5 comments about Let's Go Puerto Rico 3rd Edition (Let's Go Puerto Rico).

1. I owned the 1st edition of this book and loved it, but some things were out of date by now so I got this new one. It is updated beautifully and still helps me find the best deals around the island. I've been living here for 2 years and this book comes with me everywhere. I suggest calling places first because a lot of times random things will close or change schedules but otherwise, this book is amazing and I strongly recommend it. The other guides that other publishers put out are too expensive - this one gives the best deals!!!



2. This book has great information for visiting Puerto Rico. We had bought a map but it turned out to not always be reliable, so this book saved the day! It has great details on finding hotels and it's very informative regarding the different regions of the island.



3. Written by undergrad students at Harvard (my alma mater), this travel guide lacks the clarity and ease-of-use of other more professionally written and edited guides. Information is laid out with a single purpose in mind: to confuse you, the reader. Maps are scattered all over the guide, making it necessary to dogear many different pages -- which then defeats the purpose of dogearing since you don't know which marks what. Also, the font is *tiny*, making the book very difficult to read for anyone over the age 30.
   
   Plus, the lodging and dining recommendations in this guide are horrible. Too few are listed, and they don't tell you what the area code is -- they just give you the 7-digit phone number!
   
   Fodor's PR guide seems better, plus if you are an AAA member, you should get their free Carribean tour guide.



4. Loved this guide! We used it during our whole trip. The Old San Juan part is really detailed, with great maps and other listings. The restaurant listing is not as good--asking the locals may help there. The other sections of the guide are solid as well, but one thing to note--the guide book doesn't say much about the bioluminescent bay at Fajardo (maybe a word or two) but that was the best part of our trip. Don't miss it!



5. I travel to PR frequently for my job. I like to always have a guidebook with me in case I have a new person with me or venture somewhere new. I bought the Let's Go because my most recent Lonely Planet guide was 4 years old (too old for a guidebook) and the new one wasn't coming out until mid-summer. The Let's Go book was a disappointment. The information is insufficient, poorly organized, etc. For example, in the sections about Culebra and Vieques (places I love to visit), it fails to mention how to get to the ferry dock in Fajardo from San Juan - you either need to drive there and park (and finding the dock is NOT easy in Fajardo as putting up helpful signs is not something PR does well), or you can take a publico (they do tell you where the station is in SJ) but this takes all day and maybe won't get you to the dock at all. They mention flying but with no instructions or map for finding the airport in Fajardo. Anyway, this is just an example of where just reading Let's Go could lead to a very frustrating experience for a traveller. Being an independent traveller is great and implies some tolerance for "adventure" but it is the guidebook's responsibility to help independent travellers be prepared for what they are going to have to deal with so they can have fun! Buy Lonely Planet. It's a better PR guide. I have also read Fodor's pocket guide to PR. Skip that one too. And when you get to PR if you rent a car, buy a real road map at a gas station or drugstore.

2 comments about Cuba (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. DK produces the most arguably beautiful travel books currently available. The maps, graphics, architectural renderings, photographs and overall layout are beyond reproach and most appealing and informative. Why not five stars? I'm not sure where the blame lies, be it with the writers or editors, but this guide is deeply flawed in its biased content. Though not openly sympathetic to the island's communist government, it is nevertheless more than obvious that the person(s) responsible, are more than a little enamored with that country's socio-political ideology. In describing pre-revolutionary Cuba, the guide takes a cynical stance, perpetuating the myth that Cuba was nothing more than an American subsidized den of iniquity, populated by gangsters, prostitutes, gamblers and grown ineffective with rampant corruption and illiteracy. Though all these things were certainly true, the book fails to provide a balanced perspective of that period in the country's history and that's where its inherent failure lies. The Cuban revolution, though tragic, horrible and seemingly endless, is a part of World history in general and Cuban history in particular, and, therefore, should not be ignored, but by the same token it need not be given such idolatry treatment in a travel guide, which, in my opinion, should be an unbiased reference tool, meant to educate the traveler on a country, its history and people in a clear, concise and informative manner, free of personal prejudices and/or beliefs. This guide is filled with non-stop descriptions of revolutionary monuments, sites, people, and history. That in and of itself would be fine if weren't done so with such obvious appreciation for all that it represents. In describing Che, the author writes "Though Che suffered from asthma, he had an iron will, loved books as well as sports, and had a great spirit of sacrifice, he could appreciate beauty and was a perfectionist but had a sense of humour. He was a man of action who also found time to meditate on reality and write." One would think the author was describing Robin Williams and not one of the 20th century's most controversial figures. Though he certainly may have been all the things described in the book, it doesn't give a complete and accurate portrayal of the man. That was one example, but the book is plagued with socialist fawning that ultimately proves to be an ineffectual tool. Though the author is free to appreciate, love, praise, support, condemn, ridicule whatever he/she may choose, be it political, religious, artistic, etc. or a combination thereof, it should not be done through a travel guide. It's a genuine shame because, otherwise, from an aesthetic perspective, there's just nothing out there that even comes close.



