Customer Reviews

Moon Handbooks: Dominican Republic 2 Ed

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

 

 

I feel compelled to comment on this book, especially in light of the highly critical, and, I believe, unfair remarks by an earlier reviewer. Let me preface this review by saying that I do not know the author, nor do I have any connection with Moon Travel Handbooks. I too, spent months on a motorcycle travelling throughout the Dominican Republic, first during a year and a half as a Peace Corps Volunteer, and later as a writer-photographer (which resulted in my own photo-essay book about the DR). Still later I lived and worked in the country for another two and a half years, during which time I again travelled by car extensively thorughout the country. While a Peace Corps Volunteer, I even climbed Pico Duarte with a group of friends. Yes, the book does have some errors. Pico Duarte has probably rarely, if ever, been "snow-capped" (but it often has frost). And given the rampant inflation that has beset the country over the past 30 years, it would hardly be surprising if the prices the author quotes are sometimes wide of the mark. (To my knowledge, he never claims to have stayed in all the hotels and pensiones he mentions; and it would be surprising if the managers remembered everyone who stopped by to take a look at their establishments.) And former President Joaquin Balaguer was born in Navarrete, on the linea noroeste, not Samana. I also think the book is a little dogmatic in taking the anti-Balaguerista line; but this is a matter of personal opinion. What I think is beyond personal opinion is the fact that this book contains a huge amount of factual information about the Domincan Republic which is astonishing in its detail and insight. Over the past few months I have often had it on my bedside table, and will frequently simply open it at random and read about the country where I lived for nearly five years. Each time I read a segment, I am reminded of things about the country I saw and experienced while I lived there, often without knowing or understanding historical, geological, or sociological aspects which Mr. Dold's book presents on every page. In this reader's opinion, this book is a tour de force--a guidebook far beyond "where to eat, where to stay, and where are the best beaches." Indeed, I think this book is such a remarkable and thorough depiction of the Dominican Republic that I have recommended that it be provided to all incoming Peace Corps Volunteers. It would be an invaluable addition to any traveller's luggage.

I'm sorry to say that after a month-long travel through the Dominican Republic, I have to agree with the previous negative reviewer, in that the book is full of inaccuracies and it seems obvious that the author didn't travel to many of the places he writes about. Also, the book seems to derive an awful lot of its material from another book on the Dominican Republic called Adventure Guide. Also, the author seemed overly scared of remote areas, especially around Haiti. It's more a book for older folk who are into golf courses and cigars, not for someone who wants to experience the country and really wander around and meet people. I usually do like the Moon series, though. Don't let this book dissuade you from the usually very competent Moon books.

Thank you for a great guidebook. I have traveled to the Dominican Republic a few times and am now planning another trip for next year, so I just bought the new version of this book. When I was in the Dominican before, this was the best guide I used--it's more than just basic information plugged into a guidebook format. It's kind of like reading a novel. I really liked his essay on "The Essence of the Dominican Republic" before the introduction--it gives you a real sense of what you will experience when you get there. Gaylord Dold obviously knows a great deal about the Dominican--he spends a lot of time on things like history and people, which is good if you have never been there and are interested in getting familiar with the culture instead of just traveling around. And he's really thorough with the practical stuff too and there are tons of choices of places to eat and sleep. I always use this book when deciding where to stay on my trips and have found the hotel info to be dependable. That said, I've used other books from the Moon series (Costa Rica, Ecuador) and I really like them. They're all really big on background info but also they give you a good variety of choices--not just backpacker stuff or places that are too expensive.

I
drove a car around three-quarters of the DR, using this book every
step of the way for nearly the entire trip. But many times the author
just wrote a lot of nonsense. Places he describes aren't anything like
they really are, like he just asked other people to describe them and
wrote what he heard from people who forgot a lot and gave him bad
information. This book is no good.

I lived in the Dominican Republic for two years and traveled widely throughout the country. I wish I had this book while I was there. The book is filled with a tremendous amount of background information about the nation's history, geology, ecology and culture. I know of no other publication that is as comprehensive. The sections of the book devoted to specific cities and towns reflect a keen eye for each communities unique characteristics as seen by an American who enjoys foreign cultures and people. The author's writing ability is first rate whether he is describing a technical matter or expressing a personal opinion. I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the Dominican Republic; especially for those visiting or living in the country.

I wrote the first and second editions of Lonely Planet's guidebook to the Dominican Republic. While working on them, I traveled all over the DR. I adhered very closely to this rule: If I didn't visit a place, I didn't write about it. Period. No ifs, ands or buts. As any good guidebook writer would, I traveled with competing guidebooks to make certain I didn't overlook anything the competition reported on. If, for example, the competition mentioned a terrific restaurant on the outskirts of a remote town, I'd be sure to check it out; I simply didn't want my readers to miss out on anything, especially not something appearing in another guidebook. It was mostly an issue of pride, but I also felt people who bought my guidebook deserved the best work I could do. So I left no stone unturned. As a result, many business owners (particularly hotel owners) often told me, "You're the first guidebook writer that's ever been here." Sometimes I'd point to a "review" appearing in another guidebook. More times than not, I'd be told, "No, that person has never been here. I'd know it." I didn't doubt them then and I don't doubt them now, because it was usually in small, hard-to-reach or out-of-the-way places where this dialog occurred. Like many guidebook writers, I left the guidebook business soon after 9/11 -- when people weren't traveling and guidebook sales plummeted. In the years that followed, I moved on to bigger and better things, but I'd always meant to comment upon this book (the first edition, anyway) in a public forum. It was, quite simply, a piece of garbage. And if the first edition stank to high Heaven, why would the second edition be any better? Either you do good work, or you don't. If I got a dollar every time I read an inaccuracy in the Moon book, I'd be driving a Porsche today. I'm sure my book is off bookshelves these days. More than likely someone is working on the fifth edition of Lonely Planet's DR & Haiti. I'm not trying to boost the sales of my book; Lonely Planet doesn't pay royalties, anyway. I just thought anyone looking to purchase a good guidebook to the Dominican Republic ought to know my thoughts about this one. It did, and likely does, guidebook writers the world over a profound disservice. For legal reasons, I prefer using "Moving On" instead of my real name. But I am the real deal.

I really enjoyed this book. It has lots of valuable cultural information and great research. While there are not snow capped mountains in the DR, it is a great book. Anyone looking at going to the DR to visit or live consider reading this book.

I just spent four months traveling around the Dominican Republic on
motorcycle, which allowed me to visit many of the remote places to
which Mr. Dold refers in his author's comments, and I can say without
question that ... the
descriptions given and prices quoted and services rendered often have
nothing in common with reality... Many of the physical
features he describes don't jibe with what exist. For example, he
mentions "mountains with snowy tops." Well I climbed Pico
Duarte, the island's highest mountain, and there certainly wasn't any
snow there. I asked my guide about the supposed snow and he said that
in his 22 years of climbing the mountain he'd never seen any, nor had
he ever heard of any snow ever being present on the island... Just look at the book's cover. The cover
displays what appears to be some excellently maintained ruins. In
fact, these "ruins" (at Altos de Chavon, near La Romana)
were built in the 1970s to resemble an old Italian villa. They are
part of a resort, not a colonial zone at all. But the reader wouldn't
know that until after buying the book and visiting the site...