Experiencing Lithuania: 3rd Edition

by Columbia Warren

***Revised, Updated, and Expanded in 2016*** This guide takes a different approach than other more traditional travel guides about Lithuania. Instead of simply aggregating information about the country and its tourist attractions, the author delves deeper into describing the country and its people, particularly those aspects about Lithuania and Lithuanians that strike him as unique and interesting. The guide does provide descriptions about places to go, sites to see, and where to eat, but only selectively based on the author's own and local Lithuanians’ recommendations. The guide also provide a great deal of practical advice about traveling in Lithuania in order to help you make the most of your visit. This advice is intended to help clear away some of the frustration and confusion that naturally arises when traveling in a foreign country, so that you have more time to focus on experiencing Lithuania. The guide is divided into four main parts. Part I gives an overview of Lithuania and its people. Part II describes recommended places to visit, dine and recreate. Part III provides practical advice about a wide range of logistical matters. Finally, Part IV presents a concise history of Lithuania.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2012

Reviews

[Karen]

This author is an excellent writer.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would appreciate more travel guides like this. I feel I am qualified to evaluate these books, as I just finished reading three different guides to the Canadian Maritimes to prep for my trip there, and then after returning home I read this book. Not to prep for a trip, sadly, but one day perhaps!
This guide has a much better history section than most guidebooks. Maybe only history grad students read the history sections, but I appreciate a good history section. I also think more guidebooks should include the kind of little cultural tidbits that are included here. The sorts of little things that one might do that are impolite, like pointing at people or sitting on your towel wrong at the spa. Travelers need to know these things. Warren also includes a section on Lithuanian humor...again, that's the kind of subtle information I need that is usually missing. And there's also all the important stuff about trains and buses and airports and restaurants and hotels, etc. Maybe this style only works for a smallish country, and you couldn't do it for the whole UK or Germany or something, but you could do it for Scotland, or Bavaria, or other smaller places, and really, aren't most vacations going to be limited to one chunk of a big country?
Also, good beach read (in that I read it at the beach).

[Kathyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Lithuania book! As a recent Ex-Pat from the US to Lithuania I have cherished this book and refer to it often. I have used the suggestion on the language school, Lingua Lituanica and found them fantastic as well as the recommendations for areas to travel and customs. The author has a good sense of humor and while married to a Lithuanian understands what Americans will be looking for in their time in this amazing country. This is also a very recently published book with online supports that are up to date in this culture that is changing day to day. Wonderful book and a must read for Americans who will be coming to Lithuania!

[Kathleen Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in preparation for my upcoming trip to Lithuania in 2014. (Actually I read the paperback, not the Kindle version, but the Kindle version is the only one that would show up!) The author is married to a Lithuanian woman, so he perhaps understands the country better than some travelers. I found it fairly helpful and will probably take it with me when I travel. It has a brief section on the language, and a section on money, that I expect will be very helpful.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really excellent book if you have a particular interest in Lithuania or if you plan to travel there. The author spends more time on the people and their customs, language, food & drink, etc. rather than just on 'where to go and what to do.'

[Mark Geisthardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives a wonderful overview of Lithuania in a generally lighthearted easy to read style. Is a very good read prior to visiting Lithuania.