2. I'm delighted to have bought this guide before my trip to Cuba. It is nicely illustrated and presents substantial historical and cultural information as well as the necessary where-to-stay and what-to-see.
   
   Jane Newhagen
   author of
   Sand Dollar: a tale of old Key West

No comments about The Rough Guides' Antigua and Barbuda Directions 2 (Rough Guide Directions).

5 comments about Bermuda (Country Guide).

1. I spent two weeks in Bermuda, and was very glad I brought this book along with me. I doubt very much that there are many interesting corners of the country that have been overlooked by the authors of this guide -- some of which I never would have thought to investigate had this book not alerted me to their existence. I especially appreciated all the historical and cultural details, and found that it was an invaluable tool in keeping costs down in a country where just about everything is VERY pricey. This book has since been re-used by other members of my family on their own trips to Bermuda, and has paid for itself several times over.



2. The major obstacle which hinders the performance of Lonely Planet and other guidebooks is that they often try and cover a very wide country or region, such as "Lonely Planet China" or "Lonely Planet USA", not to mention things like "Lonely Planet Africa on a shoestring". This often means that, in over 800 pages of a bulky book, only few are really relevant to what the reader is looking for. Indeed, the reader can be lost among lots of information, data, etc., which she or he has no interest in: if I find myself in Nairobi and am looking for a restaurant, do I really need to find myself browsing information about the visa procedures for Cameroon or the hotels of Sierra Leone ? Luckily, Bermuda is a much smaller place, and this has enabled the author and editors to truly produce a well-focused, condensed and overall excellent guidebook. The information for the visitor is complete and accurate, up-to-date, and indeed extremely useful (even in a place which does not present particular cultural or social obstacles for the average visitor): while Bermuda may still be possible to get to know on one's own, the aid of this little guidebook will be paramount. Its sections on hotels, restaurants, entertainment, are excellent. Coverage of things to see and do, sports and other activities, is down-to-the-point and very full. The sections on history and culture are also of great value, excellently written, easy-to-read in a captivating and pleasant prose, making this truly enjoyable and worthy reading for everyone. It is indeed a book one should surely pack before setting off to Bermuda.



3. I received this book the day after I had to postpone my planned ninth trip to Bermuda. Ouch! Even though I've been to Bermuda several times, my last trip was a few years ago. This book brought me up to date on what has changed (fortunately, not much) and new things to see and do. I like Lonely Planet's approach to guide books. They don't focus on just the fancy, popular "tourist trap" types of places but also include slightly off-beat attractions, restaurants, etc., that other guidebooks tend to ignore.



4. I'm a fan of Lonely Planet guides, as I like to get out and explore offbeat places on my own and meet the locals. Their Bermuda guide was a great planning tool to do so. Coupled with Insight's laminated [eraseable] map, it was all I needed for my 9-day trip. The Guide is set up by Bermuda's parishes, which is a bit cumbersome until you get a grasp of the island's geography. Even when you do, it's a bit difficult to figure out if the place you saw on the road by bus is in Warwick or Southampton or Somerset Parish. So the really map helped orient me before I hit the tarmac.
   
