Customer Reviews

Frommer's Caribbean 2007 (Frommer's Complete Guides)

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

 

 

We used this book on our recent trip to three Caribbean destinations and were generally disappointed. Misleading and missing information cost us significantly. Some specifics are:

- In Saint Maarten, we learned upon arrival that many shops and restaurants accept U.S. cash at a 1:1 ratio to the Euro. This represented a 28% savings at the time we traveled. This information could have saved us a bundle if we had brought cash instead of relying upon credit and the local currency.

- The Saint Maarten chapter states "most visitors use taxis to get around" and "the taxi drivers' union strictly enforces a law that forbids anyone from picking up a car at the airport". This prompted us to not reserve a car in advance. At the airport, we found a wide range of car rental agencies, but went for the taxi anyway. After one day, we learned that having a car was mandatory (in my opinion) due to the high cost of taxis ($30 one way from airport to Orient Beach), the distance between sites and the lack of reasonably price restaurants near our mid-priced Frommers' recommended hotel. We ended up reserving a car through the hotel and paying a higher rate than we would have with an advance reservation.

- In the Dominican Republic chapter, the $50 US cash only round-trip taxi from La Romana airport to our beach hotel (a 15 minute ride) wasn't mentioned. This is the standard rate as confirmed by the Airport information desk. I imagine they would have accepted local currency in a pinch, but this was an unwelcome surprise in any case.

- Frommers states that at a hotel they recommend in La Romana, free upgrades are given on a first-come, first-served basis during the low season. Though we would later learn the resort was about half full, we were assigned what had to be the worst room in the house. $600 later, we were upgraded, after finding no other way to resolve the problem.

One important purpose of a good travel guide is to help avoid unpleasant surprises. This book failed us in this area.

I bought this book to get info on a couple of islands I had not visited before. I skimmed it on the plane to San Juan and it was very helpful in guiding me to a few new snorkel sites. I especially enjoyed Long Bay on the west coast of Antigua. The sand and water were as described in the book. I found the book quite accurate in its descriptions and would recommend it to others who are looking for short summaries of places in the Caribbean.

After determining a travel destination, my first step is to consult the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on the country. My second is to get the latest Frommer's book. They have never failed me, I can always count on the advice, tips and information. Very well formatted, all the information you need is easy to find and always accurate.

Purchased both the Frommers and Fodors books (same title). The Fodors book seems to provide more information and in a much more readable format.

I find this one of the best books of the caribbean as I have traveled there before. It's a great help on seeing more of the islands, where to go and not spend a fortune. Frommer's is one of the best travel authorities around...

Of all the travel books, Frommer's are the best. The Caribbean 2008 is a solid book, the information is updated with a number of handy hints. The Caribbean, in general, offers fewer insights than larger countries one can travel so it does not get the highest rating.