Rating: 
Summary: Who needs a kamaaina when you have this guide?
Review: This book was an outstanding reference; I recommend it unconditionally. It was incredibly useful, honest, humorous, and gave us clear expectations. Their advice helped us with everything from lodging, dining, diving, and kayaking. It accompanied us everywhere.The authors have gone to painstaking efforts to offer candid feedback and reviews. I appreciated their sense of humor and found the book helpful, interesting, and funny. They also try to provide the most current data available, which we appreciated. The updated website info was a nice bonus. Limitations exist, however, so call to confirm hours or make reservations before you drive from Princeville to Waimea for a drop-in dinner. I also bought their guide to the Big Island and found it to be accurate. Based on the quality of these, we've purchased (but not yet used) their guide to Maui. I anticipate the same thoughtful and comprehensive work in that guide. Just thinking about all of this is making my heart ache to visit again! *Whimper*
Rating:
Summary: The only guidebook you need.
Review: When I went to Maui a couple of years ago, I bought 4 guidebooks -- but after day one I only used Doughty and Friedman's book. When I made plans to spend a couple of weeks on Kauai this winter, I only had to buy one book -- this one. Wherever you are on this island, you will see tourists carrying this book - it seems to be the only one anyone uses - this can lead to some pretty crowded "secluded" places, but without this book NO ONE would be able to find some of these magnificent sites (the secret tunnel is amazing, but you'd better be in shape). Kauai is a fantastic island for those who like to hike, and this book gives you detailed instructions on how to get to all of the best hikes - many are not marked well if at all. Others in this section have criticized their restaraunt reviews for being too critical - I believe the opposite: They give some places their "Ono" rating for the view/location, but the food at a few of these establishments was nothing more than ordinary. Most of us won't be visiting Kauai every year, so you need to make the most of your time when you are there, and this book is definately the best tool to help you do that.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best guide for Kauai...
Review: I use the word "probably" because I didn't actually buy this book -- I looked at a copy that was at the B&B I stayed at on my very last night on Kauai (what luck!) -- but I WISH I had bought this book weeks before coming to the island because it is incredibly useful for planning. A little backstory: a friend said the book I HAD to get was "Hidden Hawaii." There is also "Hidden Kauai," but I was going to Oahu, as well, so the first one suited me better. It definitely has some good very useful information in it, although is not as graphically illustrated or as specific in some cases as "Ultimate Kauai." When I arrived on Kauai I found the book "Explore Kauai" by Blair Pruitt and it looked good and it was helpful (that particular store didn't have "Ultimate Kauai"). But when I picked up the B&B's copy of "Ultimate Kauai" and started reading it, I knew I had been missing the book I REALLY needed -- "Ultimate Kauai" is, yes, the ultimate book for doing Kauai. I can see why some Kauaians might be upset because the authors actually take the bold steps of criticizing some of the businesses and telling which are the best to take (helicopter rides, for example). But for the tourist, with so many damn choices of adventure/sporting companies, restaurants, lodging, sights, etc. -- some honest criticism and assessment is EXACTLY what one needs! Next time I go to Kauai (and I WILL be going back), I'll certainly take all the books I've got, but I'll use "Ultimate Kauai" as my primary source! And, by the way, Kauai is magical and wonderful! Spend time on Oahu, but spend MORE time on Kauai (if you like hiking and adventure and beauty -- not if you want nightlife!).
Rating:
Summary: The best guidebook ever!
Review: I just bought a copy of this book for my daughter who has travel plans for Kauai - I would have given her the one we used but it's so WELL USED that it's in tatters and we'll have to buy another one when we go back! This book has everything, from the hole-in-the-wall places tourists only wish they could find to wonderful hiking trails and information (take SERIOUSLY the recommendation to kike in Waimea Canyon in the MORNING) to beautiful restaurants for the "splurge" evening. We definitely recommend the book and felt that it enhanced our experience, our ability to make intelligent choices and the control we had over OUR vacation. Don't miss the hamburgers at Duke's or the reference to the shave ice place - wonderful! How would we have known otherwise???? This book is great!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Greatly Dissappointed
Review: Though the maps were noteworthy I was shocked at the manner in which some of the business establishments were reviewed in the the book. Curious we decided to ask the "experts", (locals), on the island about some of the businesses in the book. We were glad we did because we would have missed out on one of the best adventures on the island - Kauai ATV. So reader beware. Do your homework and remember that these are the opinions of 2 people with questionable taste. We found some of the reviews to be inaccurate and unnecessarily slanderous. Remember that the best advice is from those on the island who have an intimate knowledge of what is great about Kauai...and as soon as a book is publised it is outdated....
