The Free Travel Hack I Recently Discovered

Planning a trip is time-consuming.  You have to research flights, hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc.  I’ve spent hours going down the black hole of the internet while planning my upcoming trips.  And while I’m still an avid Googler, I recently discovered a free travel hack that saves me a lot of time and effort.

Drumroll please…

Borrowing travel guidebooks from the library!

Seems obvious, right?  Well yes, that’s because it is ?.  However, I never thought to do this until recently.  I decided to share this free travel hack since the same may be true for you!

Ever since I finished grad school, I have been spending a lot more time reading for pleasure and visiting my local library to find new reading material.  During one of my visits, I noticed my library has a large travel section full of guidebooks.  For any books my local library doesn’t have, I can order them through the Chicago Public Library network.  Chances are your local library has a similar network in your area, so make sure to check with your librarian.  With this network, I can find travel guidebooks to almost any major destination.

If you don’t want to carry a heavy book around during your trip, most libraries also have the option to check out e-books.  This way, all the information you need will be right on your Kindle for free, easy access without any extra weight.

Why You Should Use a Travel Guidebook

Although the internet is a wealth of information, travel guidebooks are still a great resource for a variety of reasons.  First, you know you can trust them.  Their recommendations are heavily researched, vetted, and thorough.  Also, guidebooks are updated every few years when new editions are released, so you know the information is current.

Second, travel guides are comprehensive.  They include sample itineraries (I always look for these first), must-see attractions, places to eat, a brief history of the place, things to know before you go, safety information, and more.  Instead of sifting through multiple articles online, I can reliably get all the information I need to know all in one place.

My Favorite Travel Guidebooks

My favorite guidebooks are from Lonely Planet.  They have all the pertinent information you need in an easy-to-read format that isn’t overwhelming.  I’m planning a road trip through New Zealand this winter and am having trouble narrowing down the towns I want to stop in.  I’ve been using the itineraries in the Lonely Planet New Zealand guidebook I borrowed from my library to narrow down the best places to stop at.

Rick Steves’ guidebooks focus on Europe and have off-the-beaten-track suggestions, so I recommend those as well.  I frequently referenced his Italy guidebook when I studied abroad there in college.  (I also just happen to think Rick Steves is the man.  Anyone else??)

I’m becoming a Frommer’s convert as well.  I recently used Frommer’s EasyGuide to New Orleans 2019 on my trip to the Big Easy and was so useful!  In it, I found reputable travel companies for a plantation tour and walking ghost tour.  I even used the Garden District walking tour one night when walking around looking at houses.

Trying to determine which guidebook is best for you?  This Forbes article quotes major guidebook publishers on what they think sets them apart from the rest.

If you’re not sold on this free travel hack yet, I will leave you with one last thought on the subject.  In the words of everyone’s favorite aardvark Arthur: “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card!”