EBooks are practically made for travel: they are easily accessible, can hold an inordinate amount of information in one compact tablet and store items of importance like itineraries and confirmation numbers.
These online alternatives are quickly replacing the traditional guidebook. Google bought Frommer's last year and recently announced they will stop printing their guidebooks, putting all reading material online, it seems the move from pages to screens has been expedited.
NPR's David Greene talked to Ina Fried, senior editor at All-ThingsD.com and Hanya Yanagihara, editor at large for Conde Nast Traveler Wednesday morning, in a conversation concerning the relevance, popularity and future of eBooks used for travel. (Listen).
"Do you ever miss the book?" Greene opened the Q&A with this question directed at Fried.
"I do," Ina said, explaining that he usually brings a physical book on his various travels.
An app, he claimed, cannot replace the narrative form of a guidebook, nor the personal touch a writer puts upon his or her travel experience.
"What I really want when I'm planning a trip is to get a good overview, and the guidebook apps are good for telling you what's around, but not good for giving you that feel."
He also pointed out that a guidebook app forces him to be online, which is not what he'd like to do on a vacation.
"The guidebook never has my work e-mail!" he said.
For Yanagihara, who recently took a 51-day trip through 12 Asian countries, the traditional book tells a story of someone who has embarked on a journey, replete with their voice, tone, and whatever they've chosen to include.
eBooks, on the other hand, herd the masses.
"In a book, you're led by the person, not led by the wisdom of the crowd... On these apps, you only see what's hot and what's new."
In our online age, a hardcover book can seem outdated, especially since eBooks are cheaper, more of-the-moment, and don't take up any extra room in your carry-on.
All the same, there is something to be said for being able to dog-ear that page after reading a truly impressive review in high detail.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
