5 comments about Frommer's Best RV and Tent Campgrounds in the U.S.A. (Frommer's Best Rv & Tent Campgrounds in the USA).

1. I'm getting ready to retire. I wanted a listing of those out of the way places that I always had to pass up on my travels. They ain't in this book!
   
   I was sorely disappointed in what I found here. They list a lot of campgrounds but they only review about 1 in 10 or 1 in 15. I wanted listings of campgrounds in West Texas. While the maps gave their designation for an RV park...not one of them was reviewed. No names, contact numbers or anything that would really help.
   
   On the other hand, if you want to stay in a state park or BLM site, this books for you. It really does cover those in great detail. In the few private parks they reviewed, the work again was detailed.
   
   The advertisement for this book did not elaborate on what was there...it just led you to believe it was a complete listing...which it was not.
   
   If you are looking for a more thorough listing, Trailer Life or Woodalls provides much more comprehensive cover of ALL the campgrounds they list private or not.



2. Haven't had a chance to use it to find any campground yet, but the information is very well organized, easy to navigate.



3. This is a very large book with tons of campsites listed. However, the list mostly consists of state and national parks. Anyone could find these parks without this book. I recommend that if you are looking for good camp spots look somewhere else as this book is not a very comprehensive list. Crap meant to put it as one star......sorry guys



4. This is a great book and well worth the money. It's bulky because it's the size of a telephone directory for a large city. It tells you everything you want to know about the parks and rates them.
   There is a downside. I noticed that a lot of state parks were missing. In the keys, the best parks were omitted, and some of the ones mentioned have been closed for years. For that reason, I couldn't give it a five start rating.



5. I have several books on camping; this by far is the most helpful.Detailed information on everything from bugs to how to get there. If you are going to have one book on camping site information I would highly recommend this one.

No comments about Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009 Pocket Parks Guide (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World; Pocket Parks Guide).

1 comments about Succeeding as an International Student in the United States and Canada (Chicago Guides to Academic Life).

1. This book was recommended to me by head of the Fulbright program in Ukraine. Unfortunately, I bought it too late - after one month in US.
   The book is really good and well structurized. I contains not only general information about american academic cuture but also many everyday things: greetings in different parts of the country, spending free time, buying a car and so on.
   But you have to know. This book is predominately about US education. Canadain universities are discribed only in comparison with US ones.

5 comments about National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways, 3d Ed. (National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways and Byways).

1. Even with exorbitant fuel prices, America is still the best bargain for travel bargain. This book proves it, over and over. The photography is simply superb, all in color, and gives the reader a wonderful opportunity to anticipate what might be found along each route discussed. While certain routes, e.g., Woodward Avenue out of Detroit, going north, would not have made my list, this is a minor quibble, since the Guide is intended for folks who have NOT been on the highways discussed.
   
   The writing style is clear, informative, and easily read by anyone. The book is very well organized, and the remarkable photography closely follows the text.
   
   In short, whether you intend to visit one state, or several, this book is an absolute must in terms of planning your trip. It not only describes the routes themselves, but attractions that closely border them. I have probably traveled thirty or forty of the routes described. In almost every instance, after reading this book, I wish I had had it with me when I made the journey.
   
   This book earns a definite five-stars. It is very nearly a perfect travel guide to a lot of America. Even if your travels are confined to an armchair, you will enjoy this book endlessly for what it will teach you about America's geography and history.
   
   Highly recommended, but don't loan it out.



2. Lots of information. Easy to use. I will be able to avoid printing information from the "America's Byways" web site before we depart on a road trip.



3. National Geographic travel books never disappoint. Each scenic drive description is brief out of necessity, but they might prompt the reader to seek more information elsewhere for targeted areas. Not really suitable for armchair travel though.



4. This book was great. We drove many of the roads mentioned in this book while on a vacation which included 4 national parks and 5 states. It was a really great trip. The byway scenery between the parks were very picturesque. Thanks National Geographic! I doubt we would have found some of these Highways and Byways by ourselves!



