Lodging Books

This is a fantastic book---well-researched with great characters and a really interesting story. It won several awards when it was released (so you have to wonder: why is it out of print?!).
I really recommend it for young girls---Binnie is a great role model and her struggle to find independence and a future in early 19th century America is one which should appeal to most girls.
Binnie is a bobbin-girl in a Lowell mill during the 1830s. When the mill-owners cut the women's wages, Binnie and the women who live in her mother's boarding house must decide whether to strike or not. Binnie's decision is colored by both her indignation over the unfairness of the cuts and her concerns about her mother's position (will her mother lose her job as a boarding house operator if her daughter joins the strike?). The questions Binnie confronts and her struggle to address them are incredibly real and well-handled (Lord is a very gifted writer and her characters ring true thro'out the book).
The book also provides insights into the position of the Irish in early 19th century America as well as the overall position of women (an especially chilling scene demonstrates how few rights women had---one of the women working in the mill is pursued by an abusive husband who is given the right to seize his wife's hard-earned wages).
Buy this book instead of one of the Dear America books. It is so much better!!

Flophouse Life on the Bowery showcases 4 cheap hotels in the Bowery district of New York City. These places are rented out by men & they are a cubicle type room the size of a jail cell. About 100 to 200 men live side by side in these little rooms in 4 or 5 story buildings that are built over a restaurant or some other kind of business. There's a community bathroom. The book explores 4 hotels & a few residents of each. Most of these people stay inside all day & watch tv, sleep, eat, & get drunk or do heroin. The subject of flophouses is interesting, however, this book really lacked substance. There wasn't enough information about the history of the hotels or the residents. It didn't devote much space to the people who own these hotels or the people who work there. Each page has a picture of one of the residents, his name, room number, & his "story" or any statements he wanted to make. Some of them were only a couple of paragraphs long! It's just a glimpse into their lives & doesn't offer any solutions to the problems these people face either.

I live in a modern day "flophouse", but it is a palace by comparison to the Bowery beaus. Marginalized by themselves and society, many still find community and purpose in their shared
space. Some do not make it out alive. Most seem to have given up on big dreams but it's the little ones (like the shoeshiner) who states that if one of us can make it, we can all make it. I love reading about of these mens' lives, but I also admit to an uneasiness that they will never leave the relative safety of a flophouse. That this is the best there is for many of them, and watching them adjust to these facts in each vignette is tender.

The book portrays life at the bottom. It surely shows not all of the men are crazy, drug and alcohol abusers. Some of them through the ups and downs in life never choose to go up again, or maybe to try up again. This may have been decided in a purposeful way or possibly life just became to heavy a load to bear, only they know. I was impressed with how many of them were completly content with their life and were willing to live out their days as they were. We should never judge unless we have been there so lets wish them luck and leave them alone.

The reason we are so drawn to (and, in the same breath, repulsed by) books such as this one is that they show us the truth that is locked up inside of us. They present a side of reality many do not see in pursuit of the paycheck running from the fears presented in this book. And, yes, the reasons why they are at the 'flophouse' is infinitely complicated.

The photos are stunning and the stories are minimalist which has a gripping effect. The photos and the stories open up a world that is almost mythical. Penetrating is the word that comes to mind.

Study them, feel them, connect with them, learn to love them. But do not judge them and do not run from them. Hold onto them and, in the midst of our bustle and struggle, keep them dear in our hearts. And, if one is so compelled reach out, not as veoyeurs, but with compassion, sharing with, realizing that our human wholeness is dependent upon such individuals as these whose lives may be unlike anything we could imagine.

For only when we are willing to get 'real' and walk in the valley of the shadow of death, and this with others, can we ever really become human. These characters are but a shadow of aspects of our own selves.

Turn away. Turn quickly away. My first instinct upon glancing at this title was consistent with Middle Class America's natural reaction to social despair. Cautiously intrigued, I reached to the top shelf in my suburban neighborhood's local library, and pulled down into my comfortable suburban world an enlightening pictorial in brief. With mixed horror and wonder, increasingly awed at these victims of circumstances, reading "Flophouse: Life on the Bowery" was a real look, a first look, into sunken faces and disheveled lives. Black and white photos say the thousand words their subjects never will. The human condition, bare, innate, is plainly presented without pretense or censoring. How very similar, how frighteningly normal, were the lives of these men before the loss of job, wife, or sanity deposited them here, teetering on the brink between life and death, heaven and hell, New York City's Bowery. Read this book, count your blessings and your spare dimes.

I am a repeat customer of Peoples Choice Guide Cancun and the new 2008 edition is fantastic. There are many helpful improvments, such as you can now search by Food Category and the Proximity Guide where you can quickly locate Restaurants and Clubs close to your Hotel.

I live in Cancun and even as a resident this book is most helpful. Locals have to eat out too. When I travel I always try to find a Travel Guide before I plan my trip. It would be great if this guide was available for other travel hotspots.

I imagine it is hard to keep any travel guide current, with name changes, business closings, new places, etc. but the author states that he makes frequent trips to Cancun to allow for the most up to date information at the time the guide goes to print.

