This is the book we turn to whenever we travel.

The author has never led us wrong. She provides excellent recommendations on places to see, such as famous landmarks and hidden gems.

Not only that, but she also gives great suggestions on things to eat, including local delicacies and must-try dishes.

When it comes to places to stay, she offers a wide range of options to suit different budgets and preferences.

Moreover, she gives great insight into things to do and see off the beaten track, allowing us to discover unique experiences that are not typically found in guidebooks.

This book is truly a valuable resource for any traveler, and we highly recommend it.

This travel guidebook covers the major sights around the world, but it does so in a rather pedantic way. It is filled with the typical tourist attractions and the common tourist trap restaurants. If you are seeking the unusual or off-the-beaten-path destinations, you won't find them here. For instance, in my opinion, Newgrange in Ireland is far more spectacular than Stonehenge, yet it is less well known. However, in this book, Stonehenge gets its own dedicated chapter, while Newgrange is grouped together with other Boyne Valley attractions. On the other hand, Rick Steves offers you alternative options that are less well known but have more local flavor.

buy a rick steves book instead

He provides valuable insights and suggestions that can enhance your travel experience and help you discover hidden gems. So, if you truly want to explore the world in a more unique and authentic way, it might be a better idea to buy a Rick Steves book instead of relying on this rather ordinary guidebook.

I have a unique way of keeping track of my travels.

Whenever I visit a new place, I make sure to highlight it.

This simple act helps me remember the details and experiences of each location.

Whether it's a bustling city, a peaceful countryside, or a beautiful beach, highlighting these places allows me to create a visual map in my mind.

It also serves as a reminder of the wonderful memories I've made along the way.

As I look back at my highlighted places, I can recall the sounds, smells, and emotions associated with each one.

It's like taking a trip down memory lane.

Highlighting my visited places has become an important part of my travel routine, and I look forward to adding more highlights to my collection in the future.

Of course, this book is not intended to be read from beginning to end.

Rather, it should serve as a reference for travel planning.

If you have a penchant for splurging on historical hotels and trendy locations, this book can be quite useful.

However, it may not be very beneficial for the budget-conscious or family traveler.

You can simply flip through its pages to envision the most unrealistic bucket list.

It offers a wealth of information on luxurious accommodations and fashionable destinations that might seem out of reach for some.

But for those with the means and a desire for a more extravagant travel experience, it can provide inspiration and ideas.

Overall, while it may not be suitable for everyone, it does have its niche in the world of travel literature.

For many years now, I have been an enthusiastic virtual traveler on Google Earth.

Whenever I have a spare hour, I explore the tundras of Kamchatka, fly over the beaches of Florida, skirt the Norwegian fjords, dive into the lakes in North America, walk through the streets of Madrid, climb Mount Kilimanjaro, descend on Andean villages, look out over the craters of volcanoes, jump from the top of one skyscraper to another, and traverse Sardinian trails in the Mediterranean scrub that are traced like threads barely visible from the satellite.

This volume (which I have in the Italian version) is an American thing, and it has many flaws; however, it is of the utmost usefulness for my life as a virtual explorer: it has made me discover places that I had never heard of.

And, in any case, it makes one dream.

There is a wealth of content to explore here.

This book is crafted to offer a coffee-table experience, inviting readers to pick it up and peruse randomly.

We can all relish the vicarious excitement of "visiting" or imagining ourselves visiting all the hidden and enchanting places described.

Nevertheless, the later edition appears to have diminished the initial thrill.

It has done so by incorporating extensive restaurant and must-see lists within major tourist destinations such as New York City.

This transformation has turned the book into more of a typical Fodor's tourbook.

Consequently, it has lost some of the aspirational and inspirational qualities that made the original so highly successful.

Now, it seems to focus more on practical information rather than inspiring readers with a sense of adventure and wonder.

While the addition of these lists may be useful for some travelers, it has taken away from the unique charm and allure of the original publication.

Perhaps a balance could be struck to maintain the book's original spirit while still providing valuable practical guidance.

With a few minor exceptions, this is a whopping 510 pages of crappy vacation pictures.

