The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World: Amazon.ca: Edward Hasbrouck: Books

Product Description

From Amazon

Many dream of traveling the world, but few actually do so. If you've decided to put your money where your fantasy is and save for the trip of trips, Edward Hasbrouck is your travel guru. He's circumnavigated the world twice, and coordinates a travel agent's around-the-world department. He explains why you ought to chose (and stick to) your route in advance but needn't start and finish in the same city, and above all why you ought to take the travel plunge. He shares hard-won truths about saving money--and in Thailand or Bali $100 saved earns an extra month of freedom.

From Library Journal

Attention, travel lovers: Hasbrouck, an "extended travel specialist," has written the handbook for world travelers. The trips Hasbrouck has in mind don't include a lot of fancy hotels and tour groups but instead focus on independent adventure and really getting to see a country and its people. His comprehensive guide includes such information as getting discounted airfares, choosing a destination, types of transportation, what to pack, sample budgets, and dealing with culture shock and coming home. An excellent index is also included. Smart travelers will make sure to have this necessary guide in their backpacks when boarding the plane, and all public libraries will benefit from its purchase.?Melisa Fiumara, North Tonawanda P.L, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Product Description

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

3.1 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great, Mar 26 2002

By

Todd Adams "Network+, Security+" (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World (Paperback)

I bought this book expecting to find something other than what it is. Instead of the subtitle "How to travel around the world" maybe it should have been subtitled "What you need to know before you travel around the world." The author is very knowledgable and the book offers a lot of valuable insight. It's been helpful for me planning my own global crossing. But not helpful in a pragmatic "here's what you need to do" kind of way. It was helpful in educating me about travel industry practices, paperwork preparation, and conditions in certain areas of the world.
However, I'm a bit dismayed by two aspects of the book. Hasbrouck seems to tout train travel on almost every page. He has a real love of trains I guess. He even said on one page that given the same distance (up to about 600 miles) he'd take the train over flying because, he says, they're more comfortable, the food is better, and you meet interesting people. Maybe my travel experience is vastly different than his, but I don't hold the same romantic fondness of trains. My experience has been they're a crowded, hot, time-consuming confinement with people that looked a bit sketchy. And I consider myself an adventurous traveler. I'm not one to watch the world from the bay window of a luxury cruise liner.
It also becomes annoying how the author seems to inject his political opinion into every page, almost every paragraph. He seems to editorialize on everything - capitalism, socialism, class bias, feminism, health and disease, food distribution, etc. I happen to agree with a lot of his opinion but to have it be so ubiquitous is droning.
Overall, this is a helpful book, probably one of the better ones out there for general around-the-world information. But if you're looking for the nuts and bolts "how to" information, find something else.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars The "How To" for world travel, Mar 24 2003

By

Julianne Saltzer (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World (Paperback)

Planning an independent trip, this book is quickly becoming our "bible". It is packed full of useful, neccessary information that will save us a lot of grief and headaches once we are on the road. I am very glad to have stumbled across this very valuable resource.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

1.0 out of 5 stars Likes to hear himself talk, Dec 17 2002

By

EAB (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World (Paperback)

While this book had a few good travel suggestions, I found it annoying that the author kept interjecting his personal opinions about every and all subjects. His accusations and conclusions were never supported with actual facts. He seems to view himself as a concerned citizen of the world with a strong social conscience, but he comes off as didactic and offensive. Very distasteful. There are many better books out there.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 38 reviews 3.8 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed Feelings
I had read some essays by Hasbrouck before and I enjoyed them. So I thought I'd read his book. The information he provides is helpful and fascinating... Read more

Published on Jan 27 2002 by Jenny Cromer

5.0 out of 5 stars "Must Have" for serious travellers
If you are planning, or dreaming of planning, an extensive trip - if you yearn to explore other countries and cultures in a way that just does not seem to happen on a one or two... Read more

Published on Dec 18 2001