This book would be a great resource if only it were up to date. I carried it to Cancun with me, and the majority of the restaurants that we chose from the book are either gone or have changed their name. One place ("Captains Cove") was highly recommended for breakfast. It just happened to be right across the street from our resort. We walked over on our first morning there, only to find it closed. "Breakfast served on Sunday's only" was on the door. After the first two days there, I stuck the book back in the suitcase.

I bought this book for a young couple headed to Cancun on their honeymoon! They loved it. (And they said the book wasn't bad either.)

Although you have to know going in that the age of the book will mean many of the restaraunts will ahve closed, we still found this to be the only useful source of reviews.

Easy to read and understand info on nearly all hotels, restaurants & clubs in the Cancun tourist area. I really like that the location is pinpointed to like km 6.5 for example. Most directions in other ads and publications are to the nearest km marker so you may be trying to find a place for a half mile or so. Tough to do when you are dodging the Cancun taxis on the divided highway running for about 29 km through the hotel zone.

Helpful and informative on which places other travelers like and dislike. I travel to Cancun regularly and found new places to try in this easy to carry book.

I recommend this book for new or repeat visitors to Cancun.

I found this book very informative with information on the history of an area as well as sites to vist, what to look for on walking tours or hikes, and where to shop, spend the night, or eat. I especially liked the references to native-made art. However, I also purchased "Best Places Alaska" by Don Pitcher and the books are virtually identical (they even use the same phrases to describe a place). I would recommend either of these books but not both.

I purchases this book as a guide for planning a vacation Alaska for a family that has never been to Alaska. It has met my purposes very well.

Very informative and has helped us make decisions on where to go and where not to go on our trip to Alaska this summer.

Very good and complete information on Alaska. It would be better if there were maps in color and pictures.

I used this book to plan almost all aspects to our two week Alaska vacation which we have just gotten back from. And this book was the very best to give you the means to get off the beaten tourist path and see and experience the true Alaska. It is by far the very best tool. People asked us how we saw and experience so much in such a short time and I tell them it's because of this book and doing our home work.

I purchased this book to accompany me on a roadtrip from Portland, Oregon through Seattle to Vancouver, Canada. I was mainly staying in the three major cities and was looking to find accomodations, restaurants and things to do while there. The book has a brief section on the three cities which left me wanting more information. I think if you plan on spending time in the places in between, it is a great introduction to the Northwest. However, if you are just looking for specific information on a few (in my case, 3) it was not extremely informative. It gives you the best of the best. Just not much more than that.

We've been using the "Best Places" books for travel in the Northwest for a number of years, and this year's edition is further proof that this is the best guidebook series going. The information is unfailingly reliable as well as encyclopedic, and the editors' discernment shows through in all aspects: lodging, meals, touring, siteseeing, etc. Certainly the best choice for anyone visiting the area, whether a first-time visitor or a happy returnee.

Now in its updated and expanded 13th edition, Best Places Northwest is quite simply a 'must' for any who plan on touring the Pacific Northwest: it doesn't hesitate to pick only the best of restaurants, lodgings and tour opportunities throughout Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, and provides descriptions which offer plenty of insight on why the 'best' rating is deserted. A starred rating system allows for picking the 'best of the best'.

I planned an entire 11 day trip to Seattle and the San Juan Islands with this book. We stayed at an absolutely wonderful 65 room hotel right near the famous Market in Seattle, then we took the ferries (read about in the book) and stayed at a cabin on Orcas Island near the shore where we could use the canoes and explore the sea life. Then we stayed at great B&B on San Juan Island that also had a yacht you could sleep on, then another B&B on the olympic penninsula that specialied in French cooking. All theses places... were from this book! Fantastic.
The star ratings guide help you decide what's right for you and the pricing guides are accurate.

I enjoyed this book very much since I travel around the world and stay in different Monasteries. This book is set up in such a way that I can gather a lot of information about specific Monasteries that interest me versus those that might not be what I am looking for in terms of accommodations.

Truly a worthwhile purchase.

Rhonda

Another way to travel if you are Catholic or interested in a different way to see France.

LODGING IN FRANCE'S MONASTERIES - $22.95 Anacapa Press

Travel writer Barish adds a third volume (along with Spain and Italy) to her series on unique and inexpensive accommodations in monasteries, convents and religious guest houses, many of which are located in some of the most beautiful towns and villages in France. Travelers can stay, for example, in a 16th century building just a few feet from Chartres Cathedral or in a former castle in the village of Moulins-les-Metz in Lorraine. Most of the more than 150 institutions profiled accept guests without any religious obligation but some of them offer only spiritual retreats. Each entry includes information on the number of rooms, amenities, cost, availability of meals, any special rules, directions and contact information, and two to four pages on local tourist attractions. The average cost per person per night is $30 (meals may add $5 to the cost) and some monasteries ask only for a donation. Barish has also included a reservation form letter in English and French. This is a worthwhile addition to any travel collection and will intrigue travelers on a strict budget and those who want a holiday with a twist. Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

