European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Ead All about it before you go by James t. Yenckel. The Washington Post a in the past decade american travellers have benefited greatly from a flood of new Guidebook series and the flow continues to be steady and Strong. .77 but there is a difference today. Now that the major publishers finally have come up with All inclusive guides to practically a a a every country in the world they have begun to create specially series that take a More detailed look at alternative modes of travel and places to go. As americans swarm the Globe Many returning to Europe Asia and other destinations repeatedly the need has grown rapidly for Good sources of information that go beyond the once Over lightly approach of some older series. Into this category fall four recently published series that Are now on Bookstore shelves a Fodor s affordable guides a series of nine guides to popular destinations London Paris Germany Italy a that highlight budget and moderate priced lodgings restaurants and shopping. The series is aimed at Cost cons Dous travellers who want the Best their limited funds can buy. A 7a. V a a 7-v Quot a 7 the idea behind the series is to help travellers enjoy a first class vacation on a budget. Don t look for posh places to stay in these pages but they definitely Aren t dumps based on the listings with which i am familiar the authors have sought out decent places that offer Good rates. These guides also offer plenty of what to do what to see what to buy details but again with an emphasis on saving Money. Current volumes priced from $11 to $16, cover London Paris Europe great Britain France Germany Italy and also Florida and the Caribbean a off the beaten track a series of nine somewhat flawed guides to offbeat sights in popular european destinations. The publisher is Globe Pequot press. This is a much needed look at historical go Germany the Complete quid it he it of in a Quot and the bavarian Alps is 4 Triep with the Best of the cities medieval villages o Fodor s guidebooks Are among the Well read traveler s most useful accessories. A amps Dave Casey and Scenic sights Many tourists overtook. Unfortunately the texts that i read were As ponderously dry As an encyclopedia and retrieving useful information from them was laborious. Initially i plunged eagerly into the volume on Italy where i was headed just two Days later. But j soon was grimacing As i plodded Page by Page. Through persistence though i did discover places thought might be interesting to visit a. Which made the Effort worthwhile. Another problem for me was that the authors of the Italy guide assumed i would be driving which was not the Case. I was travelling by train and bus. Currently available at $14.95, Are volumes on Austria Britain Germany Greece Italy Portugal Scandinavia Spain and Switzerland. Upcoming Are Northern France Southern France Scotland and Ireland a Fodor s Short escapes in France and Short escapes in Britain a series of just two guides currently that will grow if travellers find them useful a As they should. In off the beaten track they Point the Way to Quot villages landscapes and historic places tourists never  authors Bruce Bolger and Cary Stoller must have been Reading my mind. They Send their readers off to 25 unto Risty Sites in each country by Public transportation where possible As Well As by car. Quot you can stroll alone through an ancient Forest Quot they write Quot walk along the open up new worlds by Linda negro Scripps Howard news service As one of the most travelled men in the world John Clouse knows the value of travel books and guides. When he is not in hot Pursuit of the title of top traveler Clouse is poring Over the guides that fill the bookshelves in his Home in Evansville ind. Clouse 68, an attorney has visited All of the 311 far Flung destinations on the list of the elite travellers Century club in los Angeles. He is vying with two other travellers for recognition in the guinness Book of world records. When he is preparing for a trip Clouse first consults the National geographic Magazine. Quot they have a Good Index Quot said Clouse who has a Complete bound set filed in several of the seven bookcases in his dining room. Clouse said travel guides Are important for their details. Quot you might find that if you had Only walked 100 More Yards you might have seen the world s largest Ball of twine Quot the guides also can prepare a traveler for countries off the beaten path. Quot i relied on the books heavily when i went to some of the Balkan countries such As Bulgaria and Hungary when they first opened up Quot Clouse said Quot they were not equipped for tourists and had no guided Tours. Fodor s guidebooks showed me where to go and what to  a even when Clouse has travelled frequently to a country he often finds something new in travel books. For example he discovered French National Parks in the Sierra club s wild France Quot i be been to France 40 times and i had no idea they had such an extensive National Park system Quot he said Quot when i read a Book i want to  Clouse tries to make the most of the trips he takes and he uses books and guides to help him plan. His favorite books include Fodor s cold guides for general things to see Michel in red guides for restaurant advice for Europe and Michelin Green guides for Sites. He also loves the descriptions in Gault Millay guides. His bookshelves also contain Mobile guides and bound editions of travel magazines. Towpath of a centuries old canal or picnic without neighbors on the Grassy Banks of a peaceful  m going to have to take their word on this Promise because i be never been to any of the places they have uncovered in the two countries. 7 in format the guides direct travellers to 25 specific destinations and then describe walking Tours of from one to several hours to see the places up  obviously Are guides for travellers who have seen the major attractions of Britain and France formed an attachment for the two countries and now want to explore them in More depth. The Price for each is $13. 7 a the Sierra club s natural traveler four guides to the wild places of Italy Spain Britain and France. They Are being marketed to hikers Bird watchers and other outdoor enthusiasts who want to pursue their love of nature in Europe. This series is yet another look at Europe off the beaten path. These guides Are evidence that plenty of wild places remain despite "40,000 years of Hunting Clearing draining and  the guides Are intended for hikers backpackers Bird watchers and other outdoor travellers. They describe specific areas such As National Parks and Forest reserves where these activities can be pursued. Wild Spain for example highlights several walks in the pyrenees outlining which maps to carry and where to find lodgings. Also in the series Are wild Italy wild Britain and wild France. They sell for $16. In addition to these books the 21-guide Fielding series which originated in the late 1940s, has just undergone a thorough overhaul. 44 travel 94 May 25, 1994