Hawaii the Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook (Hawaii the Big Island Revealed)

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Summary: We called it the Bible
Review: Just back on the mainland and still in awe at how essential we found this guidebook. It seems that no matter what you want out of your Big Island visit, this one will help you make the best of it. We met other travelers who were also referencing it and called it their Bible for touring the island. Well done, Andrew and Harriett!

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Summary: The only book to buy for the Big Island
Review: This is the greatest travel book you can ever find for the Big Island. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon and it couldn't have been as fun as it was if we didn't have this book. The book describes every detail to get to the most wonderful spots. We toured around almost the whole island and would have missed a lot if this book didn't point us to the right direction.

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Summary: must have
Review: We recently returned from Big Island, the house we were staying in had this book. Thank God! This book is excellent, well written, easy to follow and honest. So many of the places it refers you to, you would never find without it. Just make sure you have a passenger along to read while you drive. Place of Refuge was the most beautiful place I have ever seen, a must see. Walk out to the water, we found several turtles in the tide pools along the black rock coast. I just finished planning a trip to Oahu and came on to buy oahu version....ENJOY!

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Summary: Traveling with Kids? Take a Second Look...
Review: The most important aspect to know about this book is that it is not written with children in mind. There is a little blurb in the beginning about traveling with children but it does not go into much detail throughout the rest of the book whether it's a good idea to do the activities with kids or not. I will have to say that we made a lot of mistakes on our trip to The Big Island by doing some of the things this book recommends with our children, ages 6 & 8. It would be nice for them to update this book with references to whether some of the activities are good/safe to do with kids. I also don't feel that it is right to recommend going into people's private property to enjoy an afternoon. FOR A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE, DON'T take the kayak trip across Kealakekua Bay to Captain Cook's Monument with Children!! We found the launch area to be horrible and dangerous with our children whereas the book makes it sound like it will be a wonderful, easy afternoon. Thank goodness for the locals there that helped us and everyone else that day by assisting us to get out of the water safely! If you have kids, pay the money to take the tour boat!! The snorkeling is well worth the money for the tour boat!
That said, this is a must-have for the information about the island. But if you have kids, take a second look before doing a lot of the activities they recommend.

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Summary: A perfect guidebook
Review: On our first couple trips to the Islands of Aloha, my wife and I saw them on our own. O`ahu, Maui, Kaua`i, Moloka`i, The Big Island; we planned everything we could online and just let each day guide us along. We did all the touristy things and loved it. But we wanted more from our next trip.

Enter Wizard Publications. We found a mention of their books in an online forum and immediately bought them all (one book each for Kaua`i, The Big sland, Maui and, just recently, O`ahu). It was the best decision ever.

These books made it apparent that the islands we had explored previously were still yet undiscovered by us. So we planned a 16-day trip back to Kaua`i and the Big Island. We figured a week on each island would be enough. But the more we read the books, the more we wanted to explore. And the more we wanted to explore, the more we realized a week on each island was not enough. So if there is a negative side for these books it is that they will make you want to stay on the Sandwich Isles longer than your wallet may allow.

In Hawaii The Big Island Revealed, you will find all of the off-the-beaten-path places. The book reveals: Hi`ilawe Falls which is the highest waterfall in all the islands; Waipi`o Valley which is, in our opinion, the most beautiful spot on the Big Island and is a place to which most tourists do not venture but is fully explained on how to reach it; Pololu Valley and Beach is rarely (comparatively speaking) visited (the day we hiked down to this 1-mile long blacksand beach, we had it ALL to ourselves); The lava tube at Pu`uhonua o Honaunau was a joy to explore; Hiking out on the lava fields below Pu`u O`o and seeing and touching (with a stick) the red hot flowing lava was a blast; Going to the top of Mauna Kea and watching the the sunset and then stargazing (you never knew there were so many stars); Seeing a greensand beach; The list goes on and on and on.

