South Pacific & Micronesia (Multi Country Guide) (Paperback)

by Geert Cole (Author) "It was about 50,000 years ago that people first reached the Pacific islands, arriving in New Guinea from Southeast Asia via Indonesia..." (more)
Key Phrases: return transfers cost, beach fale, kastom fee, South Pacific, New Zealand, French Polynesia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
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Product Description
Embrace the tyranny of distance. Be it Tuvalu, Tokelau, Tonga, Tutuila or the Tuamotus, our authors have braved paradise to give you the lowdown on island exploration. Get lost among the thousands of beautiful islands in the Earth's largest ocean. Hike to active volcanoes, lush forests and crashing waterfalls. Use this guide to reveal the Pacific's myriad cultures, landscapes and activities. Island hop, or just drop out o TAKE THE PLUNGE - discover delicate reefs, deep lagoons, pristine atolls, shipwrecks and jellyfish lakes with our expert in-depth diving section o STUFF YOUR FACE - our new Food & Drink chapter unlocks the culinary style of each island nation o UNRIVALLED COVERAGE - no other guide takes you to every bit of the Pacific's 'big backyard' o LUXURY OR BUDGET - paradise to suit your pocket, from basic beach huts to radically lush resorts

Product Details

• Paperback: 884 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet; 3 edition (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1741043042
• ISBN-13: 978-1741043044
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #279,626 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Below the LP standard, and biased in the region's favour, April 23, 2002

By	Maurizio Giuliano (Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Lonely Planet South Pacific (Travel Survival Kit) (Paperback)

As all of Lonely Planet's guidebooks, this is of course an excellent travel tool, and truly "sets the standard". Any traveler is surely better off to the South Pacific with, rather than without, this densely written and wonderfully filled book (even though, for this particular destination, the Moon Handbook for the South Pacific would also be a very good choice). However, two things should be said about this particular LP guidebook. First, its coverage is hampered by the region's magnitude and diversity. The effort to cover so many different islands, with their own realities, their own peoples and cultures, is surely a noble endeavour. Yet, it resulted in lack of clarity, and data which is vague or uncomplete, especially on some countries (such as those of Micronesia) more than others. Getting separate LP guidebooks for individual countries or sub-regions (Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Rarotonga & Cook Islands, Tahiti & French Polynesia, etc) would be a much better choice for the discerning traveler - even though it may involve carrying a bit of extra weight around the beautiful seas and skyes of the South Pacific. Second, this guidebook suffers from an evident's "author's bias" in favour of the region. It is quite natural and inevitable, and also very positive, for authors to feel that their region is the best and nicest on our planet, home to the finest wonders of this world (to have the opposite, namely authors who are biased against their own regions, would be horrible). Yet, not all regions of the world can be great and perfect, and their peoples the finest and most friendly. Unknowing travelers should not be led to believe this. The South Pacific can indeed be a very tough place: not all islands and places are as great and beautiful as they may appear from this guidebook, getting around and having a nice time is not always easy (in fact, the region can be horribly frustrating), and the people are not always as pleasant as one might wish. By following indications for visa requirements for the Republic of Kiribati ("British citizens do not require visas"), I found myself pushed back on the aircraft, having to force my way in order to remain on the ground, and avoiding one nigt in a cell only thanks to the intervention of HM High Commissioner. Likewise, in Nauru it is not true that "you'll get a visa on arrival, provided the hotels have rooms". The Otintaai Hotel in Kiribati (allegedly the best in the country) does not have hot water as is claimed in the guidebook, and the Waterfront Villa Hotel in Palau (allegedly "the best deal around") is apparently so simply because the owners are extremely rude and prone to cheating, able to make your stay in beautiful Palau a real hell. Altogether, many countries which may sound like earthly paradises, are simply not so. The people, who are made seem friendly almost without exception, can be extremely obnoxious and difficult, not always happy to receive foreigners - especially in Micronesia and to a lesser extent in Melanesia, yet not so much in Polynesia. The advice contained in this guidebook should be taken with great care. Yet, in the end this remains a truly valuable tool, in a region so hard to get to know, where getting around and finally managing to enjoying one's trip - for those who do decide to go - can be truly hard. The sections on culture, wildlife, etc., despite their being rather summary, are extremely valuable and provide enjoyable reading. This book may not be up to the Lonely Planet standard (we should also consider that this is only the guidebook's first edition); but, considered LP's already high standards, it is not bad at all.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incomplete, June 19, 2005

By	Readz Alot (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet South Pacific (Paperback)

A typically good LP guide, but be aware that while earlier editions of the title included the whole South Pacific area, this edition does not include Micronesia. (And LP hasn't updated their micronesia guide since 2000.) So if you're planning to visit Kiribati, Palau, or other countries in Micronesia, this guide won't meet your needs.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide for islands that make up the South Pacific, July 10, 2009

By	Barbara Bell (San Carlos, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Great guide book with excerpts and maps of the islands that make up the South Pacific and Micronesia. Maps are clear enough to plot out trips for the day, the week, or the whole vacation.

Lonely Planet is my go-to for guide books, due to the depth of research and information provided.

I picked this up for a friend who was going to Guam, and I was most impressed by the data provided in the form of history of the island, factoids, customs, and specialties.

I would pick up a Lonely Planet guide for all of my travels, and this one was especially well-received.