3 comments about Belize Guide.

1. I have used this guide during three trips to Belize. Great true information and facts, for a traveler that wants to enjoy a wonderful, unspoiled, natural vacation setting in the rainforests or on the wonderful coastal islands (cayes). The section on "Most Memorable Places to Stay" is invaluable for the inexperienced traveler to Belize.



2. I have traveled throughout Central America (Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico) and am definately an adventure traveler. I just returned from a two week vacation touring Belize, and this book makes one think the author never visited Belize. Whoever wrote the proceeding review must be related to the publisher somehow, because three other couples I met in Belize had used the book and were equally dissatified with it (one even threw theirs away after the fourth day).

   The lodging reviews look like they are taken right out of the lodge's promotional material, and the section on Best Places to Stay is entirely misleading (It recommends Maruba as the best spot - meanwhile Maruba's water is undrinkable, the shower's smell like low tide, and a 24 hour a day disco beat is played over the sound-system), often missing the best places like Francis Ford Coppola's Jungle resort.

   The description of towns and places to see fail to account for any changes in the area an miss the newer places to visit, stay and eat (In Placentia there is an amazing French restaurant called Le Petit Maison which has been there for four years but is never mentioned in this book).




3. My husband Alan and I personally found the book helpful and referred to it much.
   
   Alan is the best travel guide and mentally records what is in travel books and obtains other available information. Others have asked him to plan their vacations as he secures the best deals and knows just where to go.
   
   This book was a great aid in knowing what to do and what to expect in prices.
   
   We stayed on the island of Ambergris Caye at Captain Morgan's and had a remarkable time. We found the tourists and inhabitants to be far more personal and gracious than those we met in Aruba. However, we could not just walk into the Caribbean and swim as in Aruba; but the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world kept the waters calm just not swimmable from shore.
   
   We would recommend this guide, and reading whatever else is available.

No comments about The Cruising Guide to the Northwest Caribbean: The Yucatan Coast of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and the Bay Islands of Honduras.

3 comments about Cruising Guide to Belize and Mexico's Caribbean Coast, including Guatemala's Rio Dulce.

1. Just checked here for the availability of this guide and was suprized to see no review. Having recently returned from cruising with friends in Belize I can say that this guide is often the only chart info available inside the reef. If you intend to cruise Belize obtain all available charts of course but be sure to get this book. Capt. Rauscher has obviously spent countless hours charting Belizean waters and although they are really no more than sketches (and do not purport to be more) they are invaluable for piloting within the 10 fath. curve. The guide also includes sailing directions and commentary on the various destinations.



2. I used this guide for pre-cruise planning and while on a 2 week charter in Belize last month. The book is well-written with good information. We cruised from Ambergris Cay to Placencia and found enough accuracy and detail to keep out of trouble (assuming you pay attention to your other sources of navigational information) and to make decisions about what to see and do. The sketch charts and regional maps provided were very helpful. Some of the assesments of the holding ground offered in various locations were a little more dire than we experienced. (We had a Delta, the author used a Bruce). Overall, the guide is well worth the money.



3. ...We used your books for years to guide cruisers passing thru New Haven, Belize. Your guide is the most accurate and informative of it's kind on southern Belize and the Rio Dulce...

No comments about Belize Pocket Adventures (New Pocket Adventure) (New Pocket Adventure).

5 comments about Scuba Dic.: An Underwater Adventure Dictionary, Vol. 1: Caribbean Sea.

1. I was skeptical at first when I saw this, but I was getting bored just knowing the names of the fish I came across. I thought this would turn out like Fish Flips(eg only names of fish listed for each pic), but it has a LOT more to offer. There are written descriptions for each pic, that don't just list facts, but also explain how to find & approach sea life (eg. Size, time of day, hiding spots/location, animals behavior, etc.), I found this really useful, because after tooling around with my camera, I was getting tired of only getting snapshots of fishtails. The book held up great UW; the pages just got sticky bc I didn't rinse it off initially, but I left it overnight in fresh water and there was no problem after that. Since i started taking along scuba dic for dives, it's been abused more times than tina turner, & its still in good shape....thus far. I do think it's better to get familiar with it on your surface interval vs trying to learn underwater. But all in all, it's a really good idea.



2. Waterproof materials, GREAT photos, extremely useful information. I would recommend this clever reference guide to any diver. I can't wait for more scuba dic volumes! Retractable device a must, too.... places marine species identification literally at your fingertips.



3. Just in the first five minutes I learned to much about the world under the sea.Great book.



4. I like its physical size since its large enough to easily utilize while checking out interesting animals, yet not overly big and clumsy so as to interfere with your equipment. With the animal's photo on one side of the page and its environmental aspects discussed on the opposite side, e.g., size, hiding areas, and behavior, it helps enlarge one's knowledge and appreciation for subject. And I first tested its `waterproof' capability in my marine aquarium, where it was left for 30 minutes, then removed and cleaned in freshwater. Still looks like new, and I'll test it somewhat further when I go to the Caymans in the near future. I'm already looking forward to Vol. 2. Bob Goemans



5. I'm a recreational diver at the moment and I love this reference guide to some of the amazing stuff you can encounter while diving! Although it's just a small sample of what you'll run into underwater, it's a very informative and helpful guide to browse through before and after your dives to give your dive a fun scavenger hunt! It comes with a retractable clip that prevents it from getting lost or misplaced. A great gift for those considering becoming a scuba diver and veterans alike. Even if you don't go diving it will take you into the amazing underwater world through the wonderful pictures along with a description of the marine life shown.

No comments about Hidden Belize: Including Tikal and the Cayes (Hidden Travel).

2 comments about The Yucatan: A Guide to the Land of Maya Mysteries Plus Sacred Sites at Belize, Tikal & Copan (Tetra).

1. Stay away from this. A much better choice is "An Archaeological Guide to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula" by Joyce Kelly. This one by May is inconsistent in delivery and descritption. It is a waste of money. The book by Kelly is a far better one.



2. If you have any respect for the Maya world, please do not stoop so low as to support the author of this drek. Constant comparisons to oriental architecture (and even using "Chariots of the Gods" as a reference!) are constant reminders of the authors complete ignorance of ANY Maya history.

No comments about Belize.

3 comments about Lonely Planet Guatemala, Belize & Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala & Yucatan).

1. My husband and I used this book on both of our trips to Mexico and found it fabulous. Detailed maps of the major cities. It helped us get through Cancun, Chetumal and Merida which are difficult on your own - driving or walking. This book gave hotels and restaurants for all travel budgets and if ever in Merida, I recommend the Hotel Trinidad Galleria. Quite a sight! Also detailed the ruins and gave some background. This book gave good tips for traveling to other countries too. Highly recommended for Mexico traveling.



2. This guide is packed with a ton of great info. This book is indespensible for those traveling off the beaten path in the Yucatan, from the colonial cities to Mayan pyramids hidden in the jungle. With out this book I would have missed what became some of the highlights of my trip!



3. While being a good general guide it is not, as others seem to believe, for those of you interested in getting "off the beaten path". You will end up visiting the same sites as the rest of the thousands that have purchased this book and others like it. Also, keep in mind that this book has not been updated in three years and is not to be relied upon heavily. I do believe the Lonely Planet series is quite helpful, but remember that you are the true judge of what you see and experience.

No comments about The Maya Route: The Ultimate Guidebook (Maya Route).