It's needless to say but we had to cut our things-to-do list down to manageable amount for the first trip with the books. But we have since returned to the islands with their guidebooks in-hand. Once again, it seems like a new place. And if we ever manage to see all of things they've written in these books, I'm sure it will be time to start it all over and enjoy it again.

If you're terrible with directions, worry not. The included maps with solid reference points noted will keep even the most directionless person from getting lost.

If you're wondering about that hotel you want to book for your stay, be sure to check their revue in the book. They do anonymous and unannounced reviews of just about every major hotel on the island. Since nothing is given to them for free to review, they write truly honest reviews. As a matter of fact, they brag in the book that some of the review-ees would like to pay to keep their names from being mentioned since the brutal honesty stings badly.

The book also describes (maps and all) many hiking trails with scenery that will be seared into your memory (unlike John Kerry, you will remember these vividly). The images will last a lifetime.

Restaurant reviews are also included. But we have found some of the nicely reviewed places to be a little off-key. Besides, restaurants are always hit or miss and can change dramatically with just a slight change in staff.

They also provide many links on their website to keep everything up-to-date. As well, you can review aerial photos of the major cities to verify that the hotel you want to stay at is truly ocean front.

If you are the outdoors-type that loves hiking and adventuring AND you want to do more on the Big Island than sit by the pool of your hotel sipping Mai-Tais or taking a few cattle-prodded tours on big buses, you really need to buy this book. You will not be disappointed.

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Summary: Love - Love - Love This Book!
Review: My sister and I went to the Big Island and we didn't have too many brochures, I sent away for some from the state and they give you a small magazine that really isn't too helpful. When we got to Kona we picked up all of the Airport flyers/magazines. They were a little more helpful. But when we went to Costco we both were checking out the book so we decided to buy it. It was a life saver! We wouldn't have seen half the things that we saw. The directions are great on how to get to places. We took this book everywhere, I would recommend this it to anyone going to the Big Island!

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Summary: Take this with you to the Big Island!
Review: At first we were just going to go with the freebie guides you get at the airport, but a friend recommended this book. This book is awesome--it tells you the negatives as well as the positives about the sights, restaurants, and hotels on the big island. Very helpful in planning what to do on our trip. We took it everywhere we went!

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Summary: Don't go to Hawaii without a Revealed book!
Review: Recently in Hawaii I was lost until my wife and I bought the book for the Big Island and Kuaui. The recommendations were right on and good for the camper to the luxury traveler! This is a small investment that pays huge dividends.

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Summary: Awesome Book!!!
Review: My new husband and I just got back from our Hawaiian honeymoon to Maui and the Big Island. (Let me just say that the Maui book is just as good as this one!)
We both really enjoyed the books honesty in everything that they think of where to visit (whether it's overrated to the secret locations that only the locals know!) and even what restaurants to eat at! (We followed all of their restaurant suggestions because all the restaurants are really, REALLY expensive! And the authors take into consideration, the quality of food for the price that you pay as well as the service and atmosphere of each restaurant!)
All that we can say is...If we didn't have this gudiebook and purchased another one (I was highly considering the Frommer's and the Lonely Planet one!), we would have just gotten a list of places to visit (every tourist spot) without so much as the authors opinion on whether it was worth the drive/hike to get there in the first place.
So if you are looking for a guidebook that will take you to secluded waterfalls and touristy spots that are really worth the lines/wait, you should get this book!
The two of us can't praise the book any more except to spread the word that the book was our bible! on the trip to the Big Island (as well as the Maui book for Maui)!

Rating:
Summary: can i say 4++?
Review: yes, same as for the maui guide, though i liked this a tad more

i travel alot and i'm a reader/researcher as i do all planning myself (i enjoy this task almost as much as the trip itself) ... love DK books!!!! still do .. but, stumbled upon these guides courtesy of amazon reviews and was not disapointed .. loved the way they were organized ... loved the way they covered variety of topics (ie i'm a diver and it was great they didn't just list what they thought were the 3 dive shops but rather a dozen with there preferences and why and then for those they didn't like a reason why so you could choose .. highly recommend the variety/choice by topic/adventure .. good investment