LAURENCE MACKINreviews
Travel as a Political Actby Rick Steves and Globetrotter's
New Zealandguide
Travel as a Political Act
By Rick Steves
Nation Books, £9.99
In the US, Rick Steves is something of a household name, and via his travel company, books, TV and radio shows, has been demythologising travelling, particularly in Europe, for a US audience. His style might appear bumbling on the surface, but he has
an intelligence and fascination that is infectious. This, then, is his attempt to make people think before they travel, and turn the experience into an educational and perhaps life-affirming event, rather than simply fun and frolics for two weeks. Steves is at pains to encourage people to stay close to the ground, junking the five-star resorts for small hostels and family-run businesses, eating in restaurants that locals use, and building a connection with a country, albeit briefly, through its people. This is all laudable stuff, though it might strike many as occasionally stating the obvious. His enthusiasm, though, provides a welcome shot of cultural sensitivity, particularly when he’s on the road in Iran, Turkey, Morocco and the former Yugoslavia.
New Zealand
Globetrotter, £8.99
Globetrotter guides tend to be more succinct than their big-name competitors, and their plastic covers, glossy pages that should survive a watery dunking, and terrific, good-scale maps make them backpack- friendly. The focus is on history and culture, which means fewer hotel and restaurant listings, with plenty of local knowledge. The clean layout, tremendous photography and snappy writing make a strong selling point for New Zealand, and travellers who want a helping hand, though don’t necessarily want their hands held, will appreciate the beauty in the brevity of this book.