No comments about The Risk in Being Alive: One Man's Adventures Across the Planet.

4 comments about Frommer's Hawaii from $80 a Day.

1. On my trips to the Islands, I've found this book to be an excellent source of hotel, B&B, and restaurant recommendations. It is not the best overall guide, but it IS the best source of info for the above items. I've found that by taking this book along with the Lonely Planet (which is the best overall guide but is weak on lodging & restaurants) I have all the info I need to plan & enjoy my vacations to Hawaii.

   I've used this book for travel to Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island, and have never found any of the reviews to be far off base. Highly recommended!




2. Overall a pretty good guide to the islands. However, I did have a few complaints:
   Some of the places off the beaten path were not well described in terms of directions (and if not for helpful locals, I never would have reached them)
   Restaurant data was often out of date (restaurant closed or completely redone), and poorer restaurants were sometimes recommended while the better ones were left off.
   I was able to find a lot of better deals (or found out after the fact about better deals available) than listed in the book.
   If you know nothing about Hawaii, it's a good bood to have. I will look for a different guide for my next trip.



3. I have been very fortunate. I have had the oportunity to visit Hawai'i three times: The Big Island once, and Maui twice. I used a prevoius edition of this Frommer's Guide for a lot of my planning.
   
   I like the listings of inexpensive hotels, B&B's, restaurants and activities in the book. Inexpensive does not mean poor quality. I have never been disappointed when following the advice in the Guide. I also enjoy the recommendations and maps included.
   
   I find the Frommer's Guides to be very helpful, and have used other Frommer's Guides for trip planning: The Canadian Rockies, New Mexico, Yellowstone National Park, Florida for $ a Day, and San Francisco to name a few. They are a good starting point for planning a vacation.



4. If you buy this guide, don't bother buying Frommer's Hawaii 2006. Most of it is word for word.

2 comments about Bug 2005 Australia (Backpackers' Ultimate Guidebook: Australia).

1. As the nineties ended Lonely Planet, Let's Go and the others forgot the market which created them and with greed in their eyes and discontent for the backpackers who had put food on the tables of their families and employees dramatically cut down on the destinations listed so you'd have to buy more specific guides. They replaced all but a few hostel listings (leaving ones who probably paid to be listed) with hotels (Lonely Planet has the most expensive Hotel in Australia, Palazzo Versace in their Gold Coast accommodation listings for crying out loud), fine dining and other useless information backpackers had no use for in an attempt to sell more guides to luggage wheeling short stay tour company travellers as well. They ignored cries of put back destinations and hostel listings from backpackers who wrote reviews on this and other sites such as Seethisplanet or sent letters to these companies and now they have paid the price. A great competitor has been able to enter the market (if the former guides had done their job there is no way there would have been market share for BUG) who just lists what we backpackers want, hotels listings and basic information on what there is to see at each destination.
   
   The BUG guides are simple to read, a lot thinner, less bulky and heavy than their competitors (which makes a lot of difference when you have to lug the thing around an entire continent in your backpack) and much better value. They give a description and rating on each hostel (they claim they do not accept free nights or money however they actually contradict themselves in the Sydney accommodation section under Victoria Lodge by saying BUG weren't aloud inside which indicates they were letting the hostels know they were from a reviewing guide book so would obviously get the best beds and more effort would be put into service and cleaning the building or maybe they don't actually spend the night at the hostels but just say who they are and have a guided tour, who knows). As well there are maps and travel company information. The only criticisms I have are that they do repeat information from one paragraph to the next especially relating to trains and buses. Even though they do not accept payments for listings they do follow the larger marketing budget high profile companies for attractions. For example the more expensive Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is listed in the Gold Coast attractions but the much better and cheaper David Fleay Wildlife Park located at Burleigh (just up the road) is left out. But I'm sure they'll improve this over the next editions.
   
   You obviously won't agree with all their reviews of the accommodation but that's the backpacking scene. You can have a terrible experience at somewhere where someone else had one of the best stays of their life. Don't rely on this guide alone, ask other backpackers who have been to the destinations you are going where they stayed and what it was like. The more opinions you get the more likely you are to get a clearer picture.



2. I thought that the guide contained some good information, especially if you want hostels. But, I found it difficult to read. I think that I still prefer Lonely Planet's guide.

No comments about BoardFree: The Story of an Incredible Skateboard Journey Across Australia.

No comments about Tramping in New Zealand (Lonely Planet Walking Guides).

No comments about Sydney Travel Map: 2005/2006 Edition (Periplus Travel Maps) (Australia Regional Maps).

No comments about Berlitz Sydney City GuideMap (Z-Map).

No comments about Reflections:; Inspiring Australian Images.

2 comments about Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Guam and Yap (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides).

1. Great photos and explanations of all the dive sites. Also road maps and location details. Very informative book. Small enough to take with you on your trip.



2. The Lonely Planet books on diving are always a good bet on defining a place to dive.

No comments about The Rough Guide to Pacific Northwest 2: Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon (Rough Guide Travel Guides).