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

No comments about Belize.

No comments about Make Belize; Caribbean paradise too good to be true.(Travel): An article from: Winnipeg Free Press.

2 comments about Hidden Belize (The Hidden Series).

1. This book was terrific! I read it immediately. It gave me that extra information to finish planning my trip. With little extra's that I haven't seen in other books, I would reccommend this book in planning a trip to Belize, even researching the country. It has so much to offer!

   I was interested in the Ambergris Caye part of the country and this book had extensive info on the island as well and other "hidden" islands and treasures to see.

   The info for the overall country was so interesting and well written, I just kept on reading straight through.




2. There are honest reviews/comments about the hotels and restaurants. And out of all the Belize guidebooks I purchased, this one had the most info. on the outer islands and atolls. A definite must!!! :)

No comments about Damming Belize.(Belize's government set on building a dam on the Macal river): An article from: E.

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.

3 comments about Fodor's Belize 2007 (Fodor's Gold Guides).

1. My husband and I just returned from a 16 day trip, and this book was definitely worth the money!! It is the most up to date Belize guidebook you can buy right now, and almost all of it's information was right on. We also bought the Belize Moon Guidebook, and comparing the two, I would say that Fodors is more upscale. Usually, it's assuming you're going to rent a car and hire guides for your trips (both of which cost $$$), and it does a better job of describing more expensive hotels and restaurants. This is great if you have the money, but we were on a budget, so this info was useless for us. The Moon book did a better job covering places and topics for a budget traveller (like what to do if you get a GI bug--something no one wants, but when it happens, you're glad it's covered in the book!). That said, Fodor's was still really helpful because it's the most up to date, so it's maps, attractions, restaurant, and lodging recommendations could usually be relied on (Kudos for the Fodor's recommendation for Tradewinds in Plancencia--this tip alone made me glad I bought the book!). Overall, it's the perfect book if you are planning a more upscale trip, but it's still very helpful (4 star) if you're a budget traveller and I would defintely recommend purchasing it along with the Moon Belize book.



2. I have always considered Fodor's travel books to be the best. They covered the highlights of each country in terms of a brief history, what to expect, places to visit, restaurants and where to stay. Their reviews were concise, accurate and covered a range from moderate to expensive. Most refreshing was an absence of the pretentious attitudes that often characterized other guides. (Frommers being the worst offender.)
   
   I've visited Belize before, but since it had been a few years, picked up Fodor's Belize 2007 guide. First thing I noticed is it is now one complete book devoted to the country, where in the past it was grouped under the title of "Central America". In this case, more does not translate into better. Much of this book is irrelevant filler.
   
   Most disappointing however is that the writers seems to have "phoned it in" while lounging by the resort swimming pool. In short, if you love expensive hotels or trendy restaurants, this is the book for you. If you are interested in visiting more of the real country, try another publication.
   
   For example, Dangriga is a fascinating part of Belize, but lacks traditional tourist infrastructure. While it may not be the most popular part of the country for the Fodor writers, I would expect at least an update of hotel descriptions. Sadly, some are easily two years out of date.
   
   Yet another example is seen in the coverage afforded to Belmopan, the capitol of the country. Belmopan is also not a major area for tourism, but people do visit. There are some small hotels and B&B's available, nothing fancy, but clean and friendly. Yet the only listings shown in the 2007 Guide are for resorts located many miles away (One suggestion is at least a 45 minute drive from Belmopan. Its a beautiful air-conditioned jungle lodge but so far away, to list it is absurd.) Again, the writers may not like having to stay in a small hotel, but they should at least list them for others who may visit.
   
   Not surprisingly, the only place this book excels is when it comes to Ambergris Caye and San Pedro. It does give a very good listing of hotels, restaurants and activities. While the focus is on the more expensive, it does cover a representative range.
   
   I hope this guide does not mark a new direction for Fodors. I personally enjoy staying in more upscale accommodations, but would not avoid a section of a country simply because there are no 4-star hotels. A good travel book should give a complete range. I stopped using Frommers because of this arrogance. I hope Fodors is not following in their footsteps.



3. this book was helpful but not as good as the rough guide.
   the prices were about as exact as the rough guide (RG a year older version too) as well as the reviews. it did have a few places the rough guide didnt but the same in reverse.
   i think i liked the map better in this book though.

3 comments about Adventuring in Central America: Guatemala Belize Honduras El Salvador Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama (Adventuring in Central America).

1. If you want to get a real feel for the place without falling asleep, save your money. The author takes an otherwise fascinating subject (the outdoors Central America) and, using lifeless prose, makes you wonder why you were ever interested in CA in the first place. Hotel listings are scant, as is specific information about destinations. No picutres or maps. Possibly good information about hiking, but not much on the safefy of such excursions. The Let's Go guidebook has more specific info (though not only on the outdoors) and is much more enjoyable to read.



2. Hi, I am working at ILISA Spanish Language Institute in San Jose, Costa Rica and I just want to let you know that this book help our students a lot by giving them helpful tips and by making any travel plans for the weekends. Thanks!



3. I live in Nicaragua -- can only comment on that location. This book is just ok to suppliment. Buy Lonely Plant Central America for detail (its better then the Rough Guide).

2 comments about Hidden Belize 2 Ed: Including Tikal, Copan and the Cayes.

1. We had a fabulous time on the French Polynesian islands with "Hidden Tahiti". That book took us to out-of-the-way natural beauties, great local-style restaurants and shops, etc. So, when we were set to travel to Belize, we expected more of the same.
   
   Hidden Belize was NOT the same. We found nothing hidden in the book that wasn't over-publicized by local tour agencies, hotels, etc. The great little local-cuisine restaurants of the Tahiti book instead was replaced with all the expensive restaurants catering to wealthy US citizens wanting gourmet dinners. We found great local establishments featuring great local cuisine and culture all on our own. We actually used the recommendations of this book as places to stay away from.
   
   The one redeeming feature of this book was a good overview of the geography of the different areas of the country.
   
   So, as I said, my wife and I like to experience a lot of local flavor on our trips, and this book showed us none of that.



2. We carried this all over with us on our trip to Belize.
   Great tidbits on out-of-the way places!

No comments about Lonely Planet Guatemala Belize and Yucatan LA Ruta Maya (Lonely Planet Travel Survival Kit).