5. I took this book as a reference to plan my weekend trip, and value added agenda to my travel destination. I don't think it is worthy to drive to those routes just for a good view, but whenever you plan to somewhere, you definitely can check this book to plan your route or schedule. I am not a professional traveler, or driver. I travel only for fun and relax. Based on my limited experience from testing this book's recommendations, I recognize it as a good reference.

5 comments about Mexico (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE).

1. I've used Eyewitness guides for about 10 years. I quite like the way they are organized. Strong points of these guides include:
   (1) Historical timeline; key points identified with good breadth & depth
   (2) Traveler's Survival Guide section has accurate & helpful information
   (3) Wonderful walking guides with three-dimensional maps so that one does not overlook the not-to-be missed sites, monuments, buildings, works of art, cultural highlights, etc.
   (4) Well-organized into provinces and major sections of cities that help trememdously in mazimizing time so that one is not back-tracking or wandering hither and yon.
   (5) Many good color photos and illustrations of major attractions
   My one major dissatisfaction is that no phonetic pronunciation of cities, attractions, historical figures, etc. is included. That one small feature would be tremendously helpful and appreciated.



2. I love the Eyewitness Travel Guides, I already have some of them, and because of my great experience with them in Prague, Italy, Russia, and other places, I wanted to get the one for Mexico. But once I got it I was already disapointed by its size being half of the other ones that I got. The regions that interested my most was Guadalajara and Jalisco, which are only described on 2-3 pages, although being the colonial hartland of Mexico. A lot of emphasis is put on Mexico City, and the Jucatan Area. So if you travel there, I can recomend the book. For those who dont like to travel to the typical touristy areas, i'd say rather not.



3. Since my husband and I discovered the Eyewitness travel guidebooks that's all we buy. It's not very analytical but it gives a good overview of what you shouldn't miss (places, food, shopping). We recently went to Mexico City for a week and this guide was very helpful. I am only giving four stars because we would have preferred to have a guide only about Mexico City rather than all Mexico (like we have for Paris) but DK did not publish it yet.



4. EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDES are the best guides you could find. I've bought every one they have published to the places I have visited, and always know where I want to go and what are the most important places to visit,
   with the pictures and 3D images of the buildings and maps I don't get surprises as to visit a place not worth while. You optimize your travel time. I have about twenty of their guides, just hope they increase the places they review in the near future.
   I'm from Mexico and found it very useful.



5. I love the pictures that DK uses in their books. The book is very informative and covers allot of ground. It was helpful to me on my trip but like everything else I wish it had more information on certain areas.

5 comments about Hawaii The Big Island Trailblazer: Where to hike, snorkel, surf, bike, drive.

1. Lots of detailed info, good maps, great pics, best directions and extremely well laid out for picking out all the cool places everywhere on the island. We lucked out and got to see lava flowing down the mountain near the volcano. For driving directions and staying out of danger, it's full of dos and don'ts.
   
   This was this best thing we took with us on our honeymoon. It's so well organized and we used it as a tool to plan our daily escapades. I highly recommend this book for travelers who haven't been before and are looking for ideas and advice from authors who tell it like it is.



2. YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK. We have traveled to the big island many times, but still have not discovered or seen everything. This book reaches beyond of the general guide books and one of the other more popular reads about the island. Great for those who are into hiking and especailly for driving tours. Snorkelers will like some of the off the beaten path places to go.



