Customer Reviews

Conde Nast Traveler (2-year)

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I have subscribed to Traveler for a while now. Before I picked up that subscription, I was already subscribing to National Geographic Traveler and Budget Travel. I have to say that for the average, middle-class person, Budget Travel is the most practical. I enjoy reading it the most because I want to know how to get a great deal . . . not how to get the most for your dollar in First Class. This magazine is definitely geared toward the more affluent traveler. It is also geared toward the sophisticated, chic traveler--not the average traveler. While it is interesting to read about places the wealthy are able to afford and dream about going there, I would rather a magazine cater more to my tastes and more toward the tastes of its general subscription population.

When I subscribed to this magazine, I was already receiving National Geographic Traveller. I was helping with a fundraiser, but I mainly wanted to see if it was as good or better travel magazine than others I've seen.

Well, it was definitly thicker than N.G.Traveller, but that was because the majority of it was crammed with advertisements. The articles that it did have were typically short, and would often have more to do with fashion than travel. I was hoping for travel-related stories and photos, but instead I could hardly turn a page without seeing scantily clad women, as if that was the appeal of the destinations being written about. In one issue, the main story was supposed to be about ski resorts, but it actually focused on a particular woman's clothing brands, and just contained photos of her wearing a bikini in the snow.

I wouldn't consider myself sophisticated, but I would much rather read a magazine that is more informative and entertaining, with content more related to travel. I'm tired of reading lists of the top 100 hotels, resorts, cruises, or whatever, and do not enjoy having to search to find actual articles. If you don't mind spending your money to read advertisements, than go ahead and subscribe. I'll stick with National Geographic Traveler.

I think that in terms of overall content presented, 'Conde Nast Traveler' is the best travel magazine currently on the market. Some other reviewers have raised some valid points concerning article length, and bias toward upscale properties. I think that there are other magazines that might be more suitable for others, including 'Budget Travel' and 'National Geographic Traveler', both of which I also subscribe to and enjoy, though they both have their limitations and issues as well.

So what sets 'Conde Nast' apart? I think it is the willingness to find new and exciting vacation destinations that are still reasonable enough to get to as to make them worthwhile to a large audience. Some of the more exotic magazines have great articles on hiking in Tibet and the like, but how many people are really able to do that (or can afford to do it?) My point is that although it is by no means perfect, I think the editors and writers do consciously strike a balance between the too mundane and too exotic (and expensive) and attempt to focus the majority of the magazine in that area.

This is just too good of a magazine to pass up. The 'Deals of the Month' section alone justifies the price. Of all the travel magazines I read on a monthly basis (currently four) 'Conde Nast Traveler' is my favorite and I highly recommend it.

I'm a consummate world traveler but have to be budget minded. This magazine seems more tailored for the wealthier travelers of the world and doesn't necessarily suit my needs. However, I understand this and still get the magazine for the following reasons: beautiful photos, interesting world stories, great ideas on travel, great itineraries, and it looks great on my coffee table!

I wish there were more articles as I often wade through more advertisements than I care for, but I also understand this is how they make their money. Still, this is enough coupled with the higher scale clientele that stops me from giving it a full 5 stars.

I felt this magazine focused to much on advertising, I work part time as a travel agent and I'm able to give my clients more tips and insight with National Geographic's travel magazine and Budget travel

This magazine gives great tips on hotels and travel locations. The annual "Gold List" and "Hot List" issues (November-December) are great for those who can plan a vacation around a great resort. The articles on local culture are top notch. Only negative - this magazine is aimed at those who spend large amounts on vacation travel. Very few budget sites are ever mentioned. We found fantastic hotels on Bali for $50-$60 per night which rivaled the quality of the $250-$500 per night sites recommended by Conde Nast readers on the gold list. If you golf, ski, or have the dough for top class resorts and hotels, this is your mag.

I used to subscribe to well over 16 Magazine Publications I trimmed back to only subscribing to 3 in the last 3 years well this one I added recently.

Wonderful pictures, articles that are interesting and informative. You can tell when a magazine is good when you pick it up repeatedly to read. I save all of these magazines to share with friends and associates. I don't find it to be on the "high end" I think they have enough information in each issue for everyone. I also agree with what one of my fellow reviewers stated this magazine hasn't been bogged down with advertisements yet, so therefore you are definately getting enough articles, reports, money saving tips and reader comments to fill up these pages.

It is well worth the money and I have renewed twice now.... and that coming from someone who is VERY selective of what Magazine publications come to my door is a HUGE Compliment.

Respectfully Reviewed

CN Traveler is a good mass-market travel magazine. For a while, I was a rabid T&L reader, which is more visually appealing, but suffers for content; recently, T&L seems more interested in ads and fluff pieces than in practical help for the traveller.

CN doesn't make these mistakes; there's always something useful in Traveller; good destination highlights, decent tracking of in or just new restaurants, hotels, etc., and a better content/ad ratio.

All of that said, T&L has a much more useful Web site; the 'destinations' link in particular is quite valuable. However, that's free, and you have to plonk down money for a magazine. If you do, this is your best bet.

I used to love this magazine. It still has some excellent articles, but it is true that there are way too many filler issues now with top 100 lists of things I have no interest in (resort hotels, spas, expensive travel agents). However, on the flip side, it never talks down to the reader - the audience is assumed to be well travelled and somewhat sophisticated - which I appreciate. I checked out Nat Geographic Traveller hoping it would be like the CN Traveller of old, but although it has nicer photography (with few gratuitously scantily clad female shots), it seemed much more mainstream - like I had already done many of the "dream trips" befor I hit my 30s and the information also seemed much shallower. I like Geo, but I struggle through the French and it's a lot more expensive.

I had a subscription to this magazine years ago and let it laspe. I recently picked it up again and I will not be renewing it. The magazine is obviously geared toward folks that like their information in the highly abbreviated form.

Articles are usually extremely short and not very informative in my opinion. Less than one page is not unusual. Sometimes I have a hard time telling if soemthing is an article or an advertisement.

I wish I could recommend another, better travel magazine, but I just haven't found one.

Since I'm obviously not in the main stream on this one, I'd suggest that you buy a couple of copies off the newstand before making the commitment to a year or more subscription.