April 16, 2008 Any seasoned traveler will tell you that packing space is limited and guidebooks can be an unwanted (but necessary) addition to a backpack. Now online travel resource, ProfessionalTravelGuide.com, has announced a partnership with SharedBook Inc that will enable travelers to create their own unique, professionally printed travel guidebook that should both save space and allow for customization of information.

Combining relevant online travel content with personal notes and photographs, the Pocket Guidebook is the first of its kind allowing travelers to fully customize the travel literature they take with them. With a few clicks, travelers can produce their own guide containing destination and travel information such as sightseeing, nightlife, shopping and dining content and relevant addresses. They can also add personal notes, itinerary information and photographs. Users can create a book for a single destination or multiple locations, thereby eliminating the need to carry multiple guidebooks. By going to ProfessionalTravelGuide.com and clicking on the eGuidebook tab, travelers can create their pre-trip travel book. Once they have selected the information they want to include, the guidebook is automatically generated online. Travelers are then given the choice to preview and purchase the book or personalize it further.

Another neat feature of the application is the ability to work collaboratively with other users invited into they space. If traveling with a group, you can each contribute personal notes and photographs and make one book for the group. After finalizing the content, the book is purchased and sent to the printer for on-demand output in laminated soft cover format. Prices for a personalized Pocket Guidebook start from US$18.95, including domestic shipping in the US. Books generally take between 10-14 business days to arrive.