Customer Reviews

Frommer's Maui 2004

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

 

 

My husband and I used this during our trip to Maui and found that some of the information was not only inaccurate, but a lot of information about activities were left out. I don't know if Frommer's gets paid by the restaurants and businesses they listed, but some of them were horrible. After we tried a couple restaurants listed in the book and were disappointed, we stopped relying on Frommer's and just trusted our instincts and Hawaii's own local magazine guides. We also used Frommer's guidebook to San Diego last year and had forgotten how BAD it was until we got the Maui one this year. TRUST ME--this is NOT the guidebook you want to rely on for a very expensive (and worthwhile) vacation.

The guidebook is quite good, but we relied upon the map in trying to get to Haleakala from a shown connecting road at Kihei up to 37. This road does not exist and we missed the sunrise. The Rangers at the Ranger station said a number of people have complained about this map error.

After reading some of the other reviews for the Frommer's Portable Maui guidebook, it seems as if several reviewers have written off the book because it has an error on a map.

I've never used the maps (in fact, I didn't know that the book even had driving maps), but the rest of the book has been wonderful. We've been to Maui twice in the last two years, and each time we've used the guidebook to find wonderful things to do and places to see on the Valley Isle.

From restaurants and sightseeing to golf courses and hotels, all of the descriptions have been insightful, informative, and most importantly, useful. It's funny to go to an out of the way place and notice that all of the tourists are all carting around the same book.

If you want to avoid the tourist traps and discover what Maui is really all about, this book will give you a great start on finding fun in paradise.

Frommer's Maui rates the tired, moldy, tacky Noelani this way: "Everything is first class, from the furnishings to the oceanfront location." Nothing could be further from the truth, and we booked in there for a week based on this blatantly dishonest description!

The fold out map is useless, lacking any detail whatsoever, a real con job.

"Maui Revealed" completely blows Frommer into the weeds, but what's most annoying is that trusting Frommer could ruin your vacation! Makes you wonder if Frommer is on the take?

I found most of the info helpful, but felt the section on luaus should have at least suggested two others, instead of just the Old Lahaina Luau, which I feel has become too much of a production, instead of a beautiful feast to share! I have been to Maui 6 times, and everytime have found several new & surprising sights, sounds, meals, & wonderful, helpful people. The map should have more detailed street info, especially around Kihei & Lahaina. Might help prevent accidents. I found the Paradise Family Guide on Maui & Lanai by Dona Early & Christie Stilson much more informative and realistic, especially re: to $$ and cents!

I enjoyed the throughness of this book and thought overall the author did a good job guiding us on our trip through Maui. However, there are some important things to mention. There are obvious things that once you get there you find out the hard way that should be included, such as what roads not to take and why. Also, in her take over the Road to Hana she suggests to stay and come back late at night and miss the traffic. Road to Hana is crazy to drive during the day and I would not be able to sleep at night if I recommended a reader to drive back after dark on those crazy and winding roads. It is pretty much suicide during the day, I can't imagine what level it goes to when you reach dusk. Her restaurant recommendations that we tried out were great. I just wish there was a little more of a reality check and a little more of an explanation of dangerous terrain. Her activity recommendations seemed okay as well as the booking agencies. However, we found that depending on what time of year you go, most of the activities are not sold out and you could book them when you got there when you had a better idea of what you wanted to do and try to complete.

Dry and textbook like. I also own the 2001 edition and didn't notice any significant changes or improvements.

Very much in need of a revision. The authors made mistakes on the maps in this edition. In the past we depended on these series to guide us around Europe and thought they would lead the way for Maui too. If you purchase this book, buy a current map to go with it.

This guidebook was the best investment a traveler could make. I saved so much money and found the best accommodations from a company advertised in this book. I can't recommend it enough.

My wife and I went to Maui recently and used this book as a base guide to events and beaches. Found excellent snorkeling that we could walk to from our hotel, great inexpensive restaurants in Lahaina and good tips on waterfalls and other scenic sites to visit. My trip would not have been half as good without it.