Android users have fewer choices, at least from established travel publishers.

In such cities, few established travel publishers have released apps.

Guyana got a little boost last December when Bradt, the travel publisher that takes pride in covering offbeat destinations, brought out a dedicated guide.

Other travel publishers with Web sites have bulletin boards that reflect their own market niches.

In 2002, Pearson purchased Rough Guides, the travel publisher, and brought it under Penguin.

Before that he was with Roger Lascelles, where he had experience of working with travel publisher Lonely Planet.

Struggling travel publishers scramble to develop interactive guidebooks for smart phones and the iPad.

Like Expedia, Orbitz and other online agents, Travelocity relies on travel publishers for destination-specific content.

"The quality of the deals is better than it used to be," said Jon Douglas, an editor of Smarter Living, an online travel publisher.

The guides are considered by newspapers such as The Independent to "reach parts of the world other travel publishers don't reach".