In fact as a review of the Rough Guide to Portugal this could as easily be a review of any or all of the Rough Guides travel books - it just happens to be the one I've used most recently. The Rough Guides score on all the main factors for books as aids to travel. They are thorough enough to enable the traveller to make informed judgements without being so comprehensive that they drive your airline baggage into excess weight. Most important of all Rough Guides are relevant to most travellers' experiences: the places I visit are recognizably the same as described and the guides do not direct themselves to one readership, be it backpackers or epicures, seekers after history or nightlife. There's nothing fancy about the Rough Guides, but all you need is helpful, clear and accurate guides - and that's what you get. And, of course, as guides start going out of date even before they reach the shops, the positive encouragement to readers to supply corrections for the frequent updates is the Rough Guides' final strength.