A travel guide is an essential tool for traveling on a budget. The guide you choose can make all the difference to your trip. There are a variety of excellent travel guides written by several different companies, including Moon, Lets Go Lonely Planet and Rough Guides. Virtually every traveler backpacking in a foreign country has used a travel guide in one way or another, whether they took their own or borrowed somebody else's for a moment or two.
Most guides follow the same general format.
Regardless of the country they are discussing, travel guides begin by giving you the statistics and background information on the particular country. Then they go on to tell you how to pack, what to pack, etc. Some guides go into great detail about the historical features and exhibits of a country while others tell you about every dance club available. Different publishers also tend to be stronger in discussing particular areas of the world. Make sure your travel guide is as current as possible.