Customer Reviews

Moon Honduras and the Bay Islands (Moon Handbooks)

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

 

 

I am very happy that I gave Moon a chance. I actually go through a lot of travel books, and I get so very sick and tired of Lonely Planet and how they always try to sell you on their "green", hippie lifestyle, point you toward shabby hotels and act like people should be afraid to drive anywhere but rural England and the U.S. However, I can't bring myself to go to the more adult - but much less adventurous - brands such as Frommer's, Fodor's, or Eyewitness. Rough Guide didn't have a book strictly on Honduras, so I bought the Moon.

Not bad at all - they seem to have the tone just right. They tell you how it is, not sugar-coating it or trying to scare you away from anything. And they don't try to make something unimpressive seem like it's for everyone: I just read a section where they were talking about some ruins, but pointing out that they're unexcavated, so they're really just mounds in the Earth, and only ruins fanatics would want to go, however the natural scenery is a pleasant walk, etc., etc. This contrasts nicely to the wild goose chase Lonely Planet took me on in Argentina trying to find some ruins in the middle of nowhere that couldn't even be seen. I'm always up for a wild goose chase in a foreign country, but when time is limited, I'd rather know what is most worthwhile.

They have interesting stories and boxed texts like the other brands and a glossy picture section in the front. I like that they seem to have more black and white photographs than the other brands so you can get an idea about some things that were hard to picture in your head.

I just gave it a four because it's still not perfect. Half the book is devoted to the touristy parts of the country and it's not always detailed enough by itself to find everything you want to find. But that's pretty standard amongst travel books.

I'll definitely give Moon another try in the future.

The comments so far on Amazon all refer to the previous edition, which certainly IS out of date by now. The new, 5th edition, has more information than ever, including more details on Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, as well as plenty on all the tourist highlights. The maps are excellent, and the book is very complete and extremely helpful, and with recommendations and itineraries to help sort through the options.

I got this book after also getting the Lonely Planet guide and hearing that others thought the latter was not too well done. Someone else also suggested the Moon guide would not be a good one either so I was pleasantly suprised at how comprehensive and usefull it is. It gives you suggestions for what to do given different length of trips and also the overview right in the front is great. You can get the big picture right off and then delve into the detail of each place as much as you want to and there is alot of detail if you want it. I also appreciate the budget options listed for lodging and food as well as knowing where the more expesive places are if I want to splurge somewhere. The book seems to be laid out amd organized really well which is so important in a guidebook. With so much good information it will be a ittle bit heavy when traveling in a backpack but I am taking it anyway. Recommended.

This book arrived in great condition and was for a much lower price than retail.

I'm going to visit an area that is little covered in this book, most of which I'd read in other guides.