1 comments about Tropical Family Vacations: in the Caribbean, Hawaii, South Florida, and Mexico.

1. Tropical Family Vacations gives a nice introduction to family travel in Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean and Mexico. For each island or place, the author provides an overview with a description, visitor information, language and currency. All the listings--resorts and attractions--are oriented toward families. I was pleased to find both 800 numbers and web addresses. The descriptions are writtenin a pretty objective fashion. Expect description rather than evaluation. If you (and your kids!) know you want a warm vacation, but don't know where to go, this is a good first step in planning.

4 comments about Moon Handbooks: Mexico (2nd Ed.).

1. Utterly useless! I found myself in mexico with this waste of space. Luckily after only two weeks I found the Lonely Planet book.

   Buy it if you need something to keep a door open, or rest you foot on, but that's all.

   Some important towns are not listed, hotel and restaurant listings are brief and often prices are not included. Do yourself a favour and buy the Excellent Lonely planet guide to mexico.




2. It is tough to say if this book is the Good Mexico Guidebook or the Bad one on the market today. I don't want to jump to the hyperboles of my fellow reviewer. I have used Lonely Planet books and had an awful time of it before (see my review of Lonely Planet Brazil). So many people use Lonely Planet books that these "off the beaten path" travellers end up forming their own beaten path: they all stay in the LP-recomended hotel, eat at the LP-recomended restaurant, etc. LP is the Microsoft of independent travel books, and so you should use their books with caution. On the other hand, like most LP Asia books, LP Thailand is a classic - it served me well in the 1980's. So when I saw that Joe Cummings had traded his Thai travelling boots for a pair of Mexican ones, I jumped at the chance to use his guidebook for my Mexican travels. The results are mixed. Mexico is so big, there are so many places to go, and there are so many things to do, that it is a daunting task fitting it all into a single book (even a book this big!). Like LP's "On a Shoestring" guides, this Mexico book appears to actually be a synthesis and summary of some of Moon's other, more in-depth books, such as Pacific Mexico, Cabo, Cancun, etc. For that reason, it would appear that some of the Moon regional guides contain the details and nitty gritty. So if you aren't planning on criss-crossing the country from north to south, east to west, you might consider investing in one of the regional guides which covers a smaller area of Mexico in more detail. As an aside, if you can read a bit of Spanish and want to get really nitty gritty in the "Places to Go / Things to Do" category, check out mexicodesconocido.com.mx. They don't publish any guidebooks, but their travel magazines and on-line content is rich enough to replace any of the Mexico guidebooks on the market.



3. This book was absolutely useless. I used this book in 1999/2000 and found the majority of the information contained in this book to be inaccurate or very outdated. I encountered numerous situations where services, i.e. trains, buses, hotels and museums had closed down or not existed for up to 10 years in the past! The 2nd addition did not update any of even the most basic of information. After countless experiences of "wrong advise/info" I tossed the book. Please bear in mind that I lived in Mexico for one year and traveled extensively during this time with my Mexican wife. Buy any other book but this one! You have been warned.



4. I used the guide in 2000 and found it quite solid. Everything mentioned in it was there, and I generally agreed with the assessments.
   
   I like Moon Guides because they strike a practical balance between high-brow analysis of, say, the Blue Guides and cultural vacuum of Fodors. If you like to decide for yourself where to go, this one is a good start.

1 comments about Yucatan & Mayan Mexico, 3rd (Country & Regional Guides - Cadogan).

1. I found this book to be most helpful on a quick jaunt into this lush, charming area. The information and guides for Campeche and environs were most precise, including the most sophisticated and elegant restaurants, hotels and day trips. What I felt was strong research helped lend an air of authenticity and credence to the areas we visited, steps above other books that seemed to be mostly backpacking guides to this lovely area.

No comments about The Photographer's Guide to New Mexico: Where to Find Perfect Shots and How to Take Them.

No comments about Touring New Mexico Hot Springs.

5 comments about Moon Handbooks New Mexico.

1. As the author of this book, I feel compelled to respond to the reviewer from San Diego (May 29, 2002), who claimed that my Carlsbad research was poor, that I recommended White's City, which the locals call a "laughing stock," and that I failed to mention the Stevens Motel. One needn't look too closely at the book to see that I call White's City a "touristy and gimmicky souvenir stop" and do in fact recommend the Stevens Motel (though under accommodations, not under food). Both of these references are on page 194 of the current edition. Thank you.



