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The Rapid Traveler has never been a big consumer of mainstream travel magazines or newspaper sections. He is not their target market, not interested in reader surveys, arbitrary “hot destinations” collections, or poetic pieces short on practical detail. Instead he loves the intricate detail of a Lonely Planet guidebook.
But his Delta diamond status has monthly delivered the heavy, plastic wrapped Conde Naste Traveler and he has slowly been won over, each month finding a few items that he reads carefully. He enjoys comprehensive, practical pieces like October’s A Global Guide to Gem Hunting (and companion pieces here, here and here), which alerted him to amethyst in Bolivia just before his trip there. He did not purchase any so has no tales of woe to share, but it was fun to be on the lookout.
Similarly, November’s Tales of the South Pacific (and island guide with great maps), addressed his frustration at the typical piece that considers a destination as if in a vacuum without comparing alternatives. Bhutan or Bust is not so comprehensive, but well written, and, well, The Rapid Traveler has a soft spot for Bhutan.
Wendy Perrin’s Golden Rules of Travel to mark the fifteenth anniversary of her column rises well above the typical tips compilation, providing sage advice for all aspects of travel.
Readers, what travel magazines do you find useful and why?
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[…] AFAR’s design resembles Conde Naste Traveler, which indulges in too much luxury idolatry but occasionally surprises with useful, detailed articles. AFAR, though, has a mellow, open-ended vibe. In place of […]
The south pacific article was pretty good. Too often I find Conde Nast too darn snooty.
I agree on the snooty, a lot I skip right over, on the pretentious meter it rivals NYT’s travel section. This recent crop of good, practical articles impressed me.