Phrase Books - Learn Just Enough to get by in Another Lanaguage
If you can't speak the lingo, you can always get by with a few key phrases. Investing in a language phrase book will really pay off; travel is easier if you can talk the talk!
Best Travel Phrasebooks
I'm linguistically challenged. Despite much study, I often find myself at a language loss when I'm actually on the ground elsewhere, which is where I can't function without my well-thumbed travel phrasebooks. They fit in a cargo pants pocket, and I can just hand one over to an exasperated shopkeeper when pantomime and international pictionary fail, as travel phrasebooks have reverse dictionaries.
I'm linguistically challenged. Despite much study, I often find myself at a language loss when I'm actually on the ground elsewhere, which is where I can't function without my well-thumbed travel phrasebooks. They fit in a cargo pants pocket, and I can just hand one over to an exasperated shopkeeper when pantomime and international pictionary fail, as travel phrasebooks have reverse dictionaries.
Yo Suis Perdu (or When Will I Learn?)
For me, the biggest obstacle in easy travel is always the language. I'm language impaired despite several combined years of scholastic effort and much travel. I can do the ridiculous pantomime thing well, and between learning a few key phrases before I go, strange gestures that are often highly entertaining to all, and the phrasebook I always...
For me, the biggest obstacle in easy travel is always the language. I'm language impaired despite several combined years of scholastic effort and much travel. I can do the ridiculous pantomime thing well, and between learning a few key phrases before I go, strange gestures that are often highly entertaining to all, and the phrasebook I always...
Learning the Lingo
I am in lovely Guadalajara now, and a miracle has happened -- I seem to be making myself more or less understood en Espanol. This is huge. I have spent much time wandering about Latin countries, saying, "Donde (the hostel, the mercado, the cantina)?" and "Gracias" to ridiculous exclusivity. It would appear those days may be over, and the secret may be that I am traveling alone...
I am in lovely Guadalajara now, and a miracle has happened -- I seem to be making myself more or less understood en Espanol. This is huge. I have spent much time wandering about Latin countries, saying, "Donde (the hostel, the mercado, the cantina)?" and "Gracias" to ridiculous exclusivity. It would appear those days may be over, and the secret may be that I am traveling alone...
Spanish Phrasebooks for Travel
We especially like Lonely Planet's phrasebooks -- not complete, of course, but good enough to find the cantina.
We especially like Lonely Planet's phrasebooks -- not complete, of course, but good enough to find the cantina.
French Phrasebooks for Travel
Fodor's French for Travelers especially suits us -- just when we need it most, kinda brings back the classroom and all that vocab we memorized ("Where is the platform for the train to Nice that leaves in two minutes?!?!").
Fodor's French for Travelers especially suits us -- just when we need it most, kinda brings back the classroom and all that vocab we memorized ("Where is the platform for the train to Nice that leaves in two minutes?!?!").
Italian Phrasebooks for Travel
"Pizza" and "vino" are not the only words you need to learn to be able to travel happily in Italy.
"Pizza" and "vino" are not the only words you need to learn to be able to travel happily in Italy.
German Phrasebooks for Travel
Compare prices on some good German phrasebooks and stop sounding like you're imitating Colonel Klink.
Compare prices on some good German phrasebooks and stop sounding like you're imitating Colonel Klink.
Thai Phrasebooks for Travel
Believe it -- it's good to know how to say more in Thailand than asking, "Ko Phangan?" Compare prices on some travel sized Thai phrasebooks and get a little Thai language help from Thai dictionaries.
Believe it -- it's good to know how to say more in Thailand than asking, "Ko Phangan?" Compare prices on some travel sized Thai phrasebooks and get a little Thai language help from Thai dictionaries.
Mandarin Phrasebooks for Travel
Mandarin, the fastest growing language in the world, is something you need to know a bit of in this century. Compare prices here on some good phrasebooks -- we especially like Rough Guide's Mandarin phrasebook.
Mandarin, the fastest growing language in the world, is something you need to know a bit of in this century. Compare prices here on some good phrasebooks -- we especially like Rough Guide's Mandarin phrasebook.
Portuguese Phrasebooks for Travel
The language you need in Rio is Portuguese. Get some help with Portuguese phrasebooks for travelers -- compare prices and pick one, any one, before you head off to carnival.
The language you need in Rio is Portuguese. Get some help with Portuguese phrasebooks for travelers -- compare prices and pick one, any one, before you head off to carnival.
Piles of Phrase Books
Smartphase.com has rounded up phrase books on the web in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Dutch and Portuguese. The top phrase book publishers are represented, such as Fodor's, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet. You can buy on the site.
Smartphase.com has rounded up phrase books on the web in French, German, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Dutch and Portuguese. The top phrase book publishers are represented, such as Fodor's, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet. You can buy on the site.