5 comments about Best Dives' Snorkeling Adventures : A Guide to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean, Hawaii & Florida Keys.

1. This is the best book for snorkeling I've ever found. The other books are so vague, they don't tell me much of anything. This one describes all the neat places to walk in from the beach and go snorkeling, how rough or calm the area is, how to get to various snorkeling beaches once I get there, whether the kids can safely swim in each area. It also has all the resorts that have snorkeling off their beaches, which is really nice for people traveling with small children and the airlines and travel stuff we need.



2. I found the reviews very helpful in deciding where I wanted to plan my nest trip... I went to the Galapagos with Aquatic Encounters, and it was so fantastic, it is beyond description



3. This is must-have book for both the beginner and experienced travelling snorkeler. It is a thoughtful guide to the best places to visit and great tips on what to look for in the way of unique marinelife once you get there. It should be a companion in every dive bag.



4. The book has very brief descriptions of snorkeling sites at a large number of different places. Most, but not all are Caribbean islands. There are also descriptions of other "traditional" snorkeling places, such as the Yucatan Penninsula and Hawaii. And there are two large sections on snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and the Galapagos Islands. Several snorkeling sites are listed at each separate location, and useful advice and information is given for most. All sites are rated on a 1 to 5 "starfish" point system. About the only criticism I have of the book is that much of the hotel information seems to be pulled directly from the hotel's advertising about themselves. A little more independent commentary would be nice. The information is still useful as a starting point. Finally, for each location, there is useful information on weather, how to get there, and when to go. If you have the first edition of this book, I see little reason to purchase this new edition, however. I do wish a few other sites or activities had been included, in particular snorkeling with whale sharks off Northwest Australia. That's something that interests me, but there seems very little information on it out there. If you travel to snorkel, and don't have the First Edition, GET THIS ONE!



5. Everything you've ever wanted to know about snorkel swimming is in this great book, from "The Basics" to "Underwater Photography." Anyone in average health, who can swim, can don a mask and peer beneath the waters. Its low-impact aerobics and a great way to keep fit. Snorkeling has become a family affair with fish-watching and photography the main focus.
   
   You will find tips on a variety of snorkeling trips and activities in this informative book. Choices vary from sail-snorkel trips on shallow-draft catamarans or trimarans, glass-bottom-boat tours, snorkel-with-the-dolphins tours; the list goes on and on. Each snorkeling site is graded for interesting marine life, visibility, and water clarity with one to five "starfish."
   
   Helpful hints concerning snorkels, how to choose the proper fins, anti-fog solutions, and how to avoid sunburn are all discussed. Dos and Don'ts advise that you always swim with a dependable buddy and warnings as to what not to touch.
   
   The best reef-front resorts, starfish-rated beaches and boat-entry sites are included as well as Manatee tours. Where to find shallow shipwrecks, the best coral gardens, underwater photo trips and snorkeling cruises are all included in this wonderful book. Also included are twelve pages of fantastic underwater photography.
   
   If you are a snorkeling enthusiast, this book is a must have. It is a valuable guide to snorkeling sites and islands. Information includes detailed maps, photos, tours offered, and important information you need to make a wise vacation choice.

No comments about 50 Thrifty Big Island Restaurants: Dining on a Budget, Island Style.

2 comments about The Rough Guide to Maui 2 (Rough Guide Mini Guides).

1. I went through many books on Maui before I picked this one up. Lucky me! This turned out to be the best ten bucks invested in my trip to Hawaii. This book is small enough to carry in your pocket, yet is chock full of detail. I was impressed when I took a trip to the southern edge of Maui solely relying on this book. Every shop, corner, and area of Maui matches the description in this book. It is very accurate and upto date. The tips included by the authors were very helpful. When we wanted to mail coconuts from Maui and were really lost, this book helped. A few hints for Maui travelers: some USPS offices in Maui have officers dressed in Hawaiian attire, so do not be confused and doubt if it really is a post office guy when you see him dressed like a Hawaiian beach bum! If you go to the southern edge of the island, you can actually buy coconuts at the post office and mail 'em too. Permanent markers that you use to address coconuts are awfully hard to find, so pack a Sharpie with your stuff! Overall, if there is just one travel guide you'd buy, pick this one. The book's binding is very good, and it held up after all the beating around and abuse that was showered on my copy. Don't let the small size fool you--this one is very detailed, and more importantly, very accurate (verified by us in Jan 2000). Highly recommended.



2. This little book really helped me get the most out of my Maui trip. It's restaurant and activity recommendations were right on the mark. It gives you a great overview without being overwhelming.

No comments about Capturing Hawaii: Kauai.

No comments about Kaua'i Beaches (Hawaii Pocket Guides).

5 comments about Michael Brein's Guide to Honolulu & Oahu by The Bus (Michael Brein's Guides to Sightseeing by Public Transportation) (Michael Brein's Guides to Sightseeing ... to Sightseeing By Public Transportation).