3. Great book, I bought it after having figured out which islands to visit using the book by the same authors, no worries Hawaii, which is a must buy if you don't know where to go and what you want to do. Following input from the first book we picked 1 day Honlolu, 5 days big Island and 9 days Kauai.
   The big island trailblazer is unique in that the information on trailheads and how to find them is really really accurate, if you have to follow a dirt road for 2 miles and then stop next to a hidden bridge then that information is there. You rarely spend hours searching for stuff, the detail on where to look for something once you get to the end of the trail is less good, but that is because in the islands appear not to go in for signposts in a big way, so we were often looking at something and wondering whether or not this is it. Best ofs were generally good, didn't understand focus on Hilo, we went there on a Sunday and it felt like a run down sad little town, but maybe on a weekday there is a different vibe. The only negative is that restaurants mentioned a little more information on them to help you chose would help unless you like the sticky table-top ketchup bottle and drip coffee atmosphere and generic grub, this is fine if it is what you want, but you don't need a guidebook to discover such places, of course to be fair the book doesn't target the foodie population nevertheless a little more selectivity would help though or just a little more text on the restaurants. From personal experience if you are staying in Kapaa on Big Island try the restaurant Rapanui, a small hole in the wall joint run by a saturnine chef from New Zealand and his partner, its location is not attractive (in a mall when you enter Kapaa on the coastal road from the north on the left after the bend in the first mall), and it is BYOB but the food is really, really well cooked, from a European stand point, fresh, flavourful, beef melts in your mouth, rice/coconut nuttily satisfying, great, cooked but crunchy veggies, freshly made sauces, not a bottle or deep fryer in sight. Another great place to eat is Jays on the road towards southpoint, before the turn-off to Puuhoonuau (I forget the spelling) national park, two step snorkeling and the painted church from Kappaa, it is described in the guidebook, really spectacular and don't be put off by the appearance of the kitchen/living area. Oh and for sandwiches, a satisfying stop is Choicemart on the Highway 19 approximately in the area of the Manago Hotel, Choicemart is on the left, there is a great Vegan Cafe next to Choicemart and the sandwiches sold there and in Choicemart are spectacular. The locals recommend Choicemarts plate lunch especially on Lau Lau Friday. We tried to get it on Sat and it was all sold out. And the snorkeling at two step was the best we had on the island. Ok after all that digressing: if it is culture/food you are after then you need an additional book or to do some food research ahead of time online, for hiking, biking, walking and general reliable information then the trailblazer is a great book. Another option is to get the No worries Hawaii that has almost all information on all islands best ofs etc and then supplement that with a more foodie cultural guide for the islands depending on what you want. We did this for Kauai, although Fodors Kauai while better on culture etc really did badly for hiking and trails and was way less reliable than the Sprouts books.



4. Two years ago we took a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. Unfortunately we were in port too short a time and only went on a few packaged bus tours. We returned to the island we liked the best (the Big Island) last month and fortunately had the Trailblazer along as our prime guide. We hiked to and swam in the Blue Lagoon which is on the cover: the highpoint of our vacation.
   
   In the back of the book are hotel and restaurant suggestions from which we made our reservations and were quite pleased. For accuracy and good practical advice it's right on target.



5. This guide gave our vacation itinerary a real boost. It has wonderful timeless images of places and people which simply exude calm, chill, beach culture latitude attitudes.
   
   Photography is top notch and the information is partioned into sections so you can chew off each piece to explore at your leisure depending on how much time you've allowed for your vacation. Trailblazers do it good.

No comments about PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2009: The Unique Travel Guide, Planner, Organizer, Journal, and Keepsake! (PassPorter).

5 comments about Frommer's Napa & Sonoma Day by Day (Frommer's Day by Day).

1. More than just a regional guide, this concise book is VERY well researched and very well written with clarity and obvious firsthand knowledge. The author has led us to many fun and memorable experiences in the wine country. Both her enthusiasm and direction to some of the more unique destinations and activities in this region have made for unforgettable moments for 2 different groups of French visitors. Pay attention to the tips and notes; every time the advice is right on. Extremely helpful and user-friendly, we would definitely trust any recommendations in this book when planning an excursion or making a reservation in Napa or Sonoma.



2. bought this book for a friend moving to san fran. received the book in a timely manner.



3. This pocket (or purse) size little book was far and away the most helpful of the many references I consulted for my recent trip to the wine country. Concise reviews of wineries, restaurants, hotels, and other attractions were on the money. Chapters for history buffs, non-drinkers, foodies, etc. were fun and revealed much more than the run-of-the-mill tourist traps. Helpful map as well. Added bonus - a great chapter on SanFrancisco! Used that instead of the specific SanFran guides for city part of the trip. Great value.



4. I used this book to plan my trip to Napa and it was great! We went to Bodega Bay and Fort Ross Park based on the recommendation and it was beautiful. One day we walked Calistoga and visited many of the shops in the book and had dinner at Kitani sushi which was very good. I could go on but bottom line it was a great book and made my trip!



