Moon Handbooks South Pacific

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South Pacific - Rated
Moon Handbooks South Pacific is the ultimate overview for traveling on any of the island groups of the South Pacific. This 1091 paged book is full of detailed travel information but is still practical sized 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 eighteen chapters in Moon Handbooks South Pacific: Introduction; Exploring the Islands; French Polynesia; Pitcairn Islands; Easter Islands; Cook Islands; Niue; Kingdom of Tonga; American Samoa; Samoa; Tokelau; Wallis and Futuna, Tuvalu; Fiji Islands; New Caledonia; Vanuatu; Solomon Islands, and Resources. The introduction chapter contains an overview on the South Pacific area. 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; accommodations; and food as well as contacts for information and services; health; getting there; and getting around while in the south pacific. 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 South Pacific focus on particular geographical regions, islands, or groups of islands within the South Pacific island groups. 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 South Pacific is a helpful guide for anyone planning on traveling to any of the islands of the South Pacific island groups. 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.

Especially Essential for Business and Professional Travelers - Rated
MOON HANDBOOKS SOUTH PACIFIC should serve as the prototype for the entire guidebook industry. A travel region could not be better described than the author and the publisher do in this book.

This encyclopedic single volume is indispensable to backpackers, island-hopping travelers, business people, and anyone else who is going to the South Pacific region for more than a short vacation.

If I may offer my greatest praise conversely, I am very disappointed that David Stanley has not written such a guidebook about Northern New England. I'm sure that I could live a much richer (and much more efficient!) life here on the Connecticut River if I had a Stanley-written guide to the resources of my region.

The book includes basic vocabulary, maps, lodging directories, transportation choices, dining suggestions, park listings, entertainment guides, very helpful travel tips...I might as well quit itemizing, because the list of features in this book is as endless as the list of opportunities in the South Pacific paradise.

THE SOUTH PACIFIC SPECIALIST - Rated
We always make sure we don't leave home without David Stanley's Moon Handbook covering the area we're visiting.He is the consumate expert on the South Pacific. This particular handbook(South Pacific,8th edition)has over a thousand pages packed with useful & insightful information on everything from cultural do's & dont's to internet cafes. There are over 2000 references in the index making it easy to locate any topic.We sometimes remove pages & even whole chapters that are pertinent & leave the main volume at home to save on weight.We have traveled to over 150 countries(almost as many as David Stanley)His handbooks are the best. Dennis & Nancy Fulton

An Excellent Guide - Rated
Brilliant. Over the last couple of years I have become a huge fan of David Stanley guides to the South Pacific. His books have been travelling companions to Fiji and the Cook Islands and this latest edition is informative, entertaining, affectionate and honest. David has an uncanny eye for detail as well as doing 'the hard yards' for in-depth research. I lived in Vanuatu for several years and I even found that section enlightening. I plan to travel to Samoa shortly and know that I will enjoy the in-flight reading because, on my essentials to pack list, the Moon Handbook South Pacific is up there with 'toothbrush' and 'sunscreen'.

The traveller's encyclopaedia to the South Pacific - Rated
It was this book that triggered my Pacific Island madness. I got it to read more about Fiji, but I ended up with a fascination for the entire region. I should never have opened this eighth edition of South Pacific Handbook. Immediately my head was filled with plans for my next trip: French Polynesia maybe, back to Fiji?

That Oceania is a fascinating part of the world might be obvious to many. But you need a good writer to bring this message across in a down-to-earth and readable manner - David Stanley did this. In South Pacific Handbook you get the ups and downs of "paradise". While reading you notice the diversity of the islands and sense the adventure you can have. It would cost years to visit all the places included in this book. Not only the main islands, but also those without tourist facilities are described. There are excellent chapters on history (including recent developments), people, environment and more. All this, combined with good maps and many resources, makes South Pacific Handbook a great piece of reference.

From the practical chapters, you will understand that the Pacific can be affordable. I carried earlier editions on my two backpacking trips to the islands. Stanley advises on arrivals at strange airports and harbours, but also on staying with local people. His listings of cheap hostels often include critical commentary. When my family came over to Fiji for two weeks, we were able to find good middle class accommodation thanks to South Pacific Handbook. For those who can afford it, even thousand-dollar-a-night resorts are described.

David Stanley has more than 25 years of experience travelling in, and writing about these islands. For every new edition he makes new research trips. He tries to check tourist facilities anonymously to experience places as any other traveller would. Despite Stanley's hard work, you cannot expect everything to be correct - things change. If anything is wrong or missing from his guide, you can write him and he will seriously look at your comments.

I recommend South Pacific Handbook above other Pacific Island guidebooks, including the Lonely Planet. In South Pacific Handbook you get the most useful background and travel information, all through Stanley's years of experience and presented in a readable manner. With this guide it is also easier to avoid the backpacking hordes, if you wish. For those who are only going to Fiji, French Polynesia or the Cook Islands, I recommend Stanley's Fiji Handbook or Tahiti & Cooks Handbook. These guides are more detailed with more maps. Although I doubt you will be much safer from catching the Pacific Island madness.