   As my work keeps me indoors when at home, I like to spend as much time as possible physically engaged in the outdoors when I'm on vacation. The only portion of the guide which should be changed is the part about biking the Old Railway Trail. This "trail" ranges from grass with a tire rut, to dirt and rocks through the woods, to becoming synonymous with the main roads of the island, depending on whether it's been taken over by development. Very little of the trail is paved off of the main road, and there are places with steep grades with steps. Also, about every quarter to half mile on the real "trail," there are metal barriers over which you have to lift your bike, making a continuous pedal cumbersome. The scenery is great on many portions of Warwick and Somerset in particular, but I wouldn't plan on a cycling vacation for exercise or for primary transportation. Cycling the roads is precarious, as they are barely wide enough for two cars, and I never saw a straight segment of street on the island. Shrubbery juts out from stone walls at bike level in yards all over the island, making the situation even more difficult. I did about 40 miles of trail and road, and although I'm happy I did it, I wouldn't recommend it for the faint of heart.
   
   Scooters look pretty dangerous, and accidents and fatalities are rampant, even amongst locals. I took a ride my last evening on the back of one, and the curvy roads are precarious even when seated behind an experienced local. I'm a big risk taker, but I respect limits of common sense. No rental cars are available on the island, but the bus and ferry service is good. So get a multiple day buss/ferry pass and enjoy the public transportation after perhaps one full day on a pedal bike. Rentals are steep at $25 a day published, but I got the shop to reduce it to $15 with some quibbling. My Huffy 18 speed mountain bike was sufficient, and you do need those speeds on the steep hills!
   
   Do a lot of online research on the Bermuda sites listed in the Guide when planning your trip and email or phone ahead of time, as Bermudians tend to change printed schedules on a whim.
   
   The guide should emphasize that cab fares are very, very expensive, with a minimum fare of about $5 for a very short ride to $20 or more to traverse from one hotel to another for dinner. Cabbies are independent and subscribe to a call service.
   
   The other part the guide left out is that single women are pursued by Bermudans to no end. The first question I always seemed to get is "Where is your husband?" to confirm I was fresh meat on the island. It seems that American women traveling alone are curious commodities and perhaps seen as "easy" by local men.
   
   The other part the guide leaves out is that the tourist industry is heavily supported by guest workers from Europe, Asia and Latin America, making communication sometimes problematic. All in all, a great source to give you planning tools, costs, and the inside scoop on the island.



5. I found this guidebook to be quite useful during our recent trip to Bermuda. Tom Moore's Tavern was as excellent as you promised. Lonely Planet has a great index, and the maps were expecially helpful.

3 comments about Jamaica (Country Guide).

1. While one can expect a guidebook to be somewhat out of date, this one is so out of date it is ridiculous. Published in January 2006, one would expect the information to at least be accurate as of mid-2005. However, that is far from the case.
   
   Here are few examples of errors:
   - The Blue Mountain Inn near Kingston, which receives an excellent review in the book, has been closed since mid-2004.
   - Portofino's Restaurant in Kingston closed in 2004, and is now Chez Maria.
   - The Fairy Glades Trail in the Blue Mountains closed in 2000 because of thefts of orchids, and can no longer be hiked.
   - Jade Garden restaurant in Kingston has not served dim sum since mid-2004.
   
   While there are some decent maps in the book, such out of date information makes me wonder when the author actually visited Jamaica.



2. I bought this guide because is the only guide from Jamaica published in 2006. Not bad, I haven't gone to Jamaica yet but it has been useful for planning my tryp. I think that I will take some of the advices that I've read.



3. I have been a user of Lonely Planet for over 10 years. I would say that this one is fairly good but not as in depth as other ones on other countries. The hotel prices are not correct, (everything was more expensive than noted), and the reviews of the hotels themselves were not really that detailed to lead you to make a proper choice. This is of course in comparison to other authors for other countries and the level of detail there.

5 comments about The Best of St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (Best of St. Thomas & St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands).

1. I hate books that refer to objects but neglect to include a photograph. It's 2005, I need visuals.



2. This book is wonderful... Helps you plan your trip... So glad I found it!



3. The information is good, and seems thorough, but the presentation is lacking...not a single photo, and the maps look juvenile.



