1. ISBN13: 9781741042924
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
4. Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Editorial Review :

Discover the Dominican Republic and Haiti

Plunge down the Rio Yaque del Norte, paddling for dear life
Witness the chanting, drumming and spiritual release of a Haitian Vodou ceremony
Hang with the Grand Rue artists, watching them turn scrap metal into cyberpunk art
Sip some of the world's finest blends at the Polo Organic Coffee Festival

In This Guide

Three authors, 105 days of in-country research, countless plates of 'the flag' (red beans, white rice and green plantains)
Expanded coverage of Haitian culture, Dominican Republic outdoor activities and off-trail adventures in each country
Content updated daily - visit lonelyplanet.com for up-to-the-minute reviews, updates and traveler insights

Customer Review :

A few mistakes throughout but overall a big help

Our Lonely Planet guide was used every day as we made our way through the Dominican Republic on our honeymoon. Information wasn't always easy to find in the smaller towns (even for a Spanish speaker), so we relied on it a lot. The maps were especially helpful.

However, we did occasionally run into small typos or sentences that didn't make sense. While this wasn't too big of a deal, we were more concerned that some sections were inaccurate. When we paid $10 in a taxi to go across Santo Domingo to catch a bus that the LP said went to a certain town, we were extremely irritated to learn that that bus station did not provide transportation to our destination and never had. We had to pay for another taxi to get to the right spot. We also found that the prices listed for hotels and restaurants were much higher than listed in the LP. We were not there in the very low season, but it also was not the highest season. Perhaps the places listed have been "discovered" and the hotels and restaurants took advantage of LP's high following. And the writers' favorite places were often some of the most expensive in town (and a little posh) - not what I have typically found in LP editions. If you're able, use the guide to as just that - but not as a bible. Ask around about places when you get into a town.

Overall, we are very glad we had this along. We used it to plan out routes, get reviews on restaurants, learn about the country, do walking tours of each little area (instead of paying someone who "offers" to show you around), etc.

Rating :

Lonely Planet Great like always.

Great book, especially for great initial information about an area. Helped us find a cool hostel and restaurants that we would have missed if we hadn't bought it.

Rating :

1. ISBN13: 9781858288116
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
4. Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Editorial Review :

The Rough Guide to The Dominican Republic explores every corner of the Caribbean’s most popular destination, from the largest resort areas to secluded hideaways in the undeveloped hinterlands. The guide is fully up-dated with new colour sections highlighting adventure sports – from kite-boarding to mountain climbing – and Dominican music – fast-paced, irresistibly danceable, and omnipresent across the country. The vibrant capital Santo Domingo is covered in-depth with detailed background information on its historic forts and churches, and the Zona Colonial as well as the best in Dominican museums, restaurants, and nightlife. Along with dozens of restaurant and accommodation reviews, the guide includes detailed coverage of the country’s history, wildlife, beaches and outdoor activities, as well as all the essential information you need for the trip of a lifetime.

Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to The Dominican Republic.

Customer Review :

Helpful and accurate

We just returned (January 2009) from the Dominican Republic and used the Rough Guide as our principle source of information during our travel. I had hoped that the book would come out before we left. I had the earlier edition but knew some items were out of date. This edition arrived around Christmas and we left on Jan 12 for 10 days in the DR.

Read the first 55 pages of the book carefully. Unless you have a lot of time or are a very superficial traveler, you will not be able to see all there is to see as described in the Colour Section. However, the Basics section is accurate and very informative. Even then, there are some corrections. When we left, there was no departure fee (p51) but the sign indicating the fees was still up with the fees blanked out. The cost of a phone from Orange (p54) was around RD$600 not RD$2000. We bought one for our stay and then gave it to a work group from Canada when we left.

We drove throughout the eastern half of the DR so I can not speak to the accuracy for the rest of the country. However, for where we were, the book was quite accurate although a bit optimistic in spots. What no book can accurately convey is the friendliness and good nature of most Dominicans.

This was the only book (or map) that showed the new road (highway 6 - opened late 2008) from Santo Domingo to Sanchez. This excellent road cuts a couple of hours off travel from Santo Domingo to the north coast.

We visited Santo Domingo, Boca Chica, Hato Major, Río San Juan, Cabarete, Sosúa and Puerto Plata as well as some rural areas. For the towns where the book provided maps, they were accurate and quite helpful. We drove about 550 miles and found the surface condition of roads varies from excellent to "You call that a road?" I don't think the DR infrastructure is sufficiently well developed to make timely repairs.

Driving around in towns provides much adventure. Street names may be present. Roads may be OK or extremely rough. You will surely find speed bumps and drainage ditches that you need to cross. (We put rain drains underground while in the DR, rain drainage is above ground and across streets especially at intersections.)

