Customer Reviews

Moon Handbooks Fiji, 6th Edition

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Would you rather trust a guidebook written by a twenty-something whose three month assignment was to travel around a certain area and write or would you rather trust a guy who spent twenty-something years living and traveling around these areas? That's the bio of David Stanley, the author of this book and this guy knows the in's and out's of Fiji. That's obvious when you pick up this book.

Fiji Handbook starts out with the most comprehensive background of Fiji I've found in competitive books, everything ranging from its history (including cannabalism!) right down to the shark population around the island. I always like to prime up on the place I'm traveling and this section is great for it.

The next section, a Fiji "overview" is very informative. It covers the basics such as getting to/from the island, communicating off the island, and accomodations around Fiji (like camping vs. hotels). This is pretty standard in any guidebook.

The meat of the book comes afterwards, which is broken down by island chains. It covers everything you would expect, including accomodations, hotels, beaches and attractions. Maps are outstanding -- not only do they have island maps, but major city maps too with post offices, restaurants and sights discussed in the text are labelled on the map.

This was the first book by Moon Handbooks I have read and I will surely consider more. My recommendation is to give this title serious consideration

David Stanley continues his fine in-depth coverage of Fiji with this latest edition. The book is very well-organized, user friendly and is very up-to-date and informative. For any traveler planning a visit to Fiji, and especially for adventurous budget travelers, this book is indispensible. I first visited Fiji 30 years ago and in subsequent visits have returned to favorite places like Savusavu, Levuka, Kadavu and Suva. Places somewhat off the beaten track like Savusavu and Levuka have changed little in that time and the author is right on target with his descriptions and information. The maps are excellent and the book is very readable, a good combination of background history, culture, custom and practical information on today's Fiji. There are tons of useful resources provided including an extensive listing of website/internet resources on hotels, lodges, travel resources, etc. There's more to Fiji than just the hotels and resorts of the Coral Coast and Nadi and this book will help you experience it whether you're a first-time Fiji visitor or an old Pacific hand.

This is a comprehensive book that provides a wealth of information on Fiji. It focuses on travel and accommodations for travelers on a budget, but provides some information for travelers on the higher end. Because the book covers so much, it skimps a bit on specifics.

I wish that the book would povide more recommendations on what is worth seeing, but many other guidebooks also lack this helpful feature.

All in all, I would recommend this book. Combined with WWW resarch, your vacation planning is sure to be a success.

I spent two months in Fiji going from one island to another . With limited funds , it was not easy to go somewhere when you do not know anything about the place, but rely on the handbook as a guide. In that respect, this book is of exceptional value. It gives the reader the history, government, people , and all other important aspects of the country which might affect the traveller . You will find in it info. in great detail, addresses, phone numbers,prices, descriptions of places, even individuals , clearly, precisely and fully informative. Fijian culture, life styles, customs, food ,etc. all are given in great detail. Anyone going to Fiji, this book is a must . A traveller going to Fiji, thanks to David Stanley's book , will have no problems arriving without reservations in hotels , or surprises upon arrival. The amount of information is staggering.I highly reccomend it.

I found this guide invaluable when spending a month travelling around Fiji recently; it was more up-to-date than its main competitor, and I was consistently impressed by the amount of detailed (and nearly always accurate) information it contained, which enabled me to find accommodation and make travel arrangements with the minimum of hassle. I also appreciated the wealth of background information about Fiji (everything from flora and fauna to post and telecommunications), and the author's sympathetic approach to local issues and customs. And the maps are excellent too!

As president of Sea for Yourself snorkeling tours, it's my job to stay informed about the areas we visit with our groups. Although I've been to Fiji over twenty times, both leading our programs and doing personal travel, David Stanley's Fiji Handbook is always a welcome companion.

In preparation for a trip to Fiji, I will recommend that our clients read through David's Fiji Handbook. Although our participants don't have to deal with any of the logistics of travel (that's our job) because of the excellent background information on Fiji's culture, politics, and economics, as well as a concise overview of the marine environment, we always include this book on our list of suggested reading.

