Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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 is
money well spent.
The following books are worthwhile, though most are not updated annu-
ally; check the publication date before you buy. Lonely Planet's
Scandinavian
Europe
is thorough, well-researched, and packed with good maps and hotel
recommendations for low- to moderate-budget travelers. The similar
Rough
Guide to Scandinavia
ishipandinsightful,writtenbyBritishresearchers.Cul-
ture Shock's guides to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden help travelers to bet-
ter understand local customs and etiquette. Older travelers enjoy guides from
Frommer's, even though, like the Fodor's guide, they ignore alternatives that
enable travelers to save money by dirtying their fingers in the local culture.
The popular, skinny green Michelin Guides are excellent, especially if
you're driving. Michelin Guides are known for their city and sightseeing
maps, dry but concise and helpful information on all major sights, and good
cultural and historical background. English editions are sold in Europe at gas
stations and tourist shops.
The Eyewitness series—which covers Denmark, Norway, and Sweden—is
popular for great, easy-to-grasp graphics and photos, 3-D cutaways of build-
ings, aerial-view maps of historic neighborhoods, and cultural background.
But written content in Eyewitness is relatively skimpy, and the topics weigh a
ton. I simply borrow them for a minute from other travelers at certain sights to
make sure that I'm aware of that place's highlights.
Those staying longer in Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen, or Helsinki might con-
sider the Insight guides to those cities. The British entertainment publication
Time Out
sells well-researched guides with up-to-date coverage on Copenha-
gen and Stockholm, including the latest on hotels, restaurants, and nightlife
(
www.timeout.com
)
.
For Estonia, consider the
Bradt Guide to Estonia
(published by Globe
Pequot Press).