5. I have (quite happily!) spent two great vacations in Napa and Sonoma Counties. This is the best guidebook I have found for that region.
   
   There are a few things that make this guide very helpful. First, the author makes sure this guide is very user-friendly for first-time visitors. In other words, you get a true introduction to the Northern California area and what's special about it. You also learn which highlights are worth hitting, and what's worth ignoring.
   
   Second, the visual aspect of the book is great: super-colorful, great layout, things rated from one to three stars, lots of little neighborhood maps, color photographs, etc.
   
   Third, it's clear the author knows what she's talking about at all times.
   
   Fourth, the book comes with a little map that--although it looks a little geeky--is actually quite helpful for finding wineries as you drive along.
   
   Fifth, there's a nice little guide to San Francisco that is the last chapter. It's very well done.
   
   Caveats: if you are a Wine Country veteran, you are too advanced for this book and should skip it. Also, you'll need a road map (such as the paper folding ones that you can buy in a gas station) as a supplement to the maps in this book, because the book's maps don't get the job entirely done.

5 comments about In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits.

1. I got this as a gift for my cousin who had just finished getting his B.A. in Photography. I had gone to Barnes & Nobles to get it and I was going to buy it and ship it to him but b/c this book is so heavy, it would probably have cost me twice as much. I found it here on Amazon for less and shipping was included!!!



2. I bought this for my 20 year old daughter by her request. I glanced at the pictures and they really get your attention



3. highly recommended for any amateurs seeking ideas for portrait photography, very informative with little sections written out for history as well as organization into time periods of photography!



4. This book covers most of NG's great portraits in early years. Considering it only costs $20 with 280 pics, this book is definitely worthing.



5. Good, solid quality book with the pictures one has come to expect from National Geographic. A very good value.

5 comments about Maui Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Paddle, Surf, Drive.

1. Beaches are the reason we went to Maui and this was the guide we used to find them. There were several dozen to higrade. When we arrived we noticed many of the street signs were missing or twisted the wrong way so we navigated using the maps and mile markers in the Trailblazer guide. Even our rental car map didn't have the detailed streets this book had.
   
   We have three kids and they spent hours and hours boogieboarding and their UV protected rashguards that we also bought on Amazon paid off plenty. The bike tours were closed so we hiked in Haleakala State Park. Trail distances we needed and trail distances we got. We felt like we were on another planet. They suggested we bring warm clothes and water, thank goodness we did.
   
   Organized, detailed, dangerous places to avoid, the advice was priceless. This was our first time on Maui and this book really did blaze the trail.



2. We decided to visit two islands because we had heard how different they were: Maui and the Big Island. We chose the trailblazer books to guide us since they were both crammed with incredibly helpful information. For hikers and snorkelers and sightseers they are a gold mine. They are written in clear language and the outings are well arranged with accompanying maps.
   
   The tips for getting out to Hana were treasure trove status and put us out in front of the chain of cars we saw heading out at 2pm. Leaving at 7:30 am before the tour buses made all the difference. We could have used another few days on Maui and regret taking only one hike down into the crater. We plan another visit in 2009 and our first order of business will be watching the sunrise on Haleakala and taking a helicopter tour.
   
   Thanks Trailblazers for sharing and demystifying wowie Maui.



3. Where this one shines: compact and to the point, definitely our style. It covers all of the island and the hikes they list inside Haleakala Crater and near Hana were terrific. Bring your binoculars for the whale and windsurfer action. We had several guides with us, but the most consistent useful information came from this one.
   
   Friends asked us how we saw and experienced so much in just a week and we attribute it to doing our homework first - mapping it all out with the Trailblazer.



4. The places we did get to check out were awesome. I know we wouldn't have found the "aquarium" without this book and that was our favorite snorkel spot. I wish we had more time in maui to explore.



5. The book scales the island down in a very nice way and is easy to follow. Heed their water safety and driving with "aloha" tips. Squirts out all the best things to do and made our daily itinerary decisions slamdunks.
   
   Take it with you on the road. I strongly recommend seeing the Hana Highway in a convertible. Our twisty ride out there in the early morning was awesome.