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49 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best travel book I've read so far!, April 27, 2001
This review is from: Hawaii for Dummies (Paperback)
Normally, I try to avoid these "Dummies" guides, as I'm just the slightest bit offended by the idea that I'm a "dummy" just because I don't know EVERYTHING. But after flipping through books at the local bookstore looking for a good guidebook for my honeymoon trip to Oahu and Kauai next October, I finally decided on this one. It's got great maps, for one thing, as well as extensive lists of hotels, places to eat, and things to do. Because the descriptions are full of personal anecdotes, I really trust that Leas has seen and done it all herself and she's being straight with me about what she thinks -- traditional travel guides always make me nervous because they're written in the third person. If I'm going to spend ... on a vacation, I really want to know what things I should do and what things I shouldn't! Possibly the greatest feature, though, is the fact that at least 75% of the entries for places and activities have web site URLs. Even though the book is extremely detailed and I could easily plan my entire trip without a single tap on the keyboard, I definitely love the fact that I now have the option of logging on to learn more about some of the museums and restaurants she recommends. I probably would've done searches on many of them anyway, and Leas has just saved me a step. Since I've got about a million things to do between now and my trip, every step saved is a pretty great thing! I also have to say that after reading the book, I asked a friend who had been to Honolulu several times for some tips. Every single thing he said I'd already read in Leas' book. Right down to the "don't call it 'shaved' ice -- it's 'shave' ice" one. When the author knows enough to help you avoid making yourself look like a disgusting tourist, you know you've picked a good guide. Recommended!
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Good General Reference, December 22, 2006
"Hawaii For Dummies" is a good general reference, especially for first time visitors to Hawaii. I visit Hawaii on business about four times a month, and have found the information in this guide to be generally quite accurate. In any guidebook there are obviously things that are out of date, and that's especially true in a guide this compendious. Most of the inaccuracies are prices that have increased, though in my personal experiences none of the increases I have seen has been ridiculously out of line with inflation. I find that the diagrams are good for general planning, but a dedicated map of the island you are visiting is necessary for navigation.
The book has several useful features including the Post-It flags to mark pages of interest (a very useful feature) and a "Quick Concierge" section in the Appendix which is a quick reference to important phone numbers and Internet addresses. The book discusses customs, weather, selecting things to see, and choosing an island. I think the author does a quite good job of explaining the pros and cons of different areas. For example, in the chapter on the Big Island, she explains that Kona is dry and has excellent beaches, while Hilo is wet and tropical and the beaches (such as they are) are places generally to avoid (although I personally love the retro feel of the city of Hilo.)
I spend more time on Oahu than anywhere else in Hawaii, and the discussion of Honolulu and the rest of the island is a strong point of the book. I found the author to be generally excellent in her observations about specific venues (especially restaurants), and her choices of "Best of the Best" in all categories are generally on the money.
I am amused at many of the lower-rated reviews. People should buy this guide to expose them to the basics of a new travel experience, in this case, Hawaii. This book does not have detailed travel maps for route planning, nor is it geared to eco-tourists or others who only want to see obscure and offbeat places, nor is it useful for driving while consulting the text (all criticisms levied against it in one form or another.) What it does do very well is give an average new visitor a lot of useful information that would be of assistance to a person who needed to take a survey of the highlights of Hawaii. In that regard I think it excels, and in my fairly large experience with the Hawaiian Islands, I think the author has done an excellent job of diligently serving her core market.
I gave the book four stars largely for illustration issues. There are no color illustrations (except maps on the inside of the covers) and the general map coverage outside of Wakiki should be improved. Despite these issues I recommend this book for people traveling to Hawaii: it is a great resource for planning a trip (especially for those going to Hawaii for the first time); it is likewise an excellent resource to review plans and itineraries in the hotel room at night.
Aloha!
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26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best travel book I've ever owned, March 15, 2005
I have traveled a lot, and own a lot of travel books, but have never felt compelled to write a review of one-- until now.
Three years ago, while planning our two-week honeymoon to Maui and Kauai, I bought a LOT of Hawaii books. In the planning stage, I kept finding myself returning to this book. Unlike Fodors and Frommers, the author actually makes JUDGMENTS about places and activities and tells you what the BEST of each category are. Imagine that-- rather than just providing a rote listing of the hotels on an island with a short description (and maybe a star or two), the author actually tells you which hotels to go to if you want serious romance, which are best for families, and which rooms to request (or not). Rather than listing activities, the author actually tells you which are the safest and most reliable helicopter companies, which are the best companies to to take for a private, romantic and uncrowded sailing trip. There are "heart" symbols to denote the most romantic lodging, restaurants, and activities, and they never steered us wrong. (I specifically remember one romantic restaurant, for which the book said to be sure to make a reservation, and ask the hostess to seat us outside at exactly sunset. It was a perfect suggestion, and I will never forget that evening.) Once we arrived on the islands we were visiting, we used the book almost exclusively (our other books found their way to the backseat of our convertible and stayed there). It was incredibly accurate.
Since that first trip, my husband and I have returned to the islands multiple times, and our book has been put to such good use that it is practically falling apart. The other Hawaii books are still in pristine condition!
(As an aside, I also highly recommend www.fodors.com for planning Hawaii travel-- go to the message boards, which are searchable. Forget the other books; this book and fodors.com are all you need for a perfect trip!)
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