How To Travel Practically Anywhere

by Susan Stellin

An essential guide for today's traveler: timesaving tips to navigate, book, and troubleshoot your travel planning, on and off the Web.

If you’ve ever tried to find a sale fare you saw advertised for a flight, only to turn up much higher prices, or discovered that the hotel you booked wasn’t exactly “steps away from the ocean,” you know that the do-it-yourself era of travel can mean something else entirely: you’re on your own.

Now Susan Stellin, a regular contributor to the New York Times, offers the ultimate guide to the sometimes overwhelming logistics of travel, from researching trip plans to avoiding pitfalls on the road. This comprehensive guidebook presents practical advice on the most useful Web sites, strategies for finding the best deals, and resources to help you decide where and when to go. It also provides crucial tips to ensure your trip doesn’t disappoint, including

- what you should research before you book your hotel - how to avoid hidden fees and expensive change penalties - what your credit card covers when you rent a car - whom to call if you need a doctor far from home

No matter what type of trip you're planning -- business or pleasure, domestic or international, budget or splurge, exotic getaway or family visit -- How to Travel Practically Anywhere will be an indispensable resource.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, International

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Susan Stellin is freelance reporter who has contributed to The New York Times and other publications for more than 15 years. In 2014, she and her partner Graham MacIndoe were awarded a fellowship from The Alicia Patterson Foundation for their project American Exile. Previously she worked as an editor at The Times and at CNET in San Francisco. Susan has a B.A. in political science from Stanford University and spent two years after college teaching English and writing in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She grew up in Michigan and lives in Brooklyn.

Reviews

[Ida Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical Advise but the way of travel moves sooo fast that some advice in this book is outdated but still very useful.

:)

[Parrish Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review covers the 2006 edition, purchased and read on paper.

In a travel book, I look for one of things: inspiration of where to go or what to do, motivation to get off my ass and explore, or useful tips and advice to make the journey smoother. Stellin's book is moderately useful in this third category, which was its purpose.

The book sat on my shelf for years, so some links are dead and some methodologies have changed. Information about travel forums or chat rooms is outdated and the book can't be aware of recent developments such as bike sharing programs or AirBnB. A newer edition would likely be useful to the thoughtful traveler.

That being said, there are certain sections and nuggets that are amazingly useful, regardless of year. An example. Current airport security protocols make the packing of a toiletries bag impossible. However, my delightful leather dopp bag has been repurposed as a first aid kit containing necessary items I would not have thought of on my own (e.g., insect repellent, Band-Aids, and BOTH antidiuretics and laxatives).

I would recommend the book, but only an electronic version that can be used ad hoc as a reference guide when traveling in addition to use as a learning tool.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was skeptical that advice on self-service travel could possibly fill a book of this length, but as soon as I started reading this, I was taking copious notes on resources I had been previously unaware of, especially in terms of planning just-in-case scenarios and finding English-language advice from locals.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a good travel guide book for breaking out of your general travel rut and learning tips and tricks for traveling on a budget. It didn't have any earth shattering new techniques, but did get some good websites and references for trying out new ways to budget travel.

[Tuck]

east bound

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it read a bit like a textbook at times, this book was full of valuable information, especially for those of us who get to travel abroad but rarely. I will definitely be making notes!

[Jennifer Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I skimmed this and thought it had some really helpful information. If I take a big trip in the future I'd like to come back and go through some sections in detail.

[Cherie · Rating 1 out of 5]

D If you are a moron, this book is great. Offers very basic travel advice.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some airport tricks and hotel websites I didn't know of before.. a good reference.