10 Top Southwest USA Travel Guides

If you're planning your Southwest vacation, these recommended guidebooks are full of travel tips and advice, from good beds to good beer. Read a travel writer's reviews.

As a travel writer, researching and writing travel guides is a large part of my work. I've written or co-written around 30 guidebooks, including several to places in the Southwest USA.

This year I've been particularly busy writing two brand new titles. Exactly this time last year I was traveling around the French Riviera researching CityPack Nice, published by the AA, which comes out in July. I've just finished Step by Step Orlando, which is published by Insight Guides (APA) this autumn.

People seldom believe me when I tell them how much work it is to produce a good guidebook. It sounds too much like fun. But it doesn't end with the final keystroke. You have to keep it up to date.

I'm about to update three of my long-running titles: Berlitz Los Angeles, Drive Around Ireland and Drive Around Scotland (the last two published by Thomas Cook). And I've recently written new text for my chapters in Eyewitness Southwest USA and Las Vegas (Dorling Kindersley).

Since I know what goes into creating a good travel guide, I'm happy to recommend the following guidebooks which I've reviewed in recent months for Suite 101. You can read more about them on these pages.

REGIONAL AND COUNTRY GUIDES

Good Beer Guide to West Coast USA

Lonely Planet Guide to Coastal California

Lonely Planet Hawaii Travel Guide

Lonely Planet Guide to the USA

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CITY GUIDES

Lonely Planet Encounter Los Angeles Guide

Zagat Guide to San Diego Restaurants

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NATIONAL PARK GUIDES

Grand Canyon National Park Guide

Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Guide

Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks Guide

Rough Guide to Yosemite National Park

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