Customer Reviews

Traveler's Tool Kit: How to Travel Absolutely Anywhere

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(1)
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The Traveler's Tool Kit by Rob Sangster is an all-encompassing volume of how-to travel knowledge from a reliable source. The author has traveled extensively all over the world for many years and also for very extended periods per trip. The first half of the book is split between two sections, Part One: Planning Your Trip and Part Two: Getting Ready. The remaining half of the book focuses on actual "On the road" wisdom.

While the early chapters cover topics like "choosing a guidebook" and "choosing luggage" are very long-winded, especially for those with even the most basic travel experience, they are perfect for scared-stiff first-time travelers. Those not scared stiff and sweating with travel fever certainly will after reading Chapter 8, Keeping Healthy, as the author covers all the various fungal infections and parasites that you may join you during your adventure. Even though the author is very verbose, all of the text is filled with travel gems of knowledge like this one from the scary Keeping Healthy chapter:

"If your feet will be constantly wet, as they might be during an extended trek in Amazonia, coat them with Vaseline to ward off jungle rot. Sounds messy but it works."

There are more "uplifting" gems as well, like this one from "Traveling By Bus":

"Some trips combine spectacular scenery with luxury. The air-conditioned Scania superbus that cruises 1,200 miles from Santiago to Arica, Chile, has a bar, a bathroom, three movie screens, and a smiling hostess. As the sleek bus hums across the moonscape of the Atacama Desert, you spy huge boulders balanced on barren mountainsides... As heat waves shimmer outside the window, cool air breezes across your face and the hostess set an ice-cold beer at your elbow. At night, your seat reclines to nearly horizontal, a leg rest pops out, and you're in bed. All that for about $40."

Other travel gems provide advice for avoiding travel rip-offs and scams. The Traveler's Took Kit is an EXTREMLEY great value packed with sage travel advice.

The author says it all with the quote, "Too many vacations consist of lying down, dressing up, and paying someone else a lot of money." As anyone who has traveled for months or years on end will tell you, traveling can be downright cheap (and quite fulfilling and eye-opening) if you do it right. This book will tell you how to do it right, from choosing destinations to preparations, to packing. He even completes the circle with a section on the process of returning home. Some may find this book overkill; if you're the type who thinks uncertainty is half the adventure, pick up Vagabonding instead. But if you like to have your bases covered before departing, this will answer hundreds of questions--even the ones you hadn't thought to ask!
- Tim Leffel, author, The World's Cheapest Destinations: 21 Countries Where Your Dollars are Worth a Fortune

I first ran across this book a few years ago when I had just been bitten by the travel bug, but did not know how to plan or to pack. This book was a wonderful introduction to traveling; full of stories advice by the author from his extensive travels through the world. Those who are still unsure about traveling will find themselves steadied by the introductory chapters which suggest reasons for traveling. What is even better is that the author makes very good suggestions as to how to pack and what essentials to bring. Things that you may not have thought of bringing that you will find useful. Plus for someone just beginning to travel, such a well though out list is a great help. Although I have now lived on three different continents and traveled extensively, I still find myself referring to the lists of things to pack or the suggestions for how to find inexpensive fares. So, even seasoned travelers will still find this book a good resource.

If you are just thinking of traveling in the world or have already been bitten by the bug, I highly recommend this great resource as an aid for your travel plans.

I really think this is a good basic book. I am an experienced traveler and I still found many valuable insights, useful web pages, and helpful tidbits. The bibliography at the end of the book is worth the price alone. It has many valuable resources and lists hard to find periodicals and newsletters. I found Chapter 14, "Woman On Her Own" especially helpful for the trip I am planning now. It gives advice for the solo woman traveler. The multitude of checklists is also very helpful. I heartily recommend this book to new and seasoned travelers.

Quite possibly the best and most useful general travel reference book that I have seen. It has basics for planning, preparing for, and going on your trip. Outstanding bibliography and checklists. This book will serve as a great introduction to all aspects of trip planning, but you will probably want to consult other resources for further information about specific topics (such as courier flights, packing, rail travel, destinations).

Reviewed October 2001 by Charles McCool on LowerAirfares.com

I could rave about this book in so many different ways! The organization is wonderful, the advice Sangster offers is practical, and his style is extremely encouraging. Unlike many other travel advice books, Sangster does not come across as a travel snob nor does he talk down to his readers nor is he intimidating with his approach.

Additionally, Robert Sangster is also accessible to his readers. I sent him an email, commending him on such a wonderful book and shared with him my up-coming travel plans. Within a short time, he replied personally, offering additional advice (even though I really hadn't asked for it) and wishing me the best on my travels.

I highly recommend this book for every possible reason. Happy trails!

This book does have a lot of helpful information in it. A lot of it is stuff that I already know, having done a lot of traveling, but that's beside the point; almost any traveler would derive lots of great tips from reading this very substantial volume (it's a lot thicker than I expected!)

The problem is, it's now been nearly 8 years since this book was written, and considering that it was published pre-9/11, there is a LOT about travel that has changed since then. A lot of the tips on air travel are now completely irrelevant, especially those on international plane travel. There were quite a few statements that I either knew were incorrect, or had to look up online to verify and found them to be wrong because of the changes since 2001. For example, he encourages people to obtain 48-page passports, but these have not been available in the US for quite some time. He also does not include as many internet resources as he could if he put out a new edition now; the Web has come quite a long way since 2000!

In short, while this book has a lot of information, I do not recommend buying this outdated edition. It's not worth the money given how much of it is no longer valid.

Rob Sangster's Traveler's Tool Kit imparts the magic of discovery as well as the life-changing impact of the journey. Rob's sound advice enables every traveler. from inexperienced to world-wise, to meet other cultures and new experiences with passion and integrity. Rob has an innate sense of what real travel is all about and he brings that gift to readers. By the way, in addition to improving the quality of travel, Traveler's Tool Kit has already saved me a lot of money.

Traveler's Tool Kit is engaging, informative, and easy to read. The book provides the reader with relevant travel information on a multitude of topics. Much more than a "how to" book about travel, this book is also a delightful personal account to read! When I first purchased the book, my goal was to change travel habits through Mr. Sangster's impressive suggestions regarding planning trips more effectively and efficiently using his checklists and recommendations. I also hoped to discover information about traveling alone to countries that I have not yet visited. The book is much more than I expected! In addition to the wealth of information, recommendations, and contacts, I found myself engaged in his stories to the point of laughing aloud as I read. Whether you have traveled before or intend to travel in the future, this book is a "must read" for anyone exploring the world.

This is a well-written resource for the traveler. Most of the advice and information is interesting and very-useful as well as time-tested. Fro example, the description of shopping tactics and how store keepers will price their goods according to the perceived affluence of the traveler was interesting and practical. Watching a well-known traveler on the Travel Channel interact with a store merchant in a South American country, I was amazed to see such an experienced traveler fall for the merchant tactics described in this book.
But some sections need updating. I would recommend this book for a general back ground of traveling but would also recommend purchasing a newer book for current data.