Customer Reviews

Lonely Planet Jamaica

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have used four different guidebooks in two trips to Jamaica in the past two years. This Lonely Planet guide is clearly the most thorough and comprehensive (although the others are more than adequate). I can't think of anything of significance that was left out, and I've been studying the island for 30 years now. That said, it's probably far more than most tourists to Jamaica will need or want. The vast majority go to major resorts for fun in the sun. If that is your intent, then this book will be very helpful to you in planning your trip--choosing a place to go, places to eat and stay, and things to do-but so will the other guides. This is, however, the guide par excellence for those who want to know as much as possible about Jamaica, its people and culture, and who will be traveling around the island, perhaps to areas remote from the tourist industry, for an extended period of time. It will be invaluable for anyone who is moving to Jamaica and working there-such as missionaries, teachers, embassy staff, and Peace Corps volunteers.

The guide starts with an excellent 66 page overview of the island that you should read before you go. It also has a great 47 page history of popular music. And lots of beautiful color photographs. Followed by detailed information on where to go, where to stay, and what to do in every area of the country. Along with priceless sage advice on the local culture. The author really knows his way around the country and the people. It can be a tricky place to be, and most tourists don't venture far from the resort areas, so if you are going cross-country on your own then you should definitely read what he has to say.

Because it is so comprehensive and informative, I can also recommend this guide as a beginning reference on Jamaica. I don't know any other book where you can learn so much about the country between two covers.

You can rely on this guide totally. And, by the way, it's a tough book too, with a stitched spine to keep it together, so it won't fall apart before your next trip to Jamaica.

This is the guidebook that answers all of the questions you might have about this beautiful country. I was able to enjoy 2 wonderful weeks in Negril, and planned most of my activities, hotel accomodations, restaurant visits, entertainment, and transportation using this book. What I appreciate most about Lonely Planet books is that they give information on all of the towns in a given country - not just the big resort places. The ratings of hotels and restaurants was very accurate, as were the maps. They tell you the good, the bad and the ugly in realistic terms that make getting around a breeze. This book is a must if you are planning to travel to Jamaica!!

Planning our holidays just one week before we flown to Jamaica was really hard to handle. We heard of -Lonely Planet- and buyed this book. This holidays could have turned out into the worst holidays of our lives because we diddent known anything about Jamaica and the people who are living there. But thanks to this book and its author, we were able to leave the tourist centers and started to discover this beautiful island. The prices mentioned in the book really helped us, and we were really surprised to find everything like it was described in the book. By the way: Thanks for telling us about the SHAW GARDEN PARK in Ocho Rios, we had a lot of fun there!

Bjoern S. & Marc S. from germany

What can I say? This is the greatest book that I've ever seen on traveling to Jamaica.

Within the first 100 pages of this book is accurate, important information about everything you could imagine about Jamaica. I loved that this information came first, before all of the "guide" things. I beleive that within these important pages of this book, the reader can determine if indeed Jamaica is a place they might want to go to, or stay away from.

If you read this book and still have questions about Jamaica, you need to read the book again because its ALL in here.

I'm truly impressed.

We've got 3-4 Jamaica travel books and this is the one that was most helpful and continues to be - we go to Jamaica a lot :)

If you want to get out and explore the island beyond your hotel (and you do!), you'll really appreciate having this book. It lists restaurants, hotels, attractions and gives an excellent view into Jamaican history and customs.

Prices were quite accurate at the time of our last visit and so were descriptions of places to eat and stay. Great book, don't leave home without it!

Great book, but it is a little out of date at this point. Could stand a new edition, but all-in-all it serves the purpose I need.

I bought this in October 2005 and it's more than two years old-very outdated. Not worth the money until they update it.

This book is vastly better than the materials available through Jamaican sources. It far surpasses materials available through US travel agencies. It goes well beyond the cruise ship approach to touring Jamaica, describing the less travelled areas as well as the high tourist spots. The history section is well done and accurate. It is comprehensive and well organized.

Very informative. A must have if you are planning a trip and are not familiar with Jamaican culture.

"Lonely Planet" is great as a travel guide, but if you want a great read on your trip to Jamaica, take "JAMAICA GIRL" along with you. Jon Michael Miller's novel shows you the real Jamaica, far behind the walls of the famous all-inclusive resorts. You will see the struggles and the joys of a wonderful people, as well as meet Rosalind Juliet Mitchell, a fabulously brave and resourceful progagonist, on her search for love and freedom. It is by far the best book about Jamaica I have ever read. A wonderful story, suspenseful, sexy, funny, disturbing, and quite moving. Wonderful characters. And a great message about the power of love to transform one's existence. A great read for a vacation, or, even, a vacation in itself.