The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed

First visit to Kaua'i and I'm certain that this guidebook enhanced my trip significantly. My group and I snorkeled, hiked, kayaked and explored a whole bunch of waterfalls. Definitely felt like we had our own personal guide showing us around. The maps and descriptions of trails were incredibly accurate and the restaurant reviews were spot on. The only thing I regret is not taking my computer to find their most up-to-date restaurant reviews--apparently there are many new places to eat since this edition was published. Highly recommended.

Until now I have never taken the time to write a reveiw for anything, but I feel need to share my feelings about this book. This book is the reference standard for how guidebooks should be written. The maps and graphics are outstanding; very detailed with mile markers etc. shown where needed, and it doesn't include useless details that you won't need anyway. Maps are very easy to follow, and they are broken down for each district on the island. It is especially helpful if you are looking for little known hiking trails, beaches, or waterfalls to visit. Some of these you would never find without the help of this book.The information is very accurate. The couple that wrote the book live on Kauai, and it is clear that they do their homework, and they even added a touch of humor. We used this book for every activity and restaraunt during our stay, and we have never been disappointed.

This is an outstanding guide book full of beautiful pictures and right on information. I picked up this book before my second trip to Kauai. We had visited the island the year before for our honeymoon. I really wish we had bought this book a year earlier!There were so many things on Kauai that we didn't even think of to do or see the first time and we bumbled around from place to place, seeing little of the island. The second trip, we used this guidebook and checked out some outstanding restaurants and beaches. Without the book, we never would have gone to JoJo's Clubhouse for shave ice or found parking for Ke'e Beach.Something we found helpful was the aerial photos of the resorts section where we got to see just how far the ocean is from where you are planning to stay. We were at the Hyatt for both trips and would readily make reservations there again in a heartbeat!This is an amazing resource for the island. I wish the authors would write books for Maui and Oahu!

This book is head and shoulders above the others as far as information, layout, and knowledge. I cannot recommend this book enough. We had previously purchased Kauai Underground, and ordered Ultimate Kauai Guidebook just before we went over. The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook led us to all of the best beaches, and was right on in their descriptions. If you want to explore this island, you absolutely need this book. They also have a website which provides updates for the book, which was also a big help. If it is your goal to find the best secluded beaches, the most enjoyable hikes, and the best snorkeling around, you need to buy this book. There is no sugarcoating in this book, and their assessments were right on, in our opinion, and this is the second time we went over to Kauai. This book made it much more enjoyable, and is a bargain at twice the price.

I've spent a total of 6 weeks on Kauai and while I've checked out 4 different guidebooks on Kauaii I have used this book exclusively while on island. The authors do a great job of making it quick and easy for you to experience the best beaches, hikes, and other activities -- just turn to the section you're interested in ("Beaches" for example) and look for the big fat diamond symbol indicating a "gem" of an item (I wish all guidebooks did this as concisely and well as these folks do). The pictures are great and really help decision-making. Only rarely have I disagreed with their advice. Some readers have complained about restaraunt and helicopter tour recommendations -- but that's such a small part of what the island has to offer, and frankly I don't recall be led astray by the book in these activities. If you're mainly concerned about restaraunts and helicopters, simply stay at the Hyatt Regency and have their concierge set up a helicopter ride for you (the Hyatt can't be beat for all-around luxury, good restaraunts, and quality service). But if you want to explore, and get the most from, the glorious natural beauty of this island, this is, as others have said, the only book you'll need. I only wish they had one for Maui -- but I'm stoked they have one for the Big Island and am ordering it today.