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Explore the Virgin Islands | 
 enlarge | Author: Harry S. Pariser
Publisher: Manatee Press
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $13.57
You Save: $6.38 (32%)
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 1434639
Media: Paperback
Edition: 7
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.4 x 0.8
ISBN: 189364359X
Dewey Decimal Number: 917
EAN: 9781893643598
ASIN: 189364359X
Publication Date: June 1, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Not yet published
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Product Description
Explore the Virgin Islands is a comprehensive, infiormative, and fun- to-read travel guide to the US and British Virgin Islands.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Explore the Virgin Islands July 17, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Explore the Virgin Islands is a guide and travel overview for the Virgin Islands, especially the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. This book includes a wide range of information, everything from background knowledge on the island's natural and cultural environment through places to stay while on the various islands to interesting things to do at every stop along the way.
There are seven sections in Explore the Virgin Islands: Introduction; USVI Practicalities; St. Thomas; St. John; St. Croix; The British Virgin Islands; and Traveling Around the BVI. The introduction section contains an overview about the United States Virgin Islands. This detailed information includes land, climate, flora, fauna, history, government, and economy of these islands. A similar section, The British Virgin Islands, describes this same information as pertains to the British Virgin Islands.
The next chapter, USVI Practicalities, contains contacts and general information on transportation, food, accommodations, and potential activities while traveling the United States Virgin Islands. This chapter also includes important information on customs, safety, and environmental conduct. There's even text describing how to get married while in the Virgin Islands.
The rest of the sections in Explore the Virgin Islands focus on particular Virgin Islands. The United States islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix are each given separate sections while the British Virgin Islands are combined into one section. The first portion of each section describes a little about the particular island including the topography and history. After this overview, specific examples of transportation, accommodation, restaurants, shopping, tourist information, services, and sights are depicted in detail. Each entry contains a short paragraph about the establishment including contacts and potential costs. Also provided in each of these sections is ample information, complete with contacts, on what activities are available on each island. Several black and white and colour maps and photographs accompany each section.
Explore the Virgin Islands is a valuable guide for anyone planning on traveling to any of the United States or British Virgin Islands, specifically the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. This key information is provided for easy reference while planning or while traveling. However, this book will also be just as interesting for the armchair traveler as this book contains ample information about the natural environment, history, and culture on these beautiful islands as well as some extremely stunning colour photographs.
 Better than Lonely Planet January 15, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I do quite a bit of traveling and often buy a Lonely Planet guide as a basic reference. Lately, however, I've become somewhat jaded by its formulaic coverage and superficial approach. I'm also skeptical about how they go about choosing which accomodations and restaurants to include in their books.
Pariser's book at first glance looks remarkably like a Lonely Planet guide--the same format and much the same information. However, Pariser puts more of himself into it and the book clearly is a labor of love. Pariser's guide compares to Lonely Planet like a family restaurant to McDonalds.
Guide To Island Paradise April 6, 2006
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Travel through St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix and the British Virgin Islands without waiting to board the plane! If you've already visited this region of earthly paradise you are sure to find an abundance of ideas for shopping, local attractions, beaches, historical sites and fascinating fun facts to add to your next island experience. There's even a getting married section for readers who may be dreaming of a beach wedding. This guide not only explains sea life, animal life, plant life and coral reefs it also warns of underwater hazards and cures, offers tips for environmental, undersea and boating conduct and provides island do's and don'ts. Explore the Virgin Islands takes readers beyond the standard travel guide information and encourages them to become adventurous island explorers. I only wish I had read about the "herbivorous" iguana on St. Thomas before seeing the approximately four foot long creature scaling down a tree in front of me at Coki Beach! Review by JoAnna Carey, Author of Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life
Very good guide book February 16, 2006
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I think this is an excellent guidebook. It has the flavor of a Lonely Planet book, without such a complete "backpacker" emphasis. I find it enjoyable to just read. It's very well written, without trying so hard to be cute or flashy. (I recently bought a pile of guidebooks for Florida and they were all a waste of money except the Michelin Green Guide! Leave it to Michelin.)
I find that this book has a wealth of practical and interesting information. Every question I have come up with regarding planning our trip, I have quickly and easily been able to come up with an answer to. It's full of good maps and photos. He tells you when a spot has been overrun by tourists or if the surf is dangerous there. He tells you when to be especially careful about being ripped off as a tourist. There are lots of interesting bits about the local flora and fauna and historical sidebars. It has an extensive index, a bibliography organized by subject, and a glossary of creole words and other island-specific expressions. It was updated last year, so I expect the information to be very accurate. He gives lots of specific restaurants, hotels, etc., with phone numbers and addresses and recommends some. He doesn't give reviews of the businesses generally; but often gives the flavor of the clientele or some other indication of what to expect (prices, etc.) I imagine it would be pretty hard to slam some business in a place this small and still be able to do this kind of work.
This is not a backpacker's guide -- aimed exclusively at the cheapest way to do things. It's a general guide, with all kinds of information. He does tell you how to do it cheap (and tells you where that will be a pain in the rear.) Here's a quote that explains it:
"It's not practical to take a bus [from the airport] because the schedule has been cut way back and the bus does not come to the terminal. If you have strong legs and little luggage [backpackers ...] you may go out to the main road and wait for the VITRAN (around $1, exact change) ... Be sure to ask if it is a, 'dollar bus.' Otherwise, they may try to charge you more."
To me, this delivers exactly what I want to know about the bus system: cut back schedule, doesn't stop at the terminal (!!), long walk to pick it up, precise cost, exact change, how not to get ripped off. Bullseye in my estimation.
I find this guide to be nicely complete, easy to use, and enjoyable to read. Very hard to find this combination of qualities in a guidebook. I haven't yet visited the VI; but I feel well equipped now. I have traveled extensively (years) in Asia, Africa, and Europe, mostly by bicycle. I have seen umpteen guide books (including many "Let's Go" books: virtually useless except for listing cheap transport and cheap accomodations. I remember what "Let's Go Europe" said about the magnificent city of Orleans, "Good place to do your laundry." [!!!! Did they visit the place??].)
This is a good guidebook.
A Guidebook with a Point of View January 27, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
I have visited the Virgin Islands many times, and always with great delight. This book has shown me many things I didn't know, and will definitely be in my suitcase next time.
The discussions of flora and fauna in the beginning are exceptional, but this book has far more to offer. The discussion of places to eat and to stay is much more thorough than that in most other guides, and includes places I wouldn't want to miss. The discussion of activities and sites includes things I haven't seen in any other guide, and approaches I haven't found discussed elsewhere.
The dramatic cover and the charming photographs inside also help to convey the mood and beauty of the islands. Add this to the author's willingness to reveal his opinions and preferences, and you have the kind of unique and charming guide that is a rare find.
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