Reviews (18)

Not Very Worldly
This guy is an idiot and does not know anything about Fiji, or its inhabitants.He is the typical "ugly American" and it would be best if he stayed away from beautiful islands such as Vanuatu.The people of Fiji are not as he portrays them, and his juvenile excursion to the islands is a poor attempt to be Hunter S-like.
Agree completely that this is a sophomore slump
I agree with the earlier reviewer from Washington D.C. who wrote, "Mildly interesting, not as good as the first." Troost's second book is "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" Lite.
Lost in the SoPac
J. Maarten Troost takes us on another trip to the South Pacific. He and wife Sylvia decide to move to Vanuatu/Fiji. Just over the first half of the book is recounting some of his misadventures in Vanuatu and his discovery of kava. Afterwards, we're off to Fiji when the Troosts find out they are pregnant with Lukas, their first son.
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Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Description And Travel    3. Essays & Travelogues    4. Fiji    5. Travel    6. Travel - General    7. Troost, J. Maarten    8. Vanuatu    9. Travel / Essays & Travelogues   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Australia & Oceania - South Pacific    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel Guides    6. Fiji    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (30)

Fifi
Excellent guide to Fiji.
Book lacks details for actual travelers
Although I agree that the sections on the history and culture of Fiji are excellent, this by itself does not make for a good guide book. This book first appeared in the 1980's and it seems as if all subsequent updates were soleley made by contributing readers and businesses. I used the book recently for travel in Fiji and could not shake the impression that the author has not been to Fiji in a long time. While he lists all of the main attractions, many details are sketchy at best. To give an example, he mentions the Sikatoga sand dunes as one of the main attractions on Fiji but then uses a single paragraph(!) to describe them. No detailed description of any interesting features that could be used as a guide for a visit. Similarly when describing the Yasawa islands he is busy listing all the resorts but does not seem to care too much about what actually can be done on these islands. Bottom line: The book is an excellent reference on history and culture of Fiji (something one could write after some diligent research) but lacks useful details for actual travelers.

A great guide
We used this guide on our trip last summer. We had an excellent time off the beaten track, and this book got us where we wanted to go, with the relavant phone numbers and lots of tips. The 100 or so pages on Fiji's history and culture were also of great interest while we rode on boats to where we were going. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Fiji    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - South Pacific    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign   

Reviews (1)

3 for Fiji
We used the Moon Handbook Fiji and the Lonely Planet Fiji books along with this map and got along fine.All three were useful for different purposes.Although weight is a factor when traveling this far and dragging all the baggage through checkpoints, its worth having all the right information to get you in tune with the customs and on the rightroad.You can never have enough maps, this one is one of the most current. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Fiji    2. Travel / road maps & atlases   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. New Zealand    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Australia & Oceania   

Reviews (1)

Going Someplace exciting?
I picked up this book because I'm planning a long trip to West Africa and need a good travel guide. I found Jon Haggins' book to be VERY informative on preparations to West Africa and other places, but not on the actual destinations. Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. African Americans    3. Caribbean Area    4. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    5. Fiji    6. Guidebooks    7. Reference - Guides (General)    8. South America    9. Special Interest - Adventure    10. Travel    11. Travel - General   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Australia/Oceania - South Pacific    3. South America    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Australasia    7. Pacific Ocean    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Editorial Review

From Antarctica to Zimbabwe, if you're going there, chances are Lonely Planet has been there first. With a pithy and matter-of-fact writing style, these guides are guaranteed to calm the nerves of first-time world travelers, while still listing off-the-beaten-path finds sure to thrill even the most jaded globe-trotters. Lonely Planet has been perfecting its guidebooks for nearly 30 years and as a result, has the experience and know-how similar to an older sibling's "been there" advice. The original backpacker's bible, the LP series has recently widened its reach. While still giving insights for the low-budget traveler, the books now list a wide range of accommodations and itineraries for those with less time than money. Find out where to dive, snorkel, surf, or kayak--and how to choose among Fiji's 300 islands. More than 40 sidebars provide tidbits on topics ranging from shark-calling and temples to racial issues and boiled bat. Discover these islanders' customs, ceremonies, and traditional arts. Also provided are useful sections on Fijian and Fiji Hindi languages. Read more

Reviews (8)

a good intorduction
i bought this book to help me get aquainted with fijian culture before i travel there this coming fall. I plan on living there for awhile so this book was really helpfull in a quick introdutory course on what fiji is all about.!

Needs to be updated
The facts, figures, and prices in this guide need to be updated.But if you choose to go to sketchy Fiji, then you need to be armed with something.If you take the tourist shuttle from the airport, the tour bus to the Yasawa Flyer, go straight to a resort (I use this term loosely) on the outer islands, then you'll probably love Fiji.Should you go off the beaten path and anywhere near Suva in particular, be very alert.Your wallet & purse are on the radar.One thing LP doesn't relay...Bula (hello/welcome) literally translates to one of the following: 'Come see my shop.'...'Taxi! Taxi!' or 'Let my cousin show you around'.'Traditional Fijian warmth' unfortunately has become directly proportional to how much you spend.

