I am not sure what the reviews on this are all about. I find that they are either demanding more from the book or had low expectations to begin with. I got precisely what I wanted- get a better sense of how to make my travel photography better; gain an understanding of what I could do better to pitch ideas to editors potentially if I wanted too; and, finally, get expert advice on the prepping, planning, and executing of a successful photography component of a trip.
One thing I will point out, yes there is a lot of suggestions for camera gear and equipment. However, in the end you work with what you got, precisely how I approach this (expensive) hobby of mine. I dont have the best of equipments yet I have been able to achieve some spectacular work with what i have. My suggestions is not to get hung up on the camera gear and truly look at the content of advice focused on planning, crafting, and executing. Many of the advice written about in the book does not have to take you to far flung places around the globe, in fact there is specific advice that you should shoot locally, you should experiment and test out your gear where you know and have experience, and that you can do many of the ideas as local assignments. Travel is niether exotic and expensive if we choose to stick local and do local. I know people who lived their entire adult lives and have not ventured far home town, county, state. Thats what I do.