There are a few questions we are asked all the time so we thought we'd lay them out here for you.

1. What is a Rough Guide?
Rough Guides are a series of travel guidebooks that have been around since 1982. Four friends put the series together with a simple idea: combine great writing with contemporary, opinionated information for the independent traveler. The result is a guidebook that not only gives you plenty of cultural and historical background but will also tell you where the best beaches and the hottest clubs are, where to go for great local music and delicacies; in short, what it's like to live there today. There are now almost 200 such travel guides available in print and thousands of pages from those are available on this website.

2. Whose opinionated, contemporary and independent commentary are we reading anyway?
At any given time, about one hundred authors and contributors are at work updating, researching and writing these guides. They are an eclectic group: Brits, Americans, Aussies, Canadians, and more. Some are full-time writers, others take time off from regular jobs to research and write; but they are all, at the heart of it, explorers and inquirers. Our in-house teams of editors, based in London and New York, spend countless hours meticulously weaving together information from the road into the most readable, reliable, user-friendly guides on the market. This collaboration between our writers and editors, we think, produces a travel guide of unmatched quality, accuracy and integrity.

3. What is the difference between the content on the site versus the content in the books?
The material on the site is taken directly from our guidebooks, with minor alterations that take into account the different form of media.

4. How much content is on the site now? And in the future?
We launched the site with more than four thousand destinations. Since then we've been constantly adding new material and will continue to do so until we think we've covered every place you might be going. Sign up for the weekly Rough Guide electronic newsletter and we'll let you know when we add new content, not to mention any special features and promotions!

5. How current is the information on the site?
We try to keep the information as updated as possible, integrating user updates into the text. However, details may change from the time we place the content onto the site. If you notice something that has changed, please send us the new information and we will pass it on to our authors for verification.

6. How can I list my business on the website and in the books?
Our authors independently research all restaurants, hotels, clubs and other businesses that are listed in the content. If you send us your details, we will pass the information on to the relevant author, who will try to check out your place of business on his or her next research trip. North American and Caribbean operations should forward details to Rough Guides, 345 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014, USA. All others should contact Rough Guides, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, UK. Or send us your details by filling out a form on our website.

7. What else does Rough Guides do?
Besides our travel guides and travel website, we publish music reference books on everything from reggae to rock to opera (though not, unfortunately, rock operas), plus other reference titles such as our best-selling guide to the Internet. We also sell our travel guides in e-book format for both the Microsoft Reader and the Adobe e-book Reader, and you can buy and download our e-books at many major online bookstores.

8. Where can I see the Rough Guide TV show?
"Rough Guide" was developed by a group of Rough Guide authors in conjunction with the BBC and was seen on that channel for 8 years. In the US, PBS ran the show for a couple of years and now the Travel Channel (check your local cable listings) airs episodes. We're currently developing a fresh new show and you can look for that soon.

9. Why don't RGs publish a Guide to Burma?
Rough Guides don't publish a guide for Burma because the democratically elected leader, who is currently held under house arrest, has called for a tourism boycott. We respect her request but understand that it is a personal choice for individual travellers to make.

10. There are so many guidebook series; how does Rough Guides stand out?
There are many fine books out there. But we think we prioritize a few things that make us better than the rest. First, quality writing; a Rough Guide is not just a good guidebook, it's a good read as well. Second, a contemporary, journalistic view; a Rough Guide views a destination as more than a tourist never-never land. We treat it as a place where real people live and work and our readers get to participate in that vibe. Finally, updates that matter; we bring new editions out every 2–3 years because our researchers re-visit every place and thoroughly check out new information. And our state-of-the-art publishing process allows us to make amendments and additions right up until press time. When we call it an updated edition, you can be sure it is.

11. Why do you do more than just travel guides?
For twelve years, we did nothing but travel guides. In those guides, though, we always have included our famous Contexts section: thoughtful essays on a variety of topics – from the destination's wildlife and history to its art movements, indigenous music and more. From those essays on music grew our first non-travel project, The Rough Guide to World Music. That success led us to apply our unique Rough Guide perspective to any number of categories – from music and the Internet to sports and much more. Our mission, no matter what kind of book, is to demystify, entertain and enlighten.

12. How can I write for you?
We have more than one hundred writers and contributors at work around the world. But we're always looking for good and enthusiastic new contributors, as well as new ideas and proposals. Have a look at our Work or Write for Us page.

13. Who works in your offices? Can I?
We have offices in New York and London where tireless editors, cartographers, marketers and a crack production team put together and sell Rough Guides. They are a tremendous group of people who work very hard, have an interest in travel, music, the arts or all of the above. Together they create a culture at Rough Guides where ideas flow, creativity reigns and everyone makes a contribution. From time to time, we have openings in our offices. If you live in New York or London and would like to be considered, send your resume or CV to:

Rough Guides
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
jobs@roughguides.com

or

Rough Guides
80 Strand
London WC2R 0RL
jobs@roughguides.co.uk

14. Can I make money on sales of Rough Guides?
If you’re based in the UK, team up with Rough Guides' parent company, Penguin Books UK, and start earning commission on sales of Rough Guides on www.penguin.co.uk!
» Find out more here