Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Hawaii

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

 

 

I'm usually a big Lonely Planet fan; they're my default first choice for a guidebook. However, in this case I believe that the Ultimate Guides by Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman are a better choice. On two trips to four islands, I've taken the Lonely Planet Hawaii and left it in the suitcase, while the Doughty/Friedman books are now battered and dog-eared. It's not that there's anything wrong with LP Hawaii; it's just not as marvelous as the alternative.

I can very much reccomend this book to everyone planning to go to Hawaii. It has a section about every Hawaian Island open to travellers. You find general background information about the islands as well as very detailed information about things to do and see, lodging, dining and activities. It also picks out places that are usually less crowed than the major tourist accumulations.
Lonely Planet Guide Books are an absolute MUST before I go on a trip.

My husband and I honeymooned in Oahu and we took this AND the Frommer's guide along. I'd take either or both again.

I could barely read any of this book. The type is so tiny and hard to read, and the maps are all grey and difficult to read as well. Everything is just scrunched in there and you have to pore over that map to figure out what the heck you're looking at. They're way too busy. They cram too much detail into one map.

Its information is segmented well, and it's good that they list operating hours and prices where they can, but I just can't squint at that little type. The lettering on some of these maps is literally as small as the head of a pin. I'm supposed to be able to whip this out of my backpack on the island and use it as a quick reference tool? This book is going back to the library; I'll just have to find another book to use.

Everyone thinks Lonely Planet has such great guidebooks. I used to feel that way, until we used one for the island of Hawaii.
The directions given placed us on private property. The owners were quite upset that we had come through the gate on to their property. As a frequent tourist I do not want to upset the locals. When rereading the directions, it is as if the writer were on purpose sending people on to the property to upset the owners. I don't know, maybe they had some confrontations that the writer wanted to get back at the property owner?? Not very professional.
I think Lonely Planet should be more careful about what they recieve and print from their writers. I won't buy another Lonely Planet guidebook. For Hawaii buy Hawaii Revealed, Oahu Revealed, Kauai Revealed or Maui Revealed. The best guidebooks ever for those islands.