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5 comments about The Rough Guide to Jamaica.

1. Jamaica has a distinct attitude and unique character unlike any other Caribbean island you are likely to visit. The people of this country are proud of their history, sportsmen, and artistic and musical genius. Yet the inequity of wealth, growing poverty, governmental corruption, and grave social tensions have created an attitude within Jamaicans that can be brash, sassy, rude, and often in-your-face. This is especially true around the big, all-inclusive resorts, which exacerbate the inequity of wealth.

   A good guidebook should give you more than just star ratings on hotels and restaurants - it should help the savvy and curious traveler learn about the culture, politics, and people as well as tell you where to find the best beaches and hottest night clubs.

   "Jamaica: The Rough Guide" is a good source for travel in Jamaica, although some content is lacking.

   The authors have adequately covered all the basic information for visiting Jamaica. The accommodation and restaurant sections are ample enough to help the reader make a decision, but I found the ratings systems in guides such as Fielding to be easier to comprehend and use. A significant shortcoming is the lack of web sites or e-mail address...today, most hotels have e-mail and web sites that make booking a reservation easy and cheap. Since the guide is a 1999 reprint, this information should be included.

   There are some very interesting and occasionally fascinating tidbits of information found in sidebars on the pages of this guidebook. For example, "Sexual Stamina Potions ensure a sexual libido in Jamaican men" and "Ackee: the national dish kills up to 10 people a year."

   Overall, "Jamaica: The Rough Guide" is a valuable guide and will help you understand this wonderful country. It is an adequate guidebook as it pertains to recommending hotels and restaurants. Recommended >




2. I have been to Jamaica many times since 1972, doing research as an anthropologist, which includes reading everything I can about its people and culture as well as traveling about and living in various communities. I picked up this book shortly before my most recent trip, hoping to get some hints on places to stay as it's been awhile since I've been back. I read it thoroughly as I traveled extensively around the island for 18 days. And I'm quite impressed. It is an extremely informative and accurate guide to the history, culture, things to see and do, places to eat and stay. The hotel reviews are brief but to the point. The advice is sound. The maps are very helpful. The only criticism I can make is that in at least two cases I found the directions to be wrong. I am most impressed with the fact that the book can really get you out of the tourist areas and into the real Jamaica. It is a great guide for those who want to EXPLORE the island and come to know it well. This takes time, a car, and money, though. Finally, I'd like to add that the book is just the right size, easy to carry, and has a very sturdy cover and binding, so it'll survive more than one trip. I suppose the greatest compliment is that a Jamaican friend wanted me to give it to her after she discovered it had information on her own town that she didn't know.



3. I just returned from Jamaica. I took 3 guidebooks with me, Rough Guide, Lonely Planet and Frommers. Rough Guide blew the others out of the water, and according to the locals was the only decent guide. Lonely Planet was so poor on Jamaica, that we surmised the writer probably got hung up smoking ganja in Montego Bay and never made it to the other cities, using promotional brochures and faxed promotional blurbs to write the text. Meanwhile, Rough Guide presented a picture that fit with what the locals knew and recommended. We had a great trip, virtually skipping Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, and seeing a number of towns including Port Antonio, Treasure Beach and Runaway Bay. Rough Guide had excellent food, accommodation, and siteseeing recommendations throughout.



4. We ordered this book about 2 months before our trip to Jamaica, our first trip out of the USA. This book both helped us feel prepared and helped build our excitement. Knowledge aleviated any fears we were having about being fish out of water. This book is a must have for any "first-timer".



5. This was written about 4 or 5 years ago. Most phone numbers are out of date. I had a very bad experience when trying to use this guide book and hope you can find something better.

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