Lonely Planet Hawaii: The Big Island (Regional Travel Guide)
by Conner Gorry, Luci Yamamoto
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Book Reviews of Lonely Planet Hawaii: The Big Island (Regional Travel Guide)
Book Review: Good, compact travel guide
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I've been hoping to make a trip to the Big Island for a while now (but somehow wind up draw to other locales instead...) I really would love to see the volcano. This book is my first foray into checking the island out, and although the trip is still in the future, I have enjoyed this guidebook's info and presentation.
First of all, it is a surprisingly small, pleasantly manageable volume, slightly larger than an old-style pocketbook, ideal for packing on either an airplane or a hiking trip. The information seems generally good, although it is heavily focused on shopping and dining info, and seems a bit vague on the physical details of various hikes and outdoor activities (for example, it might tell you that there is a rock pool "near" a beach, but not tell you exactly how to get there -- and if you don't get the exact details for this kind of thing, i.e. which road/footpath to take, you'll probably waste a lot of time looking, and not find what you're looking for...) Still, the guide is pretty well written and comprehensive. I'll probably use this book in conjunction with the Ultimate Guide series, which I've used in Kauai with great results. I think between the two, I'll be pretty well balanced -- Lonely Planet can paint the broad strokes, and the Ultimate writers will get more into the detail. In either case, that volcano is totally gonna rock. (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Hawaiian Music Guide)
Book Review: a nice small guide for the Big Island
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This small travel guide for "Hawai'i The Big Island" by Lonely Planet is surprisingly detailed for such a small (very portable) book. The photographs in this book are gorgeous and well laid out. The sections of this book are organized by locations on the Big Island... such as Kona Coast, Kailua-Kona... etc. Each section has tips on what to do and see there in that particular location. There is a lot of information packed into the approximately 300 page book, and an index in the back if you are looking for specific things. Besides photographs, this book does include some maps too... but most of them aren't super detailed. One of the most interesting tips I found was on finding 'vegetarian friendly' places to eat (page 269), since vegetarians and vegans are quite rare in Hawaii (according to the guide). Being a vegetarian myself, I thought that it was a nice inclusion. For some reason, I always assumed that there were lots of vegetarians in Hawaii.
Conclusion:
For a small pocket travel guide, this book seems to have lots of useful information, amazing photographs, and a well organized layout. It made me want to go and explore Hawaii the minute I started reading it. I'm hoping that someday (soon) I'll get to use it. I hope this review was helpful to you... Aloha!
Book Review: great insider tips
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
The color photos are inviting and the listing of resources impressive.
With a Table of Contents and Index to work with there is no difficulty in finding parasailing, snorkeling, diving, swimming, hiking, kayaking, farmers markets, restaurants, shopping, waterfalls, surfing groms, yoga, beer and tons of other listings. I was surprised to find snowboarding and a rare blonde blue-eyed zebra named Zoe in the book.
Get inside tips on where to eat and what the best items on the menu are (as well as the not so good.) If the quality suffers during rush times you can find that info as well. The reader becomes very nicely informed of atmosphere, price, quality, and if the business is kid-friendly or not.
If you want to know what farmers market is a must see and taste and what one sells imported souvenirs, you will find it here.
Etiquette on hiking (leave no trace behind, even from your behind), water activities, environmental issues as well as trespassing are all included.
An excellent resource for those who want to plan a travel budget, would like to know what areas to avoid and what areas are a must see. Several suggested travel itineraries are included.
Great Guide.
Book Review: Big Island guide to have
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
What I liked about this guide was that no matter how many days you had to spend there on the Big Island, you had an itinerary to follow. This guide does a good job of telling you what is the best thing to see depending on how much time you are there. For those of us on a shoestring budget, with limited time one each island, this is helpful.
Another thing I liked was that it included a lot of information on local establishments, including addresses and phone numbers. It seemed to not just say the standard hotel eateries and big name resturants, but also the "mom and pop" places to go. My only concern was whether this book would stand the test of time since businesses come and go. What happens if the places close or go out of business. How often this book is republished would be a concern to me. I guess it is always good to call ahead and be sure that an eatery, or a shop etc, is still there.
One more drawback was its lack of depth of information. If you are ok with brevity you may not mind this. Other guides have much more detailed information on the culture and histories of the locations they tell you to visit. This is not a problem for me, but I thought I would mention it in case it is to someone else.
Book Review: The Perfect Little Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
You can get excited and buy a big book on the big island but it would be a big mistake. Nobody wants to travel with a big book. Books are heavy. What you need is a book that is small enough to carry in a bag or a big pocket. This Lonely Planet book is the perfect size, fits all, and is filled with information well-illustrated. You'll want this book with you at all times, except when you get there, whenever that is. The maps and color photos make a big difference, making this far better than Fodor's which usually is informative but rarely has good pictures. We just got back from the Big Island, by coincidence, so I happen to be in a good position to judge a few details. We made it out to the Volcanoes National Park, which is the Island's main attraction. The map and guide here in the Lonely Planet are perfect, esp. if you are on your own and not on a guided tour. The guide offers detailed information on hiking, camping, driving tips and directions, all of which are needed. I recommend this guide book unconditionally.