2. I recently, for 10 days, drove around New Mexico (5th largest State among the 50), seeking this and experiencing that, and I took with me five guides (Moon's, Fodor's, Off the Beaten Path, Roadside History and N.M. Sanctuaries, Retreats, and Sacred Places). Though Fodor's was the best guide for selecting accommodations and eateries, Moon's guide excelled in historical and tidbit descriptions.

   What set this guide apart is the history, superior maps (especially compared to Fodor's) and Stephen Metzger's straightforward, clear, writing style. Metzger's introduction to New Mexico section is outstanding (The Land, Flora and Fauna, History, Economy and the People). This is an important contribution to understanding the State completely skipped by Fodor's. Also, Metzger's history of regions, cities, towns and pueblos is exemplary.

   Where the guide falters is the weak descriptions of accommodations and restaurants, IE "The hotel is distinctly decorated" or "a discreet little inn with 12 rooms on an alleyway". After reading Fodor's vivid descriptions this was a serious step back. Also few, if any, website addresses for lodgings are found, and in a 2003 publication that is a serious omission. (Fodor's has website addresses).

   If you are primarily interested in finding the best dining experiences and great accommodations Fodor's is my pick. But, for a State guide that is strong on overview and excellent in the history are you can't beat Metzger (however, also check out Roadside History of New Mexico). Strongly Recommended




3. This book has good information; but it's missing a good overall state map and mileages between cities/towns.



4. Terrific information, a must buy for anyo camper/hiker visiting New Mexico.



5. Moon Handbooks' New Mexico Guidebook (6th Edition) was the second Moon Handbook that I purchased. The first one I purchased was Nevada by Deke Castleman (also 6th Edition) - which is very helpful and fun to read, by the way. Unfortunately, it was obvious while reading the New Mexico guidebook that the author, Stephen Metzger, does not live in New Mexico, and often seems unfamiliar with the state throughout the book. I really would have liked to have more information about the city of Rio Rancho (only one page for a city of about 66,000 people!). I have traveled to New Mexico twice since purchasing this book and have discovered a lot of beautiful places, good restaurants, and unusual retail establishments that were not mentioned. Although it does have some good information (better than most about New Mexico), this book barely scratches the surface.

2 comments about Mexico: A Higher Vision.

1. Mexico: A higher vision, is a book for all people. Whether or not you have been to Mexico the photographs alone are astonishing. The book portrays a beautiful country giving writen details about different sections of the country along with some historical facts and myths. For those who have been there it is a sweet reminder of the culture. From the past to the present. It gives photos of the old and the new and how they mix together. Definately a must have.



2. Wow. The photos of this book are really great. As the wife of a Mexican, we had to have a book of photos from Mexico - to reminisce and to see places that we haven't yet visited. We searched for the perfect book - and this is it. All color photos, artistically captured, exclusively of the countryside are in this book. All of the major regions of Mexico are featured. If you haven't been to Mexico, this is a preview to the wonders that await you, and if you are missing Mexico, then this will bring a smile to your face.

2 comments about North America's Greatest Bird Hunting Lodges and Preserves: More Than 200 Prime Destinations in the United States, Canada & Mexico (Willow Creek Guides Series).

1. This is undoubtedly the best book on bird hunting in a very,very long time.It has given the reader the "Who,what,when, and where",in specific and pleasant language, with some inviting photos of the lodges.The author has skillfully gone from areas to hunt that are either almost free, to the quite expensive, using the same exacting detail about what kind of birds,their source,seasons,lodging availability,rates,directions to get there,...even down to tipping. A few paragraphs about each place makes you wish you were able to hunt them all.



2. I am disapointed in this book. The first fault is that it fell apart the first time I opened it. It is very cheaply made and the pages keep falling out of it! Secondly, the info is not that useful and one would be much better served researching places to hunt on the net.

No comments about The Royal Road: El Camino Real from Mexico City to Santa Fe.

2 comments about Hidden Baja: Including Tijuana, Ensenada, Mulege, La Paz, and Los Cabos (Hidden Travel).

1. Not a bad book if you looking at the areas of Northern Baja and the Cabo San Lucas area. Out of 258 pages about 130 pages cover these area while only 58 cover the remainder. There are much better books out there.



2. Richard Harris' updated third edition Hidden Baja covers everything from beaches and lodging to outdoor adventure travel in Baja, providing details on a wealth of outdoor activities for those who are oriented toward adventure travel. Lesser-known byways of the region are the focus in a title packed with tips on travel through the region.