Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2014

This annual travel reference by Lonely Planet has four main sections: Top 10 Countries, Top 10 Regions, Top 10 Cities, and Top Travel Lists. The latter is divided into seventeen chapters, which include Best Family Travel, Hidden Foodie Highlights, Best Beatlemania, Special Anniversaries, and Best Value Destinations; these are further subdivided, usually by locale. Sidebars with information about festivals and events supplement the text along with maps, location statistics, and color photographs. In terms of specific places, this guide mentions reasons to visit in 2014, classic dining experiences, most bizarre sights, random facts, and life-changing experiences. At the back is an index and a travel planner.

This user-friendly guide is very easy to peruse and has some lovely photography. Especially entertaining in presentation, the content balances useful facts with frivolous knowledge like what’s hot and what’s not. Also listed are unexpected fads of different global sites: Who knew there were noodle-making robots in Hunan, China, or that Amsterdam, Netherlands has a floating shelter for stray cats? Despite its portability, this book should not be used for finding detailed info en route; it works best for general, pre-travel planning. Nevertheless, anyone from adventure enthusiasts to armchair travelers will enjoy the many surprises it holds.