Customer Reviews

The Aruba, Bonaire & Curacao Alive Guide (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao Alive, 1996)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am planning a trip to Bonaire and picked up this book. After visiting all of the local book stores and not finding any books specifically about Bonaire, I thought I better check Amazon. I was concerned that this book might focus on the more populated islands only. However I was pleased to find that it dedicates about 1/3 of the book to each island. While it has the usual reviews on hotels & restaurants, it also has some interesting coverage of local history and driving tours. I was also pleased to find some coverage of scuba diving sites including maps locating the dive sites and skill ratings for each.

If you need info on the ABC's, I suggest you get this book.

I would bet a thousand chip at the casino that all of these perfect reviews were written by people who are affiliated with the guide and who stand to profit from it. Tell me I'm wrong. Look at the language in these reviews, it screams plant.

Highly recommended! Handy size paperback, with practical information that doesn't insult your intelligence. Especially helpful in describing transportation options. The authors have written the book from the perspective of the traveler: needs and interests. Each island's history, people, government and culture are described in succinct, useful terms. Very insightful in how to make the most of your time. I found the descriptions of things to do especially helpful and the hotel and retaurant reviews and price ranges were accurate, for a refreshing change. Far better than the "advice" you get from the usual travel agent who only knows what the brochure writers said. If you're going to take along one guidebook to the ABC islands, this is it.

After choosing ARUBA for a Honeymoon destination, I headed out in search of a Tourbook. Of Course, Amazon.com gave me more choices than local bookstaores. This book gives great details about ALL of the ABC islands, especially what I was looking for...Beaches, Romantic Interludes, Activities...and it also listed how and what you needed to "get Married, again" on the island. I would highly recommend this book if you are planning a trip to the ABCs.

I have just returned from Curacao. I found this book to be a complete dud. The only thing it helped me with were the guide to beaches up on the northern part of the island. It said nothing about what is one of the best resorts in the Caribbean, Kura Hulanda and it's Slave Museum. Chech out Kula Hulanda on the web. This book also said nothing about a departure tax at the airport while it seems to address alot of fluff.
You would do better with other guide books. I have not been to Aruba or Bonaire so I can't say if the book is better for those two islands but I would bet not.
S Klebe

Not very helpful in making plans, because it is very out of date. But it had some interesting history and geographical information. Can't remember if the publish date was given, but that is certainly something I will look for in future purchases.

Those planning a journey will consider the specific information a treasure trove of facts. From critically acclaimed accommodations to itineraries and a focus on wildlife, this is packed with take-along information essential to planning a visit.

Written in a highly readable style, this guide seems to have omitted nothing.