1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List

This is a great book for arm-chair tourists, but if you actually plan on going anywhere, this might not be the book for you, unless you happen to have an unlimited budget or a corporate sponser. The author stays in the most expensive hotels and eats at the most expensive restaurants. How nice for her. The rest of us need something a little more practical.

I must say that this guide was exactly what I needed, but also I must confess that another thing came up since I have been traveling to Europe for some time now. I didn't realize or wasn't even thinking about travel insurance?? I mean we all have insurance, that covers us while we are in the US, but not for traveling abroad. I recently planned a second trip to Germany, but wasn't sure if my insurance company policy would take care of minor details in my policy for things I am not sure I have thought about. I am not saying I might or might not be covered, but I need peace of mind when it comes to my family. I then called my HR to find out general things about traveling abroad and "What would happen if" scenario's. I wasn't going to read my lengthy policy, even if I did I wouldn't understand the legal double-talk anyway not being a lawyer and all.

My HR told me everything would be ok, and I shouldn't worry. But some thing in the back of my mind said call again and asked the same questions to see if the results would be the same from another Representative, to my surprise, it was. Ok then, not feeling a warm feeling of confidence in my HR responses. I didn't have much time to keep doing the research, so I looked up travel insurance and started to focus my attention on getting some basic package to cover me and family while we were abroad. There are a lot to choose from, but again this became confusing. So I came across www.securemytravelonline.com which had an aggregate of different well known insurance companies. I choose AIG with a basic plan and the rest was history. Also I didn't know you can insure your travel and luggage also in case of theft, flight cancellation etc. I thought I would share something from one avid traveler to the next. Overall a GREAT Guide and I have bought another copy for my friend.

Take care.
Carl>

Seriously! This book is wonderful. I've given away numerous copies as gifts. For those of us who like to make lists and check off the lists, this is the book for you. It is truly inspiring to be able to travel and experience many unique places, restaurants, shops, etc and check off (or place a shiny star, as I am doing) at each location. I feel like I'm accomplishing so much because of this book. Everyone should have a copy on their bookshelves. AND use it. Don't let it collect dust or else you aren't truly experiencing life. Live life to the fullest every single day! This book will most definitely help you to do so!

Buy it today!!!

The world is big. Lots to see. Lots of beauty. All of it can't be listed. Got it. However, I can't understand how Lebanon, one of the most beautiful and fascinating countries in the world (one that managed to maintain some level of tourism even in the midst of a bloody Civil War) wasn't even mentioned!!! Anyone who has stood in awe at the beauty and majesty of the Cedars knows that not including one sight in Lebanon is a glaring omission.

For that reason, I don't put much stock in this book and its recommendations.

I received "1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler's Life List" as a birthday gift from a friend a few years ago and it has since become one of the most well-thumbed volumnes in our travel library.

It's fun to scan our green highlighted entries and remember with pleasure the places we've been, as well as review entries we've marked with stars as places we plan to visit.

I'm not sure how anyone can make the suggestion that the book is a 'grandpa list' with off the beaten track trips such as "a ballon ride over Masai Mara" and "the Tasman Glacier" listed right on the front cover. I don't see many 80 year olds on those types of adventures.

Although I agree that the Toronto Four Seasons listing is dubious when so many locations of interest in Canada seem to be missing, the food at the Four Seasons is actually quite fine.

I recommend this book as a good starting point for creating your own list of places to see before you die.