del-Travel Unlimited: Uncommon Adventures for the Mature Traveler

Are you looking for a travel destination away from throngs,glitz, and touristy bric-a-brac? Are you willing to concede, after booking that glorious vacation at an absolute rock-bottom price that there's no such thing as a free lunch, while watching the bills for the optional extras pour in as the whole cut-rate experience leaves a bad aftertaste? Then you're ready to do your travel shopping in Alison Gardner's painstakingly assembled book, "Travel Unlimited". Alison's book provides dozens of alternatives to the "been there, done that"s of familiar byways. Whether your preference is hiking, biking, camping, horseback riding, or boating, and whether you opt for a sun-baked or snow-covered perspective, detailed listings are here, carefully indexed, along with the approximate cost and e-mail and fax numbers of tour operators. All of the trips catalogued are supportive of the environment in their respective locales. The book is aimed at the mature (i.e., over 50) traveler; however, the profile of the average group for each trip suggests that a substantial number of younger people - often including children - find these tours appealing. You don't have to be an old dog to learn a new trek. Having done the 8-day, 80-mile walking tour from Leon, Spain, to Santiago de Compostela (pp. 165-6), I can say that I gleaned far more conversational nuggets hiking through the Pyrenees than I would have if I had hit the tables at Vegas. When I returned home, it wasn't necessary to corral a captive audience for listeners to show interest in the trip and in the book.

Travel Unlimited presents an almost irreistible smorgasbord of vacation possibilities--if you want to go beyond the standard tourist itineraries and activities. The guidebook focuses on worldwide educational, cultural, eco- and voluntourism opportunities, on land and at sea. Each tour company entry includes an overview of its philosophy and scope, destination details, level of amenities ("comfort zone"),a fellow traveler profile, costs and complete contact information. Complementing these well organized factual entries are brief first hand accounts of particular trips. I wanted to take them all! I found this guidebook so stimulating, I sent a copy to my oldest friend as we want to commemorate 50 years of friendship with a trip. From so many appealing choices, we booked the Universe Explorer Alaskan cruise next August Can't wait!

First edition guidebook aimed at the "mature traveler" -- roughly 50+. This travel encyclopedia offers abundant suggestions on alternative travel -- including ecotourism, educational vacations and volunteering. Kudos to the author for showcasing the finest "uncommon adventures" around the globe.