Let's Go Budget Guides Year began: 1960 44 travel guides throughout the world They vow: Ease your anxieties and answer questions about the basics - you you can get off the beaten path and explore. Where they shine: A great guide for covering a big distance in one or two months. Maps are accurate and easy to find tabs. Need for improvement: Some of Harvard students that write the gudies can be a bit sarcastic in their writing. Average cost $17.99 More info: www.letsgo.com Yellow Jacket newsletter published for free. Rough Guides Year began: 1982 100 titles worldwide They vow: To provide the most reliable, up-to-date and entertaining information to independendent-minded travelers of all ages, on all budgets Need for improvement: Formatting is difficult to read More information: www.roughguides.com/travel ROUGHNEWS newsletter published tri-annually for free. Lonely Planet Publications Year began: 1973 240 titles worldwide They vow: Cheapest of the cheap and the best times to go. Where they shine: Overall in-depth coverage plus great historical, political and religious information. Suggested budget itineraries. Average cost: $21.95 More information: www.lonelyplanet.com or call (800) 275-8555 Moon Travel Handbooks Year began: 1978 titles covering North America, Mexico, Central America, the Carribbean, Asia and the Pacific. They vow: Background and practical information travelers need for an extraordinary experience. Where they shine: Indepth coverage of politics and culture, with pictures and a useful index. Average cost: $22.95 More information: www.moon.com or call (916) 345-5473 Michelin Travel Guides Year began: 1901 Titles covering Europe, "Green Guides" deal with historical facts and places to see. "Red Guides" deal with accommodations, food, and local attractions. They vow: Enhance the quality of your trip. Where they shine: Over 2,000 highlights, including a well researched history of Europe in general plus a rating system on dos and don'ts to see. Color maps. Great background information. Durable. Need for improvement: Expensive to buy both "Red" and "Green" guides Average cost: $20 More information: www.michelin-travel.com