Since our first stop is Mexico we have been reading two great books about travel to Mexico. The first is simply called “Mexico”. It is a Lonely Planet travel guide and is very familiar to us since we used Lonely Planet exclusively during our Southeast Asia trip (see July 1, 2014 post). Lonely Planet Mexico contains relevant and up-to-date advice on what to see, what to skip, and hidden discoveries that are waiting for us. It goes through the country, region by region, giving ideas of where to stay, what to eat and places to see. It also has a section on history, customs and tips for travelers with special needs. I like the many color maps and that it gives price ranges for accommodations and restaurants. This is a straight up travel guide and is interesting to read.

The other book we are reading is “The People’s Guide to Mexico” by Carl Franz and Lorena Havens. It contains a combination of basic travel information, entertaining stories, and friendly guidance about everything from driving in Mexico City to hanging a hammock to bartering at the local mercado. Although it includes advice on planning our trip, where to go, and how to get around, the information is delivered in a story-like, entertaining way. It is not as ruthlessly organized as the Lonely Planet guide but there is still a lot of practical tips on staying healthy and safe, dealing with red tape, changing money, sending email and much more. I really enjoyed the stories and the useful travel tips like, “make sure to avoid sitting on the sunny side of the bus during long trips”. This book is useful but also entertaining and fun.

We recommend these books. Both will be going with us. I can feel my backpack getting heavier and heavier.