Unfaithful

I've been cheating around a bit.  Haven't been able to keep my hands on just one.  With so many around, it's hard to stay truly loyal.

I can't help myself.  I love them.  Such great packages, all looking so good.  If you can say no to other and just stick to one, you have more willpower than me!  I have to have a piece of them all!

Guidebooks, that is.

I can't stick with one company.  I know most of the information is very similar between brands, but I like the idea of looking at travel, at countries, from many ways.  If I were to only use Lonely Planet, I'd fear all my travels might start to feel the same, take on the same pace.  The countries I'm visiting might be different, but the overall experience could start to feel practiced instead of unique.  The same with traveling with Frommer's or any of the other brands.  The format of these travel companies' books is based on a set structure; therefore, they have a structure to their research, the hotels and restaurants they recommend, and the sight they rate for you to see.

I don't want structure.  I want adventure and discovery.

That's not to say that I don't use them!  I own 15 guidebooks, 8 of which I have here with me in S.Korea.  I constantly look up travel itineraries and travel blogs.  I rip travel articles out of magazines - very sorry if you ride in my seat after I have flown.  Your Sky Magazine will be missing a few pages.  But I can't use only one brand of guidebooks.

I want to fulfill my own vision while traveling.

So I have become unfaithful: unfaithful to brands but loyal to travel.

[T]ake steps down new roads, armed with nothing but your own vision. - Ayn Rand