[.ca] Haiti & the Dominican Republic: The Island of Hispaniola (ISBN 1898323828)

Invaluable on the road -- and off:
I was surprised to read the review of this book by David from Miami. Prior to a recent trip to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, I found it to be an excellent source of information as I swatted up on the background to these two very different countries. The author seemed to be genuinely passionate -- and knowlegable -- about the island. The book didn't let me down when I actually hit the road. The practical information proved to be very accurate and comprehensive, and I would have been lost without this book. Unlike many guides, Velton's book is also a jolly good read.

A sorry excuse for a guide book:
I have used this book as a guide while travelling around in the Dominican Republic by car. While I can fully recommend doing so, I would not recommend using this book as a your travel guide. Often we found inaccuracies or even misleading information, particularly when travelling outside the charter tourist hot spots. We were often sent on wild goose chases by the so-called guide book. It is also often lacking in detailed information about the location of interesting things/places to see, so you could only read about it, but not locate it. Consistently we found the quoted prices to be wrong - sometimes actual prices were more than double the quoted prices (the book had been finished 11/2 years before we travelled, it was in the low season and annual inflation had been less than 5 per cent, so there is no obvious explanation for this).

A sensitive and thorough account of an island split in two.:
Mr Velton displays a sensitivity in his observations that suggest both a deep knowledge of and an intimate respect for the people of Hispaniola. He delves deep into the culture of two people providing those fortunate enough to travel to that island with both a wealth of practical travel knowledge, such as well researched places to stay, eat and relax, but also things to do and see that seek to inspire the traveller better to understand these two fascinating countries. Thank you Ross.

A book that makes you want to get up and go:
I'm a confirmed armchair traveler who buys books about countries that interest me. I don't know if this guide is factually accurate (the other reviews seem to think so) but I do know that now I want to go to Hispaniola. This book has painted such an appealing picture that I feel compelled to discover it all for myself. Isn't this what a good guidebook is all about?

A Great Guide to Haiti:
It was with some normal fear that I planned my first foreign trip, one going alone to Haiti for the first time. I found the contents of this book to be invaluable. From listing considerations on what to take, providing suggestions on travel and great directions in the towns and villages listed, I found this book to be very useful. I took it with me and it was a constant reference. I also found the background and history section to be both accurate and interesting. Thanks for helping make my trip a success.