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Summary: Just returned from Kauai and Maui
Review: This book was incredibly useful on our trip. We especially liked the detailed information about how to find off-the-beaten-path swimming areas, hikes, and vistas. It was so helpful that before we went to Maui, we went to Borders to get the Ultimate Maui Guidebook by the same authors! We definitely recommend this for anyone going to Kauai.
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Summary: An Absolute Necessity
Review: We've gone to Kauai twice: in 1997 we purchased the 2nd edition of this book, and this year we're going again and have purchased the 4th edition. Both are worth their weight in gold. This book is like a roadmap which includes everything you need to know about the island. A must-have!
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Summary: GREAT
Review: This is a fantastic book. I went with my wife, 2 sisters-in-law, one boyfriend of a sister-in-law, both my mother and father-in-law. We had a great time in large part due to the recommendations made by Mr. Doughty and Ms. Friedman. This book was everywhere on the island, too. My in-laws had a different thicker book with more info, but they constantly referred to the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook because of the book's detail, opinions, and accuracy. I hate to say it, but I bought the book because of the pictures! I highly recommend this book if you're headed to Kauai, and I will probably use another book in the series if we get to go back to the Big Island.
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Summary: Awesome
Review: This is one of the coolest travel guides I've read in a long, long time. Let's forget for a moment about the heap of useful and detailed information that's in the book. Let's also forget about its clear structure. And let's ignore for now the great pictures. Then what's left is a fun book to read. Take for example the part where the authors go on telling you all the wacky details about the history of the Russian Fort and the dude who built it, culminating into the statement that the reason for mentioning so many crazy details is simply that these are far more entertaining than the actual location. Or my all-time favorite, the section on hanggliding. You just have to love this book.
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Summary: Great Guidebook
Review: Very conveniently structured, has lot's of information, can be used as a guide as well as entertainment reading about the island. We found our first time on Kauai very enjoyable; we used the authors' advises about hiking trails, snorkeling places, Luau picks. The authors have great sense of humor, so it's not a boring reading even though it's still a guide.
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Summary: The Single Greatest Guidebook Ever Written! Seriously.
Review: It is impossible to overstate just how much this book will improve your trip to the beautiful island of Kauai. I realize that in a place as magical as Kauai, just sitting on a porch with a drink in your hand may seem like a sufficient amount of paradise. But wait until you follow Andrew and Harriett's advice on food and adventures. (I've never met them, but you will want to call them by their first names because after reading this book, you'll feel like you know them). The book will pay for itself in many different ways: a cinammon roll in the morning, a jump off a waterfall, a hike through a valley of unbelievable beauty, and of course, a delicious shave ice off a truck that hasn't moved in what seems to be a decade. I stayed with five other people in a house on Kauai in April. We didn't agree on much, but we all agreed on the book's advice. We had cheap macadamia nut pancakes, we hiked through a fogbound swamp, we swam through tunnels at Tunnels Beach. I swear that at some of the places we ate and visited, it appeared as if the staff/chefs/inhabitants had read the book themselves to decide how to act and what to serve. If the book says service is slow, you'd better not be in a hurry. If the book says the food is salty, bring extra water. If the book says that you'll 'be given the stinkeye' by the natives, prepare yourself. If you read in the book that a hike or swim is magical, by all means do it. My friends and I made it our goal to attempt as many of the book's adventures as possible. We swam in caves and hiked on crumbly cliffs. We swam with turtles and swung from ropes. We ate gross-looking, but tasty local food and hiked some of the most beautiful trails any of us have ever seen. If there's a downside to a guide this well done, it's that everyone else you see at these spots will also have this exact book in their backpack as well. Striking up a conversation with them will reveal that the book has shown them special places that they were happy to have visited. If the book says that a particular place is unmarked, or the trail is hard to find, you can bet that by now, with the popularity of this fantastic guide, many more people have followed the lead of the authors and have made even the most hidden gems easier to find. Our rental house had about 15 Kauai guides, but this was the only one we always left the house with. You will not be disappointed. I also had their Maui Guide for a quick stop on that island. It paid for itself in that case with a single visit to a deserted four-tiered waterfall. You are spending a substantial amount of money to get to the most beautiful of Hawaii's islands. Do yourself a favor and spend about 15 bucks more. You won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back.
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Summary: This Book is right on the Money!!
Review: I picked up this book a few months before my honeymoon, and it helped make for a trip that my wife and I will never forget. Kauai is so unspoiled and laid back that a book like this is your map to all the hidden treasures!!! Secluded beaches, restaurant reviews, activities...you name it they review it honestly and to the T. I wouldn't go to Kauai without it!! I don't normally leave feedback or reviews, but that's how strongly I feel about this book. P.S. Be sure to check out the Napali Coast and Ke'e beach!
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Summary: Really the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook
Review: I went to Kauai last year for graduation and my doctor actually let me borrow this book and it was such and advantage! We read through it on the plane and noted some places that we wanted to go and then every night we were there we planned our days to follow and I really think that had we not had this book we really would not have had as much fun. The resturants that were recommended were right on the money and the people were nice. It was great. Tomkats grill was by far our favorite and the book told me to have the roast beef sandwich and I haven't had a better tasting one since! Buy this book if you plan to go. After I returned it to my doctor I went out and bought it for the trips to come! I will be back there soon and I'll bring my book!
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Summary: Loved it!
Review: My husband and I loved this book. We were on our honeymoon in Kauai and he didn't put it down the entire time, (maybe not the entire time). We found so many wonderful hidden spots that weren't overrun with tourists and great commentary and advice that lead to a wonderful vacation. I highly reccomend this book!
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Summary: Highly Dependable
Review: This book is superb! I stayed in Kauai for 5 nights and planned all my activities based on this book - hiking, kayaking, beaches and the restaurants. The reviews were very accurate and made my stay very memorable. A couple of suggestions - please include the area code for kauai. I had a cellphone, but couldnt make calls for a while because of this. Also a mention about local radio stations would be nice.
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