Customer Reviews

Frommer's Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu

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

 

 

We just returned from visiting Oahu in August 2006. We found that the "new edition" is at least 3 years out of date. It is clear that the author has not set foot on Oahu or visited Waikiki in quite a while as many of her resturant picks have changed hands, hotels don't offer services listed and the parks have all changed prices and hours of operation. We laughingly called it "The Book of Lies," for its inept and incorrect information. You would be better off seeking information from the local cabbies and street vendors. Find another book and use this one for compost.

We used this book extensively when we were visiting Waikiki. This book is very easy to read and includes pretty much everything you need to know about the area. Accommodations and Dining sections could have been better but overall this is the book you need to take with you if you are going there. We also had "Hidden Oahu" with us but ended up using this book a lot more than "hidden Oahu". If you get this book you won't be dissapointed.

I found this book made everything easy to find. Our daughter's wedding was our excuse to visit Oahu for the first time. Frommers made it easy to play tourist and wind our way through the streets of Honolulu without a hitch. Paid for itself many times over for its restaurant ratings alone. I personally give it high high marks for accuracy.

I am planning on returning to Hawaii for the first time in almost 15 years next year, and wanted to refamiliarize myself with Oahu and see what had changed. Most travel books cover the entire state, so I figured a book geared just towards Oahu would eliminate alot of superfluous info for me and it did. But I was really surprised and disappointed at how little the book had to offer me. I think a first time traveler might get a lot of use from this book because it does provide a very nice overview of highlights for the first timer.
But, although I did find out some info that was of use to me, I was surprised by how much was glossed over if mentioned at all, especially since many shopping areas and beaches were mentioned, in detail in several sections of the book. With better organization the book could have contained a great deal more info in the same space. I was also surprised at how many restaurants, accomodations, and shopping places were missing (IE: There was absolutely NO mention of the International Marketplace, although it does appear on a Waikiki map) . I realize there isn't room for all of it, but I came away not trusting a book that seemed a little more biased than a guidebook should be.
I found the informational parts, especially about the language very interesting and well written.
Overall the book is average and has some very useful details and info, but if you really want to be well informed before you go, don't rely solely on this, you'll shortchange yourself if you do.

My husband and I bought this book for a recent vacation, and we found it very helpful. We used it to tool around the island in a rented car, see the sights in the Waikiki area, and snoop around Chinatown. It gives a good, broad overview to first-time visitors that will help you prioritize what you want to see on the island.

A few caveats - driving directions to Lanikai Beach are a bit lacking in this guide; fare for TheBus is now $2 per person, not $1.50; and the Lyon Arboretum was closed uring our visit. Sin of omission - Wo Fat's restaurant in Chinatown is a great dim sum place, but is not included in the guide. As always, call to check on guidebook facts before venturing out. Other than a few discrepancies such as this, we found the book to be fairly accurate and very informative.

I used this book during a week's stay on Oahu. Since it was my vist time visiting Hawaii, this book was adequate. It did not go into details on any one thing, which may be a weakness. The maps ware small. They seem best suited for walking tours, certainly not for driving purposes. Some of the data such as phone numbers or hours of business was outdated.

As I said, it was my first visit. My friends helped me see much more of Oahu than I would have been exposed to had I just followed the book. I don't think I would use this book on a return trip to Hawaii.

We've used Frommer's books before, and enjoyed them, but found this book sadly lacking. It does help you pick out the highlights to budget your time, but too many other travel books exist that are simply better. We also found the maps sadly lacking when driving around the island, and at times were completely incorrect. Some information is out of date (hours of operation, prices), but no book is perfect in that regard.

We did greatly enjoy the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed book we used on the same trip. Unfortunately, this publisher does not offer a book on Oahu.

For the real basics, I give this book a five. Come in November when the crowds thin out. I've given this book alot of stars because it's a good hotel finder along with hotels.com. Even if you're not thinking of leaving the Honolulu area, you should also have the guide Oahu Trailblazer with you. It takes on what Fromer's leaves out and delivers a complete tour of the whole island. Who knows, once you get here you might get the urge to venture beyond Waikiki. Take the drive to Kahuku and sample some of the shrimp.

Early in December, when the cold cutting winds were blowing on the mainland, I headed over to Waikiki for a week of surf and sun. I took with me three guides but surprisingly I never got to use the other guides because Frommer's answered my questions and covered the angles. Kudos!

I found the accommodations and restaurants in this guide to be reliable and fairly extensive. It is logical that no printed guide will be 100% current. Thus, you should cross-check any listing with tripadvior (or similar) on the internet. We stayed at the Coconut Waikiki Hotel (a very good hotel and good value). We were minutes from the Waikiki beach and we were surrounded by good restaurants, many mentioned in this guide.

In the world of travel guides there are basically two types: those that are written for the wandering/explorer/backpacker people (i.e., Footprint, Let's Go and Lonely Planet) and those written for the traveler who like comfort and has money (i.e., Fodor's and Frommer's). Thus, in Frommer's their listing under inexpensive accommodations start at $125 a night for Waikiki.

Frommer's recommendations of restaurants are reliable. The list is large, but those recommended are not inexpensive. One of Frommer's inexpensive restaurants, Cha-Cha-Cha (not recommended), cost $40 ( lunch for 2 with tip no drinks). Not inexpensive in my world.

If you are going to explore Oahu or just vacation in Honolulu then this is a great guide. There are a few sections that worth the purchase alone: `The Best of Oahu' and `Suggested . . . Itineraries'. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars

Our family just returned from our dream vacation in Oahu and this book has everything to do with it! Before we embarked on our one week trip, I consulted several books on Honolulu, Waikiki and Oahu and decided to take Frommer's Complete with us because it offered an ideal itinerary "Oahu in 7 days" (there are alternative recommended travel plans for 2 weeks and one month as well). The writing is highly effective and reader-friendly. We followed the book's travel plan faithfully - from Waikiki beach sunset to Pearl Harbor; from North shore Polynesian HA cultural night to East shore Hanauma snorkeling; from Dole pineapple plantation to Bishop's Museum; from Volcano eruption Show to Diamond Head hike... There are so much to see & do in Oahu and this book truly helped us make the best use of our time while we were in this tropical paradise.