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Books : The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed
Rating: 
- Best Guidebook Ever
I've read and studied scores - perhaps hundreds - of guidebooks to various places I have visited over the years, and never have I found one as enjoyable or useful as The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. We bought our copy, the 5th edition, before leaving Ohio for Kauai. It was an excellent investment which greatly enhanced our trip.
Written by Kauai residents, Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman, the book is locally published by Wizard Publications, Inc. in Lihue. This ultimate guide tells of so many places neglected by other guide books that it would take months to explore them all. There's lots of practical detail, the kind of stuff you could only get from a savvy local with a sense of adventure The book is written in a very engaging style and is often humorous. I wouldn't think of returning to Kauai without it.
Rating: - The Ultimate for sure
This was definitely the ultimate guidebook. It helps you eliminate the places that you may not want to go to, and allows you to go to as many of the best places that you have time for. Also great for describing where to park, how to avoid lots of traffic/people. We were able to do everything we wanted to while viewing the whole island with the guidebook.
Rating: - Ultimate Kauai Guidebook & Maui Revealed
Thought you'd like to know another great use for the "Ultimate Guides" by Doughty & Friedman - SOUVENIRS OF YOUR TRIP! I buy quantities of The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook & Maui Revealed, and automatically send them out to family & friends who I invite to come stay with me on these islands. I encourage EVERY VISITOR to "do their homework" by reading these books before you go. It is THE GUIDE BIBLE and indispensible for finding most of the "hidden" i.e. BEST spots on Kauai, and some of the still "unknown" spots on Maui. Believe me, without the Ultimate Guide, you WILL NOT FIND MOST beaches, trails, waterfalls, swim holes, hieus (temples) or other natural attractions. My favorite feature are the maps with the yellow lines showing you EXACTLY where to access a beach or trail. Island locals have used highway "mile markers" since State created them. Now the authors are sharing this navigational secret with you too. You are WASTING YOUR MONEY ON GUIDEBOOKS OTHER THAT THE WIZARD PUBL. "GUIDES" BY DOUGHTY & FRIEDMAN.
BUT WITH INFORMATION, COMES RESPONSIBILITY. Since now the Guidebooks are leading more & more people to spots not known before publication, I ASK THAT EVERYONE USE THEIR INFO. WITH RESPECT & RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE HELP US KEEP HAWAII LITTER-FREE AND PROTECT THE REEFS AND MARINE LIFE. Don't leave cigarette butts, trash, dog excrement, your beach gear, fishing lines or other paraphenELia on the beaches, trails or parking lots. I pick up other people's trash when I see it and I encourage all of you to do the same. Bring a plastic grocery bag with you when you go to the beach or on a hike, to be ready to "pack out" any trash you see. I do this all the time. Please don't walk on the reefs, grab turtles, feed fish or remove life forms. You have a right to approach others who are doing this, to tell them to stop. And we all have to behave. We don't want the State, or previously lenient land owners, closing accesses due to folks walking thru or camping on their property. As for the nude use at Secret Beach which I treasure, a wonderful way to enjoy any island, it is becoming increasingly extinct in HI as tourism increases, more people buy homes. Let's try to preserve this luxury by using our common sense by moving up the beach when we see obviously conservative locals or tourists, or families with kids, marching up the beach in our direction. Stay at the right end. I fought hard in the '80's to keep Little Beach on Maui optional, let's not lose this natural experience on Kauai. Thanks everyone.
Rating: - Wish Every Destination Had a Guidebook Like This
+ The reviews are written for the average tourists, not for some choice travel editors. For example, the conventional guidebooks' dining guide consists mainly of large/hip restaurants and hotel restaurants. Ultimate Kauai also tells you about roadside stands, take-out places, and "plastic paper & picnic table" kind of places. Very helpful for quick meals and we had some best food in such places.
+ This one tells you which sights/restaurant/tour/hotel/etc are great and which are not and why that is so. The brutally honest review is so helpful.
+ It's very easy and fun to read. To me, reading guidebooks is usually equivalent to studying text-books (I don't enjoy it but I must study it). But I actually enjoyed reading this one.
+ This guidebook is beautiful to look at. All the pages are smooth coated papers with lost of color photos. Hard to believe for the price.
When we went there in June 2004, we followed this book's recommendations for dining, heli tour, snorkeling, & hiking trails, and it was a success! Now whenever I travel to other destinations without a guide like this, I feel like I'm missing out a lot (and I probably am).
Rating:
- Trustworthy / Worth the Purchase
This guidebook really is in it's own category compared to other travel books. Doughty and Friedman actually live on Kauai, and really try to help people see all of the island for themselves. What is incredibly helpful about the book:
1) They give you straight up advice on who to use for helicoptor tours, kayak adventures, horseback riding, etc. If you don't know you will simply default to whoever has the best and biggest ad at the Safeway store. (which you can do at your own risk)
2) They give legit, albeit short, reviews about places to eat & sleep.
3) They tell you where to stay, and more importantly, what the accomodations will be like. They are usually dead on with their recommendations, because, again, they live there and do their homework.
4) As far as locals whining about the fact that they point you in the direction of paths to hidden beaches and wonders, I would be annoyed if I was a local as well - but, nature is for everyone to enjoy, not just Kauai residents. So, if you go exploring don't leave trash, don't walk on private property, and be respectful, no local can trash you for that.