I know many parts of Fiji as well as I know my hometown, and can confirm the accuracy of much of David's information on accommodations, meals, transportation, and excursions. It's impossible for any guidebook to stay truly current, but David does better than most. For the absolute latest up-to-date info, simply turn to the website and email directories near the back of the book.

When I need a detailed reference for Fiji, I'll continue to use this 5th edition of the Fiji Handbook ... until David comes out with the next edition.

Fiji by David Stanley continues to look good after all these years. As an island traveler who has knocked around various parts of Fiji over the years, I have come to admire Stanley's comprehensive work in gathering the material for his guidebook. This book is a must have for any aspiring Fiji traveler. The book is compact, easy to handle and use and is very reader friendly. It has a detailed table of contents, tons of clear easy to read and very visual maps, an extensive website directory of resources (worth the price of the book alone, because you don't have to surf the 'net looking for it all!), an Accommodations Index and a general index, all very helpful and useful. There are nice pictures and artwork throughout and a lively, informative text. It's all straightforward information, exactly what today's budget traveler needs in a rapidly changing travel world. You won't go wrong putting this book in your backpack and it's guaranteed you will use it. This book touches on every major area of Fiji and covers indepth a variety of subjects of interest to travelers.

This last guidebook by David Stanley (the latest among his many guidebooks published by both Lonely Planet and Moon Handbooks, on regions as varied as Cuba, the South Pacific and Alaska), lives well up to the standard of his previous works. As such, it will not disappoint the reader. It comes as a brilliant tool for visiting the marvelous islands of Fiji, filled with plenty of background information on the local history, culture and current events, as well as invaluable advice for the traveler, with plenty of information and tips, on anything ranging from accommodation to eating, from night-life entertainment to snorkeling. All in all, there is nothing more to be added: once more, don't leave for Fiji without taking this extraordinary publication with you.

David Stanley's Moon Handbooks Guide to Fiji is, in short, wonderful. With a full section detailing the history, unique cultural aspects, and flora and fauna of this beautiful land, it prepares the traveler for an amazing experience! It is easy to feel David Stanley's passion for this place! The guide also details accomodations ranging from those with the most intimate experiences of the people and the land to those available to the traveler looking for something a little more posh. The book is easy to read and simple to use as a reference source. The maps and illustrations also add to the enjoyment and understanding of the country of Fiji. Without being too verbose, it is organized in a very logical manner and allows the reader to get a feel for all that Fiji has to offer. In short, I find it to be an exceptional guide to an exceptional place.

Fiji Handbook, 6th Edition... As president of Sea for Yourself snorkeling tours, it's my professional obligation to stay informed about the regions we visit. We have operated tours to Fiji every year since my first visit in 1985, and David Stanley's Fiji Handbook (now in it's 6th Edition) has been with me each time.

Over the years, I have found David's Fiji Handbook so useful that I strongly recommend it to all our Fiji program participants. Although our clients don't need to worry about travel logistics (that's our job), the introductory chapters offer excellent background information on Fiji's cultural, political, and natural history.

Because our programs focus on tropical marine biology, I was especially impressed by David's concise and clear explanation of coral reefs. And in the section dedicated to fauna, David gives marine creatures as much attention as terrestrial animals. I was also pleased with the many tips encouraging environmental sensitivity, both above and below the water.

The introductory overview is complemented by accurate and extensive descriptions of each island group. These sections include the expected (and appreciated) regional maps, listings of where to stay, where to eat, where to hike, where to dive, plus how to get there (and back).

This new edition of the Fiji Handbook contains many updates, but it's impossible for any guidebook to remain totally current. David knows this. So for the absolute latest information, simply turn to the website and email directories near the end of the book.

When I need a detailed reference for Fiji, I'll continue to use this 6th edition of the Fiji Handbook ... until David comes out with the next edition.