Reviews (3)

Doesn't include the Bahamas!!
Buyer beware--those looking for a one-stop reference to helpchoose a place in the Carribean to vacation had better look elsewhere. I bought this book for that very reason and found that somehow the Bahamas didn't make it into the list of Carribean islands, despite being included in every travel site's list of Carribean island destinations. While the information included is fine, the fact that I have to now buy another guide to get info on the Bahamas makes this book of little value for the money.

Preparing for Caribbean Adventure
Frommer!s Caribbean 2006 was very informative and gave me many options to consider while on my trip in December.

Useful & Helpful
This book quadrupled my knowledge of the Caribbean and passed on a lot of useful information. I found it helpful and would recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Caribbean islands    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (1)

A Great Resource
I tossed this great guidebook into my carry-on bag before I left for a recent trip to Road Town in the British Virgin Islands and found it to be the perfect resource during my trip!Unlike most Eyewitness travel books that tend to be all-encompassing and a bit cumbersome to carry around, this "Top 10" version is more like Eyewitness-light, perfect for taking to marketplaces and the beach.
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Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Europe - Great Britain - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. United States - General    6. Travel / United States / General   

Reviews (2)

Don't bother if you already have the 2nd edition
I very much liked the 2nd edition of this text. I purchased the 3rd edition because we are planning our third trip to Jamaica. Unfortunately, this new edition contains very little updated information. In fact, two of the newer Riu hotels in Negril (one of which opened in 2001) are not even included in this guide.
The ultimate honeymoon guide.
I recently got married and this guide was all I needed to find the best of Jamaica. With its section on the Best of Jamaica, I was given the top choices for everything from the best beaches, honeymoon resorts, romantic getaways, shopping buys, and gold courses. This guide made planning my trip simple, with all the information I needed to know before I got there, like the exchange rate, the calendar of events, and tips on dining out and shopping. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Jamaica    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (1)

Anthony Trollope, Postman and Travel Writer
In the late 1850s, British postal employee Anthony Trollope travelled though the Caribbean Islands and Central America on Official Business. In his free time he wrote a book about what he saw and what he thought about it. He undergoes the usual travel woes (terrible boats, worse food), and spends considerable time discussing the projected Nicaragua Canal (not worth the expense). But most interesting are his views on the recently emancipated blacks of the British colonies.
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Subjects:  1. 1815-1882    2. Caribbean & Latin American    3. Caribbean & West Indies    4. Central America    5. Description and travel    6. Essays & Travelogues    7. Journeys    8. Literary Collections    9. Literature: Folklore/Mythology    10. Travel - Foreign    11. Trollope, Anthony,    12. West Indies   

Reviews (6)

Disappointing for 2005
I could not get past the lack of photographs which would have depicted what the author was discussing.The book is filled with drawings, some look like the refrigerator art we all collect when our children are in elementary school.It was like reading an article discussing colors and all the pictures were in black and white.The book discusses plants and there is no photograph of the plant.There is one section in the middle with approximately 6 to 8 photographs. I wanted to see photographs of the stinging wasps and the poisonous plants.I didn't find them.

Hidden Treasures of St John
I thought I had seen it all. Then I found St John Off the Beaten Track.Gerald Singer has chosen to share the hidden treasures of St John.St John is full of history, plantation ruins, nature walks. They will make your trip special.

Snorkelers Guide to Paradise
As marine aquariasts and avid snorkelers, this book led us to the greatest snorkeling spots and some beautiful secluded beaches.Our favorite was Yawzi Point and Little Lameshur Bay.We arrived at 10:30 and were among 4 people on the beach.The waters were turquiose and the beach beautfully sandy like Trunk Bay but without the crowd.We enjoyed the right side of Yawzi Point accessible from Little Lameshur as the waters were calmer than the left hand side with similar reef to explore.Leinster Bay/Waterlemon Cay was another great find.The thing the book didn't mention was to hang your bag as Mongooses can unzip and will eat your lunch!The best, most useful book out of the three we bought.The maps are terrific as well. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel - Foreign    3. Guidebooks    4. North America    5. Saint John    6. Saint John (V.I.)    7. Travel    8. Travel - United States    9. Virgin Islands of the United States   

Reviews (7)

Outstanding
Stephen has set up a couple trips for me to the Bahamas, two very different types of trips, and I can tell you first hand that he and Kim know their stuff! Bahamas Flyfishing Bible
This is not only the definitive flyfishing guide to the Bahamas, but also (i) a very insightful book on logistics and non-fishing pursuits on the islands; and (ii) one of the finest fishing guides written for any area in the world, which is an especially great accomplishment given the span of the area.Read to plan, or just read to dream.Essential for anyone deciding on which island to go to, and which areas to fish.My only complaint? -- that I personally wasn't able to help research this book by visiting/fishing all areas covered.