4. The book was some what informative. The price of taxis in the islands is very high.Coral world was not what I thought it would be as in the book.There was nothing there.I don't know when the author was in the Virgin Islands last, but there are things I would not recomend.Like shopping for jewlery and other things were very expensive. We were in the Islands from 7/29/07 to 8/05/07. We were told this was their off season maybe this is why things cost more. Overal the book did give some usefull tips.Ann Morris



5. I bought this book as a bridal shower gift for a couple who had planned to honeymoon in the area. They raved about the book both before they went and after they returned from the islands. They went in mid Sept 07.

5 comments about Bring Me That Horizon: The Making of Pirates of the Caribbean.

1. This book is a must have for Pirates fans. The photos and illustrations are just beautiful, and the information within its pages is so interesting and educational as to how the movies were made! I am by no means a book expert, I just buy what I like, and I am a diehard Pirates fan, so I recommend this book highly.
   
   I had to chuckle at one of the other reviews that mildly rebuked the author for not examining the movie trilogy more closely... well, many of us in Pirates fandom have had way too much of that stuff... overanalysis of the plots, the characters, etc. Just leave me happily entertained, and leave the examining to the film critics, who I ignore, anyway! ;)
   
   Once again, a visually beautiful book, worth the price for it's artwork and photography, alone.



2. I love reading this book because I love Pirates of the Caribbean and I love finding out how they filmed it and everything. I'm a big movie buff, so I find learning about how they created a scene and what the actors had to do to prepare for it very fascinating. It's got great pictures of all sizes, detailed explanations of each movie, and explanations of each one of the principle characters. Its a wonderful book and I recommend it for anyone who likes the Pirates movies and/or likes to learn about the behind-the-scenes stuff.



3. I saw this at Disneyland, but thought $[...] was a little steep -- thank you Amazon for bringing it in at $[...]! If you liked the "Pirates" movies, this offers some great background info on how they filmed these rollicking good time movies. You'll find behind the scenes photos, lots of glossy pictures of gorgeous sets, locations and people. Interviews with the actors, producer, director, and others involved in the crew....kind of like an extension of the bonus features on the DVD's. A little weak on info for the final movie "Worlds End" (I suspect the book came out either just before or just after it's release. ) But still lots of fun stuff. My 7 year old sons likes viewing it with me.



4. This is a really informative book about what went into the making of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It's very interesting, and it has bios of the characters and many pictures taken on set. I highly recommend this book!



5. I loved the movies, so when I saw this on the shelf I had to have it. Other reviewers have already explained in detail what a great book this is for the POTC enthusiast, so I'll just say that I greatly appreciate having this book and looking through it from time to time. Worth the money!

1 comments about The Rough Guide to Cuba 4 (Rough Guide Travel Guides).

1. This guide is not bad at all. It's up-to-date, but I found some inaccuracies in it (like the distance between Holguin and Guradalavaca). We used this guide as a backup for the Moon Handbook, which is a bit outdated, but is much more extensive and better written.

No comments about Adventure Guide St Lucia (Adventure Guides Series) (Adventure Guides Series) (Adventure Guides Series).

4 comments about Frommer's Jamaica (Frommer's Complete).

1. I recently got married and this guide was all I needed to find the best of Jamaica. With its section on the Best of Jamaica, I was given the top choices for everything from the best beaches, honeymoon resorts, romantic getaways, shopping buys, and gold courses. This guide made planning my trip simple, with all the information I needed to know before I got there, like the exchange rate, the calendar of events, and tips on dining out and shopping.



2. I very much liked the 2nd edition of this text. I purchased the 3rd edition because we are planning our third trip to Jamaica. Unfortunately, this new edition contains very little updated information. In fact, two of the newer Riu hotels in Negril (one of which opened in 2001) are not even included in this guide.
   This is a very helpful guidebook, but don't bother buying the new edition if you already have the 2nd edition. You can find as much useful information online.



3. A fairly useless guide, with many facts but no feeling. Everyone knows their own expectations of Jamaica. This book does not address this at all.



4. I grew up in Jamaica, but never really took advantage of the "tourist stuff" while there (who does that at home?). I found this book very helpful for sifting through all the many things the island had to offer and targeting the best (and most reasonably priced) restaurants, hotels, etc. on my last visit.
   
   Only thing they missed, like most reviews, is the cultural differences across the island. Just like Arkansas and New York don't have the same culture, accent, terms, etc., the same is true of different regions in Jamaica.