Description:
In an introductory note to the reader, Edward Hasbrouck answers the first question on everyone's mind when faced with a book like this--how useful is a book on Internet travel? The underlying assumption is that, much like the personal computer upon which one does one's travel research, the book is outdated and in some ways obsolete the day it's purchased. The real kicker here is that the author acknowledges this--in fact he beats the skeptics to the punch both by clearly defining his motivation for writing the book as well as conceding its shortcomings in chapters called "What This Book Is," and "What This Book Isn't." Hasbrouck defines his book as "part consumer adviser, part research assistant, part road map, and part technical manual"; it is not merely a list of Web sites--"Most of what I could say about any specific website or interface would be out of date by the time this book got to bookstores."The Practical Nomad Guide to the Online Travel Marketplace is an invaluable tool for both the novice and the experienced in the world of travel e-commerce. More valuable than the comprehensive map he has drawn for how to get started is the healthy dose of skepticism and critical advice that Hasbrouck offers the new-millennium traveler--a refreshing change to the starry-eyed "You can do everything on the Internet!" approach. Honest, reliable, and incredibly resourceful, this guide is worth your time. --Daphne Durham
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