1 comments about Ulysses Travel Guide Martinique.

1. This is the guide that contains everything one needs for a vacation in Martinique. It gives details on activities ranging from free rum tastings to the volcano museum to Napoleon's Josephine to Gaugin, the painter. The guide is honest when rating attractions; only the most interesting are given three stars. I have looked at every guide to Martinique I could find, and this is the only one I would buy.

1 comments about The West Indies and the Spanish Main.

1. In the late 1850s, British postal employee Anthony Trollope travelled though the Caribbean Islands and Central America on Official Business. In his free time he wrote a book about what he saw and what he thought about it. He undergoes the usual travel woes (terrible boats, worse food), and spends considerable time discussing the projected Nicaragua Canal (not worth the expense). But most interesting are his views on the recently emancipated blacks of the British colonies.
   
   Writing on the eve of the American Civil War, Trollope's feelings are ambiguous. As a Christian, he knows that emancipation was, in the abstract, a good thing. But he clearly feels that the days of slavery were the Good Old Days (he uses that actual phrase) when the islands were prosperous. The free blacks, to Trollope's annoyance, insist on working only enough to supply their own wants, which are relatively few. All this fertile land is going to waste for lack of labor because there's no way to force the blacks to work. (At this time in Britain, a worker could not quit his job without his employer's permission.)
   
   The issue for Trollope is not just economic. Idleness is a sin and a sign of barbarism. Of course you didn't see Trollope himself toiling away in the hot sun--or even in the cold rain, since it was widely believed that physical labor in the tropics was fatal to white people. It's a fascinating glimpse of mid-19th century racial attitudes, as long as you can keep your historical perspective. If you become angry because Trollope refuses to think like a 21st century liberal, you won't learn anything.

5 comments about Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2005: From U.S. and Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete).

1. this was a pretty good guide geared towards cruisers--only buy if you're interested on going on a big name cruise ship. port information was good for st. john, st. thomas, barbados, and aruba. the info on martinique was not good. the author described martinique's main town as cosmopolitan, people dress like paris, fort du france looks like new orleans. i don't know when he went to martinique. martinique was seedy and falling apart.



2. 
   Whether you are a seasoned cruiser and are looking for something new or have never cruised before this book is very handy. I have cruised three times but was not sure where I wanted to visit next and which cruise line I wanted to take to get me there so I borrowed Cruises & Ports of Call 2005 from the library. I spent the greater part of an afternoon studying cruise lines, ships, itineraries, and cabins. It immensely helped me choose which cruise was right for me because it went into a very detailed description of the ins and outs of each port and line out there.



3. As a person looking to take a cruise for the first time I found most of the info I was looking for in this book. It contains very detailed descriptions, especially of the various cruise lines and the type of activities, food and service that they offer. Of course, the opinions expressed are of the authors only and your taste may vary considerly. But overall they give a fairly objective assessment of the wide range of cruising experiences offered. Recommended.



4. This massive book (691 pages) manages to touch on just about every major cruise ship and port of call that there is in cruising. You get a little taste of everything.
   
   First, you get about 100 pages on the basics of cruising - how to get a good price, what to wear, how a cruise ship works. That will get you started on what a cruise trip is all about.
   
   Next, you get 300 pages on the actual cruise ships. While this seems like a ton of pages, they actually only do 1-2 page reviews of each ship in most cases. In many cases it's a review not just of that ship but of that ship class. For example if Carnival has 4 ships that are similar, you could get one review that covers all 4 ships, with small mentions of things that stand out on a given ship. Since no ship is REALLY identical to other ships, this isn't great.
   
   That being said, I really found the information given here to be FAR more valuable than in similar books. They actually review based on real information from real humans, not just copying from the cruise line's book. They tell you about "ridiculous 108 square feet" cabins. They warn you that on the Promenade deck, you're likely to have joggers running past (and peering in) your windows. They warn you which areas are noisy, they point out which lounges are usually not found by the masses and therefore are perfect places to escape from the noise.
   
   The rest of the book is a quite good write-up of the main port locations. Many people travel in to a port town and consider the port town part of their vacation. This area includes maps of the area, what to see, directions to the docks, and other information.
   
   I was a little put off by the 2005 in the title, implying that you had to buy a new book every year. On one hand you want to get a relatively new set of information - but even with this being "2005" I found errors in pricing. Obviously they can't update every single page in this every year. So it's a trade-off. Again, the book provides good guidelines but should never be taken as absolutely true.
   
