Product Reviews

We all work hard (well, most of us). That's why we deserve to make the most of our free time. To help us squeeze every last drop of entertainment from bank holidays and weekends, the AA has launched Where to Go in Britain and Ireland, an interactive guide to attractions and places of interest in the UK. Tell it what you like and where you're going, and it'll tell you what excitements are to be found near your chosen destination.

The software's layout is clear and simple. On the left-hand side of the screen, you type in details of where you are and what you want - art galleries,

ADVERTISEMENT

say, or public gardens. You can also tell it how far you're prepared to travel to get to them. Press 'Search', and after a few moments you'll be presented with some suggestions. That is, of course, assuming your destination exists in the software's database. The quality of the database is paramount in software of this sort.

Quizzing the software revealed that the AA has done its homework. The program contains details of many obscure local attractions. There are even complete street maps of the 100 most popular destinations in the UK. Sadly, though, the program may get no further than naming visitor attractions. Photographs, Web links and other essentials are often missing.

Despite the many plusses this software boasts, it's difficult to recommend it. If you're serious about touring an area, the best place to start looking is the Internet. Just type a place name into www.google.com, and you'll be presented with more information than you'll ever need. Where to go in Britain and Ireland is a valiant attempt at making a neat and friendly tourist database, but sadly the Internet is just bigger and better. Save your £20 and fill up the petrol tank!