The Rough Guide points out that motorbikes (motochonchos) are common except in Santo Domingo. It is indeed true that if you are lost, you can flag down a motochonista (driver) and ask for directions. If he (only a few women) knows where it is, he will take you there and you are expected to tip him at the end of the trip. We did this at least 3 times and saved much frustration.

Both of the hotels we stayed at, Casa Blanca in Cabarete and Zapata in Boca Chica, are accurately described in the book and accurate maps accompany the town descriptions. We stayed in these two towns because we could explore the southeast from Boca Chica (as well as snorkel a bit) and the northeast from Cabarete. That worked well and the places we went to were accurately described in the book.

I noticed another reviewer was using this book as an inspiration for travel. I suggest another DR book, Adventure Guide- Hunter or one of the more superficial small books such as the Berlitz pocket guide. However, The Rough Guide is what you need if you are actually traveling to the DR. (I would have rated this a 4.5 but couldn't so I rated it a 5.)

Rating :

Interesting but...

I actually live in the DR but it wasn't till this year that me and my family started doing a little more exploring, we found the rough guide useful after we had decided where we wanted to go. However, the DR is a country in constant change, so this kind of book quickly falls behind. Some of the tours mentioned (even with phone numbers) were no longer available, the prices have varied too. I found it optimistic in parts (the roads were often much worse) and pessimistic in others (times between places, especially). The hotel descriptions were pretty accurate. So, basically, it was a good starting point, but be prepared to ask a lot of questions everywhere you go.

Rating :

I don't like the layout of this book at all.....

I am not happy with this book....I am used to the Frommer's format, which is more easier to follow and more detailed. I just felt like this book was not too inviting....it did not make my interest grow to learn more about the place and go there.....so, I decided to get Frommer's Costa Rica Guide instead.

Rating :

1. ISBN13: 9780756653699
2. Condition: NEW
3. Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Editorial Review :

Whether you're looking for the finest cuisine or the least expensive places to eat, the most luxurious hotels or the best deals on places to stay, Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides provide useful information by local experts to find the best of everything at each destination.

Customer Review :

Useful but limited

We used this book only to help us decide where to go in the DR. However, when we went there in Jan 2009, we did not take the book. Descriptions were too superficial and it was not helpful for someone who was driving. A book such as The Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic as well as a large map are what you need once you are in the DR.

Rating :

Info on sites and locations, but not a good travel guide

This book lists major cities and the top attractions in each city. However, it lacks the cultural and safety guidance and tips I would expect from a travel guide.

This book does NOT tell you that travel in the Dominican if you are an American is dangerous and difficult. Most Americans will just be going to the Dominican for a resort and guided excursions. It would not be appropriate for them to be wandering on their own through the Dominican Republic. I am glad I figured out it was best to stay on the resort after I got into Punta Cana and La Romana before this book got me into trouble!

Rating :

Beautiful book

Very beautiful, lots of good pictures.

On the negative side, a little bit hard to read, a just too little of information and not enough maps.

In general, very good book.

Rating :

Great book if travelling to Dominican Republic

I ordered this book for a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. It proved to be very useful! Great tips and great advice; it really helped out a lot while there.

Rating :

Very helpful

This book was very helpful in providing ideas of where to go in the Dominican Republic. We have not gone yet, but were able to find several things that we want to see once there. The book has pictures and brief descriptions of the sites in each area and also provides interesting facts about the culture and history.

Rating :

More reviews...

Editorial Review :

Folded road and travel map in color. Scale 1:400,000/1:350,000. Distinguishes roads ranging from highways to other roads. Legend includes tracks, railways, ferry routes, coral reefs, national parks, check-points, airports/regional airports, airfields, passes, botanical gardens, sites of natural interest, ruins, historical vestiges, churches, golf courses, hotels, palaces/castles, beaches, diving sites, fishing sites, wrecks, scenic viewpoints, museums. Includes inset map of Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince.

Customer Review :

A map for the driver

In Jan 2009, we drove about 550 miles throughout the eastern half of the Dominican Republic and used this map for our travels. But in 2007, the new road from Santo Domingo to Sanchez had not been completed and is not shown on the map. This road is shown in the new Rough Guide to the Dominican Republic (2009). Except for this omission, this map was quite accurate and was the only map we used while driving. We had the National Geographic map but used this only to get information about sites to see.

Rating :

DR Map

We used this map on a recent trip to the Dom Rep. It worked out very well and was highly accurate.

Rating :

Editorial Review :

Folded road and travel map in color. Scale 1:600,000. Distinguishes roads ranging from expressways to minor roads. Legend includes railways, international airport, airfields/landing strips, national parks, places of interest, archaeological sites, beaches, shipwrecks, mountain peaks, churches, bus terminals, markets, hotels, restaurants. Includes inset map of Port-au-Prince, Puerto PLata, Santiago, Santo Domingo, Punta Cana Region.

Customer Review :

No review yet