Better than nothing
I've now read this book pretty much cover to cover and am really un-impressed... it mostly just provides a listing of places with some details... facts and figures... there are no real opinions, recommendations, or even suggestions.
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Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Fiji    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

The World In a Nutshell
Rob Kay provides far more than just a survival guide in this wonderous creation.This book will take the reader on the most magical journey into Fiji's history, geography, language and art, and much much more.Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania    2. Australia/Oceania - South Pacific    3. Caribbean & West Indies    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Australasia    7. Fiji    8. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Search for the New Edition
A new edition of Finding Fiji is available and can be located by searching for "Moon Handbooks: Fiji" on this site. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania    2. Fiji    3. Guidebooks    4. Travel - Foreign   

Subjects:  1. Cook Islands    2. Description and travel    3. Fiji    4. Samoan Islands    5. Tahiti   

Reviews (6)

Forget Snorkeling Info
I bought this book primarily because I am going to Fiji in two months and wanted info on snorkeling.Boy was I surprised to find only half a page devoted to snorkeling.The rest of the book is a brief description of various dive sites. For Scuba Divers Only
This is an attractive book which the scuba diver will want to order. It maps and describes 74 of Fiji's top dive sites and the color photography is excellent. Despite the title, however, those interested in beach-based snorkeling will find little of use here as almost all of the sites included are accessible by boat only. Even the new Waitabu Marine Park off Taveuni is mentioned only in passing. There's virtually no practical resort or restaurant information, and the first quarter of the book is devoted to brochure-style hype you can read on almost any Fiji website. Critical reviews of dive facilities are strikingly absent, so this book is of no help in selecting a specific scuba operator. Five pages of listings in the back of the book provide basic contact information, but even this is out of date as all Fiji telephone numbers have increased from six to seven digits since the book was published. Most of the email addresses are also wrong, so substitute @connect.com.fj whenever you see @is.com.fj. Nevertheless, when one considers the cost of a scuba tour to the South Pacific and the lack of any alternative Fiji dive guide, all of the above criticisms are mute and serious divers will click this title straight into their shopping carts.

Lacking basic information
This book is seemingly a compilation of dive locations frequented by dive resorts, with little independent research or reviews of specific dive outfitters.The book lacks basic information on water temperatures, currents, winds and seasonal influences.The independent traveller primarily interested in snorkeling will also be disappointed in the lack of practical information on the best sections of the main islands for shoreline snorkeling. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - South Pacific    2. Fiji    3. Guidebooks    4. Scuba & Snorkeling    5. Scuba diving    6. Skin diving    7. Special Interest - Adventure    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Sub-aqua swimming    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Great book to read if traveling to Fiji
This was a fun book to read while traveling in Fiji.It provides a great perspective of the history of the islands complete with interesting and sometimes entertaining antecdotes of the author's travels through Fiji.The text alternates between the author's personal travel experiences and a drier (but still interesting) history of Fijian native culture and colonial influences. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - South Pacific    2. General    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Fiji    5. Journeys    6. Travel writing    7. Wright, Ronald   

Reviews (2)

Circumnavigation: Sail the Tradewinds Ft. Lauderdale to Figi
As a sailer planning a world cruise, I view this book as one of the best cruising books I have read because it touches so much on the cultures and people along the way rather than merely on the sailing aspects. I have only read volume one and am eagerly awiting volume two. If you are not a sailer, this is a superb armchair travel book. You will really feel you are meeting people all over the globe. Sue manages to convey the excitement, beauty, learning and sharing of a couple sailing around the world.

A msut for cruising the Maine coast
This is a companion book to Don Johnson's Cruising Guide to Maine Vol IKittery to Rockland.See my review under that title. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Boating - General    2. Sailing - General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Travel    6. United States - South - South Atlantic (General)   

Subjects:  1. Guidebooks    2. Oceania   

Subjects:  1. Australia & Oceania - General    2. Business & Financial    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. Business law    5. Law    6. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. Polynesia   

Subjects:  1. Description and travel    2. Fiji    3. Norfolk Island    4. Vanuatu   

Reviews (4)

Not What I Expected
This is nice little book, but it is not at all what the description led me to believe it was and it is certainly not worth the cost.This is not a true guidebook at all.Rather, it is a very brief (only 128 pages total, with wide margins on all 4 sides of the page) account of the Hostrop's personal travel experiences with little tidbits of advice tossed in. A "Must Book" for Adventurous Travelers
Though my wife and I had a general guide to Australia and New Zealand, surprisingly, we felt that the Hostrops' book gave all the sightseeing information needed as most sites also had their own detailed literature. Weappreciated the emphasized suggested itinerary given which took us to themost important sites and to the excellent recommended lodgings andcampgrounds. We also appreciated the excellent information on the"free" stopover islands. On the way over, we stopped in the CookIslands and on the way back we stopped in Tahiti. This a gem of a bookwhich goes to the heart of what independent travelers need for a mostenjoyable journey to Australia and New Zealand. Highly recommended forindependent travelers.

Australia and New Zealand by Campervan And/or Car With Stopo
I bought this book before our trip to New Zealand to provide detailed/specifc information about using a Campervan to see New Zealand.We took the book with us and referred to it several times during ourvacation there and found it to be neither helpful or accurate.Using acampervan to visit New Zealand had many serious considerations that I donot feel were adequately detailed in this very small, non detailed book. One of the funny things was that the book mentioned how patiently and howdetailed the instructions would be by the campervan company.To thecontrary was our experience, there was minimal information provided, just"You refuel here, the spare tire is here, you turn it on there.Anyquestions?No?, Well have a good day mate."Once out of the parkinglot, the fun begain with trying to drive a stick shift situated on the"wrong" side of the vehicle and driving on the "wrong"side of the road.Had the book specified some of the problems associatedwith this, and the dangers, we would have had more realistic expectations. Since this book was a "Campervan" book, my expectations would bethat the book would spend much more time on how to deal with such a"beast", as we came to consider our campervan.Read more

Subjects:  1. Australia    2. Australia & Oceania - General    3. Automobile travel    4. Camp sites, facities, etc.    5. Essays & Travelogues    6. Guidebooks    7. New Zealand    8. Oceania    9. Travel    10. Travel - Foreign