1 comments about Cruising Guide to the Leeward Islands: 2000-2001 Edition (Cruising Guide).

1. Having just spent 4 months cruising the Leeward and the Windward islands, I must say that I can't imagine doing so without Chris Doyle's cruising guides. They provide an amazing amount of detail on virtually every aspect of the islands; from anchorages to repairs to provisioning to customs. His maps and navigation sections prove invaluable.

   The information in these guides are incredibly up to date considering the amount of change which is occurring in the islands. While Chris may be overly kind with his pen at times, you can always tell when he really likes or dislikes something. He is also very receptive to receiving corrections via e-mail.

   All in all this is a must-have book for anyone thinking of cruising the Leewards.

4 comments about The Dive Sites of the Bahamas.

1. This is a great book to pick up if you're even thinking of going to the Bahamas. Great pictures, comprehensive dive site reviews PLUS the book is loaded with lots of extras that make it one of the best dive books I've seen. Pages of fishID info with color photos, dive medicine, travel tips -- all in a very attractive package.



2. The title says "Dive Sites of the Bahamas" and it delivers. Specific descriptions, exact locations, and details on the dive site (depth, currents, visibility, etc.)

   My only wish would be for more. Essential for anyone planning a dive trip or cruise to the Bahamas.




3. The Amazon description of this book said it included "locations" of the dive sites. The Author furthers states the book includes "access and location" of the dive sites. Wrong and wrong. It's a good book for general information of the Bahamas and has some nice pictures but worthless as a guide to the dive sites. It is very safe to assume a purchaser of the book is a scuba diver and has plans to use it for that purpose. The advertising for this book should include a statement "Coordinates Not Included". While this book has some nice pictures and good general information about the Bahamas, most of the information is freely available on the internet. I purchased the book for the detail. Location of a dive site to me means how to get there and that would include GPS coordinates, at least. There are no compass bearings either. "East Of Treasure Reef", or "The Next Mooring East From Site 3 Along The Inner Reef System" doesn't cut it.



4. Any avid diver has heard of the wonderful diving just 2 miles off the south tip of the west end. And then you go driving around in your boat forever looking for it, stopping occasionally to stick your face in the water. 2 hours later and plenty pissed, you give up.
   
   GPS does away with all this. Dive bouy or no, you hit your spot first time every time. In fact with WAAS you can easily come within 15 feet of the mark with no problem. It borders on criminal to put out a dive book that has no GPS coordinates, and my printing of this book has none. Save your money until Lawson Wood gets a clue.

No comments about Hidden Guatemala (Hidden Series).

No comments about Havana (Footprint - Pocket Guides).

3 comments about Lonely Planet Tonga.

1. Written in the same style as all the Lonely Planet books, this book enabled us to plan a fantastic holiday to Tonga. The information was precise and exact, and laid out in an easy to use arrangement with helpful section headings. My normal complaint about guidebooks is that the maps are often worthless, but here they were accurately drawn and had all the relevant places correctly marked. Although two years since being published we didn't find any information that was drastically out of date. If you are travelling to Tonga this is the guide to buy.



2. This was a very interesting guidebook. I found it to be very helpful in all aspects. It was very easy to read. I especially liked the boxed sections on various nuances of the country and culture. The language section was also very helpful. Great Guide.



3. As usual, Lonely Planet provides all possible advice for anyone visiting Tonga. This guide meets the Lonele Planet standard. For those who have used or read other LP guides in the past, nothing more needs to be added... Don't go to Tonga without it !

1 comments about Bermuda Alive (Bermuda Alive!) (Bermuda Alive!).

1. This exciting new addition to the Alive! series takes you to the pink sand of Bermuda - in style!

   "Dawn to Dusk" sections focus on the best daytime delights, such as terrific watersports, sightseeing, golf courses and fascinating museums. "After Dark" sections take you to the best nightclubs, piano bars, cocktail lounges and beach cookouts. Hundreds of places to stay and eat are profiled in detail, based on repeat visits by the author. In-margin icons allow you to see at a glance which activities are being discussed.

5 comments about Moon Handbooks: Jamaica (4th Ed.).

1. 100



2. I'm getting ready to go to Jamaica for the fourth time and I (once again) read this book cover to cover and you can bet it'll be in my suitcase too. It's absolutely essential if you aren't planning to hide in an all-inclusive hotel (or even if you are and you plan to get out). The book is sort of geared towards the adventurous traveler, the one that wants to get into the culture and off the beaten path. Still, the coverage of major resort areas is very, very good.

   Restaurants, places to stay in EVERY price range (wanna camp for $10 a night? Spend $400 a night in an all-inclusive?), fun things to do, what they cost, history - this book has it all and it has it in great depth. It has details on the waterfalls that aren't overflowing with tourists, where to get a Red Stripe in tiny towns on the south coast, what to bring, what not to bring, and most of all, what to expect. I enjoyed being able to talk with Jamaicans about politics and history with the knowledge base I got from this book.

   Can't wait for the next edition, due this month...




