Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!! From bugs to hiking to dining!!
Review: Even having been to Kauai a few times, I find this book quite helpful. Since it was written after Iniki, the descriptions of services, construction, etc. are a must to know. The color pictures and maps add so much to a very enjoyable guidebook.
Rating:
Summary: The QUINTESSENTIAL Kauai guide book -- topped by no other
Review: All other books pale by comparison. Harriet and Andrew (as I've come to know them on my trip) have written a book that surpasses all others on this fabulous gem of an Island. I only wish I knew about their other book about the Big Island before it was too late. The advice in this book is excellent, precise and funny (although a bit corny), and the layout is superb -- with color and pictures that bring Kauai to life even before you get there. One word of advice for the 4th edition however would be an alphabetical index of cities and locations that correspond to a grid on the large map in the inside back cover. The only remaining question for me is whether these two authors are married, engaged, or otherwise to eachother . . .
Rating:
Summary: This is the one
Review: This book is tremendous! We found great trails, secluded beaches, snorkling sites, restaurants, etc. The book truly helped us to enjoy Kauai beyond the average tourist.
Rating: 
Summary: It guides you for the MOST part
Review: Just got back and used the new 3rd edition. Steered me to some great places(and unfortunately he was correct about the rundown accommodations at the Pono Kai Resort), though it's a bit frustrating when the restaurants/resorts are not in the index nor are their addresses given! Also, if you are into hiking get a separate book; I found this one a bit sparse and confusing. But thanks to the guide, I found a great beach (Hideaways in Princeville--bring snorkeling equipment!) and the wonderful Air Kauai helicopter tour of the island. Oh, he forgets to warn you about the lousy interisland air carrier Aloha Airlines. They are the black smudge on a beautiful state.
Rating:
Summary: The perfect guide to plan a perfect vacation
Review: Awesome, awesome, awesome! This book is the best! It was heads above any of the other guide books for Kaua'i I had purchased for our trip. The majority of the reviews and descriptions are right on and we appreciated the detailed maps. In addition to general touring we used the Activities and Adventure sections extensively. There are some great suggestions for outdoor enthusiasts. We also used the guide to select a SCUBA dive company to certify us while we were on Kaua'i. The recommendation for the company OceanQuest was completely accurate. George and Jeanette have wonderful senses of humor and are fabulous with beginnners. I heard that the 3rd edition is coming out soon. I can't wait to buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Best of show!!!
Review: We were on a vacation with a number of people from the company that I work at, and we were so far ahead with this book that everyone thought we had been to Kauai before. It is wonderful, especially the info on helicopter rides, the beaches and Shave Ice!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great book.
Review: In 1995 we found this book to match extremely well to the experiences we had on the island. It was much more helpful than two other guide books we had. We just got the 1996 edition to plan for another trip to the island and it is improved over the wonderful 1994 edition. We are buying 12 copies to send to our friends and family
Rating:
Summary: Planning to visit Kauai ? Read this Book !
Review: You will know more than the locals after reading this book. The title says it all
Rating:
Summary: Wish Every Destination Had a Guidebook Like This
Review: + The reviews are written for the average tourists, not for some choice travel editors. For example, the conventional guidebooks' dining guide consists mainly of large/hip restaurants and hotel restaurants. Ultimate Kauai also tells you about roadside stands, take-out places, and "plastic paper & picnic table" kind of places. Very helpful for quick meals and we had some best food in such places.+ This one tells you which sights/restaurant/tour/hotel/etc are great and which are not and why that is so. The brutally honest review is so helpful. + It's very easy and fun to read. To me, reading guidebooks is usually equivalent to studying text-books (I don't enjoy it but I must study it). But I actually enjoyed reading this one. + This guidebook is beautiful to look at. All the pages are smooth coated papers with lost of color photos. Hard to believe for the price. Since we'd never been to Kauai nor Hawaii, we followed this book's recommendations for everything, and it was a success! Now whenever I travel to other destinations without a guide like this, I feel like I'm missing out a lot (and I probably am).
Rating:
Summary: Trustworthy / Worth the Purchase
Review: This guidebook really is in it's own category compared to other travel books. Doughty and Friedman actually live on Kauai, and really try to help people see all of the island for themselves. What is incredibly helpful about the book: 1) They give you straight up advice on who to use for helicoptor tours, kayak adventures, horseback riding, etc. If you don't know you will simply default to whoever has the best and biggest ad at the Safeway store. (which you can do at your own risk) 2) They give legit, albeit short, reviews about places to eat & sleep. 3) They tell you where to stay, and more importantly, what the accomodations will be like. They are usually dead on with their recommendations, because, again, they live there and do their homework. 4) As far as locals whining about the fact that they point you in the direction of paths to hidden beaches and wonders, I would be annoyed if I was a local as well - but, nature is for everyone to enjoy, not just Kauai residents. So, if you go exploring don't leave trash, don't walk on private property, and be respectful, no local can trash you for that. Overall great book: A Joseph Dworak
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