Customer Reviews

Explore the Virgin Islands (Sixth Edition)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Harry Pariser's Explore the Virgin Islands is a guide book written the way all guide books should be: it's insightful, informative, up-to-date, and has a unique voice. This isn't a watered down guide from a massive multi-national publisher: it is the real skinny on what to see and do in the Virgin Islands from a seasoned traveler and writer with an eye for details and interesting facts and a passion for his subject.  Explore the Virgin Islands covers the U.S. (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas plus Water and Hassel Islands) and British Virgins (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Anegada and more) in breadth and detail, with a keen eye on the history and ecology of one of the Caribbean's most beautiful areas.

The book's introduction demonstrates Pariser's true interest in the region and its environment. Pariser includes a ton of great background information, as well as anecdotes about the history of the Virgin Islands old (the Carib Indians, Slavery) and new (Senator Adelbert Bryan). There is also an expanded section on the flora and fauna of the Virgin Islands, its animal life, and of course the many coral reefs. He sends his readers on vacation with the knowledge and appreciation to fully enjoy the complexities and beauties of the Virgin Islands.

Explore the Virgin Islands is a handsome, softbound volume with a stunning cover photo. It's filled with numerous detailed maps, color and black and white photographs, and helpful charts and sidebars (more than one hundred) with diverse information ranging from Anegada's pink flamingos to Blackbeard the Pirate. Indeed, it's Pariser's mix of island history and folklore with complete travel nuts and bolts that make this book both interesting and useful.

Vacationers will find everything here they need on the practicalities of planning their trip - where to stay, what to eat, and the best things to do. Each island's most popular attractions are given ample space. For example, on St. John the hiking trails and the U.S.V. I. National Park are fully explored, while St. Croix's diving gets the spotlight, with lots of information on dive sites and shops. All of this is presented with relevant phone numbers, website and email addresses, locations, opening times and more.

As part-time Virgin Islands residents we are familiar with most of the travel guides to the area, and this book is clearly our favorite. It contains a great mix of information attractively presented, with the entertaining sections on the history and natural wonders of the Virgin Islands, both above and below the water, complimented and balanced by the practical advice that any traveler would need. It is an indispensable tool for your pre-trip planning. But, once you are here, you will find yourself picking it up for a restaurant phone number, to check for what you might see while snorkeling, or to find out the name of an interesting building you saw while walking in any one of the islands' towns during the afternoon.

I think this is an excellent guidebook. It has the flavor of a Lonely Planet book, without such a complete "backpacker" emphasis. I find it enjoyable to just read. It's very well written, without trying so hard to be cute or flashy. (I recently bought a pile of guidebooks for Florida and they were all a waste of money except the Michelin Green Guide! Leave it to Michelin.)

I find that this book has a wealth of practical and interesting information. Every question I have come up with regarding planning our trip, I have quickly and easily been able to come up with an answer to. It's full of good maps and photos. He tells you when a spot has been overrun by tourists or if the surf is dangerous there. He tells you when to be especially careful about being ripped off as a tourist. There are lots of interesting bits about the local flora and fauna and historical sidebars. It has an extensive index, a bibliography organized by subject, and a glossary of creole words and other island-specific expressions. It was updated last year, so I expect the information to be very accurate. He gives lots of specific restaurants, hotels, etc., with phone numbers and addresses and recommends some. He doesn't give reviews of the businesses generally; but often gives the flavor of the clientele or some other indication of what to expect (prices, etc.) I imagine it would be pretty hard to slam some business in a place this small and still be able to do this kind of work.

This is not a backpacker's guide -- aimed exclusively at the cheapest way to do things. It's a general guide, with all kinds of information. He does tell you how to do it cheap (and tells you where that will be a pain in the rear.) Here's a quote that explains it:

"It's not practical to take a bus [from the airport] because the schedule has been cut way back and the bus does not come to the terminal. If you have strong legs and little luggage [backpackers ...] you may go out to the main road and wait for the VITRAN (around $1, exact change) ... Be sure to ask if it is a, 'dollar bus.' Otherwise, they may try to charge you more."

To me, this delivers exactly what I want to know about the bus system: cut back schedule, doesn't stop at the terminal (!!), long walk to pick it up, precise cost, exact change, how not to get ripped off. Bullseye in my estimation.

