Don't Go There!: The Travel Detective's Essential Guide to the Must-Miss Places of the World

I initially bought this book for my brother, a huge Anthony Bordain fan and globe trotter...but after hearing Peter G. on the radio, couldn't resist cracking it open for myself--and thus having to order another copy for my brother. We have all meticulously planned a vacation and each stop along the way-- only to find that after leaving many of these popular tourist traps with a feeling of,"Why did I come all the way to see this" or "So what exactly is the big deal?" Peter Greenberg offers clever and interesting facts not about "how" to travel (which is as easy as clicking "yes" into expedia) but what places are truly valuable and how to avoid the fake, contrived "experiences" offered by travel guides and brochures. The book made me giggle over more than one page and silly factoid and is a fun read whether you are planning a trip or just hanging out in your home during the winter season. Peter's message is to get off the beaten path if you want to truly travel and experience new places. **A note about many of the 1 and 2 star reviews: Many of the reviewers never read the book in its entirety and are only irritated that he has negatively portrayed their hometown. Now this would have irked me also, but really...it is a book--and a fun read at that. Keep that in mind...

This is a must-read book for anyone who travels for business or for pleasure. I travel frequently on business and I have had too many less than satisfying and occasionally miserable experiences with towns, restaurants, hotels and attractions that sounded great in their own promotional literature. Had I had Greenberg's insights and wisdom from this book I would have been a much happier camper on many occasions. Greenberg's new book is just what we have all been looking for - a tell-it-like-it-is honest appraisal of potential pitfalls that we can now easily avoid. And it's funny and fun to read! Thanks for this Mr. Greenberg! It's going to be my new stocking stuffer for friends this Christmas.

Don't Go There! is a great read, packed with interesting, useful, hilarious and bizarre trivia about cities and towns, both in the U.S. and abroad. Unlike a conventional travel book, Peter Greenberg tells us about the underbelly of these places - which is something no guidebook has done before. It's refreshing and very entertaining. You can tell there was a tremendous amount of research that went into writing this book. In his introduction, the author says that while the facts and figures are correct, his conclusions and advice are subjective. Greenberg is an investigative reporter, not a paid mouthpiece for the travel industry, and that's what makes the book a valuable read, as well as controversial. It's a great gift for any active or armchair traveler, who already owns the usual collection of conventional guidebooks. Five stars!!

This book really (pleasantly) surprised me, at first I thought it would be all negatives but it really made me laugh, freak out and actually plan a trip! It reminded me it is my responsibility to research my holiday and not just trust the tourism boards or resorts. With the speed of information today, it is so easy to book a beautiful holiday from a website and then when you arrive find out it is college Spring break and the pool is full of beer cans (yes true story at a VERY expensive resort). The book has a funny side side with some crazy sayings that make the book a joy to read. It is funny that Ashland says they are "the center of the universe". They should actually be welcoming Peter with open arms for all the press that city is getting. No one would cancel a visit to Ashland for that quote but it sure is fun to joke about it. What is the saying; "bad press is better than no press". This is going to be the best Xmas stocking stuffer, everyone will have fun reading bits!

I think many people are misinterpreting what this book is about. You can go to the greatest city on earth, and have a bad time. I live in DC, and there are certainly things I wish tourists knew coming in about where NOT to go, what to take a pass on, and what they should see, come hell or high water. This book does that for other cities, like saying what sections of the city to avoid in Detroit or Chicago. It's frank about when the cities are at their most crowded (tourists coming to DC: 3pm is rush hour here, okay?), what seasons to avoid. It's an honest book that doesn't pander to the dreamer who wants to think of the world as a destination vacation, rather than as a place where other people live. As for his comments on Ashland... it's a great place to raise a family, sure, but if I'm vacationing, it's not the Center of the Universe for me (their quote, not mine).