No comments about The Myths of Mexico and Peru.

5 comments about Frommer's Costa Rica 2004.

1. We used this guide to get us an hotel in Montezuma. We stayed at the Nature Lodge Los Fincas. It was a dump and we were forced to either stay or lose all of our money for the entire saty. We did what the couple before we checked in did. We paid them to leave. The rooms were covered with ants, triantulas, no constant running water....hot water, no way. The food was served with ants and bugs in it. I think this writer is either dillusional or just tells the hotels to get ready cause he is on his way. My advice, pick up another guide.



2. Very good resource to plan your trip, but once in Costa Rica I did not think the book was completely accurate. The locals had very different opinions about places and activities. It would have been nice if the book had included information about alternate forms of transport such as boats from town to town or Interbus. Overall a great resource to get started and get a good idea of what you want to do and where you want to go. Ask the locals before you make reservations. Pura Vida



3. I just came back from Costa Rica, and I am still amazed at how useful the book was. Everything we planned and did on the basis of the advice from the book turned into a successful endeavor and great memories.
   
   The book gives detailed information on which places to see, how to get there (covering all possible transporation means), hotels, good places to eat in the respective location, and local tour opperators to use. For all of these it gives prices, addresses, telephone numbers, business hours, best times to visit, etc - even recommends dishes to try in some of the restaurants. Also, the info is presented in a very organized manner and covers a wide range of budget levels. All the recommendations I used were very good and the information proved to be very accurate. I strongly recommend the book as an invaluable practical aid!
   
   An only shortcoming of this book is that it lacks detailed information about Costa Rica, the culture, the history, etc, and does not describe in much detail the places. If you feel the need to know a lot about the places you visit, and have the time to read more, I recommend using this book along with one that is more descriptive of the places, history, etc.



4. If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, this is one of the best travel guides you can buy. Everything you need toi know is packed into this book!



5. My wife and I greatly enjoyed a week in Costa Rica earlier this month. We are not frequent travelers, and neither of us had previously visited a country where English is not the primary language. Frommer's certainly made our trip smoother and more enjoyable. We foud this guide to be accurate regarding both factual information and perspective. Without it, we would have missed some memorable sights and experiences, including side trips to see the beautiful churches in Zarcero and Las Canas. We rented a small SUV, and had very little trouble finding our way, thanks to Frommer's. Driving in San Jose was a bit of an adventure due to a nearly complete absence of street signs, but Frommer's amply warned us about this in advance. I appreciate Eliot Greenspan's sense of humor as well. We also brought the Lonely Planet guide with us, but I must give Frommer's the nod. I have just one difference of opinion with Mr. Greenspan. The Costa Rican cuisine can actually be quite good. We enjoyed some unique fish and poultry dishes at several hotels and resorts that I would put up against any in the states.

No comments about National Geographic, Trails Illustrated, Carlsbad Caverns National Park: New Mexico, USA (Trails Illustrated - Topo Maps USA).

5 comments about The Rocky Point Gringo Guide to Puerto Penasco, Mexico.

1. I used this book as a guide for a trip in March 2001. It contains a great amount of useful information for Puerto Penasco. This book should be considered essential for a first-time visitor, but even a traveler familiar with the area should find much here that they weren't aware of. An added bonus is the great info on driving into Mexico from the U.S. It was my first time driving across the border and a quick read through the appropriate section in the book made the crossing a lot less stressful. I highly recommend this guide.



2. This is a great reference guide to have when you are planning to visit or actually exploring Puerto Penasco. Though I can't say its chapters are particularly well organized you will still enjoy perusing this book - and with some chapters really studying it. The author has a good sense of humor and covers most subjects at an appropriate introductory level. Mary Weil's book is, as far as I know, the only serious guide to this very fun and friendly resort town. In almost 300 pages she covers the important subjects of getting there, shopping, sports, rentals, eating, lodging, safety, customs, history and getting back to the U.S. Many other topics are covered as well including the infamous Crystal Palace (our entire RV party of 14 got a real kick out of her dead pan description). The bottom line is that this book can add some depth to your trip to Puerto Penasco (english: Rocky Point). That will probably translate to more fun and a more productive stay.



3. i've been to rocky point a bunch of times, but this book enlightened me to a few lesser known places around the town. i would also recommend this book to anyone who hasn't been to rocky point because it contains all of the basics in an easy to read format.



4. The book was probably very helpful back in the day. But just like Puerto Penasco itself changes are happening too fast for much to help you navigate the area. We used the book for the basics but made the rest up as we went along. PP is no longer a sleepy fishing village.



