Jamaica: Visitors Guide

As someone who has visited Jamaica regularly since 1960, I can recommend Harry Pariser's guide as unequivocally the most useful. It's the book we keep on the shelves of our own house there at Tryall, for our guests and those who rent the place. Michael M. Thomas, columnist, New York Observer, and novelist

Pariser covers the physical setting, history, government, economy, the people, language, religion, music, food, and "practicalities" (which includes how to conduct oneself). The book then goes on to provide an overview of the regions of Jamaica -- useful to help one decide which part of Jamaica to visit. The many high quality color photographs help bring the book, and the island, alive. Pariser is very honest (shall we say blunt?). After describing the beautiful 11-km beach at Negril, he writes: "Once a traveler's paradise, Negril now qualifies as an up-and-coming Miami Beach, well on the way to holding the dubious distinction of being the worst tourist trap on the island." Jamaica, A Visitor's Guide, is full of interesting background material which can help to make a visit to Jamaica an enriching experience and not simply a visit to a pretty tropical island. Unless you intend to spend all of your time behind the gates of your all-inclusive resort -- in which case you need no guidebook. Judith Nicholls, Four Winds Travel, http://www.4windstravel.com