One for the Road: Hedonist Guide to Buenos Aires

by Kelly Amabile on

This sexy guidebook is one you want to be seen holding if luxury travel is your style. It’s fresh, fashionable and smart in both design and content. The Hedonist Guides package the very best of “independent advice for intelligent travelers” in sleek black books accented in soothing colors — as cool as the travelers holding them. The latest in the Hg2 series is a guide to Buenos Aires that is available this month.

Maps in the front introduce the city and each neighborhood, followed by sections that cover where to sleep, eat, drink, snack, party, play and shop. The emphasis here is on pampering and indulgence — travelers who prefer gourmet dining, chic bars, stylish clubs and elegant hotels will find Hedonist guides to serve as indispensable traveling companions. They distinguish themselves further by offering post-production online access to listing updates, keeping sophisticated travelers in the know at all times.

In 2006 Hedonist Guides (published by Filmer Ltd.) released a bunch of titles in this series, including Istanbul, Berlin, Marrakesh and Moscow. Buenos Aires is their first new title in 2007, although they have done some creative online launches of mini-guides for London, Rome, Paris and most recently, Barcelona. Other new hard-copy titles to be released later this year include New York and Prague.

Mis-Guides: Guidebooks of the Future?

by Willy Volk on

What happens when a group of artists produce a guide book? You get something that looks a lot like a Mis-Guide. Rather than telling you where to go and what to see, a Mis-Guide gives you the tools to see a city or environment in a whole new way.

Each Mis-Guide suggests a series of walks and points of observation and contemplation. Unlike an ordinary guide book, it is guided by “the practice of mytho-geography, which places the fictional, fanciful, fragile and personal on equal terms with ‘factual’, municipal history.” Huh?

If you’re thinking a bit literally right now, some of the tips found in the books include:

  • Start at your door and take pictures of 26 objects, one for each letter of the alphabet.
  • Borrow a dog from a friend and let it take you for a walk.
  • Walk along a river with a friend but do it from opposite sides, while maintaining contact (through sight, sound, flares, etc.) the entire time.
  • Still confused? Check out some sample pages from either the Courtauld or the Exeter Mis-Guide.

Okay, so it’s all a bit esoteric, but the point is that there are numerous ways to shake a person out of the same-old hum-drum way of seeing a city. You don’t HAVE to hit all the sites or sample all the recommended dishes. You can have a very meaningful experience exploring quiet streets in a new and exciting way.

Are these the guidebooks of the future? I hope so.

Free Travel Book: “How to See the World, On $25 a Day or Less”

by Willy Volk on

In 25 chapters, 100,000 words, and 120 photos, John Gregory, an independent traveler who’s visited 35 countries, has written How to See the World. Not a travel guide to a specific location, How to See the World is a guide on how to travel. Filled with tips, commentary, and practical advice for the adventurous traveler, don’t confuse Gregory’s arid sense of humor with boring-ness. His guide is actually filled with a number of good jokes — and good advice.

I particularly enjoyed Gregory’s thoughts on where and how to crash for free, the toolbag theory, his list of essential items to pack, how to avoid pickpockets — and, of course, how to take a dump without facilities. In short, it’s hard-earned knowledge shared for free. Check it out.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of March 18

by Adrienne Wilson on

What a week here this week! We had the chance to experience deja-vu or something like it with the announcement of another New Year’s being celebrated. I finally had the chance to sit down and provide you with some of the details from my island adventure in St. Lucia and we found out about more explosive destinations and food than one could ever possibly handle from Iva, but now I turn your attention to these five picks selected to help you on your journey – one way or another.

5. Make Your Own Guidebook:
Neil brings up a fine point on guidebooks – most of the time we don’t need but a handful of information from them, yet we’re stuck paying $25 bucks if not more to help us navigate the land of the unknown. Now there is a way to create your own guidebook for $5 from the folks at DK guides. If you act fast you can make one now and get it for free.

4. Build a $25, 10-Day Survival Kit For Your Car:
Breaking down is the last thing anyone wants to think about on a long road trip across the state or the beautiful land of America, but should it happen you’ll want to be prepared. Learn how to stay alive for at least ten days by building a survival kit.

3. Man Uses Air Sickness Bag as Mini-Urinal:
File this one under: Random. Dave Luna brings interesting and slightly stomach turning news about a gentleman who could no longer hold his bladder in flight and took matters into his own hands and air sickness bag because the lavatory could not be used in flight. You wonder the outcome of such an awkward public display and use of an air sickness bag? You’ll have to read further.

2. 5 Destinations for Learning the Flying Trapeze:
Looking for something new to try on your trips out and about? Tired of the endless number of cooking courses and yoga classes offered at every destination? Why not try your hand at learning the flying trapeze man!

1. World’s 10 Most Magnificent Trees:
Spring is here and who doesn’t want to get out of their home and go hug a tree? In this short blurb we discover 10 of the world’s greatest giants and odd-shaped beauties in nature.