   There is obviously no way that one book can cover ALL information on all towns, ships and ports!! Again, this is a sampler. You look through to find out which items appeal to you. Then you should get a full book on that ONE TOPIC. If you're going to Bermuda, don't expect this book to give you the full details. You should get a book on Bermuda.
   
   However, for what this book does, it does it very well. It takes you from the point of not knowing about cruising at all to the point of knowing what your options are and having a top-5 list to persue further. At that point it's time to go to those cruise line websites, to go the forums, and to get some books on specific ports. That will get you the detailed information you need to make your final decision, and to enjoy your cruise!



5. Cruise section is more up to date than ports of call. Very useful.

5 comments about Best of the British Virgin Islands: An Indispensable Guide for Anyone Visiting Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada, Cooper, Guana, and All Other BVI Destinations, Third Edition.

1. Pamela Acheson gives many, many helpful comments on each island in the BVI. She describes all of the beaches, many restaurants and bars, and offers many helpful hints. We relied heavily on her book for our recent visit to Tortola and were not disappointed. She is right on with all of her comments, such as Jost Van Dyke is a really great day trip, how to greet and deal with the locals, Tortola's amazing roads, her suggested adventure to Smuggler's Cove (with complete directions and what to expect), and her evaluation of many restaurants including Brandywine Bay, Sugar Mill, Roti Palace, an unnamed local fish fry, and especially a lovely Italian cafe named Capriccio di Mare (all very good). Her suggestions such as to take at least one nautical adventure, take in the view from Sky World, watch out for a particular mule, etc., were all helpful and accurate. Ferry schedules, banking, the best water taxis, etc. were all very useful. As is written on the book jacket, we found it to be an indispensable, friendly, fun-to-use guide for anyone visiting the BVI.



2. We took this book with us on our recent trip to Virgin Gorda in the BVI, and we were amazed at how accurate the information was. We went to many places on Virgin Gorda recommended in Acheson's book and were thrilled that her reviews were so on-target. Would highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to the British Virgin Islands, and especially to Virgin Gorda.



3. I'm not one for drafting copy in these review tabs but I had to tell my tale on this book. Give me my money back please. This book is so base and embarassingly retarded. It covers the basics of traveling to a degree that will bore even the first time traveler to death. I have to believe that there is another publication in the world on the BVI that has a true beat on the local vibe. Some suggestions on great things to do... first one is "float." Yes, float. Gee I would have never thought to do that on an island. When you're done with that "watch the planes land." I couldn't believe it when I saw it. Save your money on this one folks. Unless you want a good laugh or are tutoring an elementary school student.



4. Good info. A little out of date (2003) as the resturants change, close, new names, owner etc.



5. If you are going to the islands, this isn't the best book. Get the cruising guide to the BVI's, it is much better.

1 comments about Barbados, Sun Sea, Superb!.

1. In a word, Wow! This is a superb "portrait" of this island. The photographs are absolutely stunning. But this isn't just a "postcard" view of Barbados -- there's lots of coverage of the people, history, and culture, too. The author-photographer has been traveling to Barbados for over two decades, and it shows both in his photographs and his extensive text, which gives a solid but concise presentation of Barbados' history in a very readable way without being dry. (Kind of National Geographic style.) And the picture captions are in-depth, presenting little gems of info about the picture subject matter if you're in too much of hurry to read the whole text. I've lived in Barbados, and this has the feel of an insider's view, not just someone who has breezed through the island and shot a few pictures.

1 comments about The Turks and Caicos Islands: Lands of Discovery (Macmillan Caribbean Guides).

1. I bought this book thinking it could be used as a travel guide for my trip. Unfortunately it doesn't give enough detail in the vein of "go here, go there", nor does it make any recommendations of locations/activities. Furthermore, it doesn't give enough detail of attractions that are listed in the book. For instance, the story behind the Tiki Huts is hilarious and had I not learned it I wouldn't have bothered going (it involves a French game show and some mermaids). As a small picture book or for general history of the islands it's good, but I'd suggest alternatives of you want a guide book.

3 comments about Puerto Rico Magnífico!.

1. This stunner provides you with two books rolled into one, a beautiful and timeless collection of more than 100 lush photographs as well as an easy-to-read history of Puerto Rico. It is apparent from the obvious care and attention to detail that went into this book that the author is both dedicated to his craft and enamored of the people and island that he is profiling. The book depicts the great diversity of Puerto Rico -- from the hustle and bustle of its urban centers (including the grand architectural heritage) to the most desolate and pristine parts of the island, shown both in close-up and from the air. The stars of the book are the people themselves, who act as guides to the island and invite you to visit them for the first time or simply to return again as old friends. A highly recommended work.



