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Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it."
         - Samuel Johnson

In many places of the world there is a dearth of English language magazines and newspapers.  If you travel frequently subscriptions are impractical.  Bookstores may not carry English language books, offer a small selection or simple by nonexistent.  The answer is the Internet and e-books.  Some information is important, if not critical.  Knowledge of foreign currency exchange fluctuations and current events in countries you plan to visit can be crucial to a pleasant stay at your next destination.

Probably the most important thing to insure you enjoy extensive travel or overseas lifestyle is to do your research before you go.  Deciding where you want to go is a daunting enough decision. 

CIA World Factbook

There are over 266 countries listed in the CIA World Factbook at this writing, of which 191 are considered independent states.  Most of the other countries are dependencies of the United States, United Kingdom, France or Australia.  Keep in mind that many countries such as China and Indonesia are countries only in name, that many regions or islands have semi-autonomous cultures, economic systems and languages of their own.  The CIA World Factbook is a good place to start your research.  I carry one with me at all times.  It is available to download for free for use on your laptop or PDA.

Travel Guides

Once you've checked the resources mentioned above you may have reduced your choice of possible destinations.  The selection of books on travel now available is huge and constantly growing.  Some travel books, such as those produced by Fodor and Frommer, cater more to tourists on two-week packages with an inclination for upscale vacations.  Others, such as those published by Lonely Planet, Moon and Rough Guides, are useful to both low-end backpackers and independent travelers in places not frequented by tourists.  They can also come in handy for regular tourists traveling on a tight budget. 

Probably the most detailed guides are those produced by Lonely Planet, which contain information on some really out-of-the-way places.  Keep in mind, though, that more detailed guides are more likely to be out of date.  Usually one or more writers are assigned to a given country with hundreds of destinations.  The publication date of the edition is generally a few months after the book is even printed, and the book often goes to the printer a year after the book is submitted to the publisher.  The more detail and destinations in a guide means that some of the information is already old by the time the writer delivers the book to the publisher.

Besides Lonely Planet, Moon Publications and Rough Guides produce similar guidebooks.  Popular travel destinations, such as Thailand and France, are likely to have a guide from all three of these publishers.  I prefer to look at a travel guide before I make a decision, and the first thing I look at is the publication date.  Try to find one that is no more than two years old.  The next thing I check is how detailed the information is on the specific destination(s) I plan to visit.

At the other end of the extreme are the Insight Guides, a series of well-written and beautifully illustrated paper cover books.  These guides are good for helping make the big decision on whether to go to a destination, and for planning and getting excited once you make a decision.  They are not the kind of practical guide you want to lug around the world like Lonely Planet, Moon Publications or Rough Guides.  You’ll need the kind of nuts and bolts information on specific hotels and restaurants that these guides provide.  They are designed for travel, with durable string binding and condensed typefaces to pack as much information as possible on each page while still being readable. 

The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World
An indispensable book, by Edward Hasbrouck, for serious world travelers, The Practical Nomad contains detailed practicalities for every imaginable contingency on anything to do with life and living abroad.  The chapters on airline tickets are particularly complete and useful.  The author provides extensive information on health and safety, visas and passports, and how to plan and prepare for the journey of a lifetime.  The slant sometimes gets to be a little too politically correct for my taste, but it is the best, most comprehensive book on the subject of world travel.

World Stompers: A Guide to Travel Manifesto Another useful but very different book, World Stompers, by Brad Olsen, is oriented towards pot-smoking, youthful backpackers.  The book's irreverent tone and sense of fun makes it an entertaining read, and his country-specific comments on everyplace from Iceland to the Maldives.  Other amusing and information features of this book are his top ten lists.  They range from the Top Ten Most Over-Rated Places to the World's Top Ten Best Stoner Meccas.  World Stompers is the perfect complement to The Practical Nomad.  I recommend reading both before any serious venture into world travel. 

Fantasy Islands: A Man's Guide to Exotic Women and International Travel
Fantasy Islands is useful for men who want to meet local women before or after arrival.  It contains detailed information on how to meet women from the Philippines and Thailand, but it also discusses Brazil, Scandinavia and Costa Rica.  The methods and information can be used to meet women anywhere in the world. It will provide a good background for men interested in meeting women from another culture.

The RVer's Bible
If you are genuinely interested in RV living, a good book to study is the RVer's Bible by Kim Baker & Sunny Baker, available from Simon & Schuster.  It covers just about everything you need to know about buying, operating and maintaining an RV. Reading this will not only give you a feel for the RV lifestyle, but provide useful information on purchasing the right equipment, saving money and preparing good food in small RV kitchens.

International Newspapers and Magazines

When traveling abroad, especially away from major metropolitan centers, it can be difficult to get accurate information on world news.  The two most readily available daily newspapers are the International Herald Tribune, publishing jointly by the New York Times and Washington Post, and the international edition of USA Today, a stripped-down version of the newspaper available on street corners in the United States.  Unless you are really interested in U.S. sports news, the Herald Tribune is the better choice for political and business news.  The Wall Street Journal is also available overseas. They have regional editions for Latin America, Europe and Asia.

The Economist, despite its misleading name, is the best weekly newsmagazine for world events.  Time and Newsweek are available overseas, but The Economist has more and better news articles unless what happened on the last Spice Girls tour is important to you.  Regional news weeklies are also useful, such as Asia Week.  World Press Review, a monthly publication, contains articles from news media around the world.  It is difficult to find many places overseas.

International publications can be difficult to find outside of major cities where many foreigners live or travel.  Gift shops in big hotels are the best place to find them.  Occasionally they can be found at newsstands in resort areas where there are lots of tourists.  Local overseas newspapers, even when available in English, often have limited international news.

Newsstands that sell USA Today and the International Herald Tribune are likely to have computer magazines.  PC World is widely available, and ComputerWorld publishes local versions in most major countries in the world.  ComputerWorld is useful for keeping up on local issues, but the publication is usually printed in the national language.  This is not always the case.  Computerworld Hong Kong and Philippines are printed in English.

Web Sites

EscapeArtist.com
The authoritative web site for doing your homework before deciding which country to live and invest in.  It contains exhaustive information on opportunities and business infrastructure in countries with good prospects for overseas living and investment.  Not only do you get reports on the country’s telecommunications capability, the information on civil rights and personal freedom is also invaluable. 

Nomadic Research Labs
Technomad: One who travels the Earth propelled by human power using technology to render physical location irrelevant.  In case you were wondering, that's what a technomad is and what this site is all about.  A computer nomad is someone who uses a computer to make a living while they travel the world.  Technomads, according to the authors of this site, sustain themselves with their own power.  The most interesting parts of this site are links to the sites of other technomads describing their experiences on the road.

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