Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the difference between choosing an old, slow road or saving an hour by finding the brand-
new highway.
If you're like most travelers, this topic is all you need. But if you're heading beyond my
recommended destinations, $40 for extra maps and books can be money well-spent.
The following books are worthwhile, though most are not updated annually; check the
publication date before you buy. Lonely Planet's
Portugal
is thorough, well-researched,
and packed with good maps and hotel recommendations for various budgets. The similar
Rough Guide to Portugal
is hip and insightful, written by British researchers. (If choosing
between these two titles, I buy the one that was published most recently.) Students, back-
packers, and nightlife-seekers should consider the
Let's Go Spain & Portugal
guidebook
(by Harvard students, has the best hostel listings).
Culture Shock! Portugal
provides in-
sights into the culture, customs, and mentality of the Portuguese people.
Dorling Kindersley publishes snazzy
Eyewitness
and
Eyewitness Top 10
guides, cov-
ering Portugal, Lisbon, and the Algarve. While pretty to look at, these books weigh a ton
and are skimpy on actual content.
Older travelers enjoy Frommer's
Portugal
guide, even though it, like the Fodor's
guide, tends to ignore alternatives that enable travelers to save money by dirtying their
fingers in the local culture. The popular, skinny
Michelin Green Guide: Portugal
is excel-
lent, especially if you're driving. The Green Guides are known for their city and sightsee-
ing maps, dry but concise and helpful information on all major sights, and good cultur-
al and historical background. English editions are sold in Portugal. The
Time Out
travel
guide provides good, detailed coverage of Lisbon, particularly on arts and entertainment.