3. My brother and I took Karl Lunta's book with us to Jamaica in 1996.Because of his maps and local knowledge we rented a car and toured the island from Negril to the breathtaking San San beach and the Blue Lagoon in Port Antonio on our own.We stopped along the road at local stores and eateries enabling us to meet the Jamaican people. For the traveler that isn't afraid to leave their resort "compound" Karl Lunta's book will be their "Bible". Our trip was a huge success because of our adventurous spirits and his book!!I highly recommend it!!!



4. Five things which should be found in any recommended travel guide: 1) An introduction to the country or region that is as engaging as it is informative; 2) An excellent section that covers the travel information that you need prior to heading out (visa, passport, health, etc.) 3) The CORE of the guide; accommodations, restaurants, and sights to see, offer you a bias descriptions. A bias that is based on the writer's judgment and a set of criteria that they use to determine excellence. Thereby, you can make an informed decision with confidence. The writer's feedback must be based on their actual visit and/or experiences. Also, this information needs to be current; so that the name, address, phone & fax numbers are still in use. And, finally, in today's cyberspace world, email and web site addresses should be also included. 4) Maps. Many Maps. Usable, readable maps. 5) Finally, tidbits, charts, graphs, side bar topics and fun to read caveats. A guide with these qualities earns a "highly recommended" rating - five stars.

   Though comprehensive, the introduction (climate, flora/fauna, land, history, economy and government) is slow to engage and only picks up interest in the last portion: people and religion. I was especially absorbed by Luntta's section "Buccaneers and Pirates." The most engaging introduction I have yet read is found in "Jamaica," by Harry Pariser (see review). Karl Luntta's travel information section is very good. Every aspect that you need, and a lot more is covered.

   Jamaica Handbook excels where it counts, the core section. Every hotel and restaurant that I checked out conformed to Luntta's evaluations with only a few minor exceptions that will happen to any guide because of the passage of time. You can fully trust his recommendations regarding what to see and experience.

   But the guide does not give you email and web site addresses for any of the hotels. If you are an information junkie, like me, you will read all of his great side bar pieces (Montego Bay Hustle, The Roots of Love, The Story of Rum, etc.).

   The Jamaica Handbook is chronically anemic regarding maps. Avalon Travel Publishing needs to rethink what a little extra ink and paper used for maps can do for a "guide," get it . . . as in showing the way, as in Maps.

   As for the rest this guide has the best booklist out, but as all others, the booklist fails to list notable books on pirates and buccaneers. Also, Jamaica Handbook, as well as most other guides, sadly does not mention any commendable movies/videos (a must see: "The Harder They Come"). Everything considered, this is an useful and valuable guide to have and you won't be disappointed in Karl Luntta's choices for hotels, restaurants or sights. Recommended




5. I can't say this is the best guide to Jamaica, but it is generally reliable (although the National Museum of Archaeology no longer exists in Port Royal) and more than adequate for most travelers. In fact, it may be suitable particularly for the typical tourist, because it doesn't tell you a lot more than you want to know. It doesn't venture far beyond the usual tourist destinations, but most visitors to Jamaica are probably not into playing anthropologist off the beaten track. I like the type and layout of the book, which make it easy to find things, easy to skim, and easy on the eyes too. But, while it hasn't got as much use as my other guidebooks to Jamaica, the spine is already splitting.

1 comments about Jamaica Underground: The Caves, Sinkholes and Underground Rivers of the Island.

1. A monument! For every caver just dreaming to go caving to Ja this is a must have. Tons and tons of information. Excellent work from Mr Fincham. This is a lives work. Only minor flaw: the many cavemaps have been redrawn to have a uniform style throughout the book resulting in a reduction of detail compared to the original map. But who cares ;)

2 comments about Lonely Planet Eastern Caribbean (2nd ed).

1. This book covers an array of destinations in the caribbean and does this concisely and informatively without taking away the expectation of when you go. It allows you to plan your trip on it's content and also use it when you are there as a guide. It does not overload you with information, which is great, good to read cover and cover and then skim when needed. great for what it is!



2. For a long time, I had been trying to figure out how exactly the Caribbean is 'laid out'. There are so many different independent nations, as well as colonial entities, overseas departments of France, etc. etc., all with their own character, different cultures and mentalities, different things to be discovered... But it was altogether to figure it all out, and even to clearly list down the various separate entities to be visited and discovered. Finally, with the aid of this wonderful Lonely Planet guidebook, I am able to establish that the Caribbean's small islands (i.e. excluding Cuba, Jamaica, Purto Rico, Haiti and Dominican Republic) include a total of 9 independent nations and 10 colonial entities. This guidebook covers most of them, namely those in the Eastern part of the Caribbean, and provides wonderful insights into the culture, history and attractions of each. As always, excellent travel advice is provided, ranging from what to do locally for having a great holiday (regardless of what you are looking for), to the also important issue of how to move around in this wonderful region. This guidebook is a tool everyone should pack in their luggage.

No comments about Wild Plants of Barbados (MacMillan Caribbean Natural History).