The Bahamas Fly-Fishing Guide
I have traveled to the Bahamas on several ocassions on buisness as well as pleasure (fishing!). Prior to going and while I'm there, this book has provided valuable information and suggestions. Great refrence book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bahamas    2. Fishing - Flyfishing    3. Fishing - General    4. Fly fishing    5. Fly-fishing    6. Guidebooks    7. Travel    8. Travel - United States    9. United States - General    10. Travel / United States / General   

Reviews (2)

What a GREAT Book!
I looked at 9 different books before choosing the Frommer's Guide.I picked this one over its competitors because it had more pages dedicated to the Ports we plan to stop at than they did.I was really impressed with how well the book was laid out, how much information there was on each port, the excursion advice, and the suggested easy walking tours at each port.The book has already saved us $120 each on our cruise excursions.

excellent information except NO pictures
Unlike Frommer's Caribbean Cruises and Ports of Call 2003 which is 736 pages, this is only 320 pages - the right size to travel with. You don't need info on each cruise line while you're on the cruise.Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Caribbean Area    3. Guidebooks    4. Ocean travel    5. Special Interest - General    6. Travel    7. Travel - Foreign    8. Travel Guides    9. Caribbean islands    10. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY    11. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (12)

Don't Leave Home Without It

Not too helpful....
I did not find this book to be helpful in providing information specific to Barbados that I could not find in any free tourist booklet on the island.There is a whole page on "Beach Boys"... there are local men anywhere you may go on vacation that will try to pick up vacationing women.This is not information specific to Barbados.There is a whole page on "What to take":Shoes and socks, underwear,swimsuit,soap,sunscreen,comb,shaving kit,etc,etc. Please!!!I stayed at the Coconut Court Beach Resort which is one of the oldest and most respected family run hotels on the island and it is not even listed in the accomodation sections. I would save your money and pick up the multitude of free guides available on the island.

The best Barbados guide I found
After having liced in B'dos for almost 6 months, I can honestly say that this is the most comprehensive guide around.On addition to discussing the culture, the book provides information that in not otherwise readily available unless you spend time with the Bajans. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Barbados    2. Caribbean & West Indies    3. Guidebooks    4. South America    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Cuba    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (5)

I will make good use of this anchorage guide!!!
The graphic images will surely help our crew find appropriate and safe anchorages in the British Virgin Islands in our upcomming bareboat catamaran cruise.I hope the authors will keep up the good work and produce other works like this.

Extremely useful when sailing in the Virgin Islands
We first saw this book in the nav station on a Moorings boat that we chartered in the British Virgin Islands. We looked it over and thought "These pictures are gorgeous. Why do they include it? Maybe they want to sell it to us." The Moorings doesn't sell it and, as of Summer 2004, they are not including new copies on boats because too many people took them home. It is a gorgeous picture book of anchorages in the Virgin Islands. It is not just a pretty picture book though.
Well worth the price
We just finished a bareboat charter trip to BVI and found that we were frequently referring to this book.It was extremely usefull in locating moorings and anchorages.I would recommend it highly.The only negative is that there were some areas missing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Sailing - Navigation    4. Travel    5. Travel - General   

Reviews (2)

Basically basic overview of the DR
This booklet has all the basic travel facts for the Dominican Republic. That's --well-- basically it. Its main advantages are succinctness and portability; not information on the DR.

Good guide, but ...
The Frommer's Dominican Republic guide is a good guide for anyone making a quick trip to the DR. The book does overexaggerates on the crime issue. Crime in the DR is relatively low, maybe even lower than in the USA. Other than that, the book is excellent. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Dominican Republic    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (6)

Don't Bother
There are a lot of good books out there on island life, island living, moving to and sailing around Caribbean islands.Unfortunately, this isn't one of them. I was variously angry and astonished at Harrington's attitude and seeming obliviousness to her own ignorance. An upper-middle-class American couple transplants its lifestyle and sensibilities to a Caribbean island? So what? I'm left wondering why they bothered, and why I bothered buying this book.

Live de life: Caribbean Island Style
Excellent book!!
Adventurous and Inspiring
Highly recommended!This entertaining and educational read is like getting a private tour of the magical island of St. Kitts.It's full of personality, spirit and humor.Read and you'll be recommending it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Women    2. Caribbean & West Indies    3. Industries - Hospitality, Travel & Tourism    4. Travel    5. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies    6. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. Caribbean Area    9. Description and travel    10. Essays & Travelogues    11. Saint Kitts and Nevis    12. Social life and customs    13. Women   

Reviews (3)

Elementary school level
I ordered this book because I thought it would provide an introduction to the politics of the Dominican Republic. When I got it, it reminded me more of a mixture between a tacky guidebook and an elementary school social science book. It does present some insight into the historical, economical and political conditions of the country, some of them even differing from the mainstream image, but it is all very limited in scope and not very useful. If you want a guidebook, I'd suggest Lonely Planet a million times before this one. When it comes to a political review of the country, I have unfortunately had difficulties in finding one. But surfing the web for a couple of hours will certainly provide more useful information than a copy of this book.

