Hidden Tahiti and French Polynesia : Including Moorea, Bora Bora, and the Society, Austral, Gambier, Tuamotu, and Marquesas Islands (Hidden Tahiti)

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Summary: Hidden Tahiti: Not all that hidden
Review: As a two time, three island visitor to the islands of Tahiti, I did not find this book helpful because it lacks prices and it focuses on upscale lodging/food. On both trips, I've found David Stanley's TAHITI (by Moon Pub.) to be the BEST guide, providing you purchase the most recent edition, as Tahiti's hotels change with the seasons. David Stanley's guides are full of detailed maps, reviews of hikes, beaches, accomodations (from hostels to resorts), food... His advice has never steered us wrong! We owe some great travel experiences to his guide book; TAHITI by D. Stanley is the only one that you will need.

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Summary: Found Tahiti
Review: We are planning our 2001 trip pacific south bound. Picked this book out of the several other's. Liked the cover!the "tone", and contents of the book. It envited me further in and on to the purchase line. Being prior Hawaiian residents, we have always hoped to get down to the true polynesian teritories and experiance, the "raw" and more un-americanized version of Polynesian lifestyle. Rob Kay's book truely stands out to be one of Tahiti's most informative, inspiring light's! I have found. So,thanks Rob for the Torch, it has surely helped enlighten us on our next Journey!

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Summary: The only book we used...
Review: We bought 3 books and always seemed to rely on this one. Mr Kay gives great info on restaurants and hidden lodgings, which are the 2 most important topics for us. We actually stayed in one place that he labeled "hidden" and he was right! We could not find the entrance and when we did they were not open to the public, but they decided to let us stay and we were the only guests for a week. No other guide book listed this hidden lodging. Mr. Kay has a more personal approach and gives great descriptions, which the other guide books lack. And as far as not giving exact prices, it's useless to do so as these things change so much anyway. All you need to know is this: you stay in a big hotel where all the other tourists stay you will pay big money for not so much, if you venture out to where the real people live, you pay less and get better service, food, and memories.