Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 917.290453
EAN num: 9780471946175
ISBN number: 0471946176
Label: Frommer's
Manufacturer: Frommer's
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 800
Printing Date: August 21, 2006
Publishing house: Frommer's
Sale Popularity Level: 630734
Studio: Frommer's
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
Completely updated every year (unlike most of the competition), Frommer's Caribbean features gorgeous colour photos of the stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and colorful coral gardens that await you. There are dozens of islands and hundreds of accommodations to choose from, so our guide compares all the options, helping you find the tropical getaway that's right for you. We've included web addresses for every hotel, so you can check out pictures as you make your decision. Inside you'll find in-depth, honest reviews of lavish honeymoon resorts, intimate inns, family-friendly motels and condo complexes, and more, with selections in every price category.
We'll point you to the loveliest secluded beaches, and send you to the best places for snorkeling, diving, golf, sailing, tennis, deep-sea fishing, and more. You'll also get a complete shopper's guide, and up-to-date coverage of the hottest nightlife in the region, from glittering casinos and sizzling reggae clubs to funky beach bars. You'll even find an up-to-date cruise planner, tips on finding the best package deals, and an online directory that makes trip-planning a snap.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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After determining a travel destination, my very first step is to consult the U.S. State Department's Consular Information Sheet on the country. My second is to get the latest Frommer's book. They have never failed me, I can always count on the advice, tips and information. Very well formatted, all the information you need is easy to find and always accurate.
Rated by buyers -
I find this one of the best books of the caribbean as I have traveled there before. It's a great help on seeing more of the islands, where to go and not spend a fortune. Frommer's is one of the best travel authorities around...
Rated by buyers 
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We used this book on our recent trip to three Caribbean destinations and were generally disappointed. Misleading and missing information cost us significantly. Some specifics are:
- In Saint Maarten, we learned upon arrival that many shops and restaurants accept U.S. cash at a 1:1 ratio to the Euro. This represented a 28% savings at the time we traveled. This information could have saved us a bundle if we had brought cash instead of relying upon credit and the local currency.
- The Saint Maarten chapter states "most visitors use taxis to get around" and "the taxi drivers' union strictly enforces a law that forbids anyone from picking up a car at the airport". This prompted us to not reserve a car in advance. At the airport, we found a wide range of car rental agencies, but went for the taxi anyway. After one day, we learned that having a car was mandatory (in my opinion) due to the high cost of taxis ($30 one way from airport to Orient Beach), the distance between sites and the lack of reasonably price restaurants near our mid-priced Frommers' recommended hotel. We ended up reserving a car through the hotel and paying a higher rate than we would have with an advance reservation.
- In the Dominican Republic chapter, the $50 US cash only round-trip taxi from La Romana airport to our beach hotel (a 15 minute ride) wasn't mentioned. This is the standard rate as confirmed by the Airport information desk. I imagine they would have accepted local currency in a pinch, but this was an unwelcome surprise in any case.
- Frommers states that at a hotel they recommend in La Romana, free upgrades are given on a first-come, first-served basis during the low season. Though we would later learn the resort was about half full, we were assigned what had to be the worst room in the house. $600 later, we were upgraded, after finding no other way to resolve the problem.
One important purpose of a good travel guide is to help avoid unpleasant surprises. This book failed us in this area.
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