I have grown so used to RS's guidebooks including excellent format, with required details and occasional humor tossed in. Perhaps in the electronic versions yet to come, GPS coordinates for hard to locate hotels, restaurants and attractions? Other suggestions?
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32324 posts
Bruce, The Guidebooks contain fairly easy-to-read Maps for each of the recommended Hotels, and I've found those quite adequate so far. I usually photocopy and enlarge the applicable page, so that it's easily accessible in my Daypack. I'm not sure adding GPS co-ordinates would really be much of an advantage? I suspect the majority of RS travellers don't routinely travel with a GPS unit. Cheers!
Posted by
Port Coquitlam, BC, Canada
629 posts
Some of the RS guide books are available from the Sony Reader store. Haven't bought any for my reader but maybe someone else has?
Posted by
NY, USA
500 posts
I have gotten two RS 2011 eBooks (Venice and Florence/Tuscany) for my upcoming trip to Italy. I also have the Cinque Terre eBook but the illustrations view very strangely in that one. As smartphones become more and more prevalent the best thing would be a combination book/app for iphone/ipad and android etc. RS is already taking strides in this direction with podcasts and eBooks. I imagine in a few years it would be standard to download your travel info to an app, it would suggest ways to get there, recommend restaurants and attractions help you plan your time. I am currently using google maps to mark locations for my upcoming trip to Italy many of these places are hard to find even with guidebooks but I'll have them right on my iphone and can route myself anywhere. Not that I want to be lost in technology while traveling but I want to use it to best manage my time to get the most from my travels.
Posted by
OP
2535 posts
The RS's Guidebooks are indeed wonderful and before each trip make enlarged photocopies of urban maps which are then stuffed into my day pack. Even armed with maps, official RS compass and a keen sense of direction, I have been thoroughly lost in searching for some attractions, hotels and the like. While I don't currently own a smartphone or GPS, these items will likely appear in my luggage soon. Perhaps GPS coordinates or equal might be valuable inclusions in the Guidebooks.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9369 posts
I volunteer to have RS send me (at his expense, of course) to Europe to map out the coords of the attractions, hotels, etc., listed in his books! Alternatively, you could look them up on Google Earth - it gives coords automatically.