1. This item has been wrongly labeled as a paperback book. It should be better labeled as a map. And as a map it is extremely overpriced. The contents are in very small print which means that it is difficult to read The pictures themselves look like they were done on the cheap. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I was not amused when I received this item in the mail.



2. This map is useful for negotiating the bus schedule of Honolulu and Oahu, but it has three principal drawbacks: the maps themselves are fragmentary and not good for overall awareness of where you are going, although in mine the bus route numbers had just been updated (as had the price); the map is expensive for what you get; and the map presents little text information about using the bus, and leads users to believe that the round the island bus tour is a viable option (most people would disagree and would recommend taking a day tour, which are abundant in Hawaii.)
   
   On the positive side, "TheBus" is much easier to figure out with this guide, and the information is kept very up to date by the publisher. "TheBus" is suitable for travel around Honolulu; if you are going to venture further, skip it (and this map) and rent a car or take a tour. A much better overall alternative to this map is the Nelles Maps "Honolulu and O'ahu" map. It is not specifically as useful for bus riders, but for most travelers, it is perfect: detailed, user-friendly, and complete. Unless you only care about bus travel, I recommend the Nelles map instead.



3. I also felt misled by the way this map was marketed. As a map, it is probably a good one as some of the reviewers that used it indicated. It is NOT a book. It is priced like one and I feel ripped-off. When it came, I couldn't even remember ordering something like it and couldn't understand why I would have paid such an exorbitant price for a map. Coming back to the Amazon site to research how this error occurred, I realized that the error was not on my part. I paid for a BOOK because it was presented as such. I got a MAP, not the sales pitch that was given for the product. A product may be good, but if it is misrepresented, you feel that you have been sold a bill of goods. It is not a guide as one thinks of guides, but rather a tourist map.



4. I enjoyed the book. I was able to use it as I toured Honolulu using the local bus system. A great guide for touring on your own.



5. What a waste of money! I was expecting some information to help traverse the island by public transportation and all this guide did was show a map.Don't buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You get more information off the Internet.

No comments about Rough Guide DIRECTIONS to Honolulu & Oahu.

No comments about Hawaii's Hidden Treasures.

5 comments about Maui on My Mind.

1. This book is the perfect example of the beautiful natural scenery and vacationing actvities that Maui has to offer, without getting commercial or advertising. The pictures are a beautiful descriptions themselves and each page provides a brief explanation of it. I also like the way the book is divided up into the main geographical areas of Maui and how it provides a bit of history of these areas. I didn't purchase any other souvenirs from Maui, but this book since it this was the perfect keepsake for me. I praise Rita Ariyoshi the author for bringing back to me such beautiful memories of Maui back to life and full color. This book brought on such nostalgia, that I vow to return to Maui someday and make this paradise displayed in the Maui on My Mind, my home. Mahalo...



2. This book is the perfect example of the beautiful natural scenery and vacationing actvities that Maui has to offer, without getting commercial or advertising. The pictures are a beautiful descriptions themselves and each page provides a brief explanation of it. I also like the way the book is divided up into the main geographical areas of Maui and how it provides a bit of history of these areas. I didn't purchase any other souvenirs from Maui, but this book since it this was the perfect keepsake for me. I praise Rita Ariyoshi the author for bringing back to me such beautiful memories of Maui back to life and full color. This book brought on such nostalgia, that I vow to return to Maui someday and make this paradise displayed in the Maui on My Mind, my home. Mahalo...



3. Beautiful book full of georgous photos, excellent narritives of the Island of Maui. Pretty much covers all the different areas of Maui. We read it before we went to Maui for the first time and used it as a travel guide of places we wanted to see while we were there. Couldn't resist reading it again after we got home! I'll never part with my copy of this outstanding book!



4. This book captures all of the wonder and beauty of Maui! The artwork and photo on the dustjacket of this book makes it wonderful to display on your coffee table. Once you open this book you will want to look and read through it in one sitting. If you have never been to the Hawaiian Islands this book will definitely make you start to dream of those tropical islands and those shimmering beaches. From the top of Haleakala to the road to Hana this book has it all.



5. Hawaii is one of the few of the fifty United States that I have not visited. This book of photographs, collected to commemorate the Maui News' 85th anniversary, is enough to convince me that I should go there soon. The pictures are stunning in their beauty; it truly appears to be an island paradise. You see tropical forests, pristine beaches, sugarcane fields, modern buildings, old buildings returned to their original states, beautiful tracts of ocean, fields of flowers, and beautiful people. Some of the people are doing Hawaiian activities such as surfing, snorkeling and sailing. Others are doing tourist-like activities such as playing tennis, golf, sitting or laying on the beach or walking down the street taking in the sights.
   I don't know if the designers intended to create a tourist brochure, but they certainly succeeded in doing so. This is one of the most convincing arguments for visiting a place that I have ever seen.

No comments about Maui Handbook Including Molokai and Lanai.