I find this guide to be nicely complete, easy to use, and enjoyable to read. Very hard to find this combination of qualities in a guidebook. I haven't yet visited the VI; but I feel well equipped now. I have traveled extensively (years) in Asia, Africa, and Europe, mostly by bicycle. I have seen umpteen guide books (including many "Let's Go" books: virtually useless except for listing cheap transport and cheap accomodations. I remember what "Let's Go Europe" said about the magnificent city of Orleans, "Good place to do your laundry." [!!!! Did they visit the place??].)

This is a good guidebook.

I ended up buying this particular guidebook (Oct. 05 edition)based on the spectacular reviews and was rather disappointed with it. It is mostly fine if you like to take organized tours and/or money is not a consideration. The only other travel guidebook I have ever used was by Let'sGo (for a different place) and I was far more satisfied with that. Too bad Let'sGo does not have a guidebook for Virgin Islands.

Pariser's description of sites in St. Thomas is rather brief; there are far better descriptions in one of the free travel brochures available at the airport and elsewhere in St. Thomas(neither mentions admission charges though). The description of public transportation on St. Thomas and St. John is pathetic. The LonelyTravel guidebook (from 2001!) listed schedules for public buses on St. Thomas and St. John, which were still correct at least for St. John. While Pariser listed some contact phone numbers instead, try using these to get any information!

On the positive side, Pariser's book does contain general information about the US Virgin Islands in some detail plus the British Virgin Islands, though with less detail.

By the way, if you are interested in doing some hiking on St. John, try getting a map from a NH guy called Trail Bandit (this is all I know about him; sorry). It shows more trails than the NPS map of hiking trails that you can get at the NPS office in Cruz Bay.

Have a great trip! It is a wonderful place to visit.

I have visited the Virgin Islands many times, and always with great delight. This book has shown me many things I didn't know, and will definitely be in my suitcase next time.

The discussions of flora and fauna in the beginning are exceptional, but this book has far more to offer. The discussion of places to eat and to stay is much more thorough than that in most other guides, and includes places I wouldn't want to miss. The discussion of activities and sites includes things I haven't seen in any other guide, and approaches I haven't found discussed elsewhere.

The dramatic cover and the charming photographs inside also help to convey the mood and beauty of the islands. Add this to the author's willingness to reveal his opinions and preferences, and you have the kind of unique and charming guide that is a rare find.

I do quite a bit of traveling and often buy a Lonely Planet guide as a basic reference. Lately, however, I've become somewhat jaded by its formulaic coverage and superficial approach. I'm also skeptical about how they go about choosing which accomodations and restaurants to include in their books.

Pariser's book at first glance looks remarkably like a Lonely Planet guide--the same format and much the same information. However, Pariser puts more of himself into it and the book clearly is a labor of love. Pariser's guide compares to Lonely Planet like a family restaurant to McDonalds.

Travel through St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and the British Virgin Islands without waiting to board the plane! If you've already visited this region of earthly paradise you are sure to find an abundance of ideas for shopping, local attractions, beaches, historical sites and fascinating fun facts to add to your next island experience. There's even a getting married section for readers who may be dreaming of a beach wedding. This guide not only explains sea life, animal life, plant life and coral reefs it also warns of underwater hazards and cures, offers tips for environmental, undersea and boating conduct and provides island do's and don'ts. Explore the Virgin Islands takes readers beyond the standard travel guide information and encourages them to become adventurous island explorers. I only wish I had read about the "herbivorous" iguana on St. Thomas before seeing the approximately four foot long creature scaling down a tree in front of me at Coki Beach! Review by JoAnna Carey, Author of Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life

This is great guide for visitors who have time to really explore the islands with all its nooks and crannies. Mr. Pariser has a strong sense of the environment and there is no questioing his feelings about jet skis! There are lots of photos and maps and info on taxis, ferries, walks in the towns of Charlotte Amelie and Christiansted and hundreds of phone numbers and websites. However, Mr. Pariser is best when giving you the history and politics of both the American and British VI and when delving into the flora and fauna of the many parks and beaches and the rocks and dive spots best for snorkelers and scuba divers. 100 pages are devoted to the BVI including Tortola and Virgin Gorda with all sorts of little hotels and restaurants included. He has plenty of practical tips throughout the book, such as warning about taking water (and food if you want)along to Buck Island National Park (the underwater one). A nice guide for your backpack.

I'm only going to St. Joh, and thought this would cover everything I needed. But there's very little qualitative judgements as to the quality of any of the lodging options, which don't help in deciding where to stay. Didn't prepare me for the 1 week minimum in almost all the rental villas. If this is your only resource for st. john, there has to be a better option.