MTV, Like, Enters the Travel Guidebook Biz

Travel Blog  •  Jim Benning  •  11.14.06 | 3:11 PM ET

imageThe network has teamed with Frommer’s to produce guidebooks aimed at young budget travelers, according to an AP report. MTV Italy and MTV Ireland are the first books published in the series, with additional Europe titles due out over the next year. “The ‘best of’ recommendations in ‘MTV Italy’ include ‘most awesome ancient ruins’ like the Colosseum and Roman Forum, best seen, according to the guide, after dark when the floodlights come on,” the story reports. “Best churches, according to ‘MTV Italy,’ are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Duomo in Florence and St. Mark’s Basilica.” We’re all for any books that can inspire young Americans to head overseas for the first time. MTV guidebook readers will no doubt discover that Europe is packed with fly hostel-cribs, seriously awesome ruins and people as beautiful as those in Laguna Beach—I mean, on “Laguna Beach.”

Tags: Europe, Ireland, Italy, News and Briefs


3 Comments for MTV, Like, Enters the Travel Guidebook Biz

Tim 11.15.06 | 3:11 PM ET

Yeah, just what we need: a guidebook series that encourages insensitive, loud, reality-TV-watching kids to keep acting like idiots no matter where they go. Here’s a another take on the story up at HotelChatter:
http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2006/11/15/111854/32/hotels/MTV_and_Frommer_s_Team_Up_to_Show_Us_How_to_Be_Shallow_Idiots_No_Matter_Where_We_Go

Jim 11.15.06 | 6:11 PM ET

I see the airplane as half full, Tim. I’ve met kids who may have started off on the more insensitive side of life but changed for the better as a result of their travels.

The thing is, they have to get overseas first. If MTV inspires that first trip, I’m all for it.

Eva 05.02.07 | 10:46 AM ET

I doubt that an MTV guidebook is ever going to end up in my backpack, but the generalizations about my peers who might buy one here (‘insensitive, loud reality-TV-watching kids’)are maybe a little unfair. And that HotelChatter story was more than a little patronizing… ‘We’re not quite sure MTV watchers know how to read.’

Like, seriously? Way harsh.

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