2. For anyone familiar or unfamiliar with Puerto Rico, this superb pictorial and eloquently written portrait of this country, its culture, its people and its history, will bring the reader palpably close to the very pulse of the island. Page after page of breathtaking photography and descriptive narrative succeed in transporting you to the the subject matter at hand. Both visually and verbally, this book lifts you right off each page as it gives you a soaring birdseye view of one of the Caribbean's most beautiful island destinations. The overall impact of this book on one's senses can only be exceeded by actually being there. Otherwise, be prepared for some unsurpassable armchair travel.



3. Having travelled to Puerto Rico dozens of times over the past twenty years (and I lived there for a time as well), I have to say this is absolutely the most impressive and complete "coffee-table" book on the island that I have ever seen. It is large-format, filled with superb color photographs (including a lot of aerials and a fascinating "then and now" chapter of archival pictures side-by-side with the same scene as it is today). And the text doesn't insult your intelligence -- it's a concise overview of Puerto Rico's history. An added plus is the Spanish translation (done by a Puerto Rican translator) at the back of the book -- too many books about Puerto Rico ignore the island's linguistic heritage! I've given several copies to friends who love the island. The jacket blurb says the author was once a Peace Corps Volunteer, and it shows ... this is a real in-depth portrait, not just "post-cardy" superficial coverage.

1 comments about Underwater Caribbean (Secrets of the Sea).

1. The title of this book may have been re-worked but the product is still the same. What a pity these publishers do not take notice of constructive criticism. The book simply fails to reach the standards demanded by today's discerning Scuba Diver on just about all fronts except photography. Furthermore, this is not a book about the "Caribbean" at all - just a selective number of destinations the author happens to have visited - in some cases not even recently. Once again, therefore, the title of this book fails to match the product itself.
   
   The content is a poor attempt to cover 28 dive sites from 9 countries. Not only is the choice of country questionable for a "Diving Guide," but not only the very best diving from each chosen location is included.
   
   This book appears to have been thrown together from whatever material was available from a number of contributors and the result is a very disjointed effort. It would have been far better to send those contributors out into the Caribbean with a firm plan of action in order to ensure all destinations were covered and the information was up to date. Instead, the cheaper option was preferred and it shows.
   
   The book commences with a very disappointing selection from the Bahamas - which avoids all mention of the world-famous Blue Holes (as though they do not even exist), followed by a brief trip to the Florida Keys. Since when were either the of these destinations "in" the Caribbean?
   
   A trip to Cuba, which includes 3 low-grade sites (maximum depths of 20m, 15m and 10m respectively) is followed by Cotzumel (sic) where, yet again, the best sites are avoided. Four sites from the Caymans - predictably including "Stingray City" (yawn.), are followed by three in Belize - where the Author attempts to rename the "Great Blue Hole" the "Giant Blue Hole." After yet another disappointing visit to Honduras, the reader is treated to a 1,600 mile journey to Guadeloupe and Martinique for 2 dives each before rounding off the diving in continued disappointing fashion with the last 2 underwater sojourns being a further 500 miles away in Curacao.
   
   This book is supposed to be about Diving in the Caribbean but destinations such as; Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, BVI, Cayman Brac, Grenada, the Grenadines, USVI (to name but 8.) are not mentioned at all.
   
   As already suggested, the photography is generally very good although a number of images are under-exposed and not up to the standard expected in this day and age. Quite frankly, if these publishers start using inferior photographs there will be no point in considering their products at all.
   
   Altogether a book which is of little value to any serious diver.
   
   NM

2 comments about Art Cuba: The New Generation.

1. A wonderfully clear, concise and insightful introduction to the art of Cuba from the 1960's on.



2. THIS BOOK IS FULL OF PICTURES AND REAL EMOTION BY THE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS. IT IS A GREAT BOOK FOR THE CUBAN ART FAN AND THOSE THAT UNDERSTAND THE NEW AND MODERN CUBAN CULTURE. GOOD FOR THOSE TRYING TO LEARN A BIT ABOUT IT AS WELL. ART IS ALWAYS REPRESENTATIVE OF NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL BUT OF THE ARTISTS' WORLD AS WELL. CUBA SEEN THROUGH THESE PEOPLE. GET IT. YOU WILL ENJOY IT.

No comments about Ulysses Travel Guide Puerto Vallarta: Travel Better, Enjoy More (Ulysses Travel Guides).