| As a seasoned traveller, having
an accurate and useful travel guide is an essential part
of my kit. Recently I have grown tired of mainstream and
established guides leaning more towards database listings
of where to go and what to do. I want insight. I want to
know about a place, its history, culture and the author’s
personal views. I want to feel inspired to visit a place
by the writing. So it’s refreshing to see that the
Rough Guides still manage to maintain an acceptable balance
between information and insight.
The Rough Guide to Slovenia is now in its second edition
and there have been many improvements. The most obvious
is the new glossy cover; a full page photo with a translucent
band across help to make the book much more aesthetically
appealing to the eye, which is a vast improvement from
the bland cover of the previous edition.
The colour intro contains a useful quick reference guide
to the country’s highlights, and scattered throughout
the book you’ll also find two new colour inserts
that help to give more emphasis on the two things the
country is most famous for: caves and outdoor activities.
More importantly though, is the content. The author manages
to maintain an easygoing style which almost makes you
feel like he is actually talking to you. Whilst striving
to provide accurate information he is also not afraid
to give blatantly honest reviews of places and accommodation.
His description of a place in Bled where I have personally
stayed is right on the button:
“This popular lakeside place has a convivial atmosphere
despite the rooms being dated and cramped.”
It’s for this kind of honesty that people buy a
travel guide. If we just wanted a simple list of places
to stay and go we would ask at the tourist office, or
read the brochures. But independent travellers who want
to plan their own itinerary want to know what the place
is really like, so they can make an informed decision
as to where to go and stay.
While boxed sections highlight special events or places
of interest, the bulk of the information is neatly woven
into sectioned paragraphs each written with a clarity
and authority that is indicative of the author’s
thorough research and in-depth knowledge of the country.
The second edition also contains more detailed maps than
the previous edition and its map of the Triglav National
Park is the best I’ve seen yet.
Extremely well written and packed with accurate and useful
information, the Rough Guide to Slovenia is an essential
aid to anyone planning a trip to this beautiful and diverse
little country.
Visit the Rough Guides Website: www.roughguides.com
Reviewed by Ian Middleton: Travel Writer & Photographer
Ian is the author and photographer of four books, his
latest being a travel guide to Ireland’s ancient
myths and legends, Mysterious World: Ireland. Learn more
about Ian and his work at
http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk
*The author give permission for the contents of this
review to be reproduced in whole or part as long as the
party gives full credit to the reviewer, either using
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