How does a 40ish year old male with enough money find his way around Europe without foreign language skills? Is it possible to hire guides to travel with, or at least to show them around on a city-by-city basis for this sort of thing? I'm thinking specifically France, Spain, Italy. Willing to use University students or some other creative possibility. [more inside]
posted by vizsla on Aug 5, 2008 - 18 answers

I'm visiting Naples and the Amalfi coast over the winter break. I'll be there a week. I couldn't care less about when to go and how to get there or where to stay, because that's all taken care of. I'm looking for the best guidebook that emphasizes history, background and things to do. Good recommendations for places to eat would be a nice plus. What would you suggest? Right now my leading candidate is the Lonely Planet guide, but in the past I've found they're not so hot on places to eat.
posted by ubiquity on Nov 21, 2007 - 8 answers

TokyoFilter: I'm spending three days in Tokyo just before Christmas. I've never been before and I doubt I'll ever get there again, so I want to see what's important and skip the tourist traps. Any tips (including pre-trip reading)? I'll be solo so I can do what I like.
posted by grahamwell on Nov 24, 2004 - 19 answers

What is the best travel book series? You know -- Frommer's, Rough Guide, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, etc. I'm finally getting of my duff and going somwhere (Costa Rica) and I want a reliable guide book to take with me. Something that I will actually find quite useful and not rip it into shreds out of pure frustration.
posted by beatnik808 on Aug 17, 2004 - 28 answers