You sound like a hard man to please Chris Most authors would probably admit their output is never going to please all of the people all of the time and that enough sales to make the project worthwhile is the best they can hope for - you've only got to read a few Amazon reviews to see how people differ. It is a big world out there though and the problem with a lot of books (from an author's perspective anyway) isn't the quality of the writing but the quality of the marketing. If nothing else putting the written version of the trip on a freebie site like Smashwords may just be the cathartic ending many people need.

I would agree that a "what we did on our holidays" approach to travel writing doesn't usually make for an interesting read but we're not all Dan Walsh or Ted Simon and typed up travel notes may be the best many of us can do. I've read three bike travel books in the last couple of months (thanks to my local charity shops) and the one written by a professional (Uneasy Rider by Mike Carter) is the one that bugged me the most and came closest to ending its half read days
in the recycle bin. The other two "amateur" books had far less style / polish but were at least honest within their limits. If the subject material appeals I'll forgive a certain degree of roughness round the edges.

Personally I think it's a pity that more people don't put pen to paper. There are a number of people here whose wit, wisdom and life experience (as perceived from the content of their posts anyway (he said flatteringly)) suggests they might have something interesting to say. To them I say ignore the one star reviewers and go for it. I'll put my money where my mouth is and buy it when a copy turns up in Oxfam