Expert Advice: Top 9 Ski Tips

Publicists are tempting bloggers with freebies, just as they've long wooed other travel writers. Will bloggers be nicer if they're not paying? It sure seems possible. Before trusting a blog, see if it's open about conflicts of interest. (Members of the Trusted Travel Blogs Network pledge to be honest; look for its logo.) And scan to see how often readers post comments. A group of watchful readers is a sign that a blogger will be held accountable for doing anything shady.

British anthropologist Philomena Keet recently stopped by our office to chat about the making of The Tokyo Look Book, a photo overview of Tokyo's dynamic street fashions, which comes out November 1 from Kodansha International ($30; barnesandnoble.com). Keet, dressed in a green brocade coat counterbalanced by her brilliantly red hair, pauses before trying to summarize the complex world of Japanese subculture styles. "Tokyo isn't like any other city; there is not such a one, dominant mainstream culture. Instead, there are mini-markets and micro-masses created and fed by niche magazines and boutiques. In Japan, fashion doesn't have any moral disapproval or negative associated with it." Keet's book, created by pounding Tokyo's pavement for five months with a photographer, is unique in its scope. Not only does she profile specific youth subcultures concentrated in a few celebrated districts, but she also turns a lens on the rest of Tokyo society. She finds that many Japanese, even conservative salarymen, are individualizing their looks in ever bolder ways. To see some examples, check out the slide show. Keet listed for us the must-see neighborhoods for travelers who want to see Tokyo's street styles for themselves. Here are the areas to head for and what to expect when you get there: Shibuyu and Harajuku are the main centers of Tokyo's youth fashion scenes. Weekends—when all the kids change from school uniforms to full subculture gear—are especially vibrant. Make sure to check out the groups standing on Jingubashi Bridge next to the Harajuku station, wander around the backstreets of Harajuku, and visit Shibuyu 109 mall, where many of the trendiest boutiques are located. As a little antidote to all the frills and youth of Harajuku, check out the nearby Aoyama area; you'll find avant garde high fashion boutiques, such as the Japanese label, Comme des Garçons. Keet also recommends the districts of Daikanyama and Naka-Meguro for great street style without the tourists and wannabes that now clog Harajuku's sidewalks. Marunouchi is where to find a lot of sophisticated, high-fashion, international boutiques (think Louis Vuitton) and salary, or business, men and women. Ginza is another upscale neighborhood to spot more high-end fashion. Akihabara is where the otaku, or geek subculture, like to hang out. It is also know for its high concentration of "maid cafés," a business phenomenon in which male customers are served obsequiously by women dressed as French maids. Another phenomenon, particularly popular in the Shinjuku and Raponggi neighborhoods, is the host club, a nightclub that's the inverse of a geisha house. Women pay extravagant cover fees and drink prices to exchange pleasantries with good-looking, well-dressed, entertaining young men. Keet warns travelers that an evening's bill might easily be over a thousand dollars. "Typically, the clientele for host clubs are women who are night workers themselves. They pay to be treated well, and are often the only ones who can afford it." Luckily, passing these hosts on the street, as one often does in these neighborhoods, is entertainment enough—and free. You can find a lot of vintage stores—often stocked with t-shirts imported from the United States—in Koenji and Shimokitazawa. Youth decked out as rockabillies hang out in Yoyogi Park, during its famous Sunday flea market.

BT Top Pick * The star goes to the guidebook that the insider considers the most useful. OUR PANELISTS Marta Falconi Born in Rome 27 years ago, she's now a reporter in the Associated Press's bureau there. Christopher P. Winner The editor and publisher of The American magazine has lived in Rome since 1975. Sofia Celeste Based in Rome since 2004, she has written for The Wall Street Journal and The Boston Globe. THE BOOKS Rick Steves' Rome 2008 ($18) Marta Falconi: A friendly approach, with first-person reports, B&W photos, and hand-drawn maps. Restaurants get less play than attractions, and nightlife coverage is virtually nonexistent. Best for backpackers or families with little time in the city. Christopher Winner: A long, generally precise monologue. But basic needs like lodging and food aren't separated from tourism, and the religious coverage is nearly double that of entertainment and dining. What the guide lacks in maps--there are few--it makes up for in clear writing. Sofia Celeste: Written with the humor and street smarts of a local, and full of insider info. The restaurant guide will lead you to the best little-known spots as well as the nearest McDonald's. Anyone looking for the trendiest places, however, will want to hang out with someone other than Rick Steves. The Rough Guide to Rome, 2007 ($18) Marta Falconi: The best take of the three on the Vatican, with essential maps. No ratings, though, so you can't tell at a glance which attractions you can ignore. In general, descriptions are only a few lines, and some restaurant/bar entries are outdated. At least one closed long ago. Christopher Winner: * Time Out's gloss meets Steves's primitivism. Listings are approachable, and there are eight maps at the back of the book. Best of all, a Contexts section includes lovely excerpts about the city and astute book tips--it's just one more example of the book's attention to detail. Sofia Celeste: Seeking a tour that includes the setting of Tosca? This is the guidebook for you. It's thick with historical and cultural background, but lacks a simple breakdown of restaurants, hotels, and clubs. Definitely better for more-mature travelers. Time Out Rome, 2007 ($20) Marta Falconi: * A hip, entertaining guide packed with the latest on bars, restaurants, and trends--even most locals would find it useful. Quality photos and smooth graphics make for better reading. Nothing seems to be missing; the book even has a small glossary of pizza toppings. Christopher Winner: The attitude can be jarring: An essay on art is subtitled, "So many Virgins, so little time...." Please. The nightlife and entertainment sections are the best around, making the book a better bible for the 20-something crowd than for anyone else. Sofia Celeste: * Goes beyond a directory of boutique hotels and day spas (though that's here, too) with insightful articles on topics such as Pope Benedict XVI. Despite Time Out's fairly youthful reputation, bargain hunters should look elsewhere.

There's been a lot of talk about social networking lately, and Facebook--with 46 million users (and growing)--is the site of the moment. But Facebook can be handy for more than listing favorite movies and connecting with friends. In May, the company began allowing partners to develop applications for the site. These are free mini programs (such as the Traveler IQ Challenge quiz and TripAdvisor's Cities I've Visited map) that you can add to your profile. One of the most useful ones is Trips, developed by SideStep. After you create a Trip, you and your fellow travelers (who need not be Facebook users) can post comments, links, and itinerary ideas; participate in discussion groups; and upload photos. Need advice? A feature called Popular Destinations shows you where friends in your network like to go. Trips also plots on a map where you've been and where you're headed. Lots of websites help you create a blog, but some (such as travelblog.org and travelpod.com) go further by letting you integrate it into your Facebook profile. You still have to write the entries and upload photos on the blog sites themselves, but then they're published automatically in your Facebook profile. To get started, you have to join the site (it's free). Click on Applications, and then on Browse More Applications. There's a category devoted to travel. One caveat: Facebook applications vary in quality. Look for user reviews and find out who developed each one. You can always remove apps if they're not working out.