Langenscheidt's Universal Dictionary - Spanish

This is the best pocket dictionary series I've found -- regardless of the language. The vinyl cover stands up well to being stuffed in your pocket and they are loaded with useful words. They also make a nice leave-behind gift for someone who has done you a favor on the trip. The only addition I would make would be a verb conjugation page(s). I may generate one myself and paste it inside the back cover.

This dictionary is a wonderful combination of durability and utility. It fits perfectly into your back pocket and can take a lot of abuse. It's not the dictionary to choose as the only one that you have when studying a language - it's not extensive enough. But as something to travel with, a Langenscheidt Universal Dictionary is ALWAYS my first choice! (I have several different languages that have all gotten quite a bit of use.) The only drawbacks that I can think of for people looking for a reference when traveling (but have no training in the target language) is that this is not a "phrase book" and it is not very strong on "restaurant words" (spices, types of preparation, etc.) that you encounter on menus. But if you want an overall resource, and already have a basic knowledge of a language, this is a superb dictionary!