Overall great book: A
Joseph Dworak
- Best Guidebook EverI've read and studied scores - perhaps hundreds - of guidebooks to various places I have visited over the years, and never have I found one as enjoyable or useful as The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook. We bought our copy, the 5th edition, before leaving Ohio for Kauai. It was an excellent investment which greatly enhanced our trip.
Written by Kauai residents, Andrew Doughty and Harriett Friedman, the book is locally published by Wizard Publications, Inc. in Lihue. This ultimate guide tells of so many places neglected by other guide books that it would take months to explore them all. There's lots of practical detail, the kind of stuff you could only get from a savvy local with a sense of adventure The book is written in a very engaging style and is often humorous. I wouldn't think of returning to Kauai without it.
Rating:
- The Ultimate for sureThis was definitely the ultimate guidebook. It helps you eliminate the places that you may not want to go to, and allows you to go to as many of the best places that you have time for. Also great for describing where to park, how to avoid lots of traffic/people. We were able to do everything we wanted to while viewing the whole island with the guidebook.
Rating:
- Ultimate Kauai Guidebook & Maui RevealedThought you'd like to know another great use for the "Ultimate Guides" by Doughty & Friedman - SOUVENIRS OF YOUR TRIP! I buy quantities of The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook & Maui Revealed, and automatically send them out to family & friends who I invite to come stay with me on these islands. I encourage EVERY VISITOR to "do their homework" by reading these books before you go. It is THE GUIDE BIBLE and indispensible for finding most of the "hidden" i.e. BEST spots on Kauai, and some of the still "unknown" spots on Maui. Believe me, without the Ultimate Guide, you WILL NOT FIND MOST beaches, trails, waterfalls, swim holes, hieus (temples) or other natural attractions. My favorite feature are the maps with the yellow lines showing you EXACTLY where to access a beach or trail. Island locals have used highway "mile markers" since State created them. Now the authors are sharing this navigational secret with you too. You are WASTING YOUR MONEY ON GUIDEBOOKS OTHER THAT THE WIZARD PUBL. "GUIDES" BY DOUGHTY & FRIEDMAN.
BUT WITH INFORMATION, COMES RESPONSIBILITY. Since now the Guidebooks are leading more & more people to spots not known before publication, I ASK THAT EVERYONE USE THEIR INFO. WITH RESPECT & RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE HELP US KEEP HAWAII LITTER-FREE AND PROTECT THE REEFS AND MARINE LIFE. Don't leave cigarette butts, trash, dog excrement, your beach gear, fishing lines or other paraphenELia on the beaches, trails or parking lots. I pick up other people's trash when I see it and I encourage all of you to do the same. Bring a plastic grocery bag with you when you go to the beach or on a hike, to be ready to "pack out" any trash you see. I do this all the time. Please don't walk on the reefs, grab turtles, feed fish or remove life forms. You have a right to approach others who are doing this, to tell them to stop. And we all have to behave. We don't want the State, or previously lenient land owners, closing accesses due to folks walking thru or camping on their property. As for the nude use at Secret Beach which I treasure, a wonderful way to enjoy any island, it is becoming increasingly extinct in HI as tourism increases, more people buy homes. Let's try to preserve this luxury by using our common sense by moving up the beach when we see obviously conservative locals or tourists, or families with kids, marching up the beach in our direction. Stay at the right end. I fought hard in the '80's to keep Little Beach on Maui optional, let's not lose this natural experience on Kauai. Thanks everyone.
Rating:
- Wish Every Destination Had a Guidebook Like This+ The reviews are written for the average tourists, not for some choice travel editors. For example, the conventional guidebooks' dining guide consists mainly of large/hip restaurants and hotel restaurants. Ultimate Kauai also tells you about roadside stands, take-out places, and "plastic paper & picnic table" kind of places. Very helpful for quick meals and we had some best food in such places.
+ This one tells you which sights/restaurant/tour/hotel/etc are great and which are not and why that is so. The brutally honest review is so helpful.
+ It's very easy and fun to read. To me, reading guidebooks is usually equivalent to studying text-books (I don't enjoy it but I must study it). But I actually enjoyed reading this one.
+ This guidebook is beautiful to look at. All the pages are smooth coated papers with lost of color photos. Hard to believe for the price.
When we went there in June 2004, we followed this book's recommendations for dining, heli tour, snorkeling, & hiking trails, and it was a success! Now whenever I travel to other destinations without a guide like this, I feel like I'm missing out a lot (and I probably am).
Rating:
- Trustworthy / Worth the PurchaseThis guidebook really is in it's own category compared to other travel books. Doughty and Friedman actually live on Kauai, and really try to help people see all of the island for themselves. What is incredibly helpful about the book:
1) They give you straight up advice on who to use for helicoptor tours, kayak adventures, horseback riding, etc. If you don't know you will simply default to whoever has the best and biggest ad at the Safeway store. (which you can do at your own risk)
2) They give legit, albeit short, reviews about places to eat & sleep.
3) They tell you where to stay, and more importantly, what the accomodations will be like. They are usually dead on with their recommendations, because, again, they live there and do their homework.
4) As far as locals whining about the fact that they point you in the direction of paths to hidden beaches and wonders, I would be annoyed if I was a local as well - but, nature is for everyone to enjoy, not just Kauai residents. So, if you go exploring don't leave trash, don't walk on private property, and be respectful, no local can trash you for that.
Overall great book: A
Joseph Dworak