Top 7 Mexico Travel Guidebooks

Start your journey to Mexico by doing some research. It's a large and diverse country, where you can travel cheaply or expensively -- that's up to you. Either way, gaining a bit of knowledge ahead of time can save you time, money, and regrets. The books below all cover the entire country. After you decide on a destination, consider purchasing a guide dedicated to the region you will visit.

1. Frommer's Mexico

Advocate for the budget traveler, Frommer's helps readers avoid tourist traps. The front features evocative color photos, and they're followed by "best of" picks -- beaches, archeological sites, adventure vacations, and much more. The rest of the book focuses on different regions. Frommer's is updated annually (unlike some others), which makes it a trustworthy guide.

2. Eyewitness Travel Guide Mexico

I'm a huge fan of the Eyewitness Travel Guides. They don't only tell you about places, they show you, with superlative photography and helpful drawings of places you won't want to miss on your travels.

3. Mexico's Beach Resorts for Dummies

If you're considering your first Mexico vacation, this travel guide will help to steer you in the right direction, to a place where you will be comfortable and within your budget.

4. Best Places to Stay in Mexico

While this volume could certainly use updating, it provides a good overview of existing resorts. Special sections on Honeymoons and "Ten Tips for Bliss" make it especially helpful for first-timers.

5. National Geographic Traveler Mexico

Gorgeous four-color pictures on nearly every page, and text with an historical bent make this book a leisurely read.

6. Romantic Inns of Mexico

Great for travelers who want to avoid large, anonymous lodgings. This book contains descriptions of more than 40 of the most charming places to stay throughout Mexico: the small Mexican posada (inn).

7. Lonely Planet Mexico

The VW Beetle of travel guides, Lonely Planet guides give you the essentials, but I've never found them particularly compelling to read. Still, if you're traveling on a strict budget, you may want to rely on this one.