Fodor's Gay Guide to South Florida, 1st Edition : With South Beach and Key West

Rating:
Summary: Honest and refreshing
Review: There are two problems with gay travel guides -- usually.

First, they are often sponsored by advertising, which means that every review is a rave. Every club is suddenly "friendly," and "the place to be." That doesn't help much,and it makes for grimacing reading.

Second, they are often sketchy. Some guidebooks are little more than a group of symbols and maybe a few phrases if we're lucky like, "Crowded. Dark."

Thankfully, this book is honest, fun and descriptive. Here, you'll find an unvarnished description of the major restaurants, accommodations and bars in South Florida. Most are accompanied by at least a paragraph that seeks to *show* the reader what it's like, rather than *telling*. I'm especially proud of the fact that in several places, the author isn't afraid to call a place a dump if it warrants it. That kind of honesty is refreshing.

My only complaint is that the author admits that some places are omitted because are so bad they don't meet the standards of the book. I would like to see those places reviewed anyway so the reader can determine for himself.

All in all, this is a compact, descriptive, helpful guide for the gay traveler who is new to the area.