 |
|
Title: No Worries Hawaii: A Vacation Planning Guide for Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island
ISBN: 0967007291
Author:
Jerry Sprout
Janine Sprout
Publicate Date: 2007-09-15
Publish: 2007-09-15
List Price: $18.95
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
 |
|
|
|
|
Amazon Lowest New Price: $11.98
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $8.52
Amazon Merchant Price: $12.89
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Customer Review: |
|
1: No hassle Hawaii
No Worries Hawaii is just what we were looking for. The authors have condensed and organized so much information which made our vacation decisions simple. What I really liked was their self test which asks you what you want most out of your vacation there. Beach time, hiking, and especially snorkeling were all key to us. Then it pointed us to which islands filled the bill.
There are things to do in Hawaii that I never imagined. We ended up going to Hawaii Island with a short stay in Waikiki on Oahu just to see what that's all about. The guide also recommends where to stay on the islands, again, depending on your tastes.
Everybody is so internet oriented these days and I got overwhelmed Googling around. The No Worries put me right on track. In the back pages is the Wiki Phonebook they put together that has tons of contact information. I couldn't believe how friendly people in Hawaii are on the phone! Anyway, this book is written with a sense of humor that takes all the stress out of planning. The photos make you feel like you're right there in paradise. We also ended up buying the Trailblazer guides for the Big Island and the one for Oahu to zero in on more details.
|
2: Packed with all things Hawaii
We studied the pages in No Worries for weeks before finally deciding to split our trip between Oahu and Hawaii Island. Since our connection had us landing in Honolulu, it was a no brainer to tour Oahu for a week and then spend another on the Big Island. Oahu was fascinating as well as beautiful and this guide was right on when it came to base camping at a condo in Waikiki. What a fun place with plenty of nonstop entertainment. They were again right when they recommended not renting a car. The bus system and friendly people made it easy to get around and Honolulu was a fantastic walk around city.
After our whirlwind week on Oahu we were ready to navigate the Hawaii Island with a checklist of best snorkeling areas. Turtles aplenty and clear water right off lava shelfs. I guess what made this book valuable was getting to the heart of why we were going in the first place and then helping us with our itineraries.
This guide is heavy with stunning photography and all the little details you'd never think about unless you've been there. These authors have come up with all the jewels, yours for the picking.
|
3: Too general
The book gave me good tips on finding accommodation, otherwise I didn't find it useful. Go for "The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook". That worked for me much better.
|
4: An all encompassing book
Jerry and Janine Sprout's No Worries Hawaii is an essential guide for exploring on foot, by bike or by paddle the varied and magnificent terrain of the Hawaiian islands. And choices abound: the best hikes, trees and jungle, coast, falls and rivers, hikes for bird watchers and the like. They give expert advice for snorkelers, mountain bikers, paddlers, surfers, and even best activities for a rainy day.
The authors offer clear instructions on how to get to trail heads, difficulty of hike and signposts to navigate by along the way. The guide is very children friendly, highlighting a variety of cultural sites and outdoor venues for various ages. It has a plethora of useful hints about what to take, precautions to observe, and practical dos and don'ts. Here is a guide to the best of the Hawaiian islands.
Above all, I found the book is a joy to read and hard to put down, whetting one's appetite for yet one more island and one more excursion. Essential reading for any lover of the outdoors.
|
5: Two-Punch Knockout
My wife and I used another guidebook in the series from these same authors---The Big Island Trailblazer---on our last trip to the Big Island, and the dogeared text was the most valuable tool in the backpack. These people know what they are doing. They've gotten everything right with these guidebooks: readable type, user-friendly layout, sensible maps, lovely illustrative photos, practical advice, helpful features, and easy-to-figure out directions for any activity, from driving to biking to hiking to snorkeling. Plus the writing is unfailingly clear, helpful...and often downright witty. We're kind of semi-bewildered George Burns & Gracie Allen-type travelers, so these volumes are a blessing for us. It's a rare treat to find travel guidebooks that are not only information-packed, well-organized and thoughtfully-researched but also such a delight to read because of the stellar graphics and design and the delightful prose. Functional and fun. A two-punch knockout.
Now this new Hawaii overview book shows up at Powell's Books, and we're knocked out again. I can't imagine a better resource for planning a first trip to the islands or a more comprehensive re-visit. There's a self-test to suss out one's travel preferences and activity priorities that is subsequently connected to the best, most comprehensive "Best Of" listings we've ever seen. The result is extraordinarily useful information for trip planning and execution. It's quite an original and workable planning tool. Then there's plenty of practical advice that gives do-it-yourself types all they need for a Hawaiian vacation success. The color photos are stunning. I want to jump on a plane tomorrow.
|
|
|
|
|
