For many people, the Internet has opened up a whole new world. You don't need to cross to the other side of the planet to be able to see what is going on at Carnival in Brazil or how a country is preparing for the upcoming Olympics. But, that doesn't mean it's not a good idea to leave your home behind for a week every once in a while to explore another part of the planet. The Internet can help you here as well, with lots of available travel guide e-books.

With so many different guides out there written by a number of different sources, it's important to find one where you share the same opinions as the author on what makes a great vacation.

Lonely Planet Shop offers e-books about many different places you can travel.

Another thing you should be thinking about when it comes to choosing a guide is how much you're planning to spend on your vacation. Someone with a modest income is likely going to have a different experience of seeing places like Peru and England rather than someone who is used to five-star hotels and seven-course meals. Make sure you're choosing a guide meant for people who are planning to spend the right amount for your budget and taste.

Travel guides usually have more suggestions of attractions than anyone could take in on one trip. So, one of the keys to taking advantage of them is to know what is worth seeing and what is not. There are all kinds of guides online that allow anyone from first time travelers to travel agents to comment on the postings. This can be useful when you're deciding where to stay, where to eat, and when is best to visit major attractions.

Look at the "don'ts" as much as the "dos" when you're looking at travel guides. Any company building a travel site should have some tips of things to avoid and look out for. There are places in the world with different customs and laws that need to be followed and those that have neighbourhoods that you might want to avoid. You should know about these things before you leave home.