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Title: Moon Handbooks Tahiti: Including the Cook Islands by David Stanley ISBN: 1-56691-412-4 Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing Pub. Date: October, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (10 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Don't leave home without it!
Comment: Every time I plan a visit to Polynesia (4x) or Fiji, the first thing I do is buy the most recent version of David Stanley's Moon Guide because they are the most reliable & comprehensive. David travels incognito & he actually visits the pensions & hotels; unlike other travel writers who rely upon the reviews of others. While Fodor's is aimed at what I would term the 'average American tourist', David's guide includes comprehensive reviews of different classes of lodging, detailed village, island & trail maps that are invaluable to those who like to go off on their own. Since he's a diver, he's assessment of dive shops are invaluable, but most importantly, since he doesn't accept 'freebies' he's not adverse to slamming a resort for bad service or advising you not to eat some place. If all you're looking for is an insular vacation at a 5 star resort with hotel arranged excursions, then just take the advice of your travel agent. But, if you want a truly special, individual experience then Moon Guides' Tahiti is for you. Every book has extensive sections on the history, culture & religion of the islands... with extensive reviews of lodging, excursions & restaurants, so you don't just have to accept the opinion of your travel agent. Many times, travel agents push clients to resorts that pay the biggest commissions, instead of attempting to match the traveler's personality & lifestyle to a hotel that might pay a smaller percentage in commissions. I've found David's Moon Guide to be more reliable than the Lonely Planets books in the categories of hotel reviews, his review are more informative & his maps are far more accurate. If you're buying one guide book this is the one... If you want the best FP vacation possible, then read this book before you call a travel agent...David also advises readers on how to book it yourself or get the best deals.
Rating: 5
Summary: A travel guide that takes you away to a fun adventure
Comment: David Stanley's Moon Handbook: Tahiti brings this island region of the South Pacific to life for the adventurous traveler -- or even an armchair traveler like myself. The thorough research and detail of information makes this wonderful book a truly great read. It far surpasses Lonely Planet's guide on Tahiti which skimps on giving color to this tropical Eden.
It's obvious Stanley really knows the region. He gives readers a thorough and clear background on a variety of natural history subjects such as the growth of Pacific coral development and the animals of the Tahiti area such as sharks and jellyfish. We also get a profound examination of the region's human history starting from the prehistoric adventurers who braved the ocean to establish their cultures on the various islands.
Moon Handbook: Tahiti provides travelers with an extensive amount of information to make a trip to these islands memorable. It offers details on shopping tips and transportation resources, advice on how to find the best and most economical accommodations, and suggestions of the best restaurants to try out. The book also is filled with a good number of highly detailed maps that provide readers with a splendid geographic perspective of the Tahiti and Cook island systems.
I read Stanley's book during a rainy week in winter, and it definitely helped me to escape the winter grey of California to soak in the sun of this beautiful paradise on the other side of the world.
Rating: 5
Summary: Another fine work from David Stanley
Comment: The 5th edition of David Stanley's "Tahiti" guide is a terrific reference for anyone planning a visit that little corner of the world. Covering not only the languid lagoons of French Polynesia, but also those of the beautiful Cook Islands and the barren windswept hills of Easter Island, the book tells you pretty much everything you need to know when preparing yourself for a trip to paradise. Island by island, David takes you through the sights and attractions each location has to offer. This is followed by a "Practicalities" section devoted to providing you with the things you need to know in order make your dream visit become reality (such as accommodation, dining, transportation and shopping choices as well as the legal requirements needed to secure entry). There is also a great selection of maps so you can get an idea of where the various resorts, restaurants, and attractions sit in relation to one another. Furthermore, there's a fine selection of hints and tips designed to make every aspect of your trip more pleasant and enjoyable. All, in all, this book can pretty much do it all for you.
On a purely personal note, I feel I have to add that the authors love for this part of the world is truly evident. The South Pacific is a fine mistress, and as one who has dallied with her a couple of times myself, I understand fully the intoxication these idyllic islands can leave you with. David is smitten, as were Paul Gauguin, Herman Melville, James Michener, and countless other artists, writers and poets before him. Still, despite the obvious infatuation, David maintains a sense of balance and so you hear the bad with the good, so that you might arrive in paradise prepared for both.
Just from the research I've done for my own little write-ups on Epinions.com, I know just how much work can go into even a small travel article, so I can't even imagine how much effort must have put into a book with this much substance. If you are traveling to (or even thinking of traveling to) any of the areas covered by this book (especially French Polynesia), this book deserves a place in your collection.
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