Customer Reviews

Where To Go When (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Two years ago, the producers of the PBS series, Globe Trekker, released a tie-in book similar in approach to this one called Globe Trekker's World: What's On in the World...and When. Travel writer Joseph Rosendo takes the same approach of presenting a global calendar of must-see sights, events and unique festivals. Granted the paperback Globe Trekker calendar guidebook is half the price, but this has the advantage of the glossy, luxuriant look of the DK Eyewitness Guides adapted into a coffee-table book format full of their superb color photography. As the consulting editor, Rosendo has designed the book specifically to overload the reader's visual senses with exotic images that whet an appetite for further investigation.

Whereas "Globe Trekker" is targeted more to the backpack adventurer, this book encompasses a broader spectrum of experiences, for example, what to do for five days in March during the Fallas Festival in Valencia, Spain, or four days in July during the Calgary Stampede, or ten days sailing in Kerala, India, in December. Not only are there renowned festivals around the world to attend but also more personalized experiences recommended that range from luxuriant trips of romantic fantasy to affordable family getaways. The presentation is smart simply because Rosendo lets the seasons dictate the order of the highlights rather than the geography itself. Each month opens with a two-page spread of thirty key activities occurring at that time around the world of which a dozen are highlighted with greater detail.

Key bits of advice are presented with a couple of lines on such topics as getting there and getting around, what it costs to eat , what to do for a recommended period of time, and even a comment on the local do's and don'ts to avoid being labeled an ugly American. But make no mistake, it's the lush, often dazzling photography that is the draw here, not the relatively cursory information provided. What the DK Eyewitness Guides do especially well is make visual sense of what other guidebooks simply describe in words. This large-format book goes even further in bundling the diverse world of experiences to be had if one ventures forth to find them at the optimal time and with an unlimited budget.

Most travel guides tell you what to see, but not when. Knowing the important cultural events of a country or region makes a trip memorable. Equally significant to me as a photographer are the weather and seasonal conditions. Rainy seasons, extreme heat, days of overcast need to be considered when I travel. I especially like to know when flowers are blooming. The notes in the margin make a quick study of learning the basic facts regarding getting there, getting around, accommodations, eating, and prices for two people. The excellent photographs are well-chosen. Just when I think I don't need another travel book, this one is published. It's a beautiful and useful book and would make a great gift for someone who enjoys travel.

It's a very pretty book with gorgeous pictures, that's what caught my attention to begin with. But it didn't live up to its title for `where to go when'. I think it would be more useful if it's `where to go when and why'. People go places for different reasons, some for the good weather, some for the festivals and special events, and some for the budget. Disregard those considerations, the book became useless for planning a trip. Kauai for example, is listed under October, but was given no reasons why. Anyone who lived in Hawaii knows you can visit Hawaii just about all year around for its good weather. Although winter can be wet, but it offers the biggest waves for surfing. Best whale watching time is February and March. Camping and kayaking to Kalalau beach is only safe or possible in July and August (I can be sure the beautiful Kalalau valley and beach picture wasn't taken in October), in fact September and October is typhoon season. So why October? When weather is mild in most part of the world, it's obviously not suitable for family travel since schools have started, cheaper plane tickets? The book didn't say anything! I looked up places I have visited before and don't think I'd visit them for the time being recommended in the book either. 7 stars for a coffee table book, 1 star for travel planning book.

"Where to Go When" is a gorgeous coffee-table book with lots of photos, plus practical information on the best times of year to visit a wide variety of sites around the world. It's arranged by month and is less about which hotel to book than about interesting things to do when you reach your destination. Travelers may not know that Peru's seasons are the reverse of those in the United States or that winter is the best time to go to India or Egypt because the summers are miserably hot. After seeing the photos of Tibet, I'm ready to pack my bags! This isn't a standard travel guide, but it's worth seeing for the wonderful photos and sometimes quirky details about destinations.

This is a must for anyone who loves to travel or even to just read about it. There are so many wonderful places to explore through this amazing book. It has a great set up as each section is divided by the month. Each month lists 30 locations, in which 11 of them are written in detail. For each of the 11 featured locations, the book has a write up, an itinerary, and dos and don'ts. Furthermore, each location also includes: Getting There, Getting Around, Weather, Accomodations, Eating Out and Price for Two. Included for each place is a website listed for additional information. Spectacular photos too! A smorgasbord of the senses!

I absolutely loved the book. It has some great pictures and gives information regrading the places to visit at the right time (month). Also it gives info about major festivals at some places, places to visit, major attractions and things to do and not to do. Overall I loved the book and would recommend it to people who want to know where to go at the right time.

This book is perfect - the photos, the information, the details, the broad range of places covers - everything combines to make this a wonderful addition to your travel collection. Unfortunately, the only thing against this book is its size; it's an oversized book, best suited to a coffee table or tall bookshelf. The idea of the book is to present the best places to travel each month of the year, mainly based on weather patterns and festivals. There is a 2-page spread devoted to each place, and 12 places are visited in each of the months, so you have 144 destinations covered within the book. The travel information (such as where to stay and opening times of historic places) will be outdated fast, but the photos, weather, and `tips' that are offered will remain the same. So, the book does have viability for a quite a while. Basically, this is a wonderful around-the-world travel book and will open your eyes to new destinations that perhaps you'll want to visit. The best part, for me, was the itinerary listed for each of the destinations; often, I will have trouble determining how many days I need to visit a place, but this book gives you a very good idea of that.

Want to be transported without the hassle of airport security, fees for checked baggage, or cramped airline seats? Then this Eyewitness Travel Guide is a must have. As an avid world traveler, I have my top 10 list of where I want to travel. Yet when I feel the urge to get away without a moment's notice, I just open up "Where To Go When" and slip into an effortless travel experience.

The photos in this book are exquisite. Information highlights about each destination are brief yet informative enough for trips from the couch. While I would not recommend going to a number of the places during the time of year suggested, I do highly recommend the enjoyment of this guide for intriguing picturesque travels in the comfort of your home.

A truly masterpiece among the travel books. The selection and mix of pictures with useful information is spectacular. Let's take an example, page 150/151; Yunnan in China. At one glance i geat a pretty good picture of the area with 9 pictures plus a world map and the location of Yunnan. I can find easily Dos and Don'ts, getting there, getting around and what not to miss. This book finds the perfect balance between a large collection of travel ideas and sufficient information on the recommended location. Many other books simply overload the reader with too many ideas while not providing sufficient pictures/information. With'Where To Go When, DK achieved a masterpiece among travel books!

The photography is fantastic and the festivals described are inviting and interesting, however I expected to have a little more information when purchasing such a large book. It is not cram packed with facts, just places and only simple reasons to visit areas "when". I just expected so much more.