[.ca] Moon Handbooks Fiji (ISBN 1566914973)

The guidebook to take on your trip to Fiji:
This seventh edition of Fiji Handbook is for travelers with any sort of budget. Campgrounds, all-inclusive resorts, rough nightclubs, decent restaurants, rusted ferries, exclusive yacht charters; Stanley describes all this and more. He has researched most of the places included in his book by visiting them incognito, experiencing them as any other traveler would. In his guide he is not afraid to be critical. Stanley has been doing this for the past 25 years. For every new edition, he goes back to Fiji at least once. Readers also have their say. If something is wrong or missing, you can write Stanley and he will seriously look at your comments. But this guide is not a mere list of hotels, restaurants, entertainment and means of transportation. Islands without tourist facilities are also described and there is a lot of information about the country itself. Stanley's chapters on Fiji's history are very informative and include recent developments. In hospitable Fiji chances for going local a great: Stanley gives important insights. In his paragraph on conduct he gives wise travel advice for anyone. Only the two-page language section - Fijian and Hindi - deserves be bigger. True, almost everyone in Fiji speaks English, but some effort to learn these two languages will be greatly appreciated by the locals. Maps in Fiji Handbook are clear and useful. The colored ones don't add much to this - not even relief. Many photos though, would have looked better in color. Of course, black and white photos keep the price of the book down. With Stanley's entertaining style of writing, the "colorful crossroads of the South Pacific" will come to live anyway.

Stanley's Moon Handbook to Fiji is fantastic!:
David Stanley's Moon Handbooks Guide to Fiji is, in short, wonderful. With a full section detailing the history, unique cultural aspects, and flora and fauna of this beautiful land, it prepares the traveler for an amazing experience! It is easy to feel David Stanley's passion for this place! The guide also details accomodations ranging from those with the most intimate experiences of the people and the land to those available to the traveler looking for something a little more posh. The book is easy to read and simple to use as a reference source. The maps and illustrations also add to the enjoyment and understanding of the country of Fiji. Without being too verbose, it is organized in a very logical manner and allows the reader to get a feel for all that Fiji has to offer. In short, I find it to be an exceptional guide to an exceptional place.

Great Guide!:
It's rare to be able to pick up a country and hold it in your hands, but this is the case with David Stanley's Fiji (Moon Handbooks). It is obvious David has a deep knowledge of, and affection for Fiji but he also manages to give sharp and welcome observations (whether the rest rooms are clean, the service slow, the food over-priced or the water pressure low). Accommodation from budget to five-star is covered as are dining and sightseeing options for those who want to get away from the resorts and explore. This guide can extend your holiday experience as a pre-read (history, customs, language, itinerary planning etc) and as a travelling companion (where internet cafes are, etiquette for visiting a village, best dive sites etc). It is also handy post-holiday, whether to jog your memory or find a phone number. This guide recently joined me on a trip from Nadi through south-west Viti Levu, Beqa and the Mamanuca islands and I found it both an excellent resource and holiday 'enhancer'.

Another Amazing Moon Guidebook:
The 7th edition of David Stanley's Fiji handbook contains everything you could possibly want or need to know about travelling around the beautiful Fijian Islands. This is the most comprehensive Fiji guide on the market, with detailed maps and accurate, up-to-date information on anything you could possibly want to look for, from getting there to getting around, where to stay, from budget to luxury, where to eat, what to see and do, activities on or off the beaten path, insights into village etiquette, useful words and phrases, and even packing hints - it's all covered in this book. I found the maps that are cross-referenced to their relevant pages particularly helpful, and the informal yet informative text makes it singularly uncomplicated to work through. Add the helpful recommendations, suggestions, and personal opinions, such as whether a dish might be too spicy for the uninitiated palate, and you have everything you want to know in an easy to find format that is a pleasure to read. It brings Fiji to life as no other guidebook has done. Another winner from David Stanley.

Fiji:
Moon Handbooks Fiji is the ultimate overview for traveling on any of the 322-islands of Fiji. This book contains 357 pages of travel information but is still small enough to tuck in a daypack for easy reference. Furthermore, this book has plenty of fairly detailed maps, complete with accurate distance scales, for easy travel planning or reference while you travel. There are fourteen chapters in Moon Handbooks Fiji: Introduction; Exploring the Islands; Nada and the Mamanucas; Southern Vita Levu; Suva and Vincinity; Northern Vita Levu; Lautoka and Vicinity; The Yasawa Islands; Kadava; The Lomaivita Group; Vannua Levu; Taveuni; The Lau Group; and Resources. The introduction chapter contains an overview on Fiji group. This detailed information includes geology, climate, flora, fauna, history, economy, and the government of these islands. The next chapter, Exploring the Islands, contains general information on sports and recreation; entertainment; public holidays and festivals; arts and crafts; shopping; and accommodations; food; money; communications; media as well as contacts for tourist information; visas; health and safety; getting there; getting around; and airports while in Fiji. This chapter also includes a what to take section. The Resources chapter contains further information on suggested readings and internet resources. The rest of the chapters in Moon Handbooks Fiji focus on particular geographical regions, islands, or groups of islands with the Fiji group. The first paragraph or page of each regional section describes a little about the region. After this overview, individual sights, recreation areas, special events, accommodations, food services, information services, and transportation services are depicted in detail. Depending on the size and general amount of facilities in a given region, there may be only one or two entries per category or over a dozen. Each entry contains the location, contacts, costs, and a short paragraph description of the facility or event featured. Several black and white maps and photographs accompany each section, clearly marked with the various facilities described in that particular section. Moon Handbooks Fiji is a helpful guide for anyone planning on traveling to any of the islands of the Fiji group. Very complete key information is provided for easy reference while planning or while travel. However, this book may 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.