“Maui--A Guide for Everyone,” by Greg and...

“Maui--A Guide for Everyone,” by Greg and Christie Stilson, is not filled with “hold-the-text-together” photos. Instead it’s a down-to-earth, nuts-and-bolts companion with answers to most any question. Well worth $9.95 (Paradise--Portland).

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For a vagabond who enjoys the outdoors but doesn’t want to give up the amenities of home, “On the Road in a RV,” by Richard Dunlop, will help you join the free spirits of America using a home on wheels. Traveling light, parking overnight by a stream, the freedom of choice and more are outlined in this AARP guide. For $9.95, it could reveal an entire new world (Little/Brown).

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“Go ahead, spend a little while you’re there” is the theme of “The Luxury Shopping Guide to London,” by Nicholas Courtney. This directory will help anyone concerned with value rather than price, with quality over quantity. If you want to express your personality, taste and imagination, it will be easier once you’re familiar with those places that excel in good design, workmanship and service (Vendome: $17.95).

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“Affordable Bed and Breakfasts for $40 or Less for Two People,” by Loris G. Bree, points out many available accommodations throughout the United States and Canada. In some cases, however, only one is listed for an entire state (MarLor: $9.95).

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A visit to Washington, Oregon or British Columbia should be more enjoyable with “Northwest Places 1988-’89,” by David Brewster and Kathryn Robinson. The 552 pages list 1,500 dining, lodging and touring destinations. The star ratings offer price-range clues, while the expanded index helps locate specific choices (Sasquatch: $14.95).

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For more togetherness, “Great Vacations With Your Kids,” by Dorothy Ann Jordon and Marforie Adoff Cohen, uncovers a wealth of opportunities. It furnishes lots of advice for such activities as camping and rafting, in addition to offering insights on dude ranches, cruises and much more. (Dutton: $9.95).

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When you’re traveling Highway 101 north of Santa Barbara, there are adjacent areas where one can take a short detour and capture the feeling of the past. Two booklets that cover it well are “Los Olivos--End of the Pacific Coast Railway Line” and “Los Olivos--California Crossroads,” both by Jim Norris. They are brief, but contain interesting collections of photos, facts and descriptions of a bygone era. The booklets are $5 each. Anyone who has been through or has been associated with the community will probably want both. Write Olive Press, P.O. Box 99, Los Olivos, Calif. 93441.

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“A Gringo’s Guide to Doing Business in Sao Paulo,” by Jayne H. Bloch, addresses a lot of questions a visiting executive may have in Brazil’s “Big Apple.” The perplexities of customs, cultural activities, accommodations, legalities, etc., that a first-timer may encounter are thoroughly explained (Market Works: $9.95).

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Frommer’s Dollarwise Guides to the “Southeast and New Orleans,” ($11.95), by Susan Polle, and to “The South Pacific,” ($12.95), by Bill Goodwin, provide good information on how to get more for your dollar. Hotels, restaurants, nightspots, sights, attractions and lots of detailed information on culture and history are included (Prentice Hall).

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For only $9.95 each you can share Robert S. Kane’s wide explorations in “Holland at its best” and “Switzerland at its best.” These guides seem to begin where others leave off when it comes to in-depth and candid observations. The tips and suggestions are diverse and expertly compiled (Passport).

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If you enjoy a taste of the bubbly, you’ll like “Virginia Wine Country,” by Hilde and Allan E. Lee. It’s a people story that introduces the traveler to the many wineries and their specialties, including the best recipes of the region’s finer inns and restaurants. For $11.95, a person with exceptional taste will discover why residents of nearby states take weekend tours to join their friendly and interesting neighbors (Betterway-Whitehall, Virginia).