Perfect for trip planning

books:


	• Caribbean Islands (Multi Country Guide) Conner Gorry, Thomas Kohnstamm, ... Lonely Planet, 2005 - 832 pages average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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Perfect for trip planning

At 800+ pages, this is too heavy to lug around, but it's perfect for planning a trip and deciding where to visit. After you've planned your itinerary, I suggest buying a more specialized LP (Lonely Planet) guide to take with you - a small price to pay for a successful vacation.

Cuba gets the longest chapter (a whopping 59pp), followed by the Dominican Republic (48pp), Trinidad & Tobago (47pp), Bahamas (43pp), and Jamaica (42pp). However, the book's warnings about Jamaican crime will cause most travellers to rethink their itinerary. Haiti receives a token 18 pages due to the turmoil there. At the other end of the spectrum, the shortest chapters are on Saba and St. Eustatius (10pp each).

I enjoy the LP writing style, and I like their emphasis on practical tidbits. For example, don't fly directly from Aruba to the U.S. because you'll be in line for two hours at the Aruba airport due to understaffing by U.S. customs officers (yes, U.S.) who handle pre-clearance procedures. This is the kind of nuts-and-bolts information for which LP is famous, and enables visitors to avoid vacation hell.

Pet peeves: The chapters covering the 26 jurisdictions seem to be in random order - why not alphabetical? LP has always been famous for their maps, but lately their maps have been using one shade of gray for water and a slightly different shade of gray for land, which is tough on the eyes.

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As usual

As usual, the Lonely Planet book delivers tons of information for travelers of all incomes. Especially helpful are tips on where to go to avoid cruise ship crowds. However, I had to skip the chapter on Cuba, because of the US travel ban. And the chapters on Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic should probably only be used to decide whether or not you want to go to those places. If so, you should probably buy the Lonely Planet books dedicated exclusively to them.

With coconut palms and white-sand beaches, vibrant cities and tranquil coves, the Caribbean's rich mix of islands offers endless possibilities for the ultimate tropical escape. Whether you want to dive among shipwrecks, stretch out on dry land or cast away with a glass of rum, this comprehensive and practical guide is the key to unlocking your Caribbean dream.

Plan Your Trip - inspiring itineraries, insider tips and over 70 maps help you get to the heart of the islands.

Sleep In Style - hand-picked accommodations to suit all budgets, from rustic beachside huts to luxurious resorts.

Learn The Lingo - easy-to-use Caribbean language chapter covers French, Spanish and Dutch basics.

Feel The Beat - from Carnivals and jump-ups to reggae festivals and live jazz, immerse yourself in the music scene with our in-depth entertainment listings.

Fun In The Sun - extensive options for land and water activities, including a dedicated Diving & Snorkeling chapter.

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