Facinating
This book is a much needed new insight on Dominican Republic where I travelled a lot a few years ago.It is very interesting situation with haiti and the author adresses cultural issues sensitively butinformatively.The book is very easily to read and has a good order.

Summary
This book has dealt well with subjects like the economy, politics, and local places to visit.Unfortunately, I found the information on the history and cultural identity of the Dominicans to be lacking information.For example, When Howard spoke too briefly of the Taino Indiansor howthe Dominicans have a need to be more "Indian". He was totallyincorrect.The author does not hold a strong enough argument or facts tosupport this. He leaves the reader with much confusion about the Dominicanidentity. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Caribbean & West Indies - General    3. Central America    4. Central America - History    5. Description And Travel    6. Dominican Republic    7. Guidebooks    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. Cultural studies    11. Economics, Finance, Business and Industry    12. Historical geography    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT   

Reviews (21)

Es Cuba: Life and Love on an Illegal Island
This is a good book because it is interesting and it gives a lot of information about Cuba. An enjoyable summer read.

Beautifully written!

Human nature, love, humility
This is a true story.I applaud the author, Lea Ashkenas, for opening up to the world about her personal experience with love and life in Cuba.
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Subjects:  1. Aschkenas, Lea    2. Caribbean & West Indies    3. Cuba    4. Description and travel    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (6)

okay
Lots of useful information, but should by no means be the only book you take with you.Entries are sparse and there's really nothing in it that you can't find on a Belize travel website.

Great Expectations
We just returned from a 3 week trip to Belize. It was our first trip to Belize, or even any where south of the border. We planned the trip with the help of this book and one other. We found the reccommendations, suggestions, and other helpful info to be right on the mark. We're only slightly adventurous but with the help of this book,felt confident enough to use the local buses, make and change plans as needed mid-stream, andimmerse ourseves in the local culture. Our trip was great.

Superb guide for nature lovers
If you're looking for more than a lazy week on the beach, this guide is an excellent resource. I just spent a week in Belize and found it very helpful in deciding how to best spend my time and what to see in each place.Read more

Subjects:  1. Belize    2. Caribbean & West Indies    3. Central America    4. Guidebooks    5. Natural history    6. Outdoor recreation    7. Special Interest - Adventure    8. Travel    9. Travel - Foreign    10. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Beautifully presented if obviously biased
DK produces the most arguably beautiful travel books currently available.The maps, graphics, architectural renderings, photographs and overall layout are beyond reproach and most appealing and informative.Why not five stars?I'm not sure where the blame lies, be it with the writers or editors, but this guide is deeply flawed in its biased content.Though not openly sympathetic to the island's communist government, it is nevertheless more than obvious that the person(s) responsible, are more than a little enamored with that country's socio-political ideology. In describing pre-revolutionary Cuba, the guide takes a cynical stance, perpetuating the myth that Cuba was nothing more than an American subsidized den of iniquity, populated by gangsters, prostitutes, gamblers and grown ineffective with rampant corruption and illiteracy.Though all these things were certainly true, the book fails to provide a balanced perspective of that period in the country's history and that's where its inherent failure lies.The Cuban revolution, though tragic, horrible and seemingly endless, is a part of World history in general and Cuban history in particular, and, therefore, should not be ignored, but by the same token it need not be given such idolatry treatment in a travel guide, which, in my opinion, should be an unbiased reference tool, meant to educate the traveler on a country, its history and people in a clear, concise and informative manner, free of personal prejudices and/or beliefs. This guide is filled with non-stop descriptions of revolutionary monuments, sites, people, and history.That in and of itself would be fine if weren't done so with such obvious appreciation for all that it represents.In describing Che, the author writes"Though Che suffered from asthma, he had an iron will, loved books as well as sports, and had a great spirit of sacrifice, he could appreciate beauty and was a perfectionist but had a sense of humour.He was a man of action who also found time to meditate on reality and write." One would think the author was describing Robin Williams and not one of the 20th century's most controversial figures. Though he certainly may have been all the things described in the book, it doesn't give a complete and accurate portrayal of the man.That was one example, but the book is plagued with socialist fawning that ultimately proves to be an ineffectual tool.Though the author is free to appreciate, love, praise, support, condemn, ridicule whatever he/she may choose, be it political, religious, artistic, etc. or a combination thereof, it should not be done through a travel guide. It's a genuine shame because, otherwise, from an aesthetic perspective, there's just nothing out there that even comes close. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Cuba    3. Guidebooks    4. HotelsInnsetc.    5. Travel    6. Travel - Foreign    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Antigua & Barbuda    6. Travel & holiday guides    7. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies   

