Where To Go When

Fortunately, this book follows very much in DK’s tradition of well-organized text and gorgeous photography. The book is divided into twelve chapters (one for each month). At the beginning of each chapter, there are brief descriptions (a couple of sentences) of thirty vacation spots appropriate for that month. These are divided into six categories (festivals and culture, unforgettable journeys, natural wonders, luxury and romance, active adventures, and family getaways). There are five recommendations in each category. Each of the thirty recommendations either has page numbers where it is explored in greater detail or a website for readers to explore on their own. Those that are featured (eleven destinations per month) take up a double page that has more dazzling photography, a description, how to get there, accommodations, places to eat, and a suggested five- or seven-day itinerary (a few itineraries do go to up to two weeks, and a few others are as short as three days). Each of these also refers the reader to websites for more info.

While the book itself is excellent in its layout and pictures, some of the websites are dead. Also, this work is virtually identical to an earlier one (also by DK and with the same title). Of the eleven featured destinations per chapter (one-hundred and twenty-three total), only five were replaced with new ones. In each case, the replacements were closer to America than those in the earlier 2007 edition. The pictures make this book an exquisite coffee-table book or a great gift for those who love to travel (or dream of traveling). It is also a superb starting point for those exploring possible vacation spots.