Frommer's Portable Puerto Rico, Second Edition

Rating:
Summary: Close to useless on many fronts
Review: Not terrible, but don't rely on it for finding anything special.

Taking a cruise to San Juan? Fine book. You will get off the boat, go to some reasonable shops, eat a good (but not cheap) meal, and do fine.

Interested in a fun week outside of San Juan? Not so great. Did a fine job (although far from complete) on where to stay. Especially Paradors (gov't run hotels) were a great contribution from the book.

Looking for a place to snorkel? Or for a special beach? The treasure-hunt attitude of the book ("nearby, you will find super beach with incredible snorkeling") is useless. How about some directions and physical location? "Nearby" seems to encompass everything from driving down unmarked roads to hiking trash strewn trails where you sincerely hope the end of the trail is a great beach, and not a mugging. Maps were also incredibly inaccurate.

Rating:
Summary: Useless
Review: The respected Frommer really falls to the bottom of the pile after this book. We took our first visit to Puerto Rico last month and we looking for what the reviews promised. Well, unless you want information about San Juan and Old San Juan, forget about it. There was NO info about our resort - The Copamarina - which, we've learned is in another of Frommer's books as a recommended spot. We were staying in the southern portion of the island and there's little info in the book for that area. We were particularly interested in purchasing the masks worn at Carnivale...the shops recommended in the book no longer exist. The Fox-Delicias Mall in Ponce is completely closed and empty for renovation.

Rating:
Summary: Everything you need to know in 210 pages.
Review: This pocket-sized guide was the only thing I needed to carry on my trip to Puerto Rico. With tips on the best beaches, wild life attraction, and restaurants, we were able to get the true authentic experience. Prices were exact and current, ratings and highlights were easy to find, and the cost was low. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to get the most of their vacation without a big, heavy book.