Let’s Go Soldiers On as Contract Expires

Despite the expiration of their publishing contract next year, editors of the Let’s Go travel guide series say their tradition of sending students around the globe will continue.

Let’s Go, a division of Harvard Student Agencies (HSA), has been producing travel guides researched, written, and edited by Harvard undergraduates since 1960. The guides are geared towards “young and budget-savvy travelers,” according to the agency’s Web site.

St. Martin’s Press has published the guides for almost 25 years, but last September, the publisher announced that it will not continue publishing the Let’s Go series after the contract expires in 2009.

As they proceed with their search for a new publisher, the directors of Let’s Go and HSA are optimistic.

“We’ve been really overwhelmed with interest in the past few months from a lot of publishers,” said Ines C. Pacheco ’08, publishing director of Let’s Go.

An independent agent with Forte Associates in New York is helping in the process of finding a publisher, according to Pacheco and Timothy J. Creamer ’09, HSA president.

“We’re just sort of weighing options right now,” Creamer said. “We’re all very encouraged.”

When asked whether Let’s Go will be making any major changes as a result of the September 2007 decision, editor-in-chief Samantha L. Gelfand ’08 said “a resounding no.”

“We are carrying on with full force, doing the same thing we’ve been doing for the past twenty-five years,” Gelfand said.

Let’s Go is not cutting any student jobs, according to Gelfand and Pacheco. The travel guide employs over 100 students full-time for the summer and part-time during the spring, according to Gelfand.

As usual, they will produce 15 guides this year, and cover cities and countries throughout the world, including a new destination, Buenos Aires, Gelfand said.

Pacheco added that Let’s Go is revamping its Web site this year, making it easier for people to plan trips and share their experiences with other potential travelers.

Gelfand said preparations for another summer of travel, research, writing, and editing are continuing smoothly.