Reviews (3)

A must read for Castro apologists
This collection of essays and short pieces by Guillermo Cabrera Infante was not only educational to me (in the sense that it introduced me to many of Cuba's top writers, poets and artists), but also eye opening in the way in which it opened yet another mental file to store away the immense brutalities that Castro has caused upon all segments of the Cuban population.
Mea Cuba or the World's Guilt
In this book Cabrera Infante takes us by the hand through the history of Cuba, past and present, in a masterful way. As a growing teenager in Cuba myself in the sixties, I can "see" again all that happened in the beautiful island-archipelago from a richer, most understandable perspective than when I was there and saw things take place, but did not fully understand them: The witchhunt against all intellectuals who dared "think" what was not sanctioned by the totalitarian state and its main disease: Castroenteritis ! The repression against "hippies", "Beatle Lovers", homosexuals, singers and anyone who could challenge the Caribbean Nazi-Stalinism. (It made me remember my "underground" listening to the Beatles!). Castro no es Infante
El Autor de Tres Tristes Tigres nos ofrece una visi�n distinta del fen�meno Castro (un cubano que ama su patria y escribe contra su l�der). Un libro que denuncia algunos de los atropellos que el "presidente" cubano perpetra contra los mismos cubanos. Una compilaci�n de textos escritos a lo largo de los varios a�os que G.C.I. vive en su autoexilio, con la calidad y el humor al que nos tiene acostumbrados. La marca indeleble de Ca�n en el juego de palabras y en su estilo erudito, no se extra�an en Mea Cuba, una obra que expone los sentimientos m�s �ntimos del autor frente a la Isla Caribe�a que lo vi� nacer. Aspectos de la Revoluci�n (la may�scula es de Guillermo)que se entrepapelaron en la historia, sus actores, el arte cubano y el pensamiento de Castro, vistos todos desde la ventana pineal de Cabrera Infante. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & Latin American    2. Caribbean & West Indies - General    3. General    4. Literary Criticism    5. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Spanish: Adult Fiction    8. Spanish: Adult Nonfiction    9. Cuba    10. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (4)

Beautiful book, beautiful memories.
I purchased this book for my husband, he was forced to flee Cuba at the age of 5.He has a vast collection of books on Cuba and Cuban-American issues, and this is a very welcomed addition.The photographs are lovely, and when viewed by our Cuban relatives, it brought back lots of memories.Lovely as an art or historical book.

french version available in www.amazon.fr
both versions of the book, in english and french, are excellent. however, there are some 'minor' differences, for example the cover. there is also a spanish version that shares the french version cover design.

Wonderful Photography
This is a fabulous book with exquisite pictures.The photography is marvelous and it gives the reader an opportunity to see the nice range of architectural styles that can be found in Cuba. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. General    4. International Architecture - General    5. South America    6. Travel    7. Cuba    8. Houses, apartments, flats, etc   

Editorial Review

One hundred or so islands make up the Virgin Islands group. Some are governed by the U.S., some by the British, and all offer green hills, the best temperatures in the West Indies, and some of the lowest humidity levels in the Caribbean. So if the answer to your Caribbean vacation question is the Virgin Islands, the next questions are Read more

Reviews (9)

Good reference book.
I alway buy both Frommers and Fodors books when I go shoot a new DVD in this case, "The Best Virgin Island Beaches" here on Amazon.Neither are perfect but together they make up for each others weakness.I like Frommers a little better because it has a good section on beaches and descriptions.Also, their maps tend to be a little more detailed.Neither though has many pictures, so if you want to see and hear what these places really feel like, check out our DVDs after you read these books.

Very disappointing...
I thought I was pretty good at picking them but man, was I off this time. It's hard to tell when you've never been to the location before but after a week on St. Thomas and St. John, I wish I would've read all these others reviews before I bought this book. I was very disappointed. There were SO MANY unacceptable errors in this book. Maps were wrong...there's an error on the St. John map that shows a road when actually it's only a walking trail. There were typos that got us lost in the city. The reviews weren't accurate at all. Places where it read "live carribean music nightly" were false. The restaurants never had a live band! uncommonly poor for Frommers
I bought this book for a recent trip to the British Virgin Islands, having used Frommer's guides on several vacations in the past. Read more

Subjects:  1. Caribbean & West Indies    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Caribbean & West Indies    7. Virgin Islands