[.ca] The Practical Nomad Guide to the Online Travel Marketplace (ISBN 1566912504)

From Amazon.co.uk:
In an introductory note to the reader, Edward Hasbrouck answers the first question on everyone's mind when faced with such a book as The Practical Nomad Guide to the Online Travel Marketplace--how useful is a book on Internet travel? The underlying assumption is that, much like a personal computer, the book is outdated and in some ways obsolete the day it's purchased.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 sceptics 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it is not merely a list of Web sites--"most of what I could say about any specific Web site or interface would be out of date by the time this book got to bookstores".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 scepticism and critical advice that Hasbrouck offers the post millennium traveller--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

Internet and Travel:
If an award were to be given to one of the most complete and informative guides pertaining to the topic of the Internet and travel, Edward Hasbrouck's book entitled The Practical Nomad Guide To The Online Travel Marketplace would probably merit nomination. This softbound guide is particularly useful to the novice who may have little experience in surfing the net when it comes to the subject matter of travel. The book is authored by Edward Hasbrock and published by Avalon Travel. Edward Hasbrock is one of the world's best known authorities on around-the-world travel as previously exemplified by one of his other books entitled The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World. He is also an expert on international airfares and this expertise is certainly illustrated in the The Practical Nomad Guide To The Online Travel Marketplace concerning the topic of air travel arrangements. One of the most noteworthy features about the publication is that within every chapter we have a brief resumé of the principal topics dealt within the respective sections. Another excellent element of the book is its division into five main topics, research, reservations and purchasing, consumer protection, using the Internet while travelling and finally references. No doubt these matters should be the traveller's main concerns when using the Internet as a tool when planning a trip. This should be the global picture of how to use the Internet when it comes to travel. The usefulness of the tips and information presented by the author can best be exemplified if we only refer to the chapter pertaining to the evaluation of web sites. Hasbrouck most aptly points out to his readers that many of the travel sites are nothing more than infomercials. Furthermore, there are sites where the research is very sloppy and often the authors of these sites have never been to any of the countries or cities they are writing about. This observation should give us something to ponder over when we are viewing any travel site. Another useful insight made by the author is that we should combine research tools. In other words we are given step-by-step guidelines as to what resources are available on the net and how best to use these resources when planning our trips. We are advised that a combination of search engines, web directories as well as newsgroups should all be implemented in order to secure maximum results. All of these resources are fully described and explained to the reader. We are also informed as to what kinds of travel research are best done on the Internet. Very often we tend to waste a good deal of time researching the Internet for the best deal when in fact it is far better to contact a good travel agent who very often can offer us something that is not found on the Internet. I have had this experience many a time when I tried to track down the best airfare, when in fact it was my travel agent who gave me the best deal. Why? Because the travel agents have access to some resources that can never be found on any travel site. When we do reach our destinations there is always the matter of keeping in touch with home. Where do we locate Internet connections? The suggestions given in the chapter dealing with this topic are of great practical use, especially for those of us who do not have the foggiest idea as to where to look for Internet accessibility. There are many more useful tidbits scattered throughout the book, such as security and credit cards, consumer protection laws, fraud and scams, background information about destinations, Usenet Newsgroups. These topics are vital and important in understanding the methodology in using the Internet as a tool in planning our trips. This is a guide well worth every penny, particularly for those of us who may not be fully cognizant of the full value of the Internet. Perhaps we should rename the book Internet Travel 101! This review was first published in the reviewer's own site: www.bookpleasures.com

Hasbrouck, the author I'd least like to have over for dinner:
Wow! This guy really thinks he's something. This book is page after page of just how witty/clever/smart the author belives he is, with very little valuable information. To be honest, I only got through about half of it. I learned nothing except Hasbrouck must really love to read his own stuff. There's nothing in this book you can't find by doing a simple search on yahoo or google. Do not spend money on this book!

Great book on e-commerce:
The book is easy-to-read, pleasant and extremely complete. The chapters concerning safety and privacy through the Internet are carefully detailed but not too technical, and I think everybody will understand them; furthermore they deal with problem concerinig e-commerce in general, not only online travel services. The last part of the book dealing with how to stay online while travelling requires more computer knowledge, but the author promply warns the reader before getting into geeky technicalities, so that it is easy to skip the difficult pages. As the book deals with an ever-changing subjects, updates are available at the author's web site, and it is always possible to send an e-mail and ask for explanation if something is not clear. It helped me a lot understand the online travel marketplace and how to make my purchases online more wisely.

Do not waste your money:
Poorly done book. Choose Lonely Planet or Rough Guides instead.