Croatia Travel Blog

Although this blog is dedicated to Croatia travel, I feel compelled to comment on the current furor surrounding guidebooks in general and Lonely Planet guidebooks in particular.

Thomas Kohnstamm’s new book has created a maelstrom of angst (in the guidebook industry) and publicity (for Thomas of course). Two key facts seem to have astonished the world: 1)guidebook writers don’t make much money and, 2) some people are sleazy.

It’s true that wages have been declining for some time now in the guidebook industry which is partly a function of increased competition on the bookshelves and on the internet and partly because of increased expectations of readers for splashier, more photo-ridden and layout-driven books which are expensive to produce. Result: longtime, experienced authors who were making a living through the nineties have gotten out of the business, paving the way for wide-eyed newcomers ready to write a guidebook for free–or for very little money.

Enter Thomas Kohnstamm. There’s a reason why swashbuckling guys like him would gravitate towards Lonely Planet rather than stodgier titles. Lonely Planet is so cool! But Lonely Planet is under the same pressures as all other guidebook publishers and, no, they no longer pay very well. But, to my knowledge, they don’t pay any worse than anyone else.

Kohnstamm’s more troubling assertions (from which he’s recently backtracked) paint a picture of guidebook writers essentially corrupted by the need to get freebies in order to make ends meet.

The issue of freebies is a delicate one throughout the entire travel writing industry. Many newspapers will not publish anything from anyone who has been sponsored in any way. They also refuse to pay reasonably for a trip. In fact, writing for newspaper travel sections pays even less than guidebook writing. Not paying money and not accepting sponsored trips means that much writing for travel sections falls into the “My Summer Vacation” category or it’s written in house by staffers from tourist board information.

Yes, that’s right. It’s ironic that newspapers are now shocked–shocked!–by guidebook writers who allegedly don’t visit places when their own travel sections are filled with “10 best” lists and “roundups” written by staffers who also can’t afford to travel anywhere! Or worse. I know a tourist board official who moonlights by supplying articles on her country that appear under another byline in newspapers and magazines

Lonely Planet boasts on the covers of its books that writers don’t accept freebies “in exchange for positive coverage”. In fact, the message they somewhat fitfully convey to their authors in-house is that they don’t want them to take freebies at all.

In my view there are “innocent” freebies and “sleazy” freebies. Getting a discounted or (in your dreams) free airline ticket, getting in free to museums and other attractions, getting a discounted car rental or train ticket I would characterize as clearly innocent. Slanted coverage of airlines, trains, museums etc. in a guidebook would be too easy to spot and would not influence a reader’s decision in any event. Getting free meals I would say is sleazy. It means you would have to reveal yourself as a travel writer and it’s just too easy for a chef to cook up a special meal.

Hotels are kind of a gray area. I’ve previously worked for a publisher that did not forbid free hotels for its writers so I wound up arranging for free stays. I found that some large hotels that have a policy of giving free or discounted stays to writers are relatively unconcerned with who you are or what you write. Whatever guidebook you write for is just a part of their business. They’ll go on quite nicely, thank you. Small hotels are much more problematic. They tend to hover and fuss and press you on what you’re going to say. Then they want you to cover the restaurant they just opened or the car rental agency of their brother-in-law. I quickly learned to avoid these situations that chew up research time and entangle you in someone else’s hopes.

In some developing countries, the tourist board will put you up in hotels. When I first started covering Croatia, this was the case. I found that was the most uncomplicated situation. I felt no pressure or obligation from or to anyone. Some hotels I liked and said so. Some I didn’t like but couldn’t exclude for one reason or another (usually location) so I said why I didn’t like them. Some just weren’t appropriate for our readership so they remained out.

So where does that leave you, dear reader? Even with a wealth of wonderful internet sites (such as Croatia Traveller!), you’ll still need to buy a guidebook at least for the maps and as a handy reference to stuff in your bag. You already knew (or should have known) that writers are not staying at every hotel they review or eating at every restaurant listed. So do your own research. Leave yourself open to serendipity. And if you come across a hotel or restaurant that is clearly substandard, by all means, write to the guidebook publisher and tell them. In every company I’ve worked for, readers letters are taken very seriously. Believe me, they do not disappear somewhere. In my view, you’re better off writing to the guidebook company than posting your experience on a hotel review website where your posting is one of dozens or hundreds. Guidebooks can and should be better. As a member of the travelling public you can do your part.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

Posted under Croatia Travel |