This book has obviously taken a great deal of work to put together, so it's a pity that the final result is not as polished as it could be. It provides travellers with a long list of monasteries in France that provide accommodation, including contact info and pricing where available. But where if falls short for the prospective traveller is in not giving much information about the accommodation, the buildings in which the accommodation is provided, pictures of the accommodation, or location maps - all the things that readers would expect from a travel guide.
Descriptions would have been more helpful if they had been organized under heads in a more systematic manner - like LOCATION, HISTORY, ACCOMMODATION, LOCAL AREA, ETC. At present they tend to be long and rambling and focus mainly on the history of the monsatery and the town which, interesting as it is, really misses the point - the accommodation. There are lots of black and white pictures, often of mixed quality. These frequently relate to the town or local sights and numerous entries fail to show, or indicate the accommodation. This is not much help if you want to see where you are going to be lodging. So it can be a question of taking pot luck! Having said all this, the book does give one a useful starting point.

As someone that travels with dogs a lot, I am always interested in books that will help me keep the dogs happy and comfortable.

The introduction is the best stuff I have seen written to help you plan ahead and have a good trip.

The resources section with plenty of phone numbers and web sites is excellent.

Everyone that travels with dogs (or cats) should have this book.

Joel Walton (author of Complete Idiot's Guide to Labrador Retrievers) does lots of doggy driving!

You just drove 16 hours straight, you're completely exhausted, and the only hotel in town won't take dogs. Enjoy sleeping in your car. As you fall asleep on your steering wheel, remember that you could have avoided all of this by getting this book in advance. My husband and I are planners by nature and the job of deciding where to go with our two Rotties isn't easy. You want to know where in the world you're going and not only that you'll find a place to stay with your dogs that's not a dive, but that you'll be able to have fun on vacation. I usually read up in the library before going on trips, but this was a book I broke down and bought. It stays in the glove compartment next to the Triple-A book!

I just bought Mobil's pet travel book which is essentially a compilation of their existing 4,400 pet-friendly properties. While the ratings are helpful, I found the number of accommodations too limiting - too many chain hotels and too few bed and breakfasts and inns. Most of the other national pet travel books contain just over or under 20,000 listings as well as much of the same information contained in Mobil's appendices. Perhaps I'm too choosy, but I would have preferred a pet reference guide written entirely by experts in pet travel and one that offers a wider range of possibilities for both my dog and me.

"Mobile 99: On the Road with Your Pet" is an essential guide to traveling with your pet.

Andrea Arden not only lists more than 4,400 quality, pet-friendly hotels, motels, resorts, and inns nationwide, she provides two very helpful Appendixes: The first is a concise A-to-Z of health concerns, and the second is a highly-interesting combination of National Pet Resources and Places to Visit with Your Pet (yes, there is a dog lovers bookshop in Manhattan).

Arden's Introduction is must-reading for anyone who is contemplating traveling with your cat, dog, or any other animal companion. The author covers everything from what to pack and when to travel to pets that shouldn't travel by plane and pet stress (watch not only for your pet avoiding eye contact, but yawning!).

This is book is a much-needed resource.

Very complete. 200 restaurant reviews includingcuisine, price range, address, phone number, web site and location on map. The 'Things to Do' section was great also. These editors have actually been there. The 'Lodging' and 'Nightlife' sections seemed just as good as the rest of the book.

We took a trip to Portland over a long weekend, and this guide was incredibly useful. Although we used the web to make our hotel reservations, we use this guide for everything else. The food reservations were always spot on, as were the things to do reservations.

Now in an updated sixth edition, Best Places: Portland is a handy travel guide to the best restaurants, lodgings, sights, shopping, and more to be found in Portland, Oregon. Icons for "editor's choice", "good (monetary) value", "family", and "romance" allow for quick and easy selection of Portland features to suit one's needs. Best Places: Portland prides itself on only mentioning the best of the best; even one-star establishments will be a cut above. Suggested day trips and three-day itineraries will aid the reader in maximizing enjoyment on minimum funds. Best Places: Portland is not a catch-all travel guide; it focuses specifically on listing "must-see" places along with brief descriptions, addresses, websites, and so on. A superb resource for business or leisure travelers alike.

We had a very bad library in most of my grade school classes. Sets of books with biographies of famous Americans as children-- not very well written-- and very dull and dated nonfiction on science. However, the Katie John series relieved some of that tedium. Katie John, as she helps her parents try to remain in their old house by taking in boarders is a lively and likeable character who should still appeal to the grade school set.

I read this at the age of 9. I had read Honestly Katie John! and Katie John and combed the local libraries 'till I found this one. It is different from the others and unique, full of the adventures of a fun, adventurous girl next door. It's full of surprises! You will laugh out loud!

Great guide to literary lodgings around England. It's just fun to read and dream and plan. Even if you don't stay at any of these inns or hotels, you'll still have a fun armchair trip reading this.

This beautifully written book was invaluable on our recent trip to Britain. For the discriminatory traveler!