Rating:
Summary: Worth Every Penny!
Review: I don't normally buy guide books when I travel (I research online & just take notes) but for reasons too long to explain, I ended up with four guide books, The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, The Kauai Underground Guide, Snorkel Kauai, & Kauai Trailblazer, for my trip to Kauai in late Jan 04. This book by far was the BEST all around book. (Kauai Trailblazer is also great, especially for outdoor info). We took this book with us everywhere, every day. We found not only the beach/hiking/snorkeling advice very accurate and easy to follow, even the restaurant reviews we were in total agreement. We felt that we saw things/places in Kauai we never would have seen had we not had this book. In addition, I enjoyed the writers' style. I lived in Maui about 10 years ago and remember the constant conflict locals feel regarding tourists - the local economy depends on tourism to survive but sometimes interacting with tourists constantly is a challenge. I appreciated the writers' approach to this conflict in this book - they use humor, poking gentle fun at times, but emphasize respecting locals and local traditions/space. My husband and I laughed out loud at some of the passages in this book! We felt the book was geared toward people exactly like us - people who want to get out and see / do things while on vacation, learn something about where they are visiting, and not just shop and eat. If you like to get out and do / see things and only buy one guide book for Kauai, make sure it's this one.
Rating:
Summary: A Must have!
Review: Own the 4th edition. Visited Kauai for 1st time October 2003 with reccomendation by friends not to stay too long as there is nothing to do. Someone told me about this book after it was too late to change my 5 days there. This is THE BOOK to have. I will warn you that some locals (including transplanted ones) will sometimes frown as the author does lead you to a couple of hidden places that may be legal to get to but are made clear that you are not wanted when you get there. (Ho'opi'i falls). Other than that, this is a FANTASTIC book and everything was wonderful. It's easy to read, witty, entertaining and filled with stuff to do! I could not fit it all in, had such a wonderful time trying that we are going back for 12 days in Oct '04. If you are planning to go to Kauai, be sure to get this book in advance and start reading. Bring post-its and a AAA map on the plane with you and start deciding what to do! It was really fun seeing who all had "THE BOOK" and helping those who didn't with where to go. Literally every reccomendation was right on the mark!
Rating: 
Summary: Good
Review: This book was issued to everyone from my company who won an incentive trip to the island. Anyone I spoke with mentioned how useful the maps were. The maps were easy to read and made navigation simple. We did have some issues however. The descriptions of the resaturants gave little impression of what we found in terms of ambiance. Aside from Gaylords and The Beachhouse, the book failed to mention that most of the restaurants were in disappointing locations. That being said, we could find no better book.
Rating:
Summary: Right on the Mark!
Review: My husband and I bought many guidebooks when we went on our honeymoon to Hawaii. We found The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook to be indispensable. It is like having a local show you around. We actually had locals ask us how we found out about the places we were-Their books have stuff you won't find in ANY other guidebook. All of their ratings from hotels to restuarants to scuba dive shops are right on. We have since been to Maui and the Big Island and have used their books there also. We would NEVER think about ever buying any other guidebooks but theirs for a trip to Hawaii. And with their guidebooks you get a password which gives you access to their website with even more great stuff on it. If you want a unique, truly Hawaiian experience-buy their book!
Rating:
Summary: No better guide book available.
Review: I found this to be *the* best guidebooks for Kauai I have found, and before my first trip, I went through about a dozen of them. The authors live on the island, and try all the items they mention themselves, acting as typical tourists, so they can report as accurately as possible what they think you'll be running into. They say a lot of good, and quite a bit bad, about the various activities, hotels, restaurants, etc., to be found on the island. I'm sure they've lost a few friends from some of their write-ups! My experiences (I've now spent almost a month on the island, over 4 trips) shows them to be exceptionally accurate with what they've written. I highly recommend it. These are the guys who do it the best!
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