The Insiders' Guide to Virginia Beach

Rating:
Summary: Good if you're thinking of moving to VB area.
Review: I'm thinking of moving to VB area, and this book has lots of basic info on the area, including neighborhoods, beaches and the like. The author does live in the area, so she seems to know what she's talking about. However, I feel that she held back from offering opinions, saying this beach is cleaner and less crowded than that beach, for example. I have since tried quite a few of the restaurants she lists, and all of them were very good! The best book about VB I've been able to find.

Rating:
Summary: Not best for travelers
Review: If you are just visiting Virginia Beach for a few days, this book has a lot of information that you don't need and not much of the information that you do need. There are no detailed maps and very little tourist type info. Despite the title, this book covers a much larger area than just Virginia Beach. The restaurant guide is very good, and it is obvious that considerable effort was expended in compiling all of this information. If you are considering a move to Virginia Beach, this is an excellent resource. Otherwise, another travel guide that includes Virginia Beach would probably be a better bet.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource on the VA Beach/Hampton Roads area.
Review: There are not a lot of books out there on VA Beach or the Hampton Roads. Believe me, I've looked. Most travel guides concentrate on the state of Virginia as a whole and information on the Hampton Roads area is pretty sparse.

This is why I am thankful for this book. "The Insider's Guide to Virginia Beach" is actually much more than just a travel guide to Virginia Beach. It covers the entire Hampton Roads region including the cities of Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth as well as the Chesapeake Bay. Topics covered include the area's overview and history, restaurants, accommodations, shopping, attractions (including kid-friendly activities), recreation, daytrips, real estate and neighborhoods, schools, healthcare and more. At over 300 pages, it is packed with useful information that you just won't find in your standard Virginia travel book.

I highly recommend this book to travelers who want to concentrate on the Hampton Roads/Virginia Beach area or those who are planning to relocate there. I've shopped around for books on Virginia Beach and this really is your best bet. If you are interested in visiting several areas in Virginia, then I would also recommend the "Moon Handbooks: Virginia" or "The Virginia Handbook." However, if you plan to spend most of your time in the Virginia Beach area, then this book is a must have.