City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean

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.Frommer's Portable Dominican Republic (Frommer's Portable)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince

November 05, 2007
I know this a "portable guide" to the Dominican Republic, but still it is extremely bare bones and basic. It includes a decent section on Santo Domingo but absolutely nothing on Santiago - the country's second largest city. The rest of this thin volume includes only a couple of short sections on the DR's tourist areas - the North Coast, Punta Cana and Boca Chica. To someone attempting to explore anywhere else in the DR this book is virtually useless. Even for my brief one week trip to Puerto Plata I found nothing in this guide that I had not already discovered on the Internet.

I am usually a fan of Frommer's guidebooks. But this one just doesn't cut it.
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.Vietnam - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette (Culture Smart!)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Geoffrey Murray

September 05, 2006
As the title says, the book is a quick guide to Vietnamese customs and etiquette. It does not go into great depth but covers the subjects overall pretty well. I'd recommend it. Contents include how to avoid culture shock; Vietnamese attitudes and values; historical and political background; religion, customs, and traditions; the Vietnamese at home; leisure, social, and cultural life; dos, don'ts, and taboos; body language; hospitality, food, and drink; giving and receiving gifts; business briefing; and language and communications. That's a lot to cover in 168 pages in a pocket sized book. I'd also recommend "Vietnam Today" by Mark A. Ashwill for a little more depth.
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.Seasoned by Salt: A Voyage in Search of the Caribbean
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Jerry L. Mashaw, Anne U. Macclintock

February 16, 2007
I liked this book. It was fairly informative and gave some great tips. I like the different viewpoints of the two authors. I did think that some of the historical information tended to drag on a little and you can definitely pick up on the political views of the author but it was still a good read... It really reinforced my desire to go cruising!
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.Frommer's Bahamas 2009 (Frommer's Complete)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince

September 09, 2008
I liked this book. It was fairly informative and gave some great tips. I like the different viewpoints of the two authors. I did think that some of the historical information tended to drag on a little and you can definitely pick up on the political views of the author but it was still a good read... It really reinforced my desire to go cruising!
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.Frommer's Portable Cayman Islands (Frommer's Portable)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince

September 24, 2007
With the recent news about travel book writers copying from others and not really knowing the places they write about, this is one in my opinion. Example, based on the recommendation saying Rum Point was one of the best snorkeling spots with rainbow hued fish, my wife and I took a day from our time on 7 Mile Beach and drove there (long drive on the island). The beach itself was fine, no better than the beach we left, but the snorkeling was awful. I gave up trying to find the good spot myself and went to Red Sail Sports who operate boat tours (and snorkel trips) from there and said I'd heard this was a good snorkeling place. They responded "only if you like sand, there isn't any good snorkeling here". Then they said guide books tout this place all ... Read More:
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.The Best of St. Thomas and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (Best of St. Thomas & St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Pamela Acheson, Richard B. Myers

September 01, 2006
As far as travel guides go this one is not bad. You are provided with facts, hotels, places to eat, and etc. However, the guide does little to help make suggestions on things that you MUST do in order to maximize your trip...there are no example daily itineraries or "don't miss activities".

AS others have pointed out there is much less detail given on St. John. Part of this is do to St. John being much less populated and developed. If you are spending multiple days on St. John you may need an additional travel guide.

What you are given is a collection of interesting facts that will help you enjoy your trip.

My suggestions -
Snorkel a Secret Harbor
Visit St. John's Trunk Bay
Eat at "The Herve" ... Read More:
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.Dominica (Bradt Travel Guide)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Paul Crask

February 26, 2008
Excellent maps and descriptions of hikes, places to explore and snorkel/dive sites. Restaurants, places to stay and some history of the island make this a very thorough guidebook.
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.Fodor's Caribbean Ports of Call 2008 (Fodor's Gold Guides)
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Fodor's

October 02, 2007
A terrific and useful books. Has all the key attractions, good maps and great ideas about adventuring on your own --- where it's safe and and how connect.
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.Caribbean By Cruise Ship: The Complete Guide To Cruising The Caribbean with Giant color pull map
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Anne Vipond

September 20, 2007
This is a physically heavy but informationally lightweight guide for crusing in the Caribbean. It is good but not great. We found it only slightly useful, preferring the Insight Guide Caribbean Cruises for more content and especially the "Cruising the Eastern Caribbean" more suitable to our nature oriented tastes. The latter book covers only EASTERN islands.
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.An Island Called Home: Returning to Jewish Cuba
City Travel Guides > Books > Caribbean
by: Ruth Behar

2007-10
Dr. Ruth Behar has written an insightful book about the Jews of Cuba and personal memories of the island passed down to her from family members who left Cuba after Fidel Castro's revolution. Although Dr. Behar was only a child when she left Cuba with her family and had no personal memories of the events that happend during her childhood, her many trips to Cuba as an anthropologist have allowed her to recreate that period of history and update it to the current time. Her emotional interviews with Jews still living in Cuba have allowed her to document how Jewish lives and the practice of Judaism have evolved through three time periods; 1)Prior to the revolution, 2) During Cuba's officially atheistic period, 1959-1992, and 3) During its secular period, 1992 to ... Read More:
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