Frommer's Caribbean 2008 (Frommer's Complete Guides) [Paperback]

Darwin Porter (Author), Danforth Prince (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frommer's Complete Guides | Publication Date: August 27, 2007

Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Caribbean features gorgeous color photos of the stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and colorful coral gardens that await you. There are dozens of islands and hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so our guide compares all the options, helping you find the tropical getaway that's right for you. We've included web addresses for every hotel, so you can check out pictures as you make your decision. Inside you'll find in-depth, honest reviews of lavish honeymoon resorts, intimate inns, family-friendly motels and condo complexes, and more, with selections in every price category.

We'll point you to the loveliest secluded beaches, and send you to the best places for snorkeling, diving, golf, sailing, tennis, deep-sea fishing, and more. You'll also get a complete shopper's guide, and up-to-date coverage of the hottest nightlife in the region, from glittering casinos and sizzling reggae clubs to funky beach bars. You'll even find an up-to-date cruise planner, tips on finding the best package deals, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.

• Everything you need to plan your perfect island getaway, with information on the best resorts, beaches, snorkeling, restaurants, and more.

• Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.

• Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.

• Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com

About the Author

As a team of veteran travel writers, Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince have produced titles for Frommer’s, including guides to Italy, France, the Caribbean, England, and Germany. A film critic, columnist, and broadcaster, Porter is also a Hollywood biographer. His most recent releases are Brando Unzipped, documenting the private life of Marlon Brando, and Jacko: His Rise and Fall, the first complete biography ever written on the tumultuous life of Michael Jackson. Prince was formerly employed by the Paris bureau of the New York Times and is today the president of Blood Moon Productions and other media-related firms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 816 pages
• Publisher: Frommers; Revised edition (August 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470145633
• ISBN-13: 978-0470145630
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,235,022 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed by omissions, July 23, 2007

By 

Globe Tripper (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Caribbean 2007 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Guide, April 2, 2009

By 

Linda J. Krueger - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's Caribbean 2008 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love the Frommer's travel books, December 30, 2007

By 

Anthony J. Fasy "AJF" (Westville, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Frommer's Caribbean 2007 (Frommer's Complete Guides) (Paperback)

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.