5. Woefully out of date on travel to Mexico in the free zone, lodging AND restaurants. (What more is there?)
   Actually, the free Rocky Point Times was better.
   Maps, as rough approximations, were useful. Info on jellyfish and Bird Island was useful.
   Even the info on the desirability of dollars vs. pesos was out of date! Desperately need a 2007/2008 version.

5 comments about Fodor's Pocket Los Cabos, 3rd Edition (Pocket Guides).

1. This book was a wonderful companion in Cabo San Lucas. The recommendations were right on target, the writing is enjoyable and entertaining, while providing useful information at the same time. I highly recommend this book as it made my vacation more enjoyable!



2. I gave this to my brother who is going on his Honeymoon to Cabo. A great resource to bring along, especially if you cannot access the internet.



3. We went to Cabo in February 2006 and found this guide very, very helpful. I don't know what other guides are available, but this one is packed with accurate info (if just slightly out of date as it is a year or two old). It omits a couple of new restaurants that have recently opened but is otherwise very accurate. The recommendations of activities, hotels, places to eat and things to see were spot-on. I think it's worth getting if, like us, you do not know the area. Also, it is small and lightweight and you can just stick it in your pocket or purse. We went to a few restaurants we never would have found but for this guide, and generally they were better than what our hotel had recommeded.



4. I took a hastily-arranged last minute trip to Cabos, not having had any vacations in 20 years -- and not having much money. I knew we needed expert advice fast, so, trusting Fodor's, we got this book. We ate exclusively at restaurants recommended by this book (we had a car rental.) We made sure we hit both the most expensive place recommended by the book and the least expensive joint that they recommended. Both were equally highlights of the trip. The rest of the time, we ate at recommended places that were towards the lower end of the price scale. We were never disappointed! At Macambo's and Ahorcado, I even took pictures of the food. These were the kinds of places that you would never find by wandering around the tourist area -- let's just say they were "out of the way" and a few a little out of the comfort zone of some tourists. Are we ever glad we took that book! A piece of advice -- take more cash, in small bills, than you think you'll need. If you need emergency medical care like I did (not Montezuma's Revenge, BTW) you'll have to pay hundreds in cash. Far fewer places take credit cards than do in the US. And by all means, take this book. They know what they're talking about.



5. I ordered this book because it was about the only book specifically devoted to Cabo. I was very disappointed. I carried the book to Cabo and back but didn't really use it. If you strip away the generic "travel" information and the history information, this book contains little that is useful. The restaurant reviews are good, but not all restaurants are covered. The reviewers below had more valuable suggestions than this book, such as -- don't rely on credit cards, bring cash, small bills.
   
   The book is woefully out of date. It doesn't even contain a decent map!

1 comments about Mexico's Copper Canyon Country: A Hiking and Backpacking Guide to Tarahumara-land.

1. An insightful personal narrative about the most spectacular canyon system in all of North America. Mexico's Copper Canyon Country features invaluable information on trip planning and traveling in Mexico; route descriptions of mellow day-hikes and strenuous multi-day backpacks; and John Fayhee's personal experiences with the Tarahumara Indians. An indespensible guide to a spectacular land and its people.
   --- from book's back cover

No comments about Boreal Ties: Photographs and Two Diaries of the 1901 Peary Relief Expedition.

No comments about Through the Grand Canyon from Wyoming to Mexico.

3 comments about The Reader's Companion to Mexico.

1. Save your money. I could barely stay awake while reading any of the stories.



2. Finding an up-to-date travel guide is the never-ending search. So why bother?

   The selections in this collection are VERY dated (from 1888 to 1987) commentaries by VERY dated but, in their time, VERY famous artists, musicians, scientists and writers. The editor's introductions to each piece do a great job of connecting the authors and times and setting the scenes.

   From D H Lawrence and Katherine Anne Porter to Langston Hughes and Graham Greene to Paul Theroux and John Steinbeck, these portraits of their times in Mexico are valuable comments on the way things were. If you're going beyond the casual visits to Mexican resorts (been there ...) and are interested in the character of the country, this book is well worth reading AND owning.




3. A truly fascinating book. This is not a travel book one would get to learn about hotel rooms and restaurants and tourist sites, but what a wonderful insight into the fascinating culture of Mexico. And by really good writers! The material dates from 1888 to 1978, but time is not so much the issue as insight and perspective. Top notch armchair travel book, and a good book to read before going there for background on a different culture.

No comments about Guidebook to the Colorado River, Part 1: Lee's Ferry to Phantom Ranch in Grand Canyon National Park (Brigham Young University. Geology studies).