It's truly disappointing. The places that I personally found most interesting were given only the barest of nods or a tiny kernel of information.

Instead, there were an abundance of pictures of zoos, food, and abstract views that had absolutely no reference points at all.

It's as if the photographer completely missed the essence of the truly remarkable locations.

Had I not received this as a well-intentioned Christmas gift, I would have unhesitatingly demanded my money back along with a sincere apology for wasting my precious time.

This collection of pictures fails to capture the spirit and beauty of the vacation destinations, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction and disappointment.

It serves as a reminder that sometimes, even the best intentions can result in a less than satisfactory outcome.

Perhaps the next time someone decides to document their vacation, they will take more care to focus on the truly interesting aspects and provide a more engaging and informative account.

Until then, I'll have to look elsewhere for a more fulfilling travel experience.

The BIG Book is truly a remarkable piece.

Mostly, it is extremely interesting, filled with captivating stories and details.

However, there is a slight drawback in that the narrative does not always align perfectly with the pictures.

This can sometimes make it a bit challenging to fully understand the context or visualize the scenes as intended.

Given that I will likely never have the opportunity to visit these places in person before I pass away, I really could have used more pictures.

More visuals would have enhanced my experience and allowed me to better imagine the beauty and uniqueness of each location.

Despite this small issue, the BIG Book still offers a wealth of knowledge and entertainment, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in exploration and discovery.

What an ignorant and biased author this is!

There is a book titled "1000 places to see before you die", yet the author only includes 10 of the most stereotypical photos of the Middle East, featuring nothing but desert and camels! This is an extremely narrow and inaccurate portrayal of the region.

Moreover, the author briefly classifies Turkey, Iran, and Iraq as "Asia" instead of the Middle East. This shows a lack of basic geographical knowledge. How can one write a book about places in the world without having a proper understanding of geography?

The author also seems to be heavily biased towards touristy places and uses a very white-centric language. For example, the "culinary revolution" of Denmark is emphasized, while only a few columns are dedicated to the magnificent Persepolis.

It's truly a pity that the author fails to showcase the real gems around the world through good photos. Sigh, white people. Sigh.

I have always had a certain degree of wanderlust within me.

Therefore, when I purchased this book, I was extremely excited. I had expected that it would contain a few more 'adventurous' places to visit.

However, it does touch on several places that I would like to go to.

It is not an awful travel guide by any means.

Nevertheless, it might be a bit boring for those individuals who are seeking something more exciting.

The book seems to have a more subdued approach to travel destinations, perhaps focusing on the more common and well-known places rather than the off-the-beaten-path adventures that some might crave.

Nonetheless, for someone like me who has a general interest in traveling and exploring new places, it still holds some value and can provide some inspiration for future trips.

3.5 stars.

Some of the places mentioned in this book are fancy and expensive hotels or restaurants. They might indeed be amazing, with their luxurious interiors and top-notch services. However, this is not my typical way of traveling. I prefer a more budget-friendly and down-to-earth approach when it comes to tourism.

Nevertheless, it was quite enjoyable to flip through the pages of this book and mark the sites that I have already visited as well as those that I渴望 to see in the future. It gives me a sense of excitement and anticipation.

Overall, I would say that this book is more of a source of inspiration rather than a comprehensive and practical travel guide. Although it attempts to serve both purposes, it leans more towards激发 the reader's imagination and wanderlust. It makes me dream about all the wonderful places in the world that I have yet to discover.

Despite its limitations, I still found this book to be an interesting and engaging read. It has definitely piqued my interest in certain destinations and has given me some ideas for my future travels.

I'm definitely seeing the world one day.

Although this was published before I was born and the locations (some that are not landmarks) might not exist anymore, reading this was fascinating and an adventure in itself. It's truly amazing how words on a page can transport us to different times and places. Even though the physical manifestations of those locations may have changed or disappeared, the essence and the stories they hold still live on through the written word. Reading about these places makes me even more eager to explore the world and create my own memories. I can't wait to set off on my own adventures and discover the beauty and diversity that the world has to offer.