From lounging in the Caribbean islands of Bocas del Toro to viewing the cool highlands of Boquete and exploring Panama City, the most cosmopolitan city in Central America, Moon Handbooks Panama is the guide to the best the country has to offer, both on and off the beaten path. Practical information includes suggested travel strategies and lists of must-see sights, plus essentials on dining, transportation, and accommodations for a range of budgets. ocessomi1 Complete with details for navigating jungle trails, finding cheap taxis and underground bars, or planning a river expedition, Moon Handbooks Panama gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.
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45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bright Side of the Moon,
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This review is from: Moon Handbooks Panama (Paperback)
Before reading this excellent book by William Friar, I would only buy Lonely Planet (LP) guidebooks. I was a true believer in the gospel of travel according to LP. William Friar converted me to Moon!
Unlike LP, Moon commissions a single author to write its guidebooks. What results a single voice and a more powerful and compelling narrative than your typical LP guide. Whereas LPs often read like spread sheets, this handbook reads like a novel. Friar's descriptions are loaded with quirky facts and personal anecdotes that make the handbook feel like a Bill Bryson travelogue as opposed to a Michelin Guide Rouge. There are also many useful sidebars such as one on the various dangers of the Darien jungle (both human, and natural) and another on how to choose a guide/naturalist. If that were not enough, this book contains far more detail on nuts and bolts stuff such as hotels and restaurants than the LP. In researching the Gamboa Tower eco-lodge, for example, Friar describes each type of room in the facility, including which ones have bathrooms and which ones do not. He also goes into depth on each tour offered by that eco-lodge so a tourist can decide what to do before arriving in-country. This is a tour de force! The best guide on Panama in-print.
38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Indispensable!,
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This review is from: Moon Handbooks Panama (Paperback)
Just returned from 2 weeks in Panama with Mr. Friar's guidebook close at hand. We also had, by way of backup, a copy of the Lonely Planet guide. Without doubt the Moon Handbook is the superior guide and I would consider it indispensable for anyone traveling to Panama. Friar's writing style is highly readable and we found the research and his assessment of the opportunities to be spot on. From budget travel to luxury stays, Friar covers the gamut with humor and perceptive insight. The only caveat I would offer is that the prices quoted by the author are already out of date. We found lodging to be consistently $5 - 15 higher than the prices quoted in the book. This is the challenge of writing about a dynamic world using a static medium, and in no way is meant to be a negative comment about the book or author. The reality is that Panama has "been discovered," and prices are rising to reflect increasing demand. Still, we had a great time and the success of our trip was due in no small part to the guidance set down in Moon Handbooks Panama.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read as Well,
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This review is from: Moon Handbooks Panama (Paperback)
Bill Friar is enjoyable to read. His books on Panama and the Canal have always appealed, because he is interested in the environment as well as the necessities of travel, hotel, restaurants. He brings the reader close to the sights, sounds and smells of a country, and off the usual beaten